T H E P O R T M A N glorious food - we’ve got we’ve - food glorious 2014 Winter Christmas wrapped up wrapped Christmas Glamour,and glitz The Portman Estate Portman The around and on Living

5 contents

7 As told to Theo Dubroy talks about his time as head concierge at The Arch Hotel 10 Happenings Remembering heroes of war, plus Peruvian cuisine, supper club and chocolate cocktails for food lovers

COVER: NECKLACE, £145, SAHARA 18 PHOTO: SAHARA Arts SEE PAGE 22 Strictly Ballroom We meet the founder of dance school Simply Dancing Partners 22 Gifts Christmas wrapped up Our selection of gorgeous gifts from ’s finest The Portman is a regular journal about life on and around The Portman Estate 30 Editor Publisher Lorna Davies The Portman Estate Community All together now Tushna Writers Advertising Ghadially tells us why she set Tim Arbabzadah Sam Bradshaw up a local parents network Catherine Payne-Smith 020 7259 1051 Cally Squires [email protected] Debbie Ward Felicity Kent Send information to 36 Lorna Davies The Portman Food & drink Publishing Business Sub-editors 3 Princes Street Festive feasts Give turkeys Tim Arbabzadah W1B 2LD time out and have Christmas Vanya Marks 020 7259 1050 lunch with a difference www.pubbiz.com Designer Andy Lowe Printed in the UK © Publishing Business 40 Limited 2014 Service Putting you first Portman Estate staff put residents’ and occupiers’ needs foremost

Publishing Business is a member of the Professional Publishers Association and observes the PPA Code of Publishing Practice 43 Printed on ECF (Chlorine free) paper using fibre sourced from well-managed forests. Christmas market It’s time All inks vegetable based. Our printers are certified to to grab a mulled wine and fill ISO 14001 Environmental Management. your festive boots 7 as told to

Theo Dubroy, head concierge at The Arch Hotel, 50 Great Cumberland Place, tells us about his award-winning role

Over Arching

I’M ORIGINALLY FROM CANADA and studied at Ottawa University receiving my degree in Media Communications and Public Relations. During my summers I worked in hotels, mainly in the guest services department. I “took three years off to travel after university. I went to Fiji and New Zealand for eight months, then to Australia for two years. It was only supposed to be one year off, but ended up as three. I loved it. I lived in Sydney first and then travelled up to Port Douglas, Queensland, for those years and worked in hotels there. You only get a two-year holiday visa. One of the hotel managers in Australia said I should come to London, so I did and took a PR course here as a sort of upgrade from my degree, but I ended up working in a hotel on weekends. So I just sort of fell into it. I never actually got a job in PR, so I don’t even know exactly what I would have been doing! The most memorable moment in Australia was working as an extra on a movie, The Thin Red Line, for almost seven months. I was with my friend and we had spent all our money and that just popped up. We were up on war ships in the middle of the ocean for about two weeks during filming – that ended up as about two minutes of footage. I arrived in London in 1999 and worked at opening a few 5-star boutique hotels. I had the opportunity to start working for The Arch and opened this hotel five years ago. This is a great little hotel. We have 82 rooms, so not too big, not too small. It’s also a great location: right in the centre of everything. 8 as told to

There’s Hyde Park for all the joggers and so many nice places for people to go out in Marylebone and Mayfair. It’s the perfect location and the perfect size. We have demanding guests; they know what they want. For example, one group wanted last- minute Wimbledon tickets, which were quite hard to get. There are a lot of regulars, too. During the summers we get many families, so there is a lot of organising family activities and, during the winter period, we get many business travellers so there are different tasks for this kind of traveller. I remember one of the funniest incidents was these guys who were going to a party in drag, so we needed to find high-heeled shoes in size 14 at the last minute for three men. We had to find a specialist shop in the end. My manager here encouraged me to apply for the Golden Keys. It’s quite a long process. You need sponsors and at least five years of concierge experience to actually apply. Then you need to go before the board if they accept you. There’s a test and I was asked about “We needed to my knowledge of London and find high-heeled my own hotel. I shoes in size 14 was also given scenarios and at the last asked what I minute for would do. Plus three men” I had to know about The Society of the Golden Keys. It was more intense than I thought it would be, lots of studying, but it’s all good to know that stuff anyway. Also, you get to go to the International conferences (Les Clefs d’Or International Congress 2014), which is in Argentina this year. Now this Theo was talking to Tim Arbabzadah award is for life. ” IMAGES OF THE ARCH LONDON COURTESY OF THE HOTEL 10 happenings

Historic landmark set in stone

FIFTY YEARS on from the original executed for almost 600 years. dedication of the Stone plaque Partnership, the on September 29, 1964, stone masons Tyburn Convent, Westminster City have meticulously repaired and restored Council and Transport for London invited the historic landmark. The stone, located the local community to celebrate the at the intersection of Edgware Road and restoration last month, when TfL also , marks the site where planted three oak trees around the criminals, traitors and priests were stone. Father Christopher Pedley SJ, from The Jesuit Church of Immaculate Conception, led a private blessing of the stone, with Friends of the Tyburn Committee present to witness the dedication. Pupils from nearby Hampden Gurney CE Primary School also wrote special Tyburn-format poems, and read them to guests as part of National Poetry Day. A TROOPER IN THE BLUES The earliest record of a public & ROYALS HOUSEHOLD execution at Tyburn – originally a village CAVALRY REGIMENT PAYING HIS RESPECTS TO THE in Middlesex – was in 1196, but it WORLD WAR ONE became most notorious in the 16th ‘WESTMINSTER century. Henry VIII used Tyburn to REMEMBERS’ FLOWERBED execute the ringleaders of the Pilgrimage of Grace, and in 1571, the Tyburn Tree Council honours war heroes was erected near the modern-day Marble Arch. WESTMINSTER CITY Council has unveiled a commemorative flowerbed in Marble Arch to remember all those who lived, fought and died during World War One. Built 100 years after the start of World War One, the flowerbed is part of the council’s campaign of commemorative events, FATHER CHRISTOPHER PEDLEY SJ AND GUESTS AT ‘Westminster Remembers’, and was unveiled by the Lord Mayor of THE BLESSING OF THE Westminster, Cllr Audrey Lewis, and Westminster’s Armed Forces TYBURN STONE Champion, Cllr Rachael Robathan, in October.

Christmas cracker New look for Locatelli

CHILTERN STREET will be illuminated with LOCANDA LOCATELLI has reopened after a festive lights on November 12, followed by three month refurbishment. Almost £1 million Marylebone High Street on November 19. has been invested into Plaxy and Giorgio Chiltern Street will also play host to a late-night Locatelli’s Michelin-starred Italian, with the shopping evening on November 27. From 5pm lion’s share of the cost spent on a new until late, stores will be serving celebratory kitchen. In the restaurant, aside from a drinks, with Glühwein (mulled wine) and refreshed interior, two new Damien Hirst Swedish cinnamon buns at Monocle; whiskey paintings adorn the walls and a semi-private tasting at Cadenhead’s; and mulled wine and dining room has been created. Launched in a Christmas Grotto sneak preview Hardy’s 2002, the restaurant in the Hyatt Regency Brasserie and Wine Bar. Salons including London – The Churchill hotel, has served Bharti Vyas and West One Beauty will also be famous faces including Kate Winslet, offering discounts and special treatments. Plus Madonna and Kate Moss. there will be music from Tyler Rix to get you well and truly in the festive spirit! Locanda Locatelli is at 8 Seymour Street. Info: Info: www.chilternstreetsw1.co.uk 020 7935 9088, www.locandalocatelli.com 12 happenings

DoubleTree wins Peruvian fusion arrives in Thayer Street hospitality award PACHAMAMA has opened on Thayer Street. first and seems to have excited many. We’ve The menu features Peruvian dishes using British had particularly great feedback on our Smoked ANuP SARIN, general manager at the ingredients such as salmon tacos, sea bass Gloucester Old Spot ribs with English malt and DoubleTree by Hilton in Marble Arch, has and tiger’s milk and chicken anticuchos. Head peanut glaze. So far so good!” been awarded the Sanch Eurasion chef Tom Catley has an impressive CV including The restaurant is also home to a cocktail Golden Award for Hospitality. Sarin was Ottolenghi, Nathan Outlaw, Peyton and Byrne, bar, with home-infused Pisco, British/Peruvian presented the award – which recognises as well as working at Amaz in Peru. mash-ups and South American wines. his 20 years of hard work in the hotel “We couldn’t be more excited about the industry – by Baroness Sandip Verma at opening,” Catley told The Portman . “Our Pachamama is at 18 Thayer Street. Info: 020 the House of Lords. concept of British-Peruvian cuisine is a London 7935 9393, www.pachamamalondon.com “I am originally from India and started my career in 1988, and have been working in hotels ever since. I began with the Holiday Inn in New Delhi. Then I worked for Crowne Plaza before moving to the Hilton for a couple of years and then Intercontinental,” Sarin told The Portman . Sarin also opened a hotel in Shrinaga in Kashmir, in a former Maharaja’s Earlier this month, he and other ANUP SARIN, CENTRE, WITH palace, and an Intercontinental in volunteers from the hotel worked to OTHER REPRESENTATIVES OF Bangalore in India. He has been at the improve the gardens and children’s play DOUBLETREE BY HILTON. CREDIT: DOUBLETREE BY HILTON 4 Bryanston Street hotel (formerly Best area at the Portman Early Childhood Western) for 12 years. Centre, as part of the Baker Street Sarin has also achieved the Pride of Quarter’s CSR Smarter Giving India Leadership Award in 2010 and is Programme to help businesses support a fellow of the Institute of Hospitality. local charities.

Give thanks at the Firehouse

CELEBRATE Thanksgiving at the Chiltern Supper club for stylish singles Firehouse, which is offering a special menu and longer opening hours. The LONDON DINNER CLuB is about the perils of online dating. restaurant will be serving food all day hosting a series of social “My ‘lightbulb moment’ from 12noon on November 27. networking and matchmaking happened, as I love planning Executive chef Nuno Mendes has evenings over the festive period. dinner parties and drinks for created two special dishes. For mains, On November 20, the supper club friends. using my networking skills there is Rhug Farm turkey, slow roasted is hosting its stylish monthly drinks gained in banking, a supper club over hay truffled stuffing and liver evening to connect single for singles seemed like a perfect parfait with sides of French beans, and Londoners at private member’s business idea,” she told The almondine and maple bourbon sweet club Home House. On December Portman. “We’ve been successfully potatoes (£32). Dessert is spiced 4, Chinese restaurant Royal China matching up couples since 2010.” pumpkin and brown butter pie raisin is providing a delicious banquet of caramel and bourbon cream (£9). their speciality dishes, with after- London Dinner Club will be at dinner drinks for more socialising Home House, 20 , Chiltern Firehouse is at 1 Chiltern Street. at Home House. November 20, 7.30pm and Royal Info: 020 7073 7676, After working for six years in China, 40-42 Baker Street, www.chilternfirehouse.com investment banking, Salima Manji December 4, 7.30pm. Booking was looking for a new direction is advised. Info: PHOTO: JAMIE ORLANDO SMITH SALIMA MANJI and heard colleagues complaining www.londondinnerclub.org 14 happenings

Local pharmacy celebrates bicentenary

MEACHER HIGGINS & Thomas is 200 and later succeeded by James Higgins, years old this year. The Crawford Street records from residents show the GHADA SALEH FROM pharmacy celebrated the milestone with pharmacy had a good reputation, with MEACHER HIGGINS & a party attended by the Lord Mayor of carriages regularly queuing up outside. THOMAS AND STEPHEN FISHWICK FROM THE Westminster last month. Meacher Higgins & Thomas has been NATIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL Opened in 1814 by Thomas Meacher owned by Gist Health Ltd for the past ASSOCIATION ten years, and provides a range of services including flu vaccinations, medicine use reviews, help to stop smoking, as well as advice on healthy lifestyle and nutritional advice. Pharmacist Ghada Saleh said she was “delighted” to be celebrating the bi- centenary. “The community pharmacy has changed enormously in the last few decades and we’ve come across some interesting records to show this, including a manuscript list of prices of drugs and instruments charged to a nursing home, which includes: ‘Leeches – best speckled at 4s per dose’. Meacher Higgins & Thomas is at 105a Crawford Street. Info: 020 7723 2788, www.meacherhigginsandthomas.co.uk

New fishmonger makes a splash

LA PETITE Poissonnerie has opened on New Quebec Street. The boutique fishmonger specialises in locally and sustainably sourced fresh fish, shellfish and smoked fish, plus a selection of French and Japanese groceries, wines, dressings, sauces, sandwiches and salads. Former chef and founder Nic Rascale plans to become the best fishmonger in London, with a focus on very high quality grade of produce, bespoke service and recipe suggestions. “The road is just right for us, very village-like,” he says of the new store location. As well as New Quebec Street and an existing branch in Primrose Hill, Rascale La Petite Poissonnerie is at 19 New plans to expand to Belgravia, Quebec Street. Info: www.lapetite- Mayfair, Soho and King’s Cross. poissonnerie.co.uk 16 happenings

Refreshed décor and menu at the Wallace

THE WALLACE RESTAuRANT , at The Wallace Collection, has reopened. The Peyton and Byrne restaurant has undergone a recent refurbishment alongside the works at the gallery. Ivan Simeoli has been appointed as head chef and has introduced a new menu with a French influence.

Hertford House, . Info: 020 7300 5913, www.peytonandbyrne.co.uk

Chocolate at the Churchill

THE CHuRCHILL Bar’s alfresco terrace has been transformed into an alpine winter scene, complete with a chocolate cocktail menu curated by Green & Blacks, twinkling lanterns, lavish fur-lined seats and vintage wooden sleighs and skis. Cocktails include Off Piste, made with Green & Black’s Lemon Chocolate, Limonchello, grapefruit, thyme and lemongrass syrup, Cazadores Blanco Tequila and baked meringue.

The Churchill Bar & Terrace is at 30 Portman Square. Info: 020 7299 2035, www.london.churchill.hyatt.com

Little Waitrose has landed

WAITROSE has opened a new store on Baker Street. Little Waitrose Portman Square – unveiled by City of Westminster Councillor, Karen Scarborough, on October 21 – is the ninth store in Westminster and has recruited 56 staff after receiving more than 400 applications. Matters ‘green token’ scheme and The store will include a bakery, fresh Partner Volunteering initiative. Local fruit and vegetables, a range of take- charities The West London Day Centre, away sandwiches and snacks, and Faith Forum and Fitzrovia Group will be hundreds of everyday items. the first causes to benefit from Waitrose Portman Square will donate Community Matters. £6,000 and 100 staff working hours a year to local causes nominated by Waitrose Portman Square is at 12 Baker customers through its Community Street. Info: www.waitrose.com 18 arts

Dust off your dancing shoes

“CLienTS geT aDDiCTeD. They just for the Simply classes. i also did some jazz keep coming back for more, term after in my teens, but then i married a man who term. normally, they only stop if they leave had no interest in dancing, which made it the country or move out of London,” impossible for me to carry on. For the next says Simply Dancing Partners founder 30 years, i didn’t do any dancing at all, Jenni Kravitz. because i couldn’t find a willing partner to We are sitting in the atrium of the West go with me.” London Synagogue in Marylebone, waiting Thus, the idea for Simply Dancing for my beginners’ Waltz and Jive class to Partners was born. “When i did start begin. as someone whose entire knowledge is based on a frantic googling of the show’s YouTube repertoire mere hours previously, i don’t know quite what to expect. i do know that never before has seemed so intimidating. Jenni assures me i am not the only one to be lured without the Strictly hook: “i didn’t even watch the first series, but became a fan of the second.” Strangely, none of my fellow non-professionals are religious viewers of the BBC primetime show either. But rather, keen amateurs who think it would be a lovely way to spend a Tuesday evening, not to mention a good skill to have. When Jenni Kravitz took up Jenni herself didn’t set out to start a ballroom and Latin dancing dance school – in fact she was a potential client. “i did some research and found four eight years ago, she could different schools which promised that there only find classes full of would be plenty of men to dance with. What women with hardly any that actually turned out to mean was that men. That’s why she you’d be lucky if there was one man in the launched Simply Dancing class; it was unlikely that he’d be able to dance; and you’d have to share him with up Partners. With the final to ten other women.” Certainly not what you of S trictly on December 13, dream about when you’re at home watching we sent our girl Cally Strictly , then. Squires for a spin She didn’t, however, have two left feet. “i learned ballet as a child and actually did performances in the same room we now use

LEFT: SIMPLY DANCING PARTNERS GET TO GRIPS WITH THE JIVE RIGHT: PROFESSIONALS AT WORK 20 arts

watching Strictly , i realised that if i didn’t clearly built up a rapport with each other, take the initiative and start dancing again having attended the same class together “My vision for Simply now, the opportunity would pass me by,” each week of the term. Jenni says this is Dancing Partners was recalls Jenni. “The classes i had tried were why she shunned taking private lessons for it to be like my only £10 per lesson; you’re lucky if you can when she was learning: “The classes were buy a coffee and a cake for that much. Why too short and not very satisfying from a bridge club – a really would i expect a quality lesson for that sort social point of view.” welcoming atmosphere, of money? i really wanted to go to a class Currently, Simply Dancing Partners and dance with a partner who knew what he offers instruction in Latin, Cha Cha, Rumba, where everybody would was doing. if you were learning tennis, you’d Jive, Samba, Salsa, Waltz, Foxtrot, say hello to you when hire an experienced player to teach you, not Quickstep and, most recently, argentine you walked in.” someone who’d never held a racket before.” Tango. “We hold the classes in a hall in the On Valentine’s Day 2006, Jenni set out Synagogue building, which has recently Jenni Kravitz to find a venue, a teacher and some willing been refurbished beautifully. My parents dancers, “who were prepared to be paid to were both active members – as was i – dance with amateurs like me.” She originally when i was a child.” thought the latter would be thesps who now that she has been dancing solidly were in between stage jobs, but eventually for nine years, i wonder what her favourite she discovered that the best partners were routine is? “Definitely the argentine Tango, not professionals, but were current or ex- it’s really captured my heart. i also love students who were – or had been – on dancing the Rumba, so i’m taking private dancesport teams at university. “They train lessons in that at the moment.” Jenni says very well received on the day!” so hard alongside their degrees that they the private option is great for engaged Being based so centrally, the school reach an incredible level of technical skill,” couples picking a first dance: “We can work attracts clients from near and far. “Some Jenni tells me. out exactly what choreography suits them clients are Marylebone locals. There is “My vision for Simply Dancing Partners best.” The Foxtrot and Waltz are the most one lady who lives opposite us and saw was for it to be like my bridge club – a really popular wedding dances, but Jenni says: the classes through her window. She welcoming atmosphere, where everybody “We did have a bride-to-be who wanted to rushed down and asked to join!” One would say hello to you when you walked in.” learn the dance of the theme tune to Dirty client who has come from very far indeed She certainly seems to have achieved her Dancing . She and her now-husband is Jean – in my class – who found Simply dream. not only do i find the other dancers practised for about eight weeks with us, Dancing Partners online and has flown to be warm and friendly, but they have and i heard afterwards that the routine was from California to spend six months in London, taking weekly dancing lessons at 33 Seymour Place. in the course of the inevitable Strictly chat, Jenni says she would like Casualty actress Sunetra Sarker or EastEnders actor Jake Wood to win. “i realise how good some of the younger girls are, but i do feel they have an unfair advantage. When i watch Sunetra and Jake, who have come from nowhere, i really empathise. it is terribly exciting to see them improve over the weeks. “i’m a very determined person and when i want to do something i get my head down and do it. i was absolutely determined to make Simply Dancing Partners work,” says Jenni. Happily, so far, it has.

Simply Dancing Partners holds classes at 33 Seymour Place on weekday evenings. info: 020 3648 0377, www.simplydancingpartners.co.uk 22 gifts

It’s that time of year again: the number of shopping days left until Christmas are ever-dwindling and the SUPER FLUFFY LEOPARD to-do list is ever-increasing. The good news is that PRINT ROBE, £50, LONG you don’t need to go far to fill the stockings. TALL SALLY, 21-25 CHILTERN STREET. INFO: 020 7487 3370, Catherine Payne-Smith reveals treasure trove of WWW.LONGTALLSALLY.COM CASHMERE RIBBED SOCKS, £40, SUNSPEL, inspiration available on your doorstep 13-15 CHILTERN STREET. INFO: 020 7009 0650, WWW.SUNSPEL.COM Christmas gifts

Comfort and joy

Tis the season to grab a box-set, light the fire and retreat from the world until the chimes of the new year. Here’s what to give if you’re planning an indoor-fest

ROCOCO ROUND BOX NO.1 WITH MIXED CHOCOLATES, £28, ROCOCO CHOCOLATES, 3 MOXON STREET. INFO: 020 7935 7780, WWW.ROCOCOCHOCOLATES.COM

MILTONDUFF-GLENLIVET DISTILLERY 1994 WHISKY, £75.50, THE CADENHEAD’S WHISKY SHOP AND TASTING ROOM, 26 CHILTERN STREET. INFO: 020 7935 6999, WWW.WHISKYTASTINGROOM.COM MHL ROLL NECK, £155, MARGARET HOWELL, 34 WIGMORE STREET. INFO: 020 7009 9009, WWW.MARGARETHOWELL. CO.UK

MY 1ST YEARS STAR TWO-PIECE GIFT SET 0-12 MONTHS, £30, CLIFTON ROSE THREE-TIER , 400 . CAKE STAND, £35, CATH INFO: 0113 369 8040, KIDSTON, 51 MARYLEBONE HIGH BETHLÉEM CANDLE, £65, CIRE WWW.SELFRIDGES.COM STREET. INFO: 020 7935 6555, TRUDON BOUTIQUE, 36 CHILTERN WWW.CATHKIDSTON.COM STREET. INFO: 020 7486 7590, WWW.CIRETRUDON.COM 24 gifts

Making memories

Sometimes the best present is one that doesn’t fit under the Christmas tree. GIFT VOUCHERS FOR BEAUTY TREATMENTS AVAILABLE AT: LEMONGRASS BOUTIQUE SPA, 8 SEYMOUR PLACE. INFO: 020 7258 7997, WWW.LEMONGRASSBOUTIQUESPA.CO.UK BEAUTY ROSE, 21 NEW QUEBEC STREET. INFO: 020 7724 2114, WWW.BEAUTYROSE.CO.UK IBROWS, 16 SEYMOUR PLACE. INFO: 020 7725 5791, WWW.IBROWSETC.CO.UK STENTOR STUDENT VIOLIN, £94, JAS MUSICALS, 14 CHILTERN STREET. GIFT VOUCHERS FOR WORKSHOPS IN KNITTING, INFO: 020 7935 0793, PERFUME MAKING AND MORE, FROM £10, WWW.JAS-MUSICALS.COM HOMEMADE LONDON, 21 SEYMOUR PLACE. INFO: 020 8616 0771, WWW.HOMEMADELONDON.COM

MAKE A DONATION TO THE WEST LONDON DAY CENTRE, WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF 100 HOMELESS PEOPLE EVERY DAY, AT WWW.JUSTGIVING.COM/WLM. WEST LONDON DAY CENTRE, 19 THAYER STREET. WINE TASTING SESSION, £25, EUROCAVE INFO: 020 7569 5900, UK, 57 CHILTERN STREET. INFO: 020 7935 WWW.WLM.ORG.UK/WLDC 4679, WWW.AROUNDWINE.CO.UK 26 gifts

Objects of NAKAMOL BEADED FRINGE desire NECKLACE, £55, SAHARA, 42 CHILTERN STREET. It feels fabulous to unwrap INFO: 020 7935 8990, GOLD BOX UMBRELLA, £29.99, THE something you never knew WWW.SAHARALONDON.COM TOWNHALL DRESS, WALLACE COLLECTION, HERTFORD you wanted until you see it – £795, SUZANNAH, HOUSE, MANCHESTER SQUARE. and feet your heart flutter. 3 NEW QUEBEC STREET. INFO: 020 7563 9500, Treat your loved one to a INFO: 020 7258 0782, WWW.WALLACECOLLECTION.ORG thing of beauty. WWW.SUZANNAH.COM

HARDY & PARSONS BREDON WEBBING BELT, £75, TRUNK CLOTHIERS, 8 CHILTERN STREET. INFO: 020 7486 2357, WWW.TRUNKCLOTHIERS.COM

WHITE LACE DRESS, £85, PAOLITA, 18 NEW QUEBEC STREET. INFO: 0203 620 5806, WWW.PAOLITA.CO.UK

EDITH BAG, £185, WILBUR & GUSSIE, 20 NEW QUEBEC STREET. INFO: 020 3696 4920, WWW.WILBURANDGUSSIE.COM

JOHN SIMONS APPAREL COMPANY SHIRT, £89, JOHN SIMONS, 46 CHILTERN STREET. RIVIERA POLO SHIRT, INFO: 020 3490 2729, £80, SUNSPEL, WWW.JOHNSIMONS.CO.UK 13-15 CHILTERN STREET. INFO: 020 7009 0650, WWW.SUNSPEL.COM

30 community

Gail’s in PorTMan VillaGE is buzzing. The artisan bakery, which opened on seymour Place in september, is filled with mums chatting animatedly, while their babies snooze in prams and toddlers play underfoot. Portman Estate resident and local mum Tushna Ghadially is holding her second coffee morning for the website and network of parents she set up earlier this year. Tushna and her husband moved to Bryanston Mews West in april 2013 after living in the lancaster Gate area for about ten years. The relocation brought huge benefits. “Marylebone definitely has more of a community feel than even lancaster Gate and, living in a mews, we have quite a few families living on our street and the children play out in the evenings,” says Tushna. Gloria rexer agrees. she moved to Marylebone last august and had her baby, Camila, in February. “You can do almost everything just walking and, as we don’t have a car, that’s perfect! i love taking Camila to the park (either the small one in Paddington street Gardens or regent’s Park), a lot of restaurants are easy to visit with a baby [see box], and it’s easy for us to meet my husband during lunchtime as he works so close.” after having her daughter, Katayoun, in March 2013, Tushna gave up work as a fund manager. However, she soon discovered that there was no established community for local parents, so Tushna set up MaryleboneMums.com at the beginning of the year. “The website provides a blog, where news and information about local events, classes and coffee mornings are posted. These

Mum’s the word

Marylebone Mums was set up earlier this year to help parents find child-friendly activities on and around The Portman Estate. Felicity Kent finds out more about the concept from founder Tushna Ghadially ABOVE: SIRIO

OPPOSITE: TUSHNA GHADIALLY AND KATAYOUN 32 community

are also on our Facebook page and Twitter feed. There is also a Marylebone Dad, Jethro, and 17-month-old calendar of events so you can see what is on every day.” Florence. she wanted to give something back to Gloria, who is originally from Brazil, says: “The Marylebone the local community so started up rossmore Mums Facebook group really helped me to meet other mums.” rascals, a playgroup for babies and toddlers at st While her network of parents grows, Tushna now wants to build Paul’s Church on rossmore road. “i thought that a relationship with local businesses. “i want to make sure that local even if it just ended up being Florence’s mates businesses value the loyal custom that local families bring. i plan to and their mums that would be great, but it’s been encourage classes to start running in the area and try to help find BELOW: MANYA KLEMPNER AND CHARLIE really popular and we have 15 kids at each them space where activities can happen. There is also a gap in the OPPOSITE TOP: GLORIA REXER AND CAMILA session. it’s been rather altruistic and really helps market for a family club around here, especially to precipitate the local ‘village’ feeling that we given the large number of kids.” OPPOSITE BELOW: LES PORT DES INDES have been trying to create.” aurore Martial has been living on Montagu after achieving so much in so little time, square for three and a half years and had her Tushna and her Marylebone Mums will surely son, sirio, last november. she has an idea for a enrich the vibrant fabric of The Portman Estate’s family club but is struggling to find suitable family-friendly offerings for the future. space. “i started going to playgroups, and was just info: www.marylebonemums.com or shocked to see that there wasn’t that much going www.facebook.com/groups/marylebonemums/ on: surely there should be better settings than church basements or libraries? so i decided to Twitter: @MaryleboneMums launch a pop-up cafe and created Take a Deep Breath, just to see if it was just me dreaming of something a bit more sophisticated or if there was really a gap in the market. Tushna’s guide: “The idea was pretty simple: an afternoon tea where to eat with kids for the mums, a play area for the kids (with finger food) and a music class – all wrapped up in two Gail’s Bakery, 4-6 seymour Place: “a family hours. We held it at Hardy’s Brasserie and i favourite for a sweet treat or yummy lunch.” absolutely enjoyed it. since then, i have been Bright Courtyard Club, 43-45 Baker street: looking desperately for a space.” “Especially for dim sum – super kid-friendly.” another local mum saw a gap in the market Natural Kitchen, 55 Baker street: “The atrium for personal training. Manya Klempner is the co- area is great.” founder of Moose X-Training, a personal training Chiltern Firehouse, 1 Chiltern street: boutique that comes to the client. The concept is “supposedly very child-friendly, although not tried perfect for new mums. it with the kids yet!” “Many of our clients have children and either La Porte des Indes (pictured), 32 Bryanston use our services to get rid of stubborn excess street: “For sunday brunch.” baby weight or to get in a workout at home while baby naps or hubby supervises in the evening. We’re all about being convenient, and we’re quite affordable too. as a small company celebrating our second birthday soon, we always value support from the community.” suzy Kruger lives on rossmore road with her handyman husband and self-confessed

The concept is perfect for new mums … “We’re all about being convenient, and we’re quite affordable too.” Manya Klempner

36 food & drink

Tired of turkey? Crave a more original festive season get-together? These eateries in the Portman area embrace different nationalities and styles. All are great for sociable sharing and there’s not a sprout in sight. Debbie Ward reports Roti Chai The Indian street food served at Roti Chai has proved such a popular antidote to turkey and mince pies that, in previous years, it has seen people queuing for Boxing Day and New Year’s Day lunch. Alternative Christmas dinners There are two separate rooms and menus; the more casual Street Kitchen (open from midday, last orders 10.30pm) and the Dining Room (open from 5pm). The former is more popular with families CHILI PANEER AT ROTI CHAI and group lunches and the latter for Christmas dinners with colleagues or Carousel CAROUSEL friends. The street food-inspired sharing With a promise of “no stuffing, no sprouts, style helps to keep things sociable. and definitely no mince pies”, Carousel Try the £32.50 ‘Atma’ sample Dining The Lockhart is waging “a one-kitchen war against Room sharing party menu, which includes Thanksgiving is the big turkey-focused soporific Christmas lunch menus” this ‘small plates’ such as lamb Gilafi seekh event Stateside, and you can get a taste of Christmas. The restaurant, which takes the kebab and ‘comfort food’ dishes like it from now until November 27 at American form of a string of pop-ups, has produced creamy butter chicken, a Koliwada fish kari restaurant The Lockhart, with fried turkey an original Christmas menu with “seasonal cooked with coconut, and a slow-cooked legs, country ham, smoked brisket and ingredients and punchy flavours.” pork belly goan vinha d’alhos. A spiced traditional side dishes. Starters include cured and charred Bombay banoffee is among the desserts. The restaurant’s varied Southern menu, mackerel with fennel, mint, grilled orange The Street Kitchen party menus start meanwhile, can be adapted for ‘family- and shallot vinaigrette, or slow cooked from £24.50 per person. style’ Christmas parties from £35 per rabbit, with pickled carrots, chervil and person. Mississippi-born chef Brad sourdough toast. 3 Portman Mews South. Info: 020 7408 McDonald turns out the likes of catfish Mains are a choice of pan-fried hake 0101, www.rotichai.com gumbo; dirty rice with brown crab and with mussels, a vegetarian rotola pasta dish with sage and walnut butter or, the closest thing to a traditional roast, a dry hung chicken with spiced yoghurt and FRIED CHICKEN, COLLARD GREENS AND BLACK-EYED PEAS West Mersea oysters; short ribs; or the pearl barley. Dessert hits the off-beat AT THE LOCKHART festive-sounding grouse, sour cherries and festive spot, with the likes of caramelised bacon with Madeira glaze. Side dishes lemon and Seville orange cake with naturally include grits and cornbread, while cardamom yoghurt or mascarpone, red desserts feature the lemon icebox pie that wine prunes and baby doughnuts. recently proved a winner at the Portman Bookings for parties of four or more Bake Off. Wash it all down with a California are being taken for lunch or dinner from wine, a mint julep, an ice tea or some November 24 to December 18. homemade lemonade. A New Year’s Day ‘Lucky Brunch’ will 71 Blandford Street. Info:020 7487 5564, recreate the traditional Southern inclusions www.carousel-london.com of collard greens for wealth, and Hoppin’ John (rice with black-eyed peas) for luck. Nordic Bakery 22-24 Seymour Place. Info: 020 3011 That famous Danish feel-good word 5400, www.lockhartlondon.com ‘hygge’, meaning something like ‘cosiness’, will be much in evidence at the 38 food & drink

Nordic Bakery this season. The menu’s still TAPAS AT DONOSTIA selection, or octopus in Basque marinade LANES OF LONDON’S evolving, but expect the likes of glogg –a are among the cold plates. AFTERNOON TEA traditional mulled wine, usually served with There are classic or gourmet set menus almonds and raisins, plus cranberry buns, (£36 or £47) for groups, featuring some of Christmas ginger stars and other seasonal the above dishes, plus the likes of slow- biscuits. Meet up with friends, take some cooked pigs cheeks and a choice of baked treats home for entertaining, or do desserts. Or you can pre-order a leg of a spot of Christmas shopping: a “hamper” suckling lamb or goat for £32/34. If you’re is being created, with contents likely to be in full party mode, hire a room for up to 16 a bottle of Glogg, Nordic Bakery jam and people, or book Donostia’s catering. blueberry juice, and a branded tray and tea towel, all in a Nordic Bakery shoulder bag. 10 Seymour Place. Info: 020 3620 1845, www.donostia.co.uk 37b New Cavendish Street. Info:020 7935 3590, www.nordicbakery.com Lanes of London For a fun twist on the pre-Christmas get- together, gather at Lanes of London where the afternoon tea has been given Donostia a festive makeover. This November and Tapas have always been a great sharing December, the tea will feature Christmas meal, so Donostia is a perfect port of call pudding spiced macaroon, chocolate and with friends. Along with favourites like orange opera cake, a gingerbread house, tortilla and Donostia’s take on patatas coffee and mascarpone yule log and warm a hit for sociable dining, with tapas-style bravas, a sophisticated range of dishes eggnog with spiced foam. The indulgence plates designed to represent the best of features scallops, cod cheeks, pigeon with costs £35 per person, which includes a multi-cultural London. ceps and chestnut pur ée, and an orange glass of champagne, and is available for and hazelnut salad. Hand-carved three- group bookings. London Marriot Hotel, 140 Park Lane. Info: year-old Iberian jaman, a charcuterie Lanes’ regular street food menu is also 020 7647 5664, www.lanesoflondon.co.uk

Hunter 486 Christmas grub around the world If a taste of the traditional is what you’re craving, Christmas is a celebration common to many countries, Naturally, fish is much in evidence at Nordic The Arch London’s stylish Hunter 486 restaurant but the traditional meal is very much a moveable feast. Christmas dinner tables. Nordic Bakery operations is offering a lavish five-course lunch or dinner for Molly, part of the Lockhart team, is originally from director Richard Keen says the first course is typically a £55 per person. Dishes include wild mushroom Kansas City but met her husband Brad, Lockhart’s chef, fish buffet, including gravlax served with boiled potatoes cappuccino with parmesan crisp; traditional roast while at university in Mississippi. She says: “A lot of and mustard and dill dressing, sill – a kind of herring Norfolk turkey with chestnut stuffing, roast Southern cuisine is based around pork. Christmas dinner served with mustard and pickled vegetables – and potatoes, Brussels sprouts, chipolatas in bacon, would be no different, with ham as the main. Cornbread ‘lutefisk’ – a dried cod soaked in a lye solution. cranberry sauce and roasting jus; and chocolate would be a side, and then dessert would probably be Ham is the main event again, with a slow-roasted and clementine tart with clotted cream ice cream. some pies like a pecan pie or a sweet potato pie that’s whole gammon the star, served with root vegetable The meal is also available as three courses for often also served for Thanksgiving. Each family has their casseroles and beetroot and red cabbage salads, £35 and four courses for £45 (until December 31). own variations. Mine has Danish heritage so we had a homemade mustard and peas. On Christmas day, a four-course lunch including red cabbage dish. Donostia co-owner Nemanja Borjanovic says the a glass of Taittinger is available for £65 per person. New Year’s Day is one of my favourite Southern restaurant will be playing out a humorous Spanish traditions with collard greens and black-eyed peas. Brad tradition this New Year’s Eve: “We will be counting down Hunter 486 at The Arch London, 50 Great and I would do a brunch. People would come a little to New Year with grapes. For every count, every guest Cumberland Place. Info: 020 7724 0486, worse for wear but still laughing about the night before, will put a grape in their mouth entering 2015 with a www.thearchlondon.com/hunter-486-brasserie and we’d toast the New Year.” mouth full of grapes.” 40 service

Teresa Kearney, associate director of customer services, and Kirsty Arnold, team leader, facilities management, have looked after the residents, occupiers and visitors of The Portman Estate for the past ten years. They tell us how they stay on top of the game in customer service

“We value all feedback and Above and beyond welcome any ideas and suggestions”

Teresa: Our job is to ensure that The Real Service Best Practice Group our contractors, and place great importance on Portman Estate is a desirable place to (www.rsbpg.com), whose aim health and safety. We’re in constant be: to live, to work, to shop and to visit. is to improve customer service in the communication with them and hold regular review A key part of our role is looking after our property sector. meetings. customers – whether they are Respect for others is very important Teresa: We continually look to improve the level commercial, retail or residential. to us and we strive to be fair and of customer service we offer and know that we Kirsty: It’s going above and beyond professional in everything that we do. can never be complacent. We benchmark perhaps what other landlords might Clear communication is key. ourselves against others in the property industry provide but also above and beyond the We meet all customers when they as well as organisations outside the property

expectations of our customers. We have move into one of our properties. Myself, KIRSTY ARNOLD (LEFT) world, such as those in the hotel and service many different initiatives and ways we Kirsty or one of the facilities management AND TERESA KEARNEY sector. can enhance the customer service we team will attend and make that personal We encourage people to give us feedback, provide, and that is something we’re contact. We like to get to know people whether they live or work on the Estate or not, continually looking at, it doesn’t stop. well and build relationships with them. take your call and to respond to maintenance and even if they’re not our direct occupiers, we Teresa: Sometimes, with the best will in You can see who we all are on our issues as required. value all feedback and welcome any ideas and the world, things may go wrong, but if it website: We also have a handyman service. Andy has suggestions. does we will do our utmost to put things www.portmanestate.co.uk/contact. worked with us for the past five years and is a right as quickly as possible. Kirsty: At the end of a check-in meeting, familiar face. It’s very important to us to have The Portman Estate office is at 40 Portman We are in a unique position on The our new occupiers always feel reassured someone around the Estate that people know. Square. Portman Estate, in that all of our to have met one of the team and have a Teresa: Most of the contractors we use are Info: 020 7563 1400, www.portmanestate.co.uk, properties are within a five minute walk of personal contact here at the office. I think people we have worked with for many years. [email protected]. our office here on Portman Square. That people really value that. We’ve got a 24- They tend to be smaller companies where we does make a big difference. hour service desk as well, which means have developed strong working relationships. Maintenance enquiries: 020 7563 1750, We are a founding member of the we can be on-hand all day, every day, to Kirsty: We have a detailed procedure for vetting [email protected] 43 baker street quarter

Stocking and stomach fillers

LOCAL FOODIES and hungry workers are no Cally Squires gets the doubt already familiar with the monthly food markets held on the second Wednesday of every low-down from the month by the Baker Street Quarter. Throughout Baker Street Quarter’s the summer months, they take place in the lush Kirsty Jones on what’s surroundings of Portman Square gardens, in store for this year’s retreating to the outdoor atrium of 55 Baker Street Christmas market, from when the weather gets cooler. However, when it comes to the (now second annual) Christmas December 10-11 at 55 market: “We up our game and try to do Baker Street something even more special,” the Quarter’s communications manager Kirsty Jones tells me. For starters, the Christmas market lasts for two days, and gift traders are invited along, as well as the usual food stalls. “Some are local traders and others are from further afield in London. We mix it up a bit so that different stalls will be there on the Wednesday and the Thursday,” Kirsty says. Gifts on offer this year will include books, scarves and jewellery, in addition to Christmas-themed wares like tree decorations and wreaths. “The perfect stocking fillers,” says Kirsty. 44 baker street quarter

Gourmands will be pleased to hear that regulars including Roti Chai from Portman Mews – whose Indian street food is a firm favourite among locals – and Fire & Spice from the Double Tree by Hilton Marble Arch (another fantastic Indian offering) – will be at this year’s market. Made in Marylebone, a local enterprise project working with women from a nearby refuge centre, will also be selling the “most amazing” cakes. “We try and offer something a bit different from the standard mince pie-filled Christmas market,” says Kirsty. “Although, of course, there will be plenty of roast chestnuts and mulled wine!”

The Portman talks to Sophie Mitchell, a local resident who will be selling Stella & Dot jewellery at this year’s Christmas market… Sophie lives on York Street, and first heard about the market through friends who work at 55 Baker Street. “The mulled wine is delicious so I will definitely be queuing up for more of that again this year! I love all the seasonal food products, especially the cheeses, and I can’t resist a free sample! As a vendor, I’m very excited to showcase some of the jewels in JSOteAllNa N&A D WotO’sO bD rand new winter collection, and see which pieces will be the most popular. I was a vendor for Stella & Dot at the Baker Street Quarter’s Christmas market last year, too. I had a wonderful time chatting to people and helping them pick out the perfect gift or some sparkly accessories for the office Christmas party. It was a beautifully crisp day and the GOLD AND SILVER NECKLACE, £170 GREEN AND GOLD NECKLACE, £40 atmosphere was so festive.” DROP EARRINGS, £35 BRACELETS, £19 EACH STUDS, £19 EACH