Living South - December 2010

44.4 MB·English

by  Archant

LS_Dec Cover1.4 gold FINAL.pdf 22/11/2010 17:33:20
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
2
Herne Hill 020 7274 3333
OLIVER BURN
Clapham 020 7622 1121
Exceeding expectations
www.oliverburn.com
Christmas Cheer!
The year is coming to a close
and the news is that it has
been a great one for property
sales, rentals too! Although
there are negative reports of a
housing market downturn, we
are still experiencing serious
demand and prime properties
Diana Burn, Founder
are selling quickly often at
record prices. This position is not likely to change
as the New Year dawns…….
More properties required.
S
( O
s
a
m
pl L
Br e
anof
c H
h ser D
alene
s) Hill
Proud to sponsor Brockwell Park Events 2010
Battersea • Brixton • Clapham • Dulwich • Herne Hill • Oval • Stockwell • Vauxhall
Neil Stuke on Season’s Greetings and his
passion for Franklins Farm Shop
7
Accessories
all areas!
34
Flawless at the
Eat, drink, and Southbank Centre and
be very merry! more seasonal events
45 14
Contents
Deck the halls with
glittery angels...
31
Features Regulars
7 Stage presence 11Jenny Eclair
Actor, foodie, family man – Leaving on a jet plane
NeilStuke has a lot going on 14What’s on
22The Living South gift guide 41Health & beauty
Credit cards at the ready... 45Recipe for living
31Oh, Christmas tree! 50Helen Lederer
Ethical trees and gorgeous decorations Compulsory Christmas quaffs
34Sparkle, shimmer, shine 53Dining out Web exclusives
The most fabulous party accessories The Old Nun’s Head, Nunhead
55 Life & style Nar Restaurant & Bar, Vauxhall ● More gift ideas for
The London Lifestyle awards in photos 56Kids
loved ones, more
61Things are looking bright 75Directory
festive events to spread
Photographer Sandra Lousada captures 83 Property
the cheer, more foodie
the lighter side of London
suggestions for pure
70Photo fabulous
overindulgence...
The Great British Life photography
Find it all online at
competition London Shortlist
livingsouth.greatbritishlife.co.uk
livingsouth.greatbritishlife.co.uk December 2010 3
ABOUT US
LIVING
SOUTH
Avon House (5th Floor), Kensington Village
Avonmore Road W14 8TS
020 7605 2200
Editorial
Group Editor Mark Kebble [email protected]
Editor Victoria Purcell Editorial Assistant Charlotte Livingstone
ContributorsJenny Eclair, Helen Lederer, Keith Sheriff, Anne Thatcher
Advertising Sales
Publishing Director Sharon Kirby [email protected]
PA to Publishing Director Sean-Paul Roberts
Advertising ManagerLynsey Saker
Field Sales Executive Linda Ikwue
Head of Property Alexandra Hunter
Telesales ExecutivesAlice Lander, Camellia Mester
Design & Production
Group Production Manager Lesa Melbourne [email protected]
Production Manager Gordon Wallis Copy Controller Christine Mann
Editorial DesignZeenat Niazi Designers Gary Fortune,
Stewart Hyde, Deepti Khanna, Igor Lavrenchuk, Tom Miller
Archant Life
Group Commercial Director Tim Thurston
Group Publishing Director Suzanne Heaven [email protected]
Finance DirectorIan Fish Managing Director Johnny Hustler
Print & Distribution
PrintingHeadley Brothers DistributionRegal
Enquiries
Customers [email protected]
Subscriptions020 7605 2206 Advertising020 7978 3464
Editorial020 7978 3486 Switchboard020 7978 3499
Facsimile020 7978 3498
Community numbers
CCoouunncciillss PPoolliiccee HHoossppiittaallss
BBrroommlleeyy020 8464 3333 BBrroommlleeyy01689 891212 KKiinngg’’ss CCoolllleeggee HHoossppiittaall
LLaammbbeetthh020 7926 1000 LLaammbbeetthh020 7326 1212 020 3299 9000
LLeewwiisshhaamm020 8314 6000 LLeewwiisshhaamm020 8297 1212 GGuuyy’’ss aanndd SStt TThhoommaass’’ HHoossppiittaallss
SSoouutthhwwaarrkk020 7525 5000 SSoouutthhwwaarrkk020 7378 1212 020 7188 7188
Archant is a community media company active in the fields of newspaper and magazine publishing,
contract printing and internet communications. The company’s portfolio includes four daily newspapers,
around 60 weekly newspaper titles, around 100 monthly consumer, contract and regional magazines and
over 160 websites. Archant is the UK’s leading family-owned independent regional newspaper owner
in the UK, currently employing around 2,600 people. Archant Life is the largest publisher of regional
magazines in the UK with over 50 titles. © 2009 Archant Life Ltd. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. Whilst all reasonable care is taken
with material submitted to Living South, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to such
material. All prices are correct at time of going to press but are subject to change.
Living South cannot be responsible for unsolicited material.
When you have finished with
this magazine please recycle it.
4 December 2010 livingsouth.greatbritishlife.co.uk
FROM THE EDITOR
m
o
bythesheriff.c
ot Victoria Purcell
w.sh
ww [email protected]
R
eaders, we’re very excited here at Living South! There’s
a whole lot of mighty fine festive fun going on around the
area, from the Cologne Christmas Market at the Southbank
Centre, right down to Penge Town Centre’s Xmas Celebration Event,
with many a Dulwich happening in between.
The team here has been channelling the spirit of Christmas present
for weeks now, composing ggiifftt gguuiiddeess, contemplating the bbeesstt
ttiipppplleessto top off the turkey dinner, and even shooting oouurr ffiirrsstt--eevveerr
oonn--llooccaattiioonn ffaasshhiioonn sshhoooott. My, the girls look gorgeous, dressed
to the nines in party wear fit for a princess at the Cambria in SE5.
We’ve also trawled the streets/the web/our inboxes for the most
glitzy, glittering and glamorous ppaarrttyy aacccceessssoorriieess to add pizzazz
to your festive frock. Effectively, we’ve done our Christmas shop,
embarrassed ourselves at the office party and overindulged in
a festive feast already!
We also have aaccttoorr NNeeiill SSttuukkee, here among these very pages,
to wish you Season’s Greetings. The owner of Lordship Lane’s
Franklins Farm Shop is treading the boards at the National in the
aforementioned play by Alan Ayckbourn, alongside his old friend
Catherine Tate. Find out more about his year on stage and screen
in our exclusive interview.
And finally, JJeennnnyy EEccllaaiirr hhaass ggoonnee ttrriibbaall!!Chances are you’ve already
spotted her face on TV, hair askew, flicking off bugs, as she tries
to refrain from yelling “I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!” Why
do such a thing, you ask? Jenny reveals all in this month’s column...
Here’s hoping you have a very merry Christmas!
THIS MONTH’S COVER...
Photographer Chris Lewington captures the
light shimmering through a frosty pine tree in
Peckham Rye Park © Chris Lewington/Alamy
Launched in 1992, Living Southis distributed
free to selected households and businesses
in Anerley, Brixton, Brockley, Camberwell,
Crystal Palace, Dulwich, Forest Hill, Herne Hill,
New Cross, Norwood, Peckham, Penge,
Sydenham and Tulse Hill. For subscriptions,
call Sean-Paul Roberts on 020 7605 2206. Visit
us online at livingsouth.greatbritishlife.co.uk
livingsouth.greatbritishlife.co.uk December 2010 5
6
s.
s
r e
E E ecto attr
t m
F R ss proality
e u
m attrery q
v
e
h
t
wi
The Bed Butler.
The perfect way to buy a bed.
Many of us dream of a good night’s sleep, and as we spend a third of our lives
Wriggling on and off a bed for 30 seconds in a department store is not the best
way at all. But trying out a bed in the comfort of your own home is a far, far
better option. Choose one from either our modern or traditional luxury range
of crafted beds and it will be delivered free of charge to your own home along
dispose of your old one, and can even provide a selection of handmade linen,
duvets and pillows. In fact we do everything and more that you would expect of
a personal luxury service the carries the name of ‘The Bed Butler’.
Freephone
0800 975 5211
Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm The Ultimate Bed Service
53-57 Norwood Road Herne Hill London SE24 9AA
PROFILE
AA CCLLAASSSS AACCTT
FFrroomm RRooookkeerryy NNooookk ttoo
ffrraannttiicc ccooookk,, NNEEIILL SSTTUUKKEE
iiss aa mmaann ooff mmaannyy ttaalleennttss..
VViiccttoorriiaa PPuurrcceellll ccaattcchheess
hhiimm aatt tthhee NNaattiioonnaall
Neil Stuke photographed in rehearsal for
Season’s Greetings at the National
Photo by Catherine Ashmore
livingsouth.greatbritishlife.co.uk December 2010 7
S
E
R
U
T
A
E
F
X
E
R
V /
T
S; I
E
R
U
T
A
E
F
X
E
R
S /
WI
E
L
T
N
AI
R
E
G
E;
R
T
A
E
H
T
L
A
N
O
TI
A
N
E
H
T
K /
S
Season’s Greetings. From left: Marc Wootton, FI
L
Mark Gatiss, Oliver Chris, Neil Stuke, HI
P
Nicola Walker and Catherine Tate
Ihave always loved Christmas, and I have I thought that was a stroke of genius – they
always been lucky to be surrounded said it was the best dish of the night.”
by other people that love Christmas,” Clearly, this is a man as passionate about
says actor Neil Stuke, calm, composed and food as acting – a professional actor for
incredibly relaxed as I catch him between about 20 years, he is also the brains behind
rehearsals for his latest turn on stage. Franklins Farm Shop on Lordship Lane. His
It’s a stark contrast to the Stuke I’d seen father was a chef, as are many of his friends,
on screen earlier this year, sweating and thus it’s no surprise that he has “a big love
furrowed of brow on Celebrity MasterChef. of food.” Not fancying cheffing as a career
He narrowly missed out on a place in the himself (“I think it’s a really dark sport”),
final alongside Dick Strawbridge, Christine he set his sights on a farm shop at a time Rookery Nook at Menier Chocolate Factory,
Hamilton and Lisa Faulkner – who went on when he was becoming disillusioned with April 2009 From left: Kellie Shirley as Rhoda
to win – and it seems the experience still acting – not the easiest line of work either. Marley, Edward Baker-Duly as Clive Popkiss,
haunts him: “It was horrible, I still haven’t Tim Sheehan, owner of Franklins Neil Stuke as Gerard Popkiss and Clare Wilkie
got over it, I was really horribly robbed…” restaurant and a good friend, suggested as Clara Popkiss
Stuke refers to the incident where the setting up Franklins Farm Shop in a vacant
custard tart base he had prepped from shop next door. Two years ago it opened its
scratch crashed to the floor as he pulled it doors, selling seasonal fruit and vegetables Lordship Lane has been doing well
from the oven – it made for painful viewing, fresh from farms in Kent, award-winning in column inches of late, with The Times
as a clearly distraught Stuke crouched on English cheeses and Barrington Park Estate considering it the best high street in London
the floor over his destroyed dessert. eggs. Sheehan, his business partner Rod last month. Despite Stuke having put down
“I burnt my thumb really badly, which Franklin, and Stuke now run it together. firm roots with his wife and two young
was the reason I dropped it, but they didn’t (Though Stuke is the first to admit his children near Hampstead Heath, he
show that. I completely remade it again business partners do the lion’s share of the is a huge fan of the place: “It’s incredible
from scratch and served it after my triple work, since a busy year on stage and screen – I wish I lived in a place that had such
dessert [his replacement dish], but they has kept him away.) The trio recently a great high street.”
didn’t show that either. celebrated Franklins being named runner So who’ll be cooking Christmas dinner at
“I think they’d already decided who they up in the Observer Food Monthlyawards the Stuke household? “I will be! Now I have
wanted to win anyway,” he continues, “but for Best Ethical Restaurant. a family of my own – and my mum will be
8December 2010 livingsouth.greatbritishlife.co.uk
PROFILE
there, my sister and her husband will be Neville, alongside Catherine Tate in the role Franklins’ festive feast
popping in, my wife’s family will be popping of Belinda. The two attended the Central
in – it will be lovely. But of course we’ll be School of Speech and Drama together, and ●● VVeegg bbooxxeessOrder a
working here [at the National] this Stuke has also appeared on The Catherine bespoke box of seasonal
Christmas, so it’ll be slightly scuppered Tate Show. The chemistry on stage then, vegetables, all fresh from
– we’re gonna be working our asses off!” should be good, especially when it comes farms in Kent. Choose from
Season’s Greetingspaints a less rosy picture to a ‘bungled infidelity under the tree’. sprout tops, chestnuts,
of the festive season. First staged in “[Their relationship is] very strained,” he cranberry sauce, Italian
Scarborough in 1980, the play by Alan says, “There’s a lot of bonhomie, especially mostarda, goose fat and
Ayckbourn opens at the National Theatre from Neville. As with a lot of married even piccalilli, gravies and
this month. Ayckbourn, one of the country’s couples with kids, there’s a lot of tension chutneys prepared by the restaurant.
most popular and prolific playwrights, peels there, a lot of frustrations, if you just scratch ●● HHoommeewwaarreeDeck the kitchen with
back the façade of the typical family under the surface. The infidelity is with traditional homewares including
Christmas to reveal the tensions, the drama Belinda. It didn’t actually come to fruition, Victorian jelly-print aprons and tea
and the indiscretions. Belinda and Neville but a young, attractive writer comes to stay, towels sporting a partridge in a pear
Bunker invite the family over for the and with two very funny, highly comic tree, by Cockpit Artists Thornback and
festivities, but a toxic combination of consequences, that infidelity is thwarted.” Peel, as well as 1930’s bread bins.
uncles, aunts and family friends leads Stuke’s career started out in theatre almost ●● WWrreeaatthhss The team are also creating
to disaster. 20 years ago when he took to the stage in their own wreaths, made with fresh ivy,
“It’s classic London theatres such as the Royal Court holly and berries – you can even order
Ayckbourn,” says Theatre and the Bush. His TV breakthrough a bespoke version.
Stuke, “It’s darkly was Game On, a flat-share sitcom aimed at 155 Lordship Lane SE22; 020 8693 3992
comic and very twentysomethings, where he played self-
funny, but it obsessed agoraphobic Matthew. “I think
certainly I’m quite good at playing irritating,” he
highlights the says, “I seem to get cast as a lot of assholes.
tensions a lot [Game On] was unbelievable fun. It certainly
of families tapped in to some kind of zeitgeist at the
experience over time. I couldn’t quite believe we were being
Christmas. But paid to have that much fun.”
we’re having This year has been a busy one for Stuke,
a lot of fun.” starting out with Celebrity MasterChef, and Geraldine James – that was pretty
Stuke plays filming the second series of Reggie Perrin extraordinary; the mid-90s doing all the
with Martin plays at the Bush, and more recently Boeing
Clunes followed Boeingin the West End, I took over from
by a new BBC Mark Rylance, did a long run in that, that
drama, Silk, was good fun. But Silkwas absolutely
which is due to air incredible. I got a great part as a senior clerk
in February, and in chambers, a nice Machiavellian role, with
now Season’s Rupert Penry-Jones and Maxine Peake.
Greetings. With “But I’d like to branch out, maybe take
such a résumé, a year out, start something else. I’d like to
one wonders what have a pub or something like that… who
he considers his knows, we’ll see.” ●
career highlights?
“Probably Season’s Greetings is on now at the
ITV’s Kingdom, 2007. From left: Peter Kingdom [BBC drama] National’s Lyttelton Theatre, running
(Stephen Fry), Mark Larsen (Luke Mably) The Sins, with in repertoire until 13 March 2011
and Damien Larsen (Neil Stuke) Pete Postlethwaite South Bank SE1 9PX; 020 7452 3000
livingsouth.greatbritishlife.co.uk December 2010 9
10
eclectic
KITCHENS BEDROOMS BATHROOMS
INTERIORS
65 ABBEVILLE ROAD
LONDON SW4 9JW
020 8673 0572
WWW.ECLECTICINTERIORS.CO.UK
KITCHENS • BEDROOMS • BATHROOMS • INTERIORS • PROJECT MANAGEMENT