Table Of Content

J415 SP Ancaster House Resident Mag DPS:BESPOKE DPS 19/8/09 09:50 Page 1 Chelsea & South Kensington Sales 020 7225 3866 Lettings 020 7589 9966 Professional Valuations 020 7235 9959 Fulham & Parsons Green Sales 020 7731 7100 Lettings 020 7731 7100 UK Commercial & Residential 020 7629 7282 Kensington & Holland Park Sales 020 7938 3666 Lettings 020 7938 3866 London & Residential Investment 020 7318 5198 Knightsbridge, Belgravia, Mayfair Sales 020 7235 9959 Lettings 020 7235 9959 and Development www.struttandparker.com/london J415 SP Ancaster House Resident Mag DPS:BESPOKE DPS 19/8/09 09:50 Page 2 Prime Mayfair | London | W1 To Rent One of central London’s finest private houses with regal proportions For further information please contact: extending to about 30,000 sq ft (2,745 sq m). Sophie McCarter or Gemma Royle 020 7235 9959 The main house is complemented by a magnificent ballroom, two lifts, private car park, sumptuous private swimming pool complex and [email protected] spacious but separate staff accommodation. Price Upon Application A22687 WAE TREVOR SQUARE RES 03Sol.indd 1 19/11/09 13:47:07 68 59 89 INSIDE IN SHORT 30 20 Home-spun charmRaffaella Barker on why homemade is best this year 24 Au non! Lady Sybilla tells a cautionary tale when hiring an au pair 56 Clock watching Simon Brooke thinks he’s found what every man wants FEATURES 15 Season’s greetings Our round-up of local carol concerts, services and al fresco gatherings to get you in the festive spirit 17 On the mapWe’ve fallen in love with Jonathan Addis’ stunning illustrations, the perfect gift for any Chelsea resident 30 Top note NancyAlsop meets Suzi Digby, the most glamorous choir mistress you are ever likely to meet, and the most successful 36 That’s a wrap Our guide to the finest gifts this Christmas 45 Snap happyAmanda Constance commissions Tim Hall to photograph her children, capturing them in his unique portraiture style 68 Blue sky daysLydia Williams visits the Maldives and discovers that being deserted on an island isn’t so bad after all 77 Food glorious foodOur pick of festive foodie offerings for the Christmas table REGULARS 06Editor’s letter 12Round up 27 19Diary 27 Resident loves 41 Accessories:Wreaths 53 Well read 54 Fashion: Tweed 59 Interiors news 65High maintenance 71Minibreaks:Browns Hotel 79 Table talk 82 Restaurant reviews 84In the frame 77 89My residence: Trevor Pickett 41 ADVERTISING PROMOTIONS 34 Streetwise:Walton Street 42 Last minute Christmas shopping 46 Streetwise: MotcombStreet 48 Streetwise: ElizabethStreet 50 Streetwise:Pimilco Street Front cover by Rebecca Lea Williams rebeccawilliamsart.com _ Q / / g welcome Editor’s Letter I often get a leaden feeling in my stomach when contemplating Christmas. What truly matters during the festive period can seem swamped by the spending hysteria that grips us all. I hate the last-minute dash to buy people something, which often results in wasting money on a disposable trinket that the recipient will barely like and never actually use. Far worse is the avalanche of cheap plastic that comes my children’s way. They have more than enough toys already (their very favourite presents last year were large cardboard boxes my mum saved for them) and I just see a mounting pile of landfill in front of me. Now I realise I sound like an utter Scrooge. But I’m not, I adore Christmas, which is why I’m feeling a little more light-hearted this year as the fashion for thrift takes hold. A homemade Christmas is suddenly de rigeur: sewing, recycling, baking, painting – it doesn’t matter as long as it’s made at home with love. Our columnist Raffaella Barker is one step ahead of me, baking up a storm with her daughter and making Christmas gifts for all and sundry. Read more about her homespun festivities on page 20. Now, I’d be lying if I said I was going to make everyone’s Yuletide goodies but if I can’t create, I want to make sure I spend my money on something that hasn’t come off a boat from China. One of the joys of putting together our gift guides (pages 36-38) is seeing how we still make beautiful things in this country with care and attention to detail. Of course, you have to pay for craftmanship, but isn’t it so much better to have something that actually lasts, that has an intrinsic value because of the effort that went into it rather than some tat spewed out by a machine? Trevor Pickett, whose eponymous Burlington Arcade shop is full of utterly covetable objets, bangs this drum in My Residence on page 89. He believes passionately that we still produce wonderful, high-quality goods in this country and his company’s fine leatherwork is testament to that. British is best and don’t you forget it! On the subject of Blighty, we are all very excited here about the launch of Great British Life, Archant’s new website. Go to www.theresident.greatbritishlife.co.uk to find our web exclusives, more parties and reader offers. I’m off to enjoy my Christmas pud that those lovely people at Claridges have sent me. I wish you all a very merry Christmas! (cid:2) M AT T R E S S E S B Y S AV O I R B E D S LONDON TEL: +44 (0)20 7731 1279 BIRMINGHAM TEL: +44 (0)121 420 1966 Amanda Constance WWW.SIMONHORN.COM Editor 9LI010WA.qxd 23/10/2009 21:37 Page 1 J B ONES RITAIN creative kitchen solutions The kitchen is not just somewhere to cook. For generations it has been the heart of the home, its nerve-centre. Whether you are a busy family, a professional couple or a socialising singleton, Jones Britain will ensure that the space reflects your lifestyle, looks good - and is great for cooking in, too. Working in harmony with our clients from concept to completion, guiding but also listening to their personal requirements, is our key objective From traditional to cutting-edge, Jones Britain offers an inspiring choice of materials, the latest in appliance technology and a "can-do" attitude to help you achieve your dream kitJchen. B We very much welcome your enquiry. www.jonesbritain.co.uk 0207 868 5020 [email protected] Jones Britain is an environmentally responsible company _ q / / g resident the www.theresident.co.uk Avon House (5th floor) Kensington Village,Avonmore Road London W14 8TS Editorial EditorAmanda Constance Assistant Editor Lydia Williams Advertising Commercial Manager Nial Phillimore Advertising Manager Charlie Tiptaft Senior Advertising Executive Mathew Hance Advertising Executive Victoria Cullis, Hugo Fairey Head of PropertyAlexandra Hunter Central Property ManagerSophie Roberts Design & Production Production ManagerGordonWallis Copy ControlHusna Miah Editorial Design Deepti Khanna DesignerZeenat Niazi, Gary Fortune, Tom Miller, Igor Lavrenchuk, Stewart Hyde, Jason Regan Archant Life Group EditorMark Kebble Group Production ManagerLesa Melbourne Regional Managing DirectorJeremy Moreton PA to Regional Managing DirectorHayley Tiptaft Finance DirectorIan Fish Managing DirectorJohnny Hustler Print & Distribution PrintingSt. Ives DistributionRegal Enquiries Customer Services [email protected] Subscription 020 7605 2204 Advertising 020 7605 2235 Editorial 020 7605 2274 Facsimile020 7605 2201 [email protected] 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, 85 weekly papers,around 80 monthly consumer,contract and regional magazines and over 130 websites. Archant is the UK’s largest independently-owned regional media business and employs around 3000 people across England and Scotland. ©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 The Resident,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.The Resident cannot be responsible for unsolicited material. Community numbers Police Council Hospitals Belgravia 020 7730 1212 Royal Borough of Kensington Chelsea & Westminster Kensington 020 7376 1212 & Chelsea 020 8746 8000 Fulham 020 8563 1212 Switchboard: Royal Brompton Emergency 020 7361 3000 020 7352 8121 Water – 0845 7200 899 Housing 3008 Lister Hospital Gas – 0800 9555 958 Environmental Health 3002 020 7730 3417 Electric – 0800 365 9000 Leisure & Arts 3004 When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it. Our client asked us to do the impossible. Design a room where Jeffrey Archer and Karl Marx can live happily together.