belgravia residents' journal july 2012

Resident’s JournalBELGRAVIA

W W W . R E S I D E N T S J O U R N A L . C O . U K

Proudly published by

Editor Kate Harrison

Deputy Editor Elle Blakeman

Head of Design Hiren Chandarana

Designer Sophie Blain

Editor-in-Chief Lesley Ellwood

Production Hugo Wheatley

Production Manager Fiona Fenwick

Client Relationship Director Kate Oxbrow

Associate Publisher Sophie Roberts

Project Manager Alice Tozer

Head of Finance Elton Hopkins

Managing Director Eren Ellwood

RUNWILDM E D I A G R O U P

J U LY 2012 I SSU E 002

Editorfrom the

It’s summer and Belgravia has been spoilt with an array of summer street parties, on top of its Jubilee celebrations. Hotstepping it from

Motcomb Street by day to Elizabeth Street by night, we were there and caught some of the action on page 5 (The Notebook).

From Jubilee to Olympic Games, we really are spoilt this year. But who’s been giving the food at the Games much thought?

One Belgravian who certainly has is chef extraordinaire Anton Mosimann who will be reconnecting with his Swiss roots as he prepares

cuisine for London 2012. Read about precisely how and alongside whom on page 6 (Food fit for the Gods).

Don’t miss our monthly calendar on page 12, designed to inspire you with ideas for local events this July season, from cakebaking to

country escapes. Then get back down to business on page 17 with our interview with Pimlico Road design favourite,

Joanna Wood, (The Belgravian) who tells us a thing or two about her route to the top of the international interior design ladder whilst

keeping it stricly local.

Have a glorious mid-summer and enjoy your July journal.

The Belgravia Residents’ Journal is published independently by Runwild Media Group with regular

editorial contributions from The Belgravia Residents’ Association.

To become a member of the BRA, see page 21.

Photograph: Wilton Row, SW1 / Savills - see page 39

We would highly value any feedback you wish to email us with: [email protected]; or telephone us on 020 7987 4320.

Who and what is moving and shaking in Belgravia this month? We keep you up-to-date

The Notebook

Linda Mindel Carvell of Belgravia Productions

(82 Bourne Street), has been appointed

media consultant of Anjli London, a company

which makes handmade clutch bags and

shawls. The firm has tasked Carvell with

developing the company’s brand image

in particular. Carvell has been Media &

Marketing Consultant at Belgravia Productions since 2005. She is already

Style and Celebrity Commentator for Talk Radio, the largest English-

speaking radio station in Europe; Media & Marketing Consultant for

Cocorose London (designer of foldable ballet pumps and selected by

BAFTA for their Gift Bags to Nominees & Presenters at the 2010 BAFTA

British Film Academy Awards) as well as Fashion & Beauty Editor for

Surrey Occasions Magazine.

Roman Abramovich, owner of

Chelsea Football Club, has put

his Lowndes Square mansion

on the market for £70 million

after planning permission on the

property expired.

This provides an

opportunity for a buyer willing

to pick up the baton to finish

renovations on the nine-flat building and create one of London’s finest homes.

It is estimated that £15 million will be required on top of the asking price to

finish the project Abramovich started; one in which he envisaged an eight-

bedroom mansion spread over five storeys above ground and three basement

levels, housing a cinema, indoor pool, steam room, sauna, children’s study and

entertainment room.

Squat a lot of troubleBelgravian homes have long been target areas for squatters but it seems

that the financial crisis is the latest cause and is provoking a new wave of

squatters in the area. Squatters in London’s most affluent neighbourhoods as

a whole are said to have increased two-fold in the last twelve months as the

global crisis has brought an influx of foreigners seeking, yet failing to obtain, a

job and a roof over their head.

Also to blame is the increase in foreign billionaires buying so-called

‘trophy homes’ in the area, which they leave vacant for months on end. In

the context of today’s global insecurity they see prime London properties

as safe investments. High rental prices and unemployment may also leave

some of these properties empty. Be the cause what it may, the number of

applications for court orders to evict the intruders has doubled in affluent

London boroughs in a year.

There have been a whole host of reported cases of squatter sagas in

the last few years in Belgravia. In 2009, one group was eventually evicted from a

£12million-house on Chester Square near the home of Baroness Thatcher, only to

set up camp a few weeks later in a seven-storey Georgian house a short distance

from the former wife of Roman Abramovich. The group of six moved into the

nineteen-room property during the time at which it was under renovation.

Squatting debates raise issues about the need for shelter versus the

rights of property owners. Legislation does not currently penalise squatters;

the police can only move in if the squatters damage or steal something. There

is even a section of the Criminal Law Act of 1977 that protects the occupants

of a property, regardless of whether they own it. However, new laws are

expected later this year to make the practice a crime with up to a year in jail

or a £5,000 fine as penalty.

Feel strongly about squatting in Belgravia or have a related story to share?

Email us at: [email protected]

Business move for Belgravia media high-flyer

Abramovich paves way for home win

Illustration: Russ Tudor

B E L G R AV I A R E S I D E N T S ’ J O U R N A L 005

Belgravia has been putting on all the fun of the fair this season, with its Jubilee celebrations and street parties galore. . .

Motcomb Street Jubilee Party

Elizabeth Street Summer Party

B E L G R AV I A R E S I D E N T S ’ J O U R N A L006

When Great Britain won the Olympic bid in

2005, few could have imaged such a flawless

run-up to the event. We tend to possess a

Great British Mistrust in our own national competence.

But it’s all gone splendidly well so far, give or take a

few question marks over public transport and a budget

abuse or two. Imperfections are to be expected but

one area which the organisers, LOCOG, should ensure

doesn’t go to pot is the food.

The London Olympics 2012 presents a prime

opportunity to display British cuisine at its most genuine.

And pressingly-so given that British national cuisine

is a conversation-piece which tends to greatly amuse

foreigners. One man who will be adding his tuppence

worth to efforts to challenge any ill perceptions is chef

Anton Mosimann, owner of Mosimann’s private dining

club in Belgrave Square. Mosimann, of Swiss heritage,

has partnered up with The House of Switzerland, the

the GodsThe mighty McDonald’s may be London 2012’s official restaurant but some highly-revered chefs will be putting the cherry on top at the Games, including Belgravia’s Anton Mosimann. Alice Tozer reports

Food fit for

Illustrations: Mai Osawa


country’s official hospitality centre at the Olympics.

The duo are seeking to knock out top-notch Swiss food

with emphases on Swiss classics, homely cooking and

signature dishes from the region of Berner Oberland, the

higher part of the canton of Bern.

Mosimann will think up food for the Swiss Olympic

Committee on the one hand and the general public

on the other. For the lay Olympic-goer there will be a

Bernese Chalet with an invitingly rustic presence and

the intimacy of a caveau. Its menu will be one of Swiss

comfort food. That’ll be good for the downpours then and

is a food genre that one would imagine the Alpine country

does quite well if fondue is anything to go by. Next up

will be Brasserie Swiss; a chic, modern à-la-carte set-up

offering greater refinement with signature dishes from

Anton. Various food stalls will then offer the ultimate

in take-back-to-your-seat

convenience, such as

Swiss favourites Bratwurst

& Buerli, Roesti To Go and

Raclette Takeaway. Swiss

though it is, the cuisine will

feature the freshest local

ingredients from Britain.

Mosimann might be

exhibiting his Swiss flair for

the benefit of the Games but

he is perfectly well versed in

British culinary traditions. The chef cooked up a right royal

banquet for the Queen at her Jubilee celebrations, which

also marked fifty years of his cooking career. His lunch

menu at Westminster Hall for 750 went something along

the lines of ‘Marinated Uist Island salmon with Lyme Bay

crab and fresh herb salad with lime soy dressing; saddle

of Welsh Cambrian lamb with braised shoulder of lamb,

grilled English asparagus, Jersey Royal potatoes and Jubilee

Sauce’ whilst dessert translated into ‘chocolate délice, bread

and butter pudding and seasonal Scottish berries.’ He then

rustled up a Ceylon tea served with petits fours that was,

remarkably, made from a bush planted by the Duke of

Edinburgh during a state visit to Sri Lanka in 1954.

It was at The Belfry in Belgravia that Anton

Mosimann established his flagship private dining club

in 1987. The area was ideal for his tendency towards

international cuisine, both modern and traditional,

combined with serious quality control. The venue itself

overflowed with historic features and contemporary

accents alike. The club now houses six private dining

rooms, each presented by a prestige marque the like of

Lalique, Bentley, Montblanc and Parmigiani Fleurier.

Mosimann’s Party Service has catered for a fair

few major sporting events such as The Beijing Summer

Olympics in 2008 and The Vancouver Winter Olympics in

2010. The Diamond Jubilee aside, Mosimann provided

top nosh for the royals at the Wedding Banquet of Their

Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

at Buckingham Palace last year. (Mosimann’s has held

the Royal Warrant for catering services from HRH The

Prince of Wales since 2000.) The British Prime Minister

and his office at no. 10 Downing Street are also catered

for by the main man.

Security guards at the Games are under orders

to confiscate any food deemed ‘excessive’ and, in a

déjà-vu airport set-up, bottled water, cartons and liquid

over 100ml in size will be scooped away on entry. And

yet London seems set to top Beijing on the food front, at

least. At the 2008 Chinese-hosted Olympics, no food or

drink could be bought into the Olympic Park at all, which

will not be the case at London although security will be

tight and restrictions will

apply. One spectator at

the Beijing Games told

The Residents’ Journal,

‘Apart from one very

overcrowded McDonald’s

you could only get your

hands on Snickers and

Chinese crisps. There

was no substantial

hot food. It was the

subject of many moans.’

However, criticism has been thrown at the outlined (high)

prices of the food at London 2012.

Mosimann is not alone in his capacity as celebrity

chef at work at the Games. English-born Angela Hartnett,

protégée of Gordon Ramsay, holds the contract to cater at

the Olympic Hospitality Centre in partnership with Smart

Hospitality. She will cook for marketing partners and their

guests as well as the International Olympic Committee’s

Olympic Club. Throughout her Olympic challenge, Hartnett

(MBE) will continue her day job of propping up Murano,

the Michelin-starred Mayfair restaurant she bought from

Gordon Ramsay earlier this year.

Elsewhere at Olympic venues, there will be catering

groups a-flurry working away on their own allocated

patches: Compass Group, Aramark, BaxterStorey, Sodexo

and The NEC Group are some. They have a hefty task to

hand with some 14 million meals being the estimated total

after you’ve counted the 9 million ticket sales, the 23,900

athletes and team officials, the 20,600 press members

alongside thousands of workforce indiciduals. LOCOG

Chief Executive Paul Deighton says, ‘People will view

their experience of London 2012 in many different ways,

including how good the food was.’ Talking to Caterer Search

about the committee’s approach, he explained, ‘Our tier

one catering partners will work with a number of smaller

‘Anton Mosimann might be exhibiting his Swiss flair for the benefit of the Games but he is perfectly well versed in British

culinary traditions’


caterers to help deliver key parts of their catering offer,

and work with a multitude of large, medium and small food

producers to showcase the best of British food.’

We’ve all been getting in the mood for Olympic

cuisine since the early spring thanks to BBC2’s

programme, Great British Menu: The Olympic Feast,

during which the nation’s greatest chefs have been battling

for the chance to cook their own superlative Olympic

banquet and to showcase contemporary British cooking

at its finest. The chefs have been tasked with shaping

a menu that captures the Olympic spirit of the athletes

themselves; food that is breathtaking and awe-inspiring.

One chef created an Olympic dessert inspired by the

podium of bronze, silver and gold, with lids of each

shade propped on top of three quintessentially

British dessert pots. Another worked on the

five-rings theme for his main course, with

small savoury bites forming the wobbly inner

centres of edible, colourful outer bands.

McDonald’s has achieved official

restaurant of London 2012 status and

subsequently built its largest restaurant

worldwide at the Olympic Park; one

which can cater for 1,500 bums

on seats tucking into Chicken

McNuggets (rest assured, these

will be made from British Chicken

only according to a recent

McDonald’s UK statement). Even

if the US giant were not involved, it

is looking unlikely that a traditional

British food affair (bacon rolls, pork

pies et al) would be the name of the

Games. More likely we will see utter

international culinary variety which is a

fair reflection of the UK restaurant scene.

Foreign punters can get their Sunday roast

education elsewhere lest they forget there

is life outside the Olympic Park.

With all tastes catered for at the

Olympics, hopefully even the French

will find something they can stomach.

A certain group of Gallic activists

have already caused an Olympic stir

by demanding that French be used

on all signage, every announcement

and each leaflet at London’s Olympic

Stadium. They are sure to be pacified

once they hear quite how extensively

McDonald’s are moving in at Stratford,

what with France being the world’s No.2

consumer. Thank goodness for le big mac,

international language of communication.

‘Foreign punters can get their Sunday roast education

elsewhere lest they forget there is life outside the Olympic Park’

29 LOWNDES STREET • KNIGHTSBRIDGE • SW1X 9HXT: +44 20 7201 2590 E: [email protected]

LONDON FLAGSHIP BOUTIQUE


We stroll around the lanes of Belgravia and note retail news of the month

Streetwise

Just the Italian wedding job‘Those who in July do wed, must labour for their daily

bred’, or so goes the rhyme. It’s the best month of

the year for a wedding in this country and Belgravia

is the optimum location in London for brides to

shop lavishly. Known for its housing a ‘wedding

quarter’, the area is home to some of the most

exclusive names in the bridal business, from fashion

designers to hairdressers. And one bridal dress shop

which really stands out is Italian brand Le spose di

Giò whose dresses ooze purity, flawless style and

richness. The name was established in 1975 and

is run by Giovanna and Marisa De Capitani. With

ateliers already in Bologna, Bergamo, Monza and

Varese, they launched a range in this country eight

years ago. There is a beautiful collection on offer this

season, incorporating soft details such as drapery

alongside contemporary design. For an edgier feel

there are also sophisticated skirt and trouser suits to

try on as well as the increasingly popular short-length

dresses which give the bright and breezy feel of

marriage being all in a day’s work.

81 Ebury Street

shop of the monthBelgravia’s

Belgravian boutiques that will add the finishing touch to a

bride’s day are...rangetheTop of

Images: Mary-Jane Maybury Photography

Working from his Belgravia

boutique, The Flower Lounge,

Neill Strain is reputed as

one of Britain’s leading floral

designers and a trend-setter

within the industry. Famed for

his panache and theatrical

style, Neill will transform your

wedding venue into a world

of floral magic and romance

with bespoke designs

ranging from cutting-edge to

traditional with a twist.

11 West Halkin Street

Floral couture, darling

Fresh take on pearlsErickson Beamon has a thick notepad of private clients, from

Angelina Jolie to Lady Gaga. At the Belgravia boutique,

glittering snowflakes freeze into delicate drop earrings

and black roses bloom on bangles. Their artistry has

been immortalized in the collections of the V&A

and the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan

Museum, where the ‘Dollhouse’ chandelier

earrings are permanently housed. Find

a traditional pearl with a modern edge

to add personal identity to a discerning

bride-to-be.

38 Elizabeth Street

Necklance (£1,163) and earrings (£192), both antiquated silver plate with Swarovski crystal and pearl

Bringing you the status quo for the most appealing organised events in Belgravia and beyond this July

The Calendar

Rococo is Belgravia’s one-stop shop

for the discerning chocolate lover, as

locals know. However, you may not be

au fait with the dainty and beautifully

designed secret garden tucked out the

back which, now we’re at the height

of summer, comes into its own. Here,

Rococo’s chocolates can be sampled

in peaceful surroundings. Customers

may accompany said indulgences with

a cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate and

take some time out from the hustle and

bustle of the day. If you have enough

self-control to save your cocoa purchases

until you get home, Rococo also offers

homemade cake as an accompaniment

to the hot drinks. The garden is even

open to those who want to enjoy some

food purchased elsewhere in a tranquil

setting, but there’s no guarantee you’ll be

able to leave entirely chocolate-free once

you’ve seen what’s on offer.

5 Motcomb Street

Yoga for procrastinatorsThe benefits of yoga are well-touted, but committing to weekly

classes is a lifelong threat for so many of us. But that is no longer

good enough now that Empowering Yoga, founded by instructor

Joanne Cohen, has become an offering of the discipline in

Belgravia. An accumulation of her twenty years’ experience of

practising and learning different styles of yoga across the world,

Joanne’s classes are of the Vinyasa-influenced Hatha genre

and suitable in group and one-to-one format. As well as yoga,

Joanne works as a RaphaYad bioenergy therapist, helping clients

enhance their self-healing abilities by way of releasing energy

blockages and enhancing cellular communication. Fancy a bit of

that for a change? It’s on your doorstep.

7-9 Eccleston Street; www.empoweringyoga.co.uk

A country outing en familleThe Belgravia Residents’ Association invites readers to

accompany them on a visit to the magnificent French

Renaissance-style château that is Waddesdon Manor, designed

by French architect Destailleur in 1874 for Baron Ferdinand de

Rothschild. On Thursday 5 July, the Association is organising

an introductory tour of the House, its fine Victorian gardens

and the Rothschild Collection. There will also be a guided tour

of the wine cellars, with an informal talk about the contents

of the 15,000 or so bottles stored in the vaults. The day will

conclude with a tasting of Rothschild varietal wines conducted

by Waddesdon’s sommelier. The whole hog costs £55, which

includes return transport to Belgravia. Waddesdon Manor is in

Aylesbury which, you will see, appears to be Belgravians’ county

of the month if you turn to the next page to read about The

Marriage of Figaro next door.

To book go to: belgraviaresidents.org.uk/events-management.

For details email: [email protected].

www.belgraviaresidents.org.uk

Fine chocolating al fresco

Above / South front of Waddesdon Manor


Do you have an event that you’d like us to cover? Send us an email: [email protected]

Walk away with the savoir-faire to create a stylised Ranunculus and delicate Sweat Pea, in all stages of bloom that is

Have your cake and make itSoon August will be upon us and, whilst we’ll have the Olympics and Paralympics

to entertain us, we will be experiencing a certain summer lull. Seize the month; turn

your hand to cake making and you will start the autumn with renewed vigour (and

skill). The Peggy Porschen Academy offers a ‘Large Blooms… Open Peony and Parrot

Tulips’ course with Jacqueline Butler on 30 and 31 August (9am-5pm both days;

£845) teaching techniques for making flower centers, buds, leaves and the many

wired petals needed to form their large blooms, with particular focus on the over-sized

open peony (with stamens) and the parrot tulip. Alternatively, sign up for ‘Springtime

Favourites: Ranunculus, Sweet Peas and Filler Flowers with Jacqueline Butler’ on 28

and 29 August (9am-5pm; £880). Walk away with the savoir-faire to create a stylised

Ranunculus and delicate Sweat Pea, in all stages of bloom that is. If you get the bug for

it, you may want to consider a professional Peggy Porschen Diploma which would do

wonders for a career, or even a little sideline, in cakemaking.

116 Ebury Street

Belgravia residents Christopher and Mardi Gilmour have recently

obtained a country bolthole, becoming custodians of Winslow

Hall near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. They are encouraging

Belgravians to get out of town upon an evening and sample opera

in their beautiful grounds in the form of Mozart’s Marriage of

Figaro, performed by Stowe Opera. Winslow Hall was described

by Marcus Binney in The Times as ‘the Rolls-Royce of English

domestic architecture’ and, happily, stage performances will be

provided there. It was built by England’s greatest architect, Sir

Christopher Wren, and the events will take place in a fully covered

marquee should rain spoil play. Boisdale Jazz Club members

attending the performance on Saturday 21 or 28 July are invited

to attend a special drinks reception hosted by Christopher and

Mardi Gilmour at the Hall from 5pm, for an extra £10 on top of the

opera’s asking price of sixty. For more general information email:

[email protected] and to book contact Stowe

Opera’s box office on 01280 848 275. Evening performances

will have a scheduled ninety-minute supper interval and the

grounds are apt for picnicking. Could life get any more civilized?

Available dates are: Saturday 21 July, 6pm; Sunday 22 July, 3pm;

Wednesday 25 July, 6pm; Thursday 26 July, 6pm; Saturday 28

July, 6pm; Sunday 29 July, 3pm.

www.stoweopera.com

Instead of seeing off the weekend inside with a

cup of tea and moaning about the sub-standard

television offerings, why not get a last blast of

fresh air by heading out to The Fox and Hounds’

pub quiz? Held on the last Sunday of every

month at 8pm, it’s the perfect opportunity to

enjoy a drink and put your general knowledge

to the test. Tucked away on a back street and a

stone’s throw from Sloane Square, The Fox and

Hounds is an unpretentious but smart, snug and

cosy pub with a very traditional history. Until just

1998, it was one of the few remaining ‘beer only’

pubs in London. Beware, quiz kick off times may

be affected this season owing to the European

Football Championships. Call to check.

020 7739 6367

29 Passmore Street

Key events a little further afield:

2-8 July ˜ Hampton Court Flower Shower

13 July ˜ Start of The BBC Proms 2012

27 July ˜ The Olympic Games Opening Ceremony

8 July ˜ Last day of Buckingham Palace Summer Opening

3-8 July ˜ Kew Gardens’ Kew the Music summer concerts

6 July ˜ Start of Designing 007: Fifty Years of Bond Style

at the Barbican Centre

Q: What’s the best pub quiz in the area?

The marriage of outdoor opera and nibbles

Photography: Igor Bulgarin / Shutterstock.com

Out and about on the Belgravia art trail, and beyond...

Art FocusSeeing

Think yourself abroadThis July, the John Adams Fine Art Gallery

at Ebury Galleries will exhibit works from

artists across Europe who you may not have

encountered previously. Works from a range

of different artists have been plucked from the

gallery’s main collection and these include Max

Papart, Lucien Adrion, Louis de Grandmaison,

Claude Venard and Gen Paul. Altogether,

it is an eclectic selection of modern and

contemporary art. From the bright and abstract

paintings of Papart to the soft watercolours

of Adrion notwithstanding the striking natural

photography of Grandmaison, the exhibition

will offer a broad array of possibilities to engage

your artistic interest.

200 Ebury Street

Going, going… going?This July, the Gordon Watson Gallery will take part in

Masterpiece London. The capital’s most prominent

art and antiques fair, this city-wide event has involved

the participation of one-hundred and eighty exhibitors

and attracted the attention of eighteen-thousand

visitors since its launch in 2010, notably Elton John

and HRH Prince Harry. The Gordon Watson Gallery

will bring a specialised twist to proceedings with a

showcase of elegant

furniture, objects and

lighting. It is a rare

opportunity to view

some exquisite

examples of

oh-so-varied

twentieth

century design.

28 Pimlico Road

A call to the world for British patriotismPlus One Gallery is this month hosting an exhibition entitled London’s Calling. In it, hyperrealist

art meets Britain meets London. Participating artists come from all corners of the planet; Mexico,

the United States, Zimbabwe, England, Scotland and Spain. It is designed to offer a ‘slice of the

essence of Britain, of London, in each painting as seen through the eye of each of the artists’.

Over a score of never-before-seen pieces will be on show and they will depict everything from

atmospheric urban landscapes of London neighbourhoods in the Royal Borough of Kensington

and Chelsea, to iconic landmarks in the City of Westminster, never forgetting the odd unexpected

depiction of Her Majesty the Queen. There will be English foodstuffs on and lots more in between

the British bricks and mortar and Abbey Road offerings. But pay heed for nothing is quite as it

seems, as panoramic views splay out in front of you. Take a moment to realise that you’re getting

more than a natural eyeful. After all, this is hyperrealism we are talking about and it has to be

seen to be believed.

4-28 July

89-91 Pimlico Road

Above from left / TenPence, Francisco Rangel, 120 x 120 cm oil on linen

A Little Bit of Love, Tom Martin, Acrylic on aluminium composite panel, 100 x 140 cm

‘Olympia’ by Max Papart

‘Les courses’ by Jean Paul

‘Jardin Public animé sur la Côte d’Azur’ by Lucien Adrion

Walnut and upholstered armchair, Robsjohn Gibbings, USA c.1950

A pair of bronze and upholstered stools, Garouste and Bonetti


Seeing

The Summer Exhibition is the London art scene’s democracy. Anything

goes (so long as you can get it past the judges). That is to say there is

no theme and artistic styles, genres and media tumble upon one

another in a cacophony of visual suggestions.

As you enter, the walls of the Wohl Central Hall strike in their fiery red

lipstick tones. A mimicking of Matisse’s The Red Studio, it has a very loose

Olympic Games feel (or was I just looking for one?) present in the powerful

Chemical Track by Derek Boshier (acrylic, £40,000) and Leonard

McComb’s gold statue of a nude. This room will be your rock.

When you lose sense of which walls you have hunted down

(which you will), head for red and re-set the compass.

Taking in the exhibition excites a whole wave

of emotions. You’ll see what you consider skill

alongside what deplores you; you’ll be intrigued

then momentarily bored; inspired and the next

minute feel cheated on. Your idea of a work that

should sell for £54,000 probably won’t tally with

theirs; and you’ll likely think some modestly-priced

works to be deserving of much more. Given the

sheer volume of juxtaposed works, you will re-enter

a room only to see a flying unicorn bang slap in the

middle (or similar) that you previously missed. An interesting

psychological process this definitely is.

The good news: when you find works of art you like, of which there

will be a good cluster, you will really like them. There’ll be relief and

re-found faith in humankind. For me Black Treacle (egg tempera, Joel

Penkman, £1,500) was one such hyperrealist finding, and E-migration - will

I make it? drew me in, unsuspectingly (digital print and drawing, Joanna

Ciechanowska, £400). In this piece, hundreds of tiny zebras are printed to

perfection in a cantering mass - the great annual migration in East Africa -

but with one made an example of, printed in green. This, and ample other

works, set me thinking about the role played by a work’s title. In other

instances, I felt it was the only aspect of merit involved - the cryptic title -

but what credit can really be given to this when it references a painfully bare

work? The quantity of red (‘sold’) stickers on every type of work imaginable

show how many disagree, and that’s just what this artistic forum is about.

So, what’s the bad news? Well one piece is the droning

noise of the cello in the back room also known as Trilogy;

Kettle’s Yard. Jayne Parker has ‘expressed her interest

in musical expression’ (by zooming up close on drawn

out minor cello strokes, intermittently focussing the

camera on a large pebble). Making headlines is a

rather normal painting by Felix Chadwick-Histed

because, withTrees (acrylic and oil; not for sale) he

becomes the youngest ever exhibitor, at ten. I’d love

to know what the judges’ criteria are, though keeping

it a mystery creates a certain magic somewhat akin to

never having spoken to The Queen, let alone knowing

what she really thinks about anything.

With all the contradictory feelings awakened by such a

diverse range of ‘art’ (a term which will require your redefinition

per square-metre covered), you could credit the exhibition with offering

a sensual microcosm of life itself. It does become more of an experience than

an exhibition per se. ‘Have you done the Summer Exhibition?’ you might ask

your neighbour, as opposed to ‘Have you been to see it?’.

Until 12 August

www.royalacademy.org.uk

Victoria Suarez sees how the land lies this year at the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition 2012

RED

Above from top / View of the Central Hall,Installation view of Gallery III

All photographs courtesy of John Bodkin


The Thomas Cubitt enjoys a fine reputation for food. Having already casually

sampled the excellent ground floor lunch menu, I entered the first-floor

restaurant for dinner on a Monday night with a quiet confidence in the

place; one in harmony with that which Elizabeth Street herself exudes, happy

headquarters to the gastropub.

It was in 2005 that The Thomas Cubitt opened in its current guise,

the result of local residents and property developers Barry Hirst and Stefan

Turnbull taking charge of what was previously the Joiner’s Arms

pub. After some passionate revamping, it newly bore the

name of the celebrated builder of Belgravia.

The first-floor dining rooms possess a decayed

elegance and understated style. There’s a feeling of

being in one’s own (rather sizeable) dining room,

where walled candles cohabit with 70s-style shaded

lamps. There’s a little French je ne sais quoi at work

here too. The floor is not the conformist polished

parquet it could have become but looks more to be

the original wood. Generous lashings of coffee and

cream cover the walls.

Weekdays in the entire building are buzzing.

Having ordered a bottle of 2010’s New Zealand Pinot

Noir (Clos Henri, Le Petit Clos Marlborough, £36) from an

impressive wine list, my guest and I began devouring our starters.

He had entered virgin territory with the ‘Carlingford rock oysters (on

ice), shallot dressing and lemon’ (£11.50) which he handled with manly

guts, commenting on the potency of the red wine vinegar and shallot

accompaniment (I maintain that it’s always the sauce that makes the oyster).

I was captivated by his half a lemon which came covered in a sort of mini,

mosquito net tied with a bow. Perhaps this had been conceived to stop juice

squirting absent-mindedly into one’s eyes. Who knows but it looked good.

I chose ‘Hand dived Scottish scallops, summer truffles, cauliflower and

girolles’ (a type of wild mushroom), also £11.50. Scallops caught by divers

contrast with those done so using a dredge across the sea floor and aren’t

meant to be so gritty. With The Cubitt’s outstandingly succulent take on these

sea creatures, they have fast become a favourite of mine.

Mains arrived in the form of the ‘28-day dry-aged Castle of Mey Beef

Wellington, roasted carrots & thyme juice, £19.50’ (for him) and ‘Halibut

fillet, warm potato galette, red spring onion & fennel salad, Heritage tomato,

£21.50’ (for her). My guest raved about his aptly-salted al dente carrots for

some time though wasn’t totally convinced by the slightly overcooked beef.

Still, meat tenderness is a question of taste. One thing was clear;

the Cubitt’s chef wasn’t French (he is in fact Phillip Wilson,

a Kiwi). I was particularly enthralled with my potato galette

(‘crusty cake’) which was keeping my halibut company.

The fish was tender yet not flakey and had been

flipped over such that its scales sat upon the surface.

A crisp skin, it worked surprisingly well like this.

Dessert proved to be one of those that you

feel you’d come back and demand on its own one

sodden afternoon. I was only sorry I’d late-lunched

and couldn’t quite devour the ‘Baked custard tart,

lemon curd, Earl Grey ice cream, £7.50’ because the

ice cream was opulent and the custard pie simply the far

superior version of the little, foil-tinned classics. My guest

trooped his way through the cheeseboard (£11) helped on by a

light, fruity Tawny Port (Dow’s, £4.50). The cheese was good but he

was particularly taken by the fanned apple and fig ‘salami’ (interesting choice

of noun for what was essentially a jam). Ever the pub, all the desserts are listed

next to a recommended dessert wine.

There are a fair few quirky twists to The Cubitt’s upstairs evening menu

(strawberry rice pudding, anyone?). This is a skilled act in a venue which still

concerns itself with peddling the good old beef Wellingtons and chips of this world.

Just that the latter are ‘Potatoes, chipped’ at this particular, smart public house.

44 Elizabeth Street

020 7730 6060

From the girolles to the galettes to the Earl Grey ice cream, Alice Tozer finds refined gastrofood to recommend at The Thomas Cubitt

another levelTaking gastro to

EXTRA TIPS:

•Try the Black Blazer cocktail (£8.50) or the

Blackberry Mule (£9.50)

•Sunday roasts see Belgravians a-flocking to The Thomas Cubitt.

Book at least a week in advance

•Rent out the beautifully wallpapered second-floor private

Dining Room for fourteen or The Atrium below.

Minimum spend £700


When I meet Joanna Wood in the back offices of her eponymous shop

on Pimlico Road, I am served Earl Grey in the finest bone-china, floral

cup and saucer I’ve ever sipped from. That, amidst a mountain of

carpet samples. I feel at home. It’s her domain after all - high quality interiors

accessories, plucked from far flung corners of the planet. Add wallpaper, lighting,

upholstered furniture, interior architecture and

design to the equation and you’re starting to

get a tick-list for the capabilities of this

formidable Belgravian.

Joanna makes no bones

about declaring that she has worked

damned hard to get to the top of the

interior design tree. ‘And I’m lucky

because I remain fascinated by what

I do. I might find myself dealing

with a French provincial theme in

the morning and a chic New York

penthouse in the afternoon. I love that.’

It was in 1985 that Joanna

set up shop. The site at number 48a

was formerly a Methodist chapel but

when she came upon the place it was

a mere shell and core. An interior

designer’s dream, one would assume.

She had always wanted to build her own

business; her mother had an antiquarian

bookshop which perhaps installed in her

daughter a spirit of independence. Joanna’s going

down the interiors route with it makes particular

sense in retrospect. ‘I have been conscious of my

surroundings from a young age,’ she recalls. ‘I

remember at nine years old enjoying rearranging

the furniture in my room.’

‘Aged twenty-one, I considered a career in interior design and had two

options: get a degree or work in a shop. I chose the latter. Today, I wouldn’t

employ anyone who didn’t have formal drawing training. Given eighty percent

of our work is computer-led and fast, today those skills are required.’ There are

twenty people in the back office of whom at least a quarter have worked for

Asprey’s. Joanna herself got her first job because she speaks French (or rather, ‘I

can be polite to decorators and say the colours’). A fair peppering of the products

in her shop are French or Italian. It’s a small but fully stocked emporium of

temptations, from Chelsea Check Slippers (£40) to fleur de lis spoons (£5.50);

and from domino sets (£43) to cheque plates (£15.95).

Joanna is a staunch supporter of defending independent crafts and

businesspeople and sources her shop’s products accordingly. ‘I’m hoping

there is the beginning of a backlash [against the chains].

Accessorize, pasteurise, homogenise, boringize.

Don’t you think?’ It follows that she set up the

Pimlico Road Association, alongside David

Linley and Mark Boyce. Shopkeepers -

with the help of Grosvenor Estate and local

government - united. Joanna cites

a recent occasion when a local vigilante

approach within the Association sent

some undercover shoplifters a-scarpering

(ladies dressed to lunch, intending to steal).

‘There was a sort of closing of ranks on that

occasion,’ says Joanna. ‘But overall, we work

to improve the brand.’

The brand? Street branding is something

very Belgravian. ‘Each street is different but they

are complementary. Elizabeth Street is fashion

and food; Pimlico Road is art and design, though

it wasn’t like that when I first came here,’ she

says. ‘In the early seventies, it was a flamboyant

mix of cafés, launderettes, butchers and antique

dealers.’ Joanna will next year add a sixth business to

her name; a shop on Elizabeth Street stocking fabric,

wallpaper, lighting and upholstery.

Unflustered by the financial crisis, she declares,

‘This is the second recession I’ve lived through; they

do come to an end. I’m very proud that my little corner

is weathering the financial storm so well. The Belgravia property market is robust

which makes us very busy.’

Joanna has lived in homes from Bourne Street to Eton Terrace. ‘Belgravia is

a village within a city. And London is the most exciting city in the world, culturally.’

It’s not like she hasn’t explored her options. Before knocking at the doors of

interior design she lived in Geneva, where she worked for the United Nations.

But in the end, having learnt to fully appreciate the art of chocolate and cuckoo

clocks, she cut her losses and wasn’t sad to return to her roots.

all in a day’s work

Joanna Wood has been helping Belgravia’s bon viveurs live well for a quarter of a century. Alice Tozer has tea with her

BelgravianThe

‘Accessorize, pasteurize, homogenize, boringize’

Illustration: Russ Tudor

ThenNeville Chamberlain lived at no. 37 Eton Square from 1923 until 1935. Whilst there, he was Minister for Health, afterwards becoming Chancellor of the Exchequer and guiding the British economy adeptly through worldwide economic recession. His reputation suffered as Prime Minister, when he carried out a highly unpopular policy of appeasement with Hitler’s Nazi Germany, saying he had secured ‘peace in our time’ just prior to the Second World War erupting. Here he writes to his sisters from his Belgravia home and elsewhere

That was

25 July 1931, Westbourne

My dear Ida,

According to your letter “Politics get more and more

satisfactory”. But I hardly think this is what you meant

to say for I expect you would agree with me that they are

like the weather – couldn’t be worse, and won’t be better

till we get another Government.

[...] This has been quite a busy week in one way

or another. On Monday I had Edward Irwin to dinner and

we had a long and very interesting talk on both home and

Indian politics. He doesn’t seem at all changed to me and

in spite of all criticisms I retain my belief in him. Did you see

his damaging quotation from a speech of Winston’s in 1921

(after the Dyer incident) in which he twice proclaimed that

India must be given “Dominion Status”?

On Tuesday I went and did a “talkie”, not directly

political but to please British Movietone News (Ye Gods!

What a name) who have helped the C.O. a good deal in

cinema work. […]

On Wednesday Lord Grey came to lunch. We invited

the Hilton Youngs too as he is very keen about birds and she

can talk about anything and we had a very pleasant party,

Grey chatting about fishing and birds and Lloyd George of

whom he remarked “He is a very difficult man to follow”!...

2 August 1931, DAlchosnie, Kinloch

rAnnoch, Perthshire

Dear Hilda, [...]

I am almost afraid to give you our first impressions of

this place lest they should seem extravagant but we all

agree that it is the nearest to perfection we have yet

experienced. [...]

This morning the children and I went on a grand

walk up the moor. […] The heath was out though not the

heather and we found the two sorts of staghorn moss and

various other flowers including the wild yellow saxifrage.

It was good to be on the moors again and smell the bog

plants and the birches.

There are any amount of rabbits to shoot, and

Sir John has left word that he would like us to kill three

brace of grouse on the 12th. […]

There was so much talk going on about a National

Government last week that I thought it was desirable to

have a talk before we separated so I got Austen, Hailsham,

Philip C-L. and Sam to dine with me on Wednesday night

and we had a long and useful discussion. […]

You will have seen what happened on Thursday. I

had intended to make a strong attack on the Government,

but I found the City was so nervous that that sort of line


Illustration: Mai Osawa

followed by a provocative speech by Snowden might have

precipitated a flight from the £. So I went to see Snowden

and told him that if he would give an assurance that he

would use the recess to study ways and means of economy

I would tone down my speech, say nothing offensive,

express confidence in the soundness of the position and

end with an appeal instead of an attack. Snowden at once

jumped at the offer. He warmly agreed that sooner or later

the country had got to face up to the realities and expressed

great concern at the seriousness of the position. I think he

does realise the situation though probably he is the only

member of the Government who does.

17 April 1932, 37 eAton squAre, sw1

My dear Ida,

One can’t work at Budget all day long. Moreover I have

sent my notes up to the Treasury to have amendments

retyped and they won’t be back till after tea. […]

This ridiculous Press keeps on ringing up and sending

round callers to ask for another photograph or to know what

I am doing now. Lambert says they have been told to make

a “story” and daren’t go home without one. I sent word to

the last comer that I was taking all my meals as usual and

reading a book. I wonder what he will make of that. […]

23 April 1932, 37 eAton squAre, sw1

My dear Hilda,

I have had a pretty measly time since the budget as the

lumbago came on as soon as I sat down on Tuesday. […]

The trouble is that while the lumbago is certainly better I woke

up early this morning with a sharpish attack of gout. I don’t

like that, not only because it is very painful but also because I

cannot avoid the conclusion that it is a sign of overwork […].

I agree with you that I have got off very cheaply with

such an unpopular Budget. I had quite a lot of support from

the speeches of back benchers and though there was a

very strong feeling about the beer duty I am told that it was

a good deal better after I had made my explanation and that

we shall be able successfully to resist an amendment.

I get a certain number of abusive letters – mostly

from beer drinkers, but on the other hand from people who

count, including a good number in the City. [...] I have had

some very gratifying comments showing that the wisdom

as well as the courage of refusing to make concessions yet

is widely recognized. The Governor writes that it is almost

the first honest Budget since the War. […] I have even

got a series of verses, better perhaps in intention than in

execution, on the “Budget of Prudence”.

Extracts from ‘The Neville Chamberlain Diary Letters

Volume 3: The Heir Apparent, 1928-1933’ edited by

Robert Self; pp 319-321 and pp 269-272, Ashgate (2002)

Established in 1972 we have 40 years’ experience in matters affecting Belgravia and its residents. Local decisions have to be made every day from how new buildings should look to which way traffic should flow.

We know that residents care deeply about the neighbourhood and their way of life and we aim to support them through our initiatives and activities.Join us and discover more about life in Belgravia.

For more information or to join, please visit:

www.belgraviaresidents.org.uk


We interact with readers about top-notch cultural and community events

Residents’ Culture

Picking up the cultural Olympic torch, Edward Hall’s new stage production of Chariots of

Fire this month bursts onto the West-end stage. Following the journeys of British runners

Eric Liddell (Jack Lowden) and Harold Abrahams (James McCardle) to the 1924 Paris

Olympics, the story celebrates the spirit of competition, with the rivalry, the camaraderie, and the

fierce passion to win but also the decency and sportsmanship of a more honourable age.

With slick choreography, Vangelis’ iconic score and an awful lot of running, the stage

production carves out its own niche against the Oscar-winning film of the same name. Insightful

characterisation, and a witty, poignant script underpin a pared-down production, but it is the

inventive staging and sheer energy of the show, that have propelled it from a sold-out run at The

Hampstead to an equally bright premiere at The Gielgud. Dignified patriotism rather than cheap

jingoism, this production encapsulates the best of Britishness, and by the time the last strains of

Jerusalem fade you will be proud to be member of this ‘green and pleasant land’.

www.chariotsoffireonstage.com

22 Jun-10 Nov

0844 4825130

If you get the chance to enjoy

Chariots of Fire at the theatre,

send us a 200-word review and

we may publish it.

Email: [email protected]

Write to usWhat is concerning you about life in Belgravia

at the moment? Good or bad, we’d love to hear

from you. Please email your ‘letters’ to the

Editor, for possible publication, with name and

profession to: [email protected]

Rebecca Ross gets in the Olympic mood with a novel theatrical interpretation of a 1981 classic sporting film that has inspired many a runner

fireI’m on

The Belgravia Residents’ Association invites residents to become members. If done so soon, they will

receive a copy of the 2012 Black Book magazine and the latest Belgravia tote bag. This year the BRA

is forty years old and so it is a fitting moment to sign up. The Association has a committee that meets

regularly with Grosvenor and The City of Westminster. It also has four sub-committees, the members of

which attend council and police forums. The Association works hard to maintain its meaning in the area

some four decades after its inception and is encouraging community support. To join, send a cheque for

£30 (private membership) or £60 (corporate membership) made payable to The Belgravia Residents’

Association to The Membership Secretary, 21 Wilton Place, SW1X 7AX. Include your name, address,

contact telephone number and email address. Alternatively visit: http://belgraviaresidents.org.uk/join-us

Become part of your local Residents’ Association

WWW.GUINEVERE.CO.UK +44 (0)20 7736 2917


Keeping you in the know about important street plans affecting Belgravia

Planning & Development

Planned Road WoRks and ClosuRes in JulY

sTReeT lowndes square

Brompton Road

knightsbridge junction with Brompton Road (one Hyde Park)

knightsbridge junction with Brompton Road (Central island)

Basil street

Brompton Road

knightsbridge

Brompton Road

Planned WoRk excavation in CW to Repair Blocked Gully

Hoarding build

nRW *e2Main* VMs olympic signage. no Cway restrictions

nRW *e2Main* VMs olympic signage. no Cway restrictions

Gas piping - 11.5m in carriageway and 8.1m in footway

excavation of cables and wiring to repair/replace a frame & cover

Preventative and future proofing in preparation for the Games

Build of Measures Phase mobile works

daTes 28 June - 04 July

1 June - 2 nov.

23 June - 15 sept.

23 June - 15 sept.

23 June - 31 July

16 July

23 - 27 July

16 - 17 July

WoRks oWneR kensington and Chelsea 020 7361 3000

Transport For london 0845 305 1234



Fulcrum Pipelines limited 0845 6413010

Cable & Wireless 01908 845 000

Thames Water 0845 9200 800


Eccleston Place development The Urban Land Institute’s panel has consolidated aspects from its recent

meeting concerning the development of the area around Eccleston Place. It

is now entering the next phase of engagement when it will come to its own

conclusions and meet again with local stakeholders. The ULI released a

letter to all those present at the meeting which brought together eighty local

residents, businesses and public bodies.

It has been officially communicated that there is potential to create a

new neighbourhood with its own distinct identity and community; not Belgravia, Victoria or Pimlico but something

‘that would complement all three.’ This new neighbourhood should aim to make the most of the area’s existing

strengths, such as its excellent transport links and its thriving entrepreneurial and business community.

There is also a clear commitment in the document that the new area will be dynamic yet house oases

of calm; that it should provide a mix of accommodation to suit a wide range of occupiers and also that it

should be flexible at a cultural level.

Perhaps the most significant mention was that Victoria Coach Station will be relocated in the near future.

Then, development of the area is envisaged from 2014.

Full marksBelgravia’s Chester Square has

made recent headlines

as Finchatton closed a sale

on a seven-storey, 8,200 square

foot property. The sale, which

received the full asking price of

£32.5million, has made a nice

anniversary gift for the ten-year

old prime property company.

Finchatton

www.finchatton.co.uk

Office upgradeA rare opportunity has arisen to

rent a three-storey period office

building, right in the heart of

Belgravia. Featuring an exceptional

south-facing courtyard garden, it

allows natural sunlight to sweep

across the rooms and is quietly

located within a short walk of

Sloane Square.

Ames Belgravia

020 7730 1155

Parking Victory on Bourne Street and Ebury StreetThe Belgravia Residents’ Association has

managed to get agreement for eleven extra

parking spaces for residents in Bourne Street

and Ebury Street. This is following many

complaints from residents unable to park on

their return home after 10pm. The council

has converted single yellow lines into

parking spaces.

James Wright, Chairman of the

Belgravia Residents’ Association, said ‘We

are delighted we were able to liaise with the

council and gain their support in this matter’.


Born on 22 September 1800, George Bentham

entered the world in the first year of a century that

would be characterised by revolutionary botanical

findings and the emergence of radical evolutionary

theories; it was a century in which Bentham’s scientific

endeavours would later grant him the title of England’s

greatest systematic botanist.

Coming from a family steeped in academic

achievement – his father Samuel was a noted engineer

and architect, while his uncle, Jeremy, was the famous

social philosopher and leading welfare reformer – George

was well placed to pursue a lifetime of scholastic enquiry.

At just seven years old, Bentham was already able to

speak French, German and Russian. In the following

years, during his family’s residence in the country, he

learnt Swedish before moving to France where he studied

Hebrew and mathematics.

Remaining in France after the end of WW1,

Bentham studied at Angoulême where he became

interested in botanical studies, originally through A. P.

de Candolle’s Flore Française. The idea of identifying

plants via analytical tables shown in the book captivated

Bentham who began testing their reliability on every plant

he saw. The seeds of an illustrious career had been sewn;

an 1823 trip to London would provide the nourishment

needed for them to grow.

in BelgraviaRichard Brown profiles the career of George Bentham, one of England’s greatest botanists, who lived in Belgravia from 1861 until his death just twenty-three years later

BotanyAll images © English Heritage


From that year on, not only was Bentham brought into

contact with a brilliant circle of English botanists but he was

also persuaded to act as his uncle’s secretary, a man from

whose work ethic Bentham would take inspiration. In 1826

Bentham entered Lincolns Inn and began reading for the bar.

A career in law, however, was something he would not pursue.

Gaining a position

of independence on

inheriting his uncle’s

Belgravia property in

1832, Bentham was able

to engage in the study of

his favourite topic: botany.

After marrying Sarah Jones

(daughter of Sir Harford

Jones Brydges) in 1833,

he began working full-time

for the Horticultural Society

at Kew. In the years that

followed, Bentham was

able to publish his Labiatarum genera et species, for which he

visited every herbarium in Europe, and Commentationes de

Leguminosarum generibus, a publication completed during a

winter in Vienna.

Bentham’s residence at Wilton Place began in 1861

when he moved into number 25, having previously occupied

the nearby property at 91 Victoria Street. A man of pragmatism

and method, his daily routine was systematic. He would take

the train to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, work in the

herbarium between ten and four, return home to write up his

notes, before dining in quiet, only occasionally seeing friends.

During the time

he lived at Wilton Place,

Bentham was able to

publish Genera Plantarum

which, compiled with Sir

Joseph Hooker, not only

gave a revised definition of

every species of flowering

plant, but also marked a

new age in the narrative of

botanical studies, remaining

until this day the standard

classification used by the

world’s botanists. Yet while

Genera Plantarum may exist as Bentham’s greatest work, it is

his Handbook of British Flora that remains his most famous.

Written again in collaboration with Hooker, the book was used

by students for over a century, running into many editions and

becoming known simply as Bentham & Hooker.

‘He would take the train to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew,

work in the herbarium between ten and four, return home to write up his notes, before dining in quiet, only occasionally seeing friends’


On 15 October 1845, fifty-one year-old Elias George

Basevi fell to his death through an opening in

the floor of the old bell chamber in the West

Wing of Ely Cathedral whilst inspecting repairs to the

building. This may sound like the kind of dramatic and

unlikely death usually reserved for soap opera villains,

but it was perhaps a fitting end to the life of a man who

dedicated his professional career to the design and

upkeep of buildings throughout England. He left behind

a wife and eight children, as well as a legacy of edifices

whose classically-influenced and Gothic formations

can still be seen today. A less-celebrated counterpart of

Thomas Cubitt, Basevi’s contribution to the design and

construction of Belgrave Square is as strikingly impressive

as his untimely death is intriguingly bizarre.

Born in London in 1794, the son of a city merchant

and, incidentally, a cousin of Benjamin Disraeli, Basevi

soon caught the attention of Sir John Soane, the architect

whose simple but imposing neo-classical style had earned

him a professorship at the Royal Academy and, in 1831,

a knighthood. On completing his training in 1816, Basevi

followed in the footsteps of his mentor and travelled to the

the raftersBryony Warren sheds some light on the considerable credentials of one of Belgravia’s architectural secrets, George Elias Basevi

Death inPhotography: Image courtesy of City of Westminster Archives Centre


continent to take inspiration from the architecture of his

Italian and Greek forbears. His return to London in 1820

heralded the beginning of professional success, with an

exhibition at the Royal Academy and the opening of his own

architectural practice in

Albany. With all this under

his belt, Basevi decided

to shift his attention to a

slightly different area of the

business, becoming the first

surveyor of The Guardian

Assurance Company. It was

this role, involving personal

inspection of buildings that

were either at great risk or

insured for large amounts

of money, which would

eventually set the scene for his death at Ely.

The diverse range of buildings designed by Basevi

is testament to the breadth and depth of his architectural

skill. From Gothic churches in Chelsea and Twickenham

Green (St Jude and Saviour and Holy Trinity, respectively)

to almshouses in Stamford and Ely and the stables at

Bretton Hall in Yorkshire, Basevi’s designs are scattered

across the country. He was even commissioned to create

a new frontage for the chapel at Balliol College, Oxford,

but this eventually fell through due to the intervention of

fellows who preferred the work of an alternative architect.

Next time you venture out of Belgravia, it might be worth

taking a moment to ponder the architecture around you.

There is a good chance you may be looking at a building

that reminds you of somewhere closer to home.

Whilst it is often thought that Belgrave Square was

purely the brainchild of Thomas Cubitt, it was in fact

a collaborative project in which Basevi played a very

prominent role. An architect called Thomas Cundy II

designed the street layout; the villas at the corners were

the work of Louis Cubitt, Philip Hardwick, HE Kendall

and Sir Robert Smirke; and Basevi himself coordinated

the terraces. This remains Basevi’s best-known

contribution to London architecture, but it was his design

of Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Musem that allowed him to

make his most weighty professional mark. Upon winning

a competition to design a museum for Cambridge

University, funded by Viscount Fitzwilliam, Basevi started

work on the building, taking Capitolium at Brescia as

his inspiration. Tragically, Basevi did not live to see the

fulfilment of his designs for the Fitzwilliam museum. The

project fell into the hands of two further architects, first

Charles Robert Cockerell and then Edward M Barry, and

the exhaustion of funds meant that it was not until 1875

that the entire operation reached completion.

Despite the recent erection of a statue of Basevi in

Belgrave Square, it is perhaps fair to say that his name

would not ring many bells amongst residents of the area.

Basevi’s achievements and talent are somewhat in the

shadow of Thomas Cubitt, whose fame and notoriety

undeniably surpassed

that of his contemporary

and colleague. Basevi

was an architect as

much concerned with the

structural practicalities

of a building as with its

aesthetic worth; his less

glamorous commitment to

ensuring high standards

of safety and quality in

the buildings that he was

charged with surveying

was equal to his commitment to design and artistry.

Consequently, his impact on the architectural world is

often overshadowed by either better-known figures of his

generation or the darkly fascinating nature of his death,

neither of which should be allowed to outshine the very

real and important effect he had on the buildings of

Britain during the nineteenth century.

‘Whilst it is often thought that Belgrave Square was purely the brainchild of Thomas Cubitt, it was in fact a collaborative

project in which Basevi played a very prominent role’

Above / Ely Cathedral

A compendium of the area’s key establishments

The BelgraviaDirectory

Ames Belgravia 80 Ebury Street020 7730 1155

Ayrton Wylie 16 Lower Belgrave St. 020 7730 4628

Best Gapp & Cassells 81 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 9253

Harrods Estates 82 Brompton Road 020 7225 6506

Henry & James 1 Motcomb Street 020 7235 8861

John D Wood 48 Elizabeth Street 020 7824 7900

Knight Frank 82-83 Chester Square 020 7881 7722

Savills 139 Sloane Street020 7730 0822

Strutt & Parker 66 Sloane Street 020 7235 9959

W A Ellis 174 Brompton Road020 7306 1600

Wellbelove Quested 160 Ebury Street020 7881 0880

BARS Amaya Halkin Arcade, Motcomb Street 020 7823 1166

bBar and Restaurant 43 Buckingham Palace Road 020 7958 7000

The Garden Room (Cigar) The Lanesborough Hyde Park Corner 020 7259 5599

The Library Bar (Wine) The LanesboroughHyde Park Corner 020 7259 5599

Tiles Restaurant and Wine Bar 36 Buckingham Palace Road 020 7834 7761

CAFÉSBelgravia Coffee Bar 4 Lower Belgrave Street 020 7730 3738

Bella Maria 4 Lower Grosvenor Place 020 7976 6280

Caffe Reale 23 Grosvenor Gardens 020 7592 9322

The Green Café 16 Eccleston Street 020 7730 5304

ll Corriere 6 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 2087

The Old English Coffee House 1 Montrose Place 020 7235 3643

Patisserie Valerie 17 Motcomb Street 020 7245 6161

Tomtom Coffee House 114 Ebury Street 020 7730 1771

Valerie Victoria 38 Buckingham Palace Road 020 7630 9781

ITALIANComo Lario (Italian) 18-22 Holbein Place 020 7730 9046

Da Scalzo Art Brasserie (Pizzeria) 2 Eccleston Place 020 7730 5498

Il Convivio (Italian) 143 Ebury Street 020 7730 4099

Olivo (Pizzeria) 21 Eccleston Street 020 7730 2505

Tinello (Italian) 87 Pimlico Road 020 7730 3663

Zafferano (Italian) 15 Lowndes Street 020 7235 5800

PUBSThe Antelope (Classic) 22-24 Eaton Terrace 020 7824 8512

The Belgravia (Classic) 152 Ebury Street 020 7730 6040

The Duke of Wellington (Classic) 63 Eaton Terrace 020 7730 1782

The Nag’s Head (Classic) 53 Kinnerton Street 020 7235 1135

The Pantechnicon (Gastro) 10 Motcomb Street 020 7730 6074

The Thomas Cubitt (Gastro) 44 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 6060

The Wilton Arms (Classic) 71 Kinnerton Street 020 7235 4854

BRITISH FAREBumbles Restaurant 16 Buckingham Palace Road 020 7828 2903

Estate Agents

Food & Drink

B E L G R AV I A R E S I D E N T S J O U R N A L 029

BARBER Giuseppe D’Amico 20 Eccleston Street 020 7730 2968

DENTISTSThe Beresford Clinic 2 Lower Grosvenor Place 020 7821 9411

James Hull Associates 2 Eccleston Street 020 7730 4948

Motcomb Street Dentist 3 Motcomb Street 020 7235 6531

The Wilton Place Practice 31 Wilton Place 020 7235 3824

DOCTORSThe Belgrave Medical Centre 13 Pimlico Road 020 7730 5171

The Belgravia Surgery 26 Eccleston Street 020 7590 8000

Dr Kalina 109 Ebury Street 020 7730 4805

GYM/ FITNESSThe Light Centre Belgravia 9 Eccleston Street 020 7881 0728

Michael Garry Personal Training 54b Ebury Street 020 7730 6255

Yogoji (Yoga) 54a Ebury Street 020 7730 7473

HAIR SALONSColin & Karen Hair Design 39 Lower Belgrave Street 020 7730 7440

Daniel Galvin Jr 4a West Halkin Street 020 3416 3116

Errol Douglas 18 Motcomb Street 020 7235 0110

Gianni and Claudie 22 Motcomb Street 020 7235 7275

Motcomb Green 11-12 Motcomb Street 020 7235 2228

Stephen Casali 161 Ebury Street 020 7730 2196

MEDISPABijoux Medi-Spa 149 Ebury Street 020 7730 0765

SPASearthspa 4 Eccleston Street 020 7823 6226

Glow Urban Spa 8 Motcomb Street 020 7752 0652

Health & Beauty

RESTAURANTSKen Lo’s Memories of ChinaManager: Ardjan KelmendiCuisine: Chinese; Capacity: 120 65-69 Ebury Street 020 7730 7734

Mango Tree Manager: ChaiCuisine: Thai; Capacity: 150 46 Grosvenor Place 020 7823 1888

Nahm Manager: Tarama ArcherCuisine: Thai; Capacity: 100 The Halkin Hotel Halkin Street 020 7333 1234

SalloosManager: S. QuershiCuisine: Pakistani; Capacity: 55 62-64 Kinnerton Street020 7235 4444

The Sekara Manager: Kantsi GunasekeraCuisine: Sri Lankan; Capacity: 50 3 Lower Grosvenor Place 020 7834 0722

Apsleys Manager: Pasquale CosmaiCuisine: Italian/MediterraneanCapacity: 100The Lanesborough Hyde Park Corner 020 7259 5599

Petrus Manager: Paulina TrochaCuisine: French; Capacity: 861 Kinnerton Street 020 7592 1609

La Poule au Pot Manager: Lionel BandaCuisine: French; Capacity: 70231 Ebury Street 020 7730 7763

ANTIQUES Anno Domini Antiques 66 Pimlico Road020 7730 5496

Anthony Outred Antiques 72 Pimlico Road 020 7730 7948

Bennison 16 Holbein Place 020 7730 8076

Hilary Batstone 8 Holbein Place 020 7730 5335

Howe 93 Pimlico Road020 7730 7987

John King Antiques 74 Pimlico Road020 7730 0427

Keshishian (Carpets) 73 Pimlico Road020 7730 8810

Lauriance Rogier Lamps 20a Pimlico Road020 7823 4780

Home

Nicholas Gifford-Mead 68 Pimlico Road020 7730 6233

Rose Uniacke 76-78 Pimlico Road020 7730 7050

Sanaiy 57 Pimlico Road020 7730 4742

Tomasz Starzewski Home 229 Ebury Street020 7730 8886

Turkmen Gallery 8 Eccleston Street020 7730 8848

ARCHITECTS/ DESIGN Clifford Tee + Gale 5 Eccleston Street020 7730 9633

Donald Insall Associates 19 West Eaton Street 020 7245 9888

Marston & Langinger194 Ebury Street020 7881 5700

Paul Davis + Partners 178 Ebury Street020 7730 1178

Travis Perkins (Builders) 61-63 Pimlico Road020 7730 6622

ARTEFACTSJoss Graham 10 Eccleston Street020 7730 4370

Mark Ransom 62-64 Pimlico Road 020 7259 0220

Odyssey Fine Arts 24 Holbein Place020 7730 9942

DIYBlakes of Belgravia 7 Eccleston Street 020 7730 2999

Blakes of Belgravia (2) 5-7 Kinnerton Street 020 7235 2166

FINISHING TOUCHESFrame Designs (Framer) 57 Ebury Street 020 7730 0533

L&B (Exclusive bed linen) 6-7 Motcomb Street 020 7838 9592

Luke Irwin (Rugs) 22 Pimlico Road 020 7730 6070

Paint Services Company 19 Eccleston Street 020 7730 6408

Pullman Editions (Posters) 94 Pimlico Road020 7730 0547

Rachel Vosper (Candles) 69 Kinnerton Street020 7235 9666

Ramsay (Prints) 69 Pimlico Road 020 7730 6776

Sebastian D’Orsai (Framer) 77 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 8366

Zuber 42 Pimlico Road 020 7824 8265

FURNITURE Ciancimino 85 Pimlico Place 020 7730 9959

The Dining Chair Company 4 St Barnabas Street 020 7259 0422

Hemisphere 97 Lower Sloane Street020 7730 9810

Jamb 107a Pimlico Road 020 7730 2122

Lamberty 46 Pimlico Road020 7823 5115

Linley 60 Pimlico Road 020 7730 7300

Lloyd Loom Showroom 20 Pimlico Road 020 7730 6574

Mark Wilkinson Kitchens 10 West Halkin Street020 7235 1845

Michael Reeves Associates 30 Pimlico Road 020 7730 3009

Nicholas Haslam 202 Ebury Street 020 7730 0445

Ossowski 83 Pimlico Road 020 7730 3256

Patrick Jefferson 227 Ebury Street 020 7730 6161

Promemoria UK 99 Pimlico Road 020 7730 2514

Soane 50-52 Pimlico Road 020 7730 6400

Talisman 190-192 Ebury Street 020 7730 7800

Westenholz 80-82 Pimlico Road020 7824 8090

GALLERIES 88 Gallery 86-88 Pimlico Road020 7730 2728

Ahuan Gallery 17 Eccleston Street 020 7730 9382

Eleven 11 Eccleston Street 020 7823 5540

Gallery 25 26 Pimlico Road 020 7730 7516

Gauntlett Gallery 90-92 Pimlico Road020 7730 7516

Gordon Watson 28 Pimlico Road 020 7259 0555

John Adams Fine Art200 Ebury Street 020 7730 8999

Julian Simon Fine Art 70 Pimlico Road 020 7730 8673

The Osborne Studio Gallery 2 Motcomb Street020 7235 9667

Plus One Gallery 89-91 Pimlico Road 020 7730 7656


B E L G R AV I A R E S I D E N T S J O U R N A L 031

Hotels

B&Bs B+B Belgravia & Studios@82 64-66 Ebury Street 020 7259 8570

Belgravia Hotel 118 Ebury Street 020 7259 0050

Cartref House 129 Ebury Street 020 7730 6176

James House Hotel Bed and Breakfast 108 Ebury Street 020 7730 5880

Lord Milner Hotel 111 Ebury Street 020 7881 9880

Lynton Hotel 113 Ebury Street 020 7730 4032

Morgan Guest House 120 Ebury Street 020 7730 2384

Westminster House Hotel 96 Ebury Street 020 7730 4302

BOUTIQUEAstors Hotel 110-112 Ebury Street 020 7730 0158

The Belgravia Mews Hotel 50 Ebury Street 020 7730 5434

Belgravia Rooms 104 Ebury Street 020 7730 1011

The Diplomat Hotel 2 Chesham Street 020 7235 1544

Lime Tree Hotel 135-137 Ebury Street 020 7730 8191

The Rubens at the Palace 39 Buckingham Palace Road 020 7834 6600

The Sloane Club Lower Sloane Street 020 7730 9131

Tophams Hotel 24-32 Ebury Street 020 7730 3313

LUXURYThe Berkeley Wilton Place 020 7235 6000

The Goring Beeston Place 020 7396 9000

The Grosvenor 101 Buckingham Palace Road 0845 305 8337

The Halkin Hotel Halkin Street020 7333 1000

Services

BANKS Barclays Bank 8 West Halkin Street 08457 555 555

Duncan Lawrie 1 Hobart Place 020 7245 1234

NatWest 141 Ebury Street 0845 303 0933

Royal Bank of Scotland 24 Grosvenor Place 020 7235 1882

BOOKMAKERSCoral Racing 67 Pimlico Road 020 7730 6516

William Hill 12 Buckingham Palace Road 08705 181 715

William Hill 18-20 Elizabeth Street 08705 181 715

CHARITIESBritish Red Cross 85 Ebury Street 020 7730 2235

CLEANERSBelgrave Dry Cleaners 8 Lower Belgrave Street 020 7730 9978

Buttercup Dry Cleaners 49 Pimlico Road 020 7730 2912

Byblos 18 Eccleston Street 020 7730 4545

Ebury Cleaners 63 Ebury Street 020 7730 4430

INTERIOR DESIGN Chester Designs 9 Chester Sqare Mews 020 7730 4333

Coote & Bernardi 59 Pimlico Road 020 7730 6064

Joanna Wood 48a Pimlico Road 020 7730 5064

Leonie Brown Interiors 2 St Barnabas Street 020 7730 4433

Living Interiors 57 Ebury Street 020 7730 0545

RESTORATION Humphrey-Carrasco 43 Pimlico Road 020 7730 9911

Paul Hahn 5 Lower Grosvenor Place020 7592 0224


Specialty Shops

BAKERIESBaker & Spice 54-56 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 3033

Ottolenghi 13 Motcomb Street 020 7823 2707

Poilane 46 Elizabeth Street 020 7808 4910

CIGAR SPECIALISTSTomtom Cigars 63 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 1790

CONFECTIONARYPeggy Porschen 116 Ebury Street 020 7730 1316

Pierre Herme 13 Lowndes Street 020 7245 0317

Rococo Chocolates 5 Motcomb Street 020 7245 0993

DELILa Bottega 25 Eccleston Street 020 7730 2730

GREENGROCERSCharles of Belgravia27 Lower Belgrave Street 020 7730 5210

The Market Quarter 36 Elizabeth Street 020 7824 8470

JEWELLERSCarolina Bucci 4 Motcomb Street 020 7838 9977

David Thomas, Master Goldsmith 65 Pimlico Road 020 7730 7710

De Vroomen 59 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 1901

Erickson Beamon 38 Elizabeth Street 020 7259 0202

Kim Poor 53 Elizabeth Street 020 7259 9063

NEWSAGENTSMayhew Newsagents 15 Motcomb Street 020 7235 5770

Y B Patel 25 Grosvenor Gardens 020 7834 0579

PERFUMERYAmouage 14 Lowndes Street 020 3031 9872

Annick Goutal 20 Motcomb Street 020 7245 0248

Les Senteurs 71 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 2322

PET ACCESSORIESMungo & Maud 79 Elizabeth Street 020 7022 1207

PhARMACIESKeencare Chemist 6 Lower Belgrave Street 020 7730 8747

Walden Chymist 65 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 0080

POLIShERSF Bennett and Son 9 Chester Square Mews 020 7730 6546

STATIONERSGrosvenor Stationery Company 47 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 4515

Elias Cleaners 3 Motcomb Street 020 7235 2920

EDUCATIONMiss Daisy’s Nursery Ebury Square 020 7730 5797

St Peter’s Church of England Primary School Lower Belgrave Street 020 7641 4230

Thomas’s Kindergarten 14 Ranelagh Grove 020 7730 3596

FLORISTSJudith Blacklock Flower School 4/5 Kinnerton Place South 020 7235 6235

Neill Strain Floral Couture 11 West Halkin Street 020 7235 6469

Nikki Tibbles for Wild at Heart 30a Pimlico Road 020 7229 1174

Woodhams 45 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 3353

LIBRARYVictoria Library 160 Buckingham Palace Road 020 7641 1300

MOTORINGBelgravia Garage 1 Eaton Mews West 020 7235 9900

Masterpark Knightsbridge (Parking) Kinnerton Street 0800 243 348

POST OFFICEPost Office 6 Eccleston Street 08457 223344

PRINTING & COPYINGPrintus 115a Ebury Street 020 7730 7799

TRAVELBravo Travel 6 Lower Grosvenor Place 0870 121 3411

Celestial Travel 1 Lower Grosvenor Place 020 7828 3311

Diplomat Travel 12 Eccleston Street 020 7730 2201

B E L G R AV I A R E S I D E N T S J O U R N A L032

showcasing the finest hoMes & PRoPeRtY fRoM the best estate agents

homesLuxury properties and

the most exclusive addresses to inspire

Beautiful

BELGRAVIAHomes &Property

Property: W.A. Ellis Pg 48

Eaton Mews North, SW1X ￡Price on Application | Freehold

A newly refurbished wider than average mews house providing lateral accommodation and situated in the best position in one of Belgravia’s most sought after addresses. The property benefits from a large ground floor kitchen and open-plan living area with high ceilings, first floor drawing room and dining area spanning the entire width of the property and 3 bedrooms with the finest shower rooms. An area of the ground floor has the right and capacity to be used as a private garage if and whenever required.

Entrance hall, Reception/dining room, Study, Utility room, Cloakroom, Drawing room, Master bedroom with en suite shower room, Guest with en suite shower room, Bedroom three, Shower room, Interior designed by Katharine Pooley, Two free car parking spaces

1 Motcomb Street, London, SW1X 8JX 020 7235 8861

JSA: Beauchamp Estates

[email protected]

Eaton Place, SW1X £4,150,000 | Leasehold

A particularly elegant two double bedroom first and second floor apartment, with three sets of floor to ceiling French windows with excellent living space and a quiet private balcony. Further benefits include direct lift access and air-conditioning throughout. Eaton place is conveniently located in the heart of Belgravia and only a short walk from all the amenities and transport links of Sloane Square and Knightsbridge.

Reception room, Two bedrooms, Two bathrooms, Lift, Balcony, Air conditioning

[email protected]


Carysfort House, SW1X £1850 per week | Furnished

This fantastic bright penthouse apartment of this highly sought after portered period building is located on one of Belgravia’s prime streets. The property has been recently neutrally redecorated, fitted with new carpets and furnished in an elegant, contemporary style. This light, split-level maisonette accessible with lift has a large master bedroom suite, two further double bedrooms, a second bathroom and a modern kitchen open-plan to the reception room. The property is available furnished from the end of July.

Three bedrooms, Two bathrooms, Open-plan kitchen & reception room, Porter, Lift


[email protected]

Eaton Place, SW1X £1,750 per week | Furnished/Unfurnished

The apartment has been finished and furnished to a high standard with wood floors throughout reception areas comprising an elegant drawing room, a modern kitchen open–plan to a dining room, two patios, four double bedrooms and five bathroom (three en-suites), access to Belgrave square communal gardens (by separate negotiation). Eaton Place is located in a quiet residential area yet within a short walking distance to Sloane Square, Knightsbridge and Victoria. Available furnished or unfurnished.

Reception room, Dining room, Kitchen & utility area, Four bedrooms, Four bathrooms, Two patios

[email protected]


1

savills.co.uk

Savills KnightsbridgeMatthew [email protected]

020 7581 5234

Savills Sloane StreetRichard [email protected]

020 7730 0822

Guide £6.5 million Freehold

3 reception rooms ø kitchen/breakfast roomø master bedroom suite ø 3 further bedroomsø 2 further bath/shower rooms ø gym ø wine cellarø terrace ø 305 sq m (3,284 sq ft)

A WELL PRESENTED GRADE II LISTED TOWNHOUSEeaton terrace, sw1

1

savills.co.uk

Savills Sloane StreetNoel De [email protected]

020 7730 0822

Savills KnightsbridgeMatthew [email protected]

020 7581 5234

Guide £11.95 million Freehold

First floor drawing room ø dining room ø cinema/media room ø study ø kitchen/breakfast roomø master bedroom suite ø 3 further bedroom suitesø utility room ø cloakroom ø parkingø 318 sq m (3,422 sq ft)

STUNNING HOUSE SET IN A CHARMING AND TRANQUIL BELGRAVIA MEWSwilton row, sw1

1

2

savills.co.uk

Savills Sloane StreetRichard [email protected]

020 7730 0822

A LIGHT AND SPACIOUSPENTHOUSE WITH BEAUTIFULVIEWS OVER THE GARDENS

eaton square, sw1

Entrance hall ø 2 reception rooms ø kitchen ø masterbedroom with dressing room and en suite bathroomø 2 further bedrooms ø bathroom ø guest cloakroomø utility room ø 3 balconies ø lift ø porterø 259 sq m (2,789 sq ft)

Guide £9.95 million Leasehold

Savills KnightsbridgeKatie [email protected]

020 7581 5234

DELIGHTFUL LATERAL APARTMENTIN THIS SOUGHT AFTER LOCATION

elizabeth street, sw1

Entrance hall ø reception room ø kitchenø master bedroom ø guest bedroom ø bathroomø 69 sq m (742 sq ft)

Guide £1.495 million Leasehold

1

savills.co.uk

Savills Sloane StreetSimon [email protected]

020 7824 9005

£15,000 per week Furnished

4/5 bedroom suites ø 2/3 reception rooms ø kitchen ø swimming pool ø gymø double garage ø south-facing roof terrace ø air-cooling ø 505 sq m (5,434 sq ft)

FAMILY HOUSE WITH POOL, PORTER AND PARKING IN BELGRAVIA STREETgraham terrace, sw1

Knight Frank

Eaton Square, Belgravia SWFour bedroom lateral apartmentA south west facing apartment on the second floor of this popular building in a prestigious garden square. Master bedroom with en suite bathroom, 3 further bedrooms, 2 further bathrooms (1 en suite), drawing room, dining room, kitchen, guest cloakroom, lift, porter.Approximately 204 sq m (2,200 sq ft)

(BGV120062)

KnightFrank.co.uk/Belgravia

JSA McDowell Properties

020 7881 7722

020 3551 2545

[email protected]

[email protected] price: £6,950,000

Leasehold 61 Years approximately

“�The�Knight�Frank�Belgravia�Lettings�team�are�a�pleasure�to�work�with.�It�is�refreshing�to�work�with�an�agent�who�knows�what�they�are�doing.�They�are�knowledgeable�about�our�market,�proactive�in�delivery�of�our�product,�efficient�and�always�helpful.�Despite�being�part�of�a�large�global�organisation�with�an�extensive�client�list,�we�feel�we�are�provided�with�a�bespoke�service�not�expected�by�a�company�of�this�size.”�SM

“�Thank�you�for�helping�me�to�find�a�suitable�property�and�negotiating�terms�on�my�behalf.�I�greatly�appreciate�your�efficiency�and�courtesy,�both�of�which�made�a�potentially�stressful�and�difficult�time�quite�straightforward�and�trouble�free.”�MR

EXCEPTIONAL RESULTSOur�teams�at�Knight�Frank�have�let�some�of�the�very�best�prime�central�property�in�London.�With�245�offices�in�43�countries�we�have�unrivalled�access�to�a�global�network�of�applicants�looking�to�make�London�their�home.�But�don’t�just�take�our�word�for�it,�our�clients�have�shared�their�success�stories�too.

We speak your languagewherever you are.EngL Ish � � � � � • � � � � � Russ I an � � � � � • � � � � � Ch InE sE � � � � � • � � � � � F R EnCh

Chesham Place, Belgravia SW1asking�rent:�£7,800�per�week

LET

Green Street, Mayfair W1Kasking�rent:�£4,750�per�week

LET

Mount Street, Mayfair W1Kasking�rent:�£3,500�per�week

LET

Eaton Square, Belgravia SW1asking�rent:�£10,000�per�week

LET

South Eaton Place, Belgravia SW1asking�rent:�£5,950�per�week

LET

Chester Square, Belgravia SW1asking�rent:�£13,000�per�week

LET

Chester Square, Belgravia SW1asking�rent:�£8,900�per�week

LET

LHP_275842_MAYFAIR_JULY12.indd 1 14/06/2012 15:18

“�I�have�been�most�remiss�and�not�thanked�you�personally�for�the�speed�and�efficiency�with�which�you�took�on�the�commission�for�our�flat�and�found�us�a�tenant.�I�am�most�appreciative�of�the�excellent�work�you�and�your�colleagues�have�done�for�us�and�we�look�forward�to�working�with�you�in�the�future�as�well.”�LM

If you are interested in renting or selling your property please do not hesitate to contact your local office on the details below:

020 7881 [email protected]/Belgravia020 7349 [email protected]/Chelsea020 7871 [email protected]/HydePark020 7937 [email protected]/Kensington020 7591 [email protected]/Knightsbridge020 7871 [email protected]/Marylebone020 7499 [email protected]/Mayfair

Park Lane, Mayfair W1KAsking�rent:�£12,000�per�week�short�let

LET

Discover�how�our�global�search�can�show�your�property�to�the�world�in�eight�languages�at�KnightFrank.com/GlobalSearch

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“�Knight�Frank�has�been�absolutely�brilliant,�head�and�shoulders�above�any�other�firm�I’ve�dealt�with,�but�you�in�particular�are�just�a�total�star.�It�has�been�such�a�pleasure�working�with�you.�In�a�million�ways,�large�and�small,�you�go�out�of�your�way�to�help�your�clients,�and�I�can’t�tell�you�how�rare�that�is.”�WD

Lower Belgrave Street, Belgravia SW1Asking�rent:�£8,500�per�week

LET

Lygon Place, Belgravia SW1Asking�rent:�£15,000�per�week

LET

Whittaker Street, Belgravia SW1Asking�rent:�£4,500�per�week

LET

One Hyde Park, Knightsbridge SW1Asking�rent:�£17,500�per�week

LET

Frederick Close, Hyde Park W2Asking�rent:�£3,250�per�week

LET

The Knightsbridge, Knightsbridge SW7Asking�rent:�£4,000�per�week

LET

RHP_275842_MAYFAIR_JULY12.indd 2 14/06/2012 15:17

Knight Frank

www.johndwood.co.ukBELGRAVIA 020 7824 7900 [email protected]

GRAHAM TERRACE, SW1An unusual end-of-terrace townhouse situated in this wonderful location close to Sloane Square and the shops and restaurants of the King’s Road.

4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms.

Furnished £1,000 per week

EATON MEWS SOUTH, SW1Recently refurbished mews house finished to an immaculate standard, situated between Chester and Eaton Squares, with good access to Sloane Square, the King’s Road and Knightsbridge.


Unfurnished £1,600 per week

EATON SQUARE, SW1A beautifully refurbished ground and lower ground maisonette on this desirable garden square with access to Eaton Square gardens and tennis court. Close to Sloane Square and Knightsbridge.

2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room.


EATON PLACE, SW1Beautifully refurbished ground and lower ground floor duplex apartment in a stucco-fronted building in the heart of Belgravia, with good access to Sloane Square, Knightsbridge and Victoria.



Belgravia Residents Journal.indd 1 11/06/2012 09:09

www.johndwood.co.ukBELGRAVIA 020 7824 7900 [email protected]

GROSVENOR GARDENS MEWS NORTH, SW1Discreetly situated mews house rebuilt to the highest standards behind its period façade.

4 bedrooms, en suite bathroom, 3 shower rooms (1 en suite), reception room, dining room, study, media room, cloakroom, gymnasium, wine cellar, roof terrace, garage, mews parking.

Freehold Guide Price £4,995,000

1872 - 2012

TR

UST

ED FO

R GENERATION

S140Years of Property

Belgravia Residents Journal.indd 2 11/06/2012 09:11

A233445_WAE_SAL_DPS.indd 1 19/06/2012 16:50 A233445_WAE_SAL_DPS.indd 2 19/06/2012 16:51

This beautifully refurbished three double bedroom lateral apartment (2,060sq.ft. / 191sq.m.) is located on the second floor of a prime residential apartment block on Basil Street with a 39ft/12m long reception room benefiting from two large bay French windows open onto a large balcony. The property is ideally arranged for entertaining and family living. There is also a large reception hall and a spacious kitchen / breakfast room. Basil Mansions is a well run Edwardian apartment block with resident caretaker, lift and security. Located moments walk from Harrods, it is ideally located for the fabulous international amenities that Knightsbridge and Sloane Street has to offer.

£7,870,000 Subject to contract

020 7225 [email protected]

Basil Mansions, Knightsbridge, SW3

KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE: 82 BROMPTON ROAD LONDON SW3 1ER T: +44 020 7225 6506MAYFAIR OFFICE: 61 PARK LANE LONDON W1K 1QF T: +44 020 7409 9001

HARRODSESTATES.COM

KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE: 82 BROMPTON ROAD LONDON SW3 1ER T: +44 020 7225 6506MAYFAIR OFFICE: 61 PARK LANE LONDON W1K 1QF T: +44 020 7409 9001

HARRODSESTATES.COM

A fabulous one bedroom apartment on the ground and lower ground floors of a substantial red-brick building set back from Pont Street. This property boasts a large reception room with high ceilings and a resident porter. Situated on the southside of Pont Street the property is ideally situated for the amenities of Knightsbridge , Sloane Street and Sloane Square. This would make an ideal pied-a-terre or rental investment.

£1,495,000 Subject to contract

020 7409 [email protected]

Pont Street, Knightsbridge, SW1

Groom Place, sW1 A delightful and quietly located mews house on three floors approached via a patio garden and with the rare benefit of windows enjoying light from all four points of the compass. In addition to the patio one can obtain a key to the nearby Belgrave Square Gardens.

3 en-suite bedrooms | Guest WC | Reception room with open plan kitchen | Separate utility room | Patio Garden.

£2,500,000 Freehold

AMESBELGRAVIAPROPERTY CONSULTANTSwww.amesbelgravia.co.uk

80 Ebury Street, SW1W 9QD | T: 020 7730 1155 | M: 07769 558152 | [email protected]

[email protected]

E A T O N T E R R A C E , S W 1

ACCOMMODATION AND AMENITIES

Drawing Room • Double Reception Room • Kitchen/ Breakfast Room Family Room / Bed 6 • Study Master Bedroom with Dressing Area and En Suite

Bathroom • 4/5 Further Bedrooms • 3 Further Bathrooms • Shower Room Guest WC • Utility Room • Wine Cellar • Boiler Room • Further Vault • Garden.

16 Lower Belgrave Street, Belgravia, London SW1W 0LN

FREEHOLD

£5,950,000

A fine Grade II listed family house (3,194 sq ft / 296.7 sqm), with light and airy rooms. The house has the further benefit of a very pretty 43’ (13m) rear garden.

www.ayrtonwylie.com +44 (0) 20 7730 4628

An impressive three bedroom, three bathroom, fourth floor penthouse

apartment situated on Elizabeth Street, Belgravia. Refurbished to an excellent standard three years ago, the property

boasts a large reception room with dining area, a good sized kitchen with

top of the range appliances, three bedroom suites and a guest cloakroom.

Elizabeth Street is renowned for its boutiques and fashion retailers,

retaining a ‘village-like’ atmosphere.

A charming, laterally arrangedapartment situated on Elizabeth Street

in the heart of Belgravia comprising a double bedroom with en-suite

bathroom, a second double bedroom, bathroom, reception room looking

out onto Elizabeth Street, kitchen and dining room. The rear of the property

commands lovely views with an outlook over Chester Row and Gerald Road

gardens. Elizabeth Street offers a small selection of upmarket shops, bars and

restaurants.

£2,500,000Subject to Contract

Leasehold

£1,150,000Subject to Contract

Leasehold

PROPERTY CONSULTANTS160 Ebury Street, Belgravia, London, SW1W 9JR

www.wellbelove-quested.com 020 7881 0880

Ebury House Elizabeth Street Belgravia SW1

Elizabeth Street Belgravia SW1

Wellbelove Quested

Wellbelove Quested always have a number of off-market opportunities available. Please contact the office for further details

Master Bedroom with En-Suite Bathroom | Second Double Bedroom | Bathroom

Kitchen | Dining Room | Views over Chester Row and Gerald Road Gardens | 740 sq ft

Fourth Floor Penthouse Apartment | Three Double Bedroom Suites

Reception Room with Dining Area | Kitchen | Guest Cloakroom | Air Conditioning

Integrated Sound System | Air Conditioning | Independant Central Heating and Hot Water

Lift | Management Scheme | 1,617 sq ft.

ESTATE AGENTS, SURVEYORS AND PROPERTY CONSULTANTS81 Elizabeth Street, Eaton Square, London SW1W 9PG

Tel: 020 7730 9253 Fax: 020 7730 8212 Email: [email protected]

www.bestgapp.co.uk

Over 100 years experience in Belgravia

SOUTH EATON PLACE, SW1An attractive one bedroom flat with a patio garden situated in this highly sought after street just offEaton Square, close to the shops and restaurants of Sloane Square and Elizabeth Street. Theproperty would make an ideal pied de terre and could be improved with some modernisation.

* Entrance Hall* Reception Room* Dining Room* Kitchen* Bedroom* Bathroom* Patio Garden

Leasehold 28 Years £825,000

Chelsea Sales 020 7225 3866 Lettings 020 7589 9966Fulham & Parsons Green Sales 020 7731 7100 Lettings 020 7731 7100Kensington & Holland Park Sales 020 7938 3666 Lettings 020 7938 3866Knightsbridge, Belgravia & Mayfair Sales 020 7235 9959 Lettings 020 7235 9959Notting Hill & Bayswater Sales 020 7221 1111 Lettings 020 7221 1111West Chelsea & South Kensington Sales 020 7373 1010 Lettings 020 7373 1010

struttandparker.com

City Office 020 7600 3456 Professional Valuations 020 7318 5039UK Commercial & Residential 020 7629 7282Residential Investment 020 7318 5196Property Management 020 7052 9417

Lennox Gardens | Knightsbridge | SW11,279 sq ft (118.8 sq m)

Asking price £3,250,000 Leasehold

Chelsea 020 7225 3866 Knightsbridge 020 7235 9959

Entrance hall | Double reception room | Kitchen | Master bedroom with en suite shower room | Second double bedroom | Bathroom

A well presented and superbly positioned two double bedroom apartment on the raised ground in this sought after address.

Scan this QR code with your camera phone to read more about this property. Free QR code readers are available to download from our website at struttandparker.com/qrcode

Whittaker Street | Belgravia | SW12,748 Sq ft (255.3 sq m)

Asking price £6,250,000 Share of Freehold

Knightsbridge 020 7235 9959

2 reception rooms | Kitchen/breakfast room | Master bedroom with en suite bathroomTwo further bedrooms | Study/bedroom four | Shower room | Garden | Double garage

A rare opportunity to acquire this exceptionally well arranged four storey house with south facing garden, double garage & resident estate manager.


Chelsea Sales 020 7225 3866 Lettings 020 7589 9966Fulham & Parsons Green Sales 020 7731 7100 Lettings 020 7731 7100Kensington & Holland Park Sales 020 7938 3666 Lettings 020 7938 3866Knightsbridge, Belgravia & Mayfair Sales 020 7235 9959 Lettings 020 7235 9959Notting Hill & Bayswater Sales 020 7221 1111 Lettings 020 7221 1111West Chelsea & South Kensington Sales 020 7373 1010 Lettings 020 7373 1010

struttandparker.com

City Office 020 7600 3456 Professional Valuations 020 7318 5039UK Commercial & Residential 020 7629 7282Residential Investment 020 7318 5196Property Management 020 7052 9417

Dorset Mews | Belgravia | SW12,616 sq ft (243 sq m)

£2,995 per week Furnished/Unfurnished

Knightsbridge 020 7235 9959

Reception Room | Dining Room | Kitchen | Three bedrooms | Three bathrooms Cloakroom | Utility Room | Parking | Porter | Balcony

A lovely mews house situated in this quiet location in the heart of Belgravia and benefitting from secure underground parking.


struttandparker.com

A new batch of potential buyers has just arrived.As Knightsbridge and Belgravia remain the prime destinations for overseas property investment, it continues to attract a wealth of international buyers.

In the last six months, 75% of our registered buyers and tenants were from overseas.

If you want to market your property now or would like to talk about how we can help you, do call either Charlie Willis, head of sales or Nina McDowall, head of lettings.

66 Sloane Street, London SW1X 9SH.Call 020 7235 9959 or email [email protected] today

Chelsea Sales 020 7225 3866 Lettings 020 7589 9966Fulham & Parsons Green Sales 020 7731 7100 Lettings 020 7731 7100Kensington & Holland Park Sales 020 7938 3666 Lettings 020 7938 3866Notting Hill Sales 020 7221 1111 Lettings 020 7221 1111West Chelsea & South Kensington Sales 020 7373 1010 Lettings 020 7373 1010

3460 International Ad A4.indd 1 11/05/2012 15:52

belgravia residents' journal july 2012

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