So Brighton & Hove

JULY 2010 £1.50WWW.SOBRIGHTONANDHOVE.CO.UK

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LUXURYWEEKEND

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100 RICHEST ROADS REVEALED

BRIGHTON & HOVE

RURAL SPACEMAN

SUSSEX FARMER HEADS FOR THE STARS

UTTERLY STYLISHTHE VERY BEST OF FASHION WEEK

DROP TOPGORGEOUSTHE ALL NEW CONVERTIBLE MASERATI

ART OF INVESTING

DISCOVER THENEXT WARHOL

WHY HE DITCHED DARCYAND WENT NAKED

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Hello...

So Brighton & Hove

Allow us to introduce you to a new prestigious monthly lifestyle magazine. It’s called So Brighton & Hove and as you’ll soon discover, it’s very different.

Every month we aim to mirror the very best of the City through a publication that’s unique. Each article has been passionately crafted to amuse, stimulate, motivate and excite. Every page has been designed to refl ect local heritage, culture and style by offering an intelligent and entertaining read representing the tastes, interests and attitudes of our City and you.

From this issue forward we promise to regularly deliver the fi nest interviews, reviews and stories, including topical and relevant features guaranteed to provoke thought and comment.

This launch issue reveals for the fi rst time the City’s Richest Roads; the top 100 most expensive places to live, those avenues, lanes and byways with the most desirable addresses. It makes fascinating reading with the Number One spot showing average house prices of more than £1.3million.

We also offer our opinion on the new convertible Maserati Gran Turismo, meet a local farmer destined for space and discover how going naked has boosted the career of our cover celebrity Colin Firth.

Confi rming the City’s style status, Brighton Fashion Week once again proves an utter triumph. Couldn’t get a ticket? We report from backstage and alongside the catwalk on the leading designers, trends and collections.

Add to all that, an anonymous visit to an award-winning city centre restaurant, expert advice on how to fi nd art worth investing in, plus the chance to win a fabulous weekend break worth £1,000 and there you have it, a new magazine that is, as we said, very different.

SO BH_July10_Hello.indd 7 17/06/2010 18:47

SO B R I G H T O N & H O V E

JulyINSIDE YOUR

ISSUE…

FASHION INSIDER - MENProof you can be patriotic and on trend. We look at World Cup style. Plus the cotton trousers that will see you right through Summer.

BOUTIQUES, LABELS, TRENDSTop local boutiques tell you what brands they offer and what they think you should be wearing. A must-read for all stylistas.

BRIGHTON FASHION WEEKWe’re alongside the catwalk to report on the designers and trends that will be keeping you in vogue. This is an unmissable fashion extravaganza!

CHILD’S PLAY Rock star style, second homes and wallpapering fun – designed for kids, but you’ll want it all too.

THE GALLERY We showcase the work of Simon Royer on display at his Gallery 94. He has the ability to capture so perfectly the spirit of the seas.

INVESTING IN ART The interesting parallel between auction sales of contemporary art and the prime property market. Does one follow the other?

THIS MONTH YOU SHOULD…Join in the action and go fl y a kite, paddle round the pier and leap from a 170ft crane… attached to a bungee, of course.

NOW FOR THE NEWSIt’s been a surreal few of weeks; we’ve seen the eviction of England’s last living caveman, dive-bombing attacks from disgruntled seagulls and the City Council upsetting Status Quo.

RICHEST ROADSDoes your home feature in our exclusive list of the most expensive addresses in town? It’s the property review they’ll all be talking about.

THROUGH THE KEYHOLEWe open the door of Curve, Brighton’s most amazing newly built home. Yours for a cool £3.5million.

BESPOKE KITCHENSDesigners are branching out into the modern arena and embracing the clean lines of contemporary modernism. See what you think.

BLOOMING MARVELOUSLocal companies were among the award winners at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show where we, of course, went celebrity spotting…

COVER FEATURE – WITHOUT PREJUDICEHow going naked on screen fi nally rescued Colin Firth from the shadow of Mr Darcy. But why did he wait so long?

FASHION INSIDER – WOMENIt’s festival chic this month; designer wellies, maxi dresses and statement necklaces lead the way.

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WIN A £1,000 WEEKEND BREAKThis is a great prize! A two night stay at the four-star Hilton Brighton Metropole complete with spa treatments.

PIGGING OUTFind out what our resident foodie thought of The Ginger Pig when he visited the restaurant anonymously.

THE GOURMET GUIDESo many eateries, so little time! Check out our list of restaurants in and around the City and you might find a new favourite place to dine.

A SEASONED APPROACHWe drop in at The Gallery Bistro in Hove, to find out how new Chef Peter Bohannon will be preparing this season’s produce.

49HEART OF THE MATTER We turn the tables on an award winning radio station and ask their breakfast team; what makes you get up in the morning?

RURAL SPACEMAN Sussex farmer Will Whitehorn blasts into the atmosphere next year and tells us why he believes you should join him.

HIGH FLYERSBA strikes and volcanic ash provide an unexpected opportunity for a West Sussex businessman running as private air charter company.

DROP DEAD GORGEOUSThe Maserati Gran Turismo was always a great looking car and it’s just got that bit better, with a drop-top roof.

ON STAGEWe spotlight the best of the shows for theatre-goers in both the City and the Capital.

GHOST TOWN Brighton and Hove has been named the most haunted town in the UK. We investigate a few ghostly goings on.

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Suite G03, Brighton Media Centre15-17 Middle Street, Brighton BN1 1AL

Tel: 01273 201329sobrightonandhove.co.uk

[email protected]

Publishing Director

Nick [email protected]

Sales Director Sharon Lacey

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Editorial Director Richard Moore FRSA

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Publication ManagerMatthew Fox

[email protected]

Senior Writer Melissa Woodland

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WriterDan Smith

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Head of DesignJodie Arundell

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DesignerErica Morris

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Production AssistantPhil Glover

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ContributorsValerie ThackerDamian Cotton

Harriet Louvelle

Darius Sutherland

Published and designed by The Magazine People Ltd.

Printed by Warners Ltd.

magazinepeople.co.uk

All rights reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions relating to advertising or editorial. The publisher reserves the right to change or amend any competitions or prizes offered. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent from the publisher. No responsibility is taken for unsolicited materials or the return of these materials whilst in transit.

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Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/SoBrightonHove

SALE NOWON


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In keeping with our insatiable urge to eat al fresco this season, indulge in something that bit special when the sun shines, or if the dark clouds roll in. Why not plump for a luxury condiments hamper from By Nature with the unmistakable tastes of Burgundy? This A Day in Burgundy mini organic lunch accompaniment comes with a variety of tasty morsels to help make your snack special. Treats include pork pâté with aligoté white wine, onion confit with red wine, fig mustard… the list goes on. The pack also comes with notes on how to enjoy some of the more exotic flavours. £44, see bynature.co.uk

Snack…

Build…The quality of immersive home entertainment has never been better. If you’re looking to create the perfect system for your budget and home set-up, then have a chat with the guys at Sevenoaks Sound and Vision. Their technicians can help build a system to give you exactly what you want at home. If it’s a near invisible stereo you’re after, or a full-on home cinema experience they’re the team to help. Shown here is the Philips 21:9 TV, specially designed to be the same aspect ratio as a cinema screen. For such luxury expect to pay around £1,899.00. Call 01273 735 695 or visit sevenoakssoundandvision.co.uk

This month you should…


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The Blind Side is the film that almost overnight forced film buffs around the world to take Sandra Bullock seriously. The Oscar-winning actress put in the performance of her career as Leigh Anne Tuohy, the Christian Republican house wife whose life is, for some reason, unfulfilled. By chance

she meets Michael ‘Big Mike’ Oher, a scholarship football player at the same college as her middle-class kids. She offers the homeless teenager her sofa to sleep on and begins a friendship that impacts the lives of those involved in more ways than they ever expected. Out this month on DVD and Blu-ray from Video Box, Brighton. 01273 670 469, from £3.95 for two nights.

Rent…

To quote Mary Poppins, ‘let’s go fly a kite.’ The Brighton Kite Festival is back for its 31st consecutive event on July 9-10. The free public festival features displays from some of the best stunt flyers in the UK and Europe, plus design workshops for the kids, where they’ll be able to build and fly their own kits. The wind rarely fails to blow up at Stanmer Park and the weekend is once more set to be a roaring success. Visit brightonkiteflyers.co.uk/festival for more information.

Fly…

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Few styles of music are as conducive with cool summer vibes as the smooth sounds of jazz. For some of the best tunes in town, head to the Brighton Jazz Club at Komedia, on Gardner Street, every first and third Friday night of the month. Billed to play in July are the piano-led Joss Peachs’ Full Circle band on Friday 9 and the experimental sounds of the Jon Lloyd Quintet featuring John Law on Friday 23. Check out brightonjazzclub.co.uk

Chill…

It’s picnic season and whether you honour that by taking a country stroll, enjoying

lunch in the park, or having a sit down on the beach, here’s the perfect package to take along. The aptly titled Wine in the Park is a temperature insulated wine carrier with room for a single bottle of plonk. The zip-up case also comes with two wine glasses made from, er, plastic and a corkscrew. Oh, and in the unlikely event that you and your friends don’t polish off the entire bottle, there’s a bottle stopper too. £34.99 from thehandpickedcollection.com or call 0845 602 3578

It’s going to be pretty tough to ignore this year’s Paddle Round The Pier event on Hove Gardens. Touted as Europe’s biggest free watersports and beach festival, the weekend of July 3-4 will honour the first paddle, which took place in 1996 when a handful of surfers raised a bit of cash for good causes by quite literally paddling around the Brighton Pier. Since then the festival has grown into a world famous event, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still get involved in raising money for this years charity, the Royal National Lifeboat Institute. Visit paddleroundthepier.com to download a sponsorship form for the event, or simply turn up on the day and enjoy the impressive displays, stalls, music and, of course, food and drink. See you there!

Carry…

This month you should…

T H I S M O N T H SO

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Paddle…

Vers products are cool. Full stop. Whether they’re making cases for your iPhone out of bamboo or building incredibly stylish iPod docks, we love their retro-infused, functional and attractive wooden creations. Their new 1.5R iPod speaker is no different and comes in a variety of finishes, for instance you can choose from (take a deep breath) natural cherry, natural walnut, dark walnut, bamboo, piano white and piano black. The big chunky volume and tuner dials feel solid and well-built, mainly because they are; each of these is finished by hand and takes over a week to complete. Around £140, see versaudio.com

Dock…


Take one attractive blonde vocalist with a penchant for the songs of yesteryear, add a hugely-talented producer named Richard Swift and introduce a twist of Neil Young-esque melodies. What do you get? The Mynabirds, America’s best new lo-fi offering. Songstress Laura Burhenn is the singer and writer for the band and she’s frequently admitted that the debut album, What We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood, is an attempt at creating an album that sounds like Neil Young ‘doing motown’ – we reckon she might well have succeeded. £10 from Ape, Brighton, 01273 721 413

Listen…

Those who see Cognac as a drink for seasoned connoisseurs only - think again. The new bottle from Rémy Martin, Coeur de Cognac (which translates as Heart of Cognac), is blended to appeal even to brandy newcomers. Our friends at Rémy suggest trying it with a few cubes of ice, just to enhance the fruity notes of apricots and pears. We’ve a few bottles to give away, so either email us on [email protected] or send us a postcard (see p.8), with your name, address and phone number marked ‘Coeur de Cognac’. Otherwise, it’s available from Selfridges, Harrod’s and selected Tesco stores. £37.99.

Sip…SO B R I G H T O N & H O V E

12 J U LY 2 0 1 0

It’s a pretty big deal when Bret Easton Ellis releases a new book; this is the man who penned The Rules of Attraction, American Psycho and Less Than Zero. His new novel, Imperial Bedrooms, follows the characters of Less Than Zero and catches up with the hedonistic teenage characters, now middle aged in the Los Angeles ‘scene’. The book’s protagonist, Clay, returns to LA as a successful New York screenwriter and is quickly reunited with old friends. In a frivolous world of drugs, deceit, fortune and power Clay’s old demons once again emerge and his life spins wildly out of control. £16.99 from Waterstone’s Brighton, 01273 206 017.

Read…

Bungee…If you fancy a particularly terrifying way of doing your bit for a good cause then the Rockinghorse Bungee on the Beach might be right up your street. On the weekend of the July 24-35 you’re invited to fling yourself off a 170ft bungee crane parked on Hove Gardens, all in the name of charity. Prizes are available for the jumpers who raise the most money and, as well as the spectacle of people leaping from a very tall platform, there’ll be gyroscope, a climbing wall, French Market, and a locally sourced bar. Call 01273 730 286 or visit rockinghorse.org.uk/events


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Adastra Place 38 Keymer Road Hassocks BN6 8APTel 01273 841228

So BH AD_Ripples_FP_July10.indd 1 18/06/2010 12:29

the news…OUR MONTHLY LOOK AT SOME OF THE STORIES MAKING THE HEADLINES

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N E W S SO

And now for

SORRY STATUSThe City Council has issued a formal apology to Status Quo after suggesting that fans of the pop legends were not welcome job applicants. Its new recruitment website, giving details of four director vacancies, declared: Say No to Status Quo. Alongside was the statement: “Status Quo fans need not apply.”Quo’s manager Simon Porter says:“This is a direct insult to the capabilities of millions of Quo fans, many of whom are probably over qualified for these jobs.”Council Chief Executive John Barradell (pictured) says: “I accept that (the campaign) was a little insensitive. My wife did say when she saw it that it might upset Quo fans.”Band members are now considering erecting a banner at their Brighton concert in December saying: “Councillors for Brighton & Hove need not attend.”

THE BIRDSSeagulls are apparently dive-bombing people and attacking them after a spate of bird shootings. Experts believe the gulls have become “abnormally aggressive” as a reaction to poor treatment from humans.The National Gull Rescue And Protection Group says in one month alone there were more than 50 cases of birds being deliberately wounded in Brighton & Hove, Eastbourne and Seaford. Many were shot with BB guns which is a criminal offence.In scenes reminiscent of the Hitchcock film The Birds, gulls have been flying directly at people and also attacking their pets after roofs were cleared of nests and eggs smashed.

CAVEMAN CAPERSEngland’s last known living caveman has been evicted from his dwelling in Brighton after a visit from Health and Safety Inspectors.They were brought in by the City Council after concerns were raised about Hilaire Purbrick setting up home in a 7ft cave on top of Whitehawk Hill.“I dug almost non-stop for three months over the Winter of 2004 and 2005,” explains the 45-year-old father of four.When Health and Safety Inspectors called round they found the cave did not have a fire exit which enabled the council to obtain a court order allowing them to block up the entrance.Mr Purbrick is now living temporarily in a nearby shed.

CONFUSED TRAVELLERSGreen Party activists in Brighton are anxious not to be confused with other regular transport users when taking the bus.They want to see a secondary network of bus stops built ten yards down the road from existing shelters and featuring more relevant images such as sad-looking polar bears as opposed to more commercial ads for the likes of alco pops and internet bingo. The idea has the support of Green MP Caroline Lucas.One activist explains: “I make a six figure salary working for an ad agency on its BP(!) account and can certainly afford a luxury car. I’d hate people to think I’m using the bus because I’m poor and not in a position to make an informed political choice.”

FAIR ENOUGHThe Fair Trade shop at Brighton Marina has introduced two new product lines following a visit to India and Nepal by owner Barbara Wilson (pictured) and daughter Lily.The sale of vegetable dyed hand loomed cotton bags plus toys and dolls means even more people will benefit from the shop which supports trading partnerships and co-operatives in 20 countries.“We have a long term commitment to buy at a social premium to help with education, training and other social projects,” says Barbara. “These include looking after AIDS orphans as well as giving money, rice and blankets to those too old to work or those unable to work.”Brighton Marina’s Kirsty Harris says: ”Having the shop as part of our retail offer is fantastic and the fact it’s now expanding is very rewarding.”

NEEDLE MATCHTattoo parlours across the City have seen a boost in trade thanks to the football World Cup with soccer fans lining up for permanent keepsakes of the South African event. Their tattoo choices include flags, shields and England’s Three Lions symbol.Brighton tattooist Jack Newton says:“I’m doing one for a guy who is having a football, then an equals sign and then a heart. If someone wants a picture of Wayne Rooney we are also capable of producing that.”Not everyone though has a passion for World Cup images. One tattoo parlour told us: “To be honest we’re not keen on doing things like football badges. It’s too much detail to get into a small space and we’re not really football fans.”

SO BH_July10_News.indd 19 18/06/2010 12:34

It’s a fact that BrIghton and hove Is one of the most desIraBle places to lIve In the country. But where In the cIty Itself are the hot-spots, the Best addresses? we reveal all wIth our exclusIve lIst of the 100 rIchest roads

Words MelissaWoodlaNd

photography by: darius sutherland

SO B r I g h t o n & h o v e

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SO BH_July10_Richest Roads_v3.indd 16 18/06/2010 18:22

RichestRoads

Buying your own home is probably one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make in your life. And exactly where you buy the bricks and mortar is crucial because,

as we all know, it’s about location, location, location.

That’s why So Brighton & Hove has put together its very own list of the Richest Roads based on average current property values. It makes interesting reading!

Beautiful Brighton and Hove consistently attracts accolades, and rightly so. A recent survey revealed that Brighton’s residents rated themselves as the happiest in the UK and property website housetohome.co.uk this year named the city as the seventh best place to live in the country.Our mission, though, is to find out where exactly in the town you should be looking to buy and live if you want one of the top addresses. (That’s if you’re not already in residence.)So Brighton & Hove researchers have spent the last couple of months identifying, for the very first time, the 100 roads that

head the list of the priciest places to set up home.

How have we done it? Well, we’ve trawled through the sale prices of the thousands of homes that have been sold in the last few years in the important BN1, BN2 and BN3 postcodes.

We’ve also drawn on the expertise of some of Brighton and Hove’s most prestigious estate agents, harnessed more than

R I c H e S T R O A d S SO

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01 Montpelier Villas (BN1)Average Price £1,324,500

02 Average Price £1,323,200

Tongdean Avenue, Hove (BN3)

03040506

07080910111213

Average Price £1,317,500








Average Price £996,400



The Dene, Hove (BN3)

Dyke Close, Hove(BN3)

Roedean Way(BN2)

Tongdean Road, Hove (BN3)

Dyke Road Avenue(BN1)

Roedean Crescent(BN2)

Roedean Heights(BN2)

Withdean Road(BN1)

Devils Dyke Road, Hove (BN3)

Princes Square, Hove (BN3)

Princes Crescent, Hove (BN3)


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The Green, Hove (BN3)

Stanford Close, Hove (BN3)

Hill Brow, Hove(BN3)

Barrowfield Close, Hove (BN3)

Downside, Hove(BN3)

Lloyd Close, Hove(BN3)

Royal Crescent(BN2)

Kelly Road, Hove(BN3)

Elm Close, Hove(BN3)

Radinden Drive, Hove (BN3)

a little inside knowledge and worked with recognised industry experts.

All this data has been drawn together and analysed to establish average current house values for each of the streets that make up our 100 richest.

So, on the pages that follow, you’ll fi nd an essential guide to the most sought-after addresses in the postcodes where many of our readers live.

Research shows that the current average value of a home in the Brighton and Hove area (£284,647) is an impressive 70 percent higher than the rest of the UK (£167,820). But if you’re aiming for the top of our Richest Roads list you’ll need to spend about eight times the national average to get the keys to a home at our Number One spot. And you won’t be able to pick up anything in the Top 100 unless you have about £500,000 to spend.

Does this mean that house prices in Brighton have stood fi rm against the tide of doom, gloom and plummeting values we saw elsewhere in the country?

Manager of local estate agent Sawyer & Co, Chris Sawyer thinks so:

“Brighton and Hove had a patchy response to the recent downturn. Some areas were humbled, but recovered quickly, over-correcting in some instances, where as the demand was steady for Brighton’s Regency properties.

“The area is always going to be popular for home buyers, regardless of the fi nancial climate.”

It’s fair to say that this trend is refl ected in our research. Just over 3,530 homes were sold in the area in the last twelve months, at an average price of £261,733. And values over the last year are actually up by nine percent.

On to the list itself then as we head for BN1 to visit the richest of our roads. In the heart of Brighton sits the coveted top spot. The Regency architecture of Montpelier Villas helps give the street the number one slot, with the average home there valued at £1,324,500.

Chris Sawyer isn’t surprised Montpelier tops the list.

“It’s a stunning location. In fact it’s where I’d buy! Montpelier ticks all the boxes – it’s central and a stone’s throw from the sea, plus it offers the all-important architectural pedigree that is so sought-after.”

Baron Estates’ Laura Langham says buyers are willing to spend more to get those authentic period details.

“These properties with Regency features, and those with a surviving Edwardian or Georgian element are usually sold quickly. Montpelier offers that quintessentially Brighton feel.”

It’s time to check out the second on our list of palatial locations, so we head a short distance west to visit Hove,

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JUST OUTSIDE…Outside of the Richest Roads list, here’s how our three postcodes refl ected property sales overall.

*data refers to the preceding twelve months.

Average price in the UK (as of May 2010): £167,820(Land Registry statistics)

and Tongdean Avenue (BN3). Missing out on the top spot by just £1,300, the average value on this stretch of real estate stands at £1,323,200.

Number three, The Dene (BN3), is on the outskirts of Hove and weighs in at a staggering average of £1,317,500. We don’t have far to go to reach number four. Dyke Close, again in Hove (BN3), is the location for just twelve properties whose average value is a little over £1.25 million (£1,258,000 to be exact).

Rounding off the top fi ve, we make our fi rst call at BN2 and Roedean Way. The street, which is at a junction with Roedean Crescent, offers 19 homes to choose from, each costing in the region of £1,196,300.

The rest of the top ten is spread across the city. Tongdean Road, Hove (BN3) and Dyke Road Avenue (BN1) take places six and seven with price tags of £1,070,500 and £1,036,000 respectively.

Roedean Crescent (BN2) and neighbouring Roedean Heights tie for eight place (£1,026,000). Withdean Road at the top of Preston Park (BN1) rounds off our £1million plus Top Ten (£1,030,200).

Dropping down the list, those ranked:

11-20 are priced from £996,400 to £807,200

21-30 go from £799,100 to £743,100

Places 31-40 range from £742,000 to £698,100

And those ranked 41-60 are priced £691,600 to £652,000

It’s only at number 61 on our list, Grange Walk, Grangeways (BN1), that you can even think about picking up a house for less than £650,000.

Postcode

BN1

BN2

BN3

Number sold*

1,002

1,111

1,080

Average Sold price

£263,302

£234,047

£280,853

Average ValueMarch 2010

£277,361

£251,835

£294,878

Total sold in last year: 3,531

Total sold in Surrey: 10,276

Average price: £261,733

Average price: £234,292

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Mallory Road, Hove (BN3)

Powis Villas(BN1)

Hove Park Road, Hove (BN3)

Western Terrace(BN1)

Radinden Manor Road (BN3)

Wayland Heights(BN1)

Dyke Road Place(BN1)


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454647




Greyfriars, Hove(BN3)

New Road(BN1)

Hove Park Way, Hove (BN3)

Meadow Close, Hove (BN3)

Elms Lea Avenue(BN1)

Shirley Drive, Hove(BN3)

Woodruff Avenue, Hove (BN3)

Surrenden Crescent(BN1)

The Droveway, Hove (BN3)

Orpen Road, Hove(BN3)

31323334353637







Mortimer Mews, Hove (BN3)

Chartfield Way, Woodland Drive, Hove (BN3)

Northgate Close, Rottingdean (BN2)

Lloyd Road, Hove(BN3)

Trafalgar Gate, The Strand (BN2)

The Spinney, Hove (BN3)

48 Average Price £670,300

Elrington Road, Hove (BN3)


Chalfont Drive, Hove (BN3)


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Continuing down the list:61-80 are £647, 500 to £590,800

81-100 are between £587,100 and £531,400

The ‘richest’ area to live is in the BN3 postcode, where more than half of our top 100 are located (52 roads). BN1 is the next wealthiest with 28, closely followed by BN2 with 20.

Some of our desirable addresses lie to the west of the city centre, in Hove.

“Hove is that bit further out, so there are more family homes with decent-sized gardens. Plus there’s better parking and it’s quieter than in the city centre,” says Chris Sawyer.

So, how many properties on our Richest Roads are actually being sold? Well, 461 homes have changed hands over the last fi ve years in our Top 100 (which represents 13 percent of all

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Pavilion Parade(BN2)

Woodlands, Hove(BN3)

Friar Close(BN1)

Tredcroft Road, Hove (BN3)

Bishops Road, Hove(BN3)

Pembroke Gardens, Hove (BN3)

The Heights (BN1)


Ash Close, Hove(BN3)


Onslow Road, Hove(BN3)


Steyning Road, Rottingdean (BN2)


Hill Drive, Hove(BN3)


Woodland Drive, Hove (BN3)

THE ROADS THAT MISSED OUTThere were a number of sought-after addresses that cropped up in our search, but failed to make the cut when looking at the average value. The mansion apartments of Brunswick Square, Adelaide Crescent, Clifton Terrace and the other Regency Squares would all make the Most Desirable list, but when the smaller houses and fl ats on those streets are thrown into the mix, the average value for those postcodes is lowered. They remain must-have addresses, but sadly don’t make our Richest Roads list.


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those sold in Brighton and Hove) and 68 were in our top ten.

The town’s estate agents say this average is representative of the buoyant property market currently seen in the area.

“As long as you are pricing your home fairly and realistically, there are plenty of buyers ready to move,” explains Laura Langham of Baron Estates.

“Turnover of properties is good and anything with period features is going very quickly. But if you’ve overpriced your home, you’ll struggle to get viewings. Buyers are savvy.”

With experts predicting a levelling out of prices towards the end of the year, now seems the time to sell if you’re looking to move. But be careful of the price you set for your home. In the meantime, if you’ve got your heart set on a pad in our Top 100, keep your eye out for a For Sale sign. The properties on our Richest Roads won’t stay on the market for long. SO

SO BRIGHTON & HOVE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING LEADING LOCAL ESTATE AGENTS FOR THEIR INVALUABLE ASSISTANCE IN COMPILING THIS LIST:Chris Sawyer of Sawyer & Co, Hove 01273 778 844 brightonestateagents.com

Laura Langham of Baron Estates, Brighton 01273 733 334 baron-estates.com

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Grange Walk, Grangeways, Patcham

Chartfi eld, Hove

Barrowfi eld Drive, Hove

Withdean Crescent

Hilltop

Park Avenue, Hove

Croft Road

Ashley Close

Deanway, Hove

Parochial Mews, Princes Street

Cedars Gardens

Woodland Walk, Ovingdean

Mornington Crescent, Hove

Shirley Avenue, Hove

Harrington Villas

Challoners Mews, Rottingdean

Welesmere Road, Rottingdean

Northfi eld Rise, Rottingdean

The Cliff

The Ridings, Ovingdean

Founthill Road, Saltdean

Rigden Road

Varndean Gardens

Gorham Close, Rottingdean

Patcham Grange

Lustrells Road, Rottingdean

Vallance Gardens, Hove

Colebrook Road

Woodhouse Close, Hove

East Street, Falmer

Benett Drive, Hove

Duke Street

Hampton Terrace

Withdean Avenue

Peacock Lane

Albany Mews, Hove

Mill Row, West Hill Road

St. James’s Place

Gorham Avenue, Rottingdean

Shirley Road, Hove

BN1

BN3

BN3

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BN3

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£647,500

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£629,500

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£532,100

£531,400


24 J U LY 2 0 1 0


createyour

uniqueenvironment

Traditional - Contemporary - Bespoke

58 Western Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 1JD Tel: 01273 206016

125 South Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 4LR Tel: 01444 443777

Kitchen – Bedroom – Living

Traditional - Contemporary - Bespoke

www.design-interiors.com

58 Western Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 1JD Tel: 01273 206016125 South Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 4LR Tel: 01444 443777

Park Way, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 1DP Tel: 01403 210100

Design interiors

www.design-interiors.com

Kitchen - Bedroom - Living


26 J U LY 2 0 1 0

OVER-THE-TOP OPULENCE IS

OUT, WHILE CLEAN, MODERN LINES ARE

DEFINITELY IN. THAT’S WHY THIS £3.5MILLION

BRIGHTON PROPERTY IS ONE OF THE MOST STYLISH

NEWLY-BUILT HOMES AROUND… AND IT’S GUILT- FREE TOO, BECAUSE THIS

HOUSE IS BRISTLING WITH GREEN TECHNOLOGY

DreamingCaliforniaWORDS

DANSMITH


SO BH_July10_Property.indd 94 18/06/2010 18:23

Strolling through the simply epic rooms of this new-build known as ‘Curve’, it’s easy to forget you’re on the Southern Coast of England. In fact, the idea of muddling a few Mojotos and stepping out onto the spacious patio for a star-studded Hollywood party doesn’t seem particularly far-fetched.

But this luxury pad is actually settled on the imposing hills of Withdean and Preston, and it takes more than just its Bauhaus aesthetics from the state of California. The designers of this house have drawn on the Golden State’s

obsession with environmentalism and, as well as being stunning to look at, Curve has more than a few tricks up its green sleeves.

From the ground up, the entire property has been built out of sustainable construction materials. It also features high levels of insulation for efficient living and has been designed to use very little energy. Add to this a solar-powered heat extraction system and grey water recycling (to minimise wastage) and you’ve got a home that’s not only fantastic looking, but also pretty environmentally friendly. ▼

P R O P E R T Y SO

J U LY 2 0 1 0 27



28 J U LY 2 0 1 0

Price: £3.5million

Bedrooms: 6Bathrooms: 6Balconies: 3

Extras:PoolSaunaSteam roomRoof garden

That’s impressive, but frankly, isn’t as exciting as Curve’s architecture. The name, if you’re wondering, comes from the large glass façade that runs the entire length of the house’s frontage. Said to be inspired by the sweep of an artist’s brush, the three storeys of glass bathe the interior with natural light and accentuate the already impressive proportions of the oak-floored rooms.

Part of the attraction of Curve is indeed the freedom offered by its open-plan design. At almost 200 meters2 the ground floor is almost entirely comprised of the large living area that’s adjoined by a stylish kitchenette. Fitted with top-of-the-range appliances, it continues the unfussy, chic theme with a multitude of appliances hidden away behind folding doors.

Down a small flight of stairs and to the belly of the home that’s cut into the hillside. Here you’ll find the pool, a roomy artist’s studio space and a modest office for when work finally beckons.

Thanks to Curve’s situation on the slopes of Withdean, even the front of the basement opens onto hillside, with a boarded sundeck on which to enjoy the glorious sea air. Oh, and if you need to relax after a particularly strenuous week (or an equally strenuous party), you’re catered for. Next to the pool there’s a sauna and steam room to ease your furrowed brow.

To give you an idea of the scale of each level of Curve, the first floor holds five bedrooms, all of which are generously sized and with en suites. Three of these rooms face towards the city and bedrooms two and three benefit from a joined balcony that can be accessed through Schuko bi-fold doors. Very stylish.

Perhaps the finest feature of this quite incredible property, however, is the area at the top of the house. The second floor is devoted almost entirely to the master bedroom and, with its 180 degree panoramic views, it’s quite a spectacle. More folding doors lead out onto the Japanese-style roof garden that’s built above the floor below. And, of course, an en suite is tucked away at the back of the room - shielded from the huge windows.

Curve essentially epitomizes the best that modern design has to offer. It’s spacious, economic and highly unique. And the best thing? It’s on this side of the pond, right here in the fine City of Brighton & Hove. SO

At A Glance:

Contact:Mishon Mackay – 01273 829 300



Tailored to


30 JULY 2 0 1 0

SO BH_July10_Kitchens_V2.indd 52 18/06/2010 14:52

PLANNING TO CHANGE THE HEART OF YOUR HOME? WE LOOK AT

THE BENEFITS OF GOING BESPOKE

Kit

che

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mal

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ne

of

Dev

izes

T he desired look is simple but not stark. Bright laminates, wood veneers, solid hardwoods, mellow aluminium and streamlined runs of extra-wide pan drawers are all trademarks of the modern tailor-made

kitchen. The best thing about bespoke, though, is that the options are limitless.

Put simply, buying bespoke means that you will have the pleasure of furniture designed specifi cally for you, although the term itself is much abused in the kitchen industry. Some companies attach it to ranges that consist of an impressive variety of shapes, sizes and colours, but are nonetheless far from one-off designs. You do, however, get a high degree of individuality and fl exibility with these systems.

Most bespoke designers specialise in a particular style, so it makes sense to avoid a company renowned for its rustic ranges if you are seeking a sleek, contemporary design. The bespoke is the haute couture of the kitchen world and, as such, you should expect to pay more for the privilege. That’s not to say that there aren’t reasonably priced options out there. The key is to make sure you work out a budget before you start and fi nd a designer that truly understands your needs.

Perfection▼

WORDSHARRIET

LOUVELLE

K I T C H E N S SO

JULY 2 0 1 0 31


The advantages of bespoke far outweigh any price premium. The problems of awkward corners, curved walls and unusual window positions can all be eliminated with the help of a good designer.

One downside to bespoke is the time involved, so ask for a realistic ‘guesstimate’ from your designer, but don’t be surprised if the work takes a little longer – you’re paying for quality craftsmanship and it shouldn’t be rushed.

In minimalist kitchens the choice of colour is crucial because, unlike traditional kitchens where accessories and fabrics enhance the palette, the contemporary kitchen acts alone. The big news in interiors is transparency. White is back, and the illusion of furniture fl oating in space is achieved using block colours for walls, furniture, fl oors and worktops. Some more adventurous designs use primary colours that make a bold statement. But if you yearn for a completely professional look, brushed stainless steel or aluminium is a good choice and is also easy to clean.

In terms of materials, veneers, laminates, book-matched panels and vinyl-wrapped MDF are increasingly popular, and technological advances within adhesion and materials mean that past concerns about durability are no longer valid. Factory-applied lacquers are also recognised for their hard-wearing advantages and have a shiny fi nish that is both easy to clean and light-refl ective.

Though often equated with traditional styles, solid wood is also effective in the modern bespoke kitchen. The lighter species such as maple and birch work very well but so, conversely, do walnut and deep cherry.

Glass is becoming more prevalent in the modern kitchen. Work surfaces and opaque glass doors with integrated lighting, brighten the whole area

In terms of materials, veneers, laminates, book-matched panels and vinyl-wrapped MDF are increasingly popular, and technological advances within adhesion and materials mean that past concerns about durability are no longer valid. Factory-applied lacquers are also recognised for their hard-wearing advantages and have a shiny fi nish that is both easy to clean and light-refl ective.

Though often equated with traditional styles, solid wood is also effective in the modern bespoke kitchen. The lighter species such as maple and birch work very well but so, conversely, do walnut and deep cherry.

Glass is becoming more prevalent in the modern kitchen. Work surfaces and opaque glass doors with integrated lighting, brighten the whole area Hove Kitchens

Design Interiors

County Kitchens

‘guesstimate’ from your designer, but don’t be surprised if the work takes a little longer – you’re paying for quality craftsmanship and it shouldn’t be rushed.

In minimalist kitchens the choice of colour is crucial because, unlike traditional kitchens where accessories and fabrics enhance the palette, the contemporary kitchen acts alone. The big news in interiors is transparency. White is back, and the illusion of furniture fl oating in space is achieved using block colours for walls, furniture, fl oors and worktops. Some more adventurous designs use primary colours that make a bold statement. But if you yearn for a completely professional look, brushed stainless steel or aluminium is a good choice and is also easy to clean.

In terms of materials, veneers, laminates, book-matched panels and vinyl-wrapped MDF are increasingly popular, and technological advances within adhesion and materials mean that past concerns about durability are no longer valid. Factory-applied lacquers are also recognised for

County Kitchens

Design Interiors


32 JULY 2 0 1 0


Design Interiors: 01273 206016 design-interiors.com County Kitchens: 01273 234890countykitchens.com

Hove Kitchens: 01273 207020 hovekitchens.net Clive Christian: 01444 401277 clive.com

KITCHEN & INTERIORS CONTACT BOOK:

Hove Kitchens

Hove Kitchens

and add to the contemporary feel – particularly useful in smaller rooms.

People often think that modern kitchens are technicallyinferior to their traditional predecessors. This is simply not the case. Modern materials such as veneers and composites are rigorously tested to very high standards and are now accepted by the most well regarded designers.

The good news for those who harbour nostalgia for traditional craftsmanship, but want a modern design, is that bespoke is probably the best option. Many companies still use traditional methods such as mortice and tenon and dovetail joints, and they mainly work with solid wood.

The clean, unhampered lines that make a contemporary kitchen, serve to highlight both craftsmanship and materials used. Consequently, the highest quality of design and furniture is paramount, which is where bespoke really comes into its own. SO

K I T C H E N S SO

JULY 2 0 1 0 33



bloo ming WORDSMELISSA

WOODLAND

CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW PLAYS HOST TO EXHIBITORS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD, INCLUDING A FEW FROM OUR PATCH. IT’S CONSIDERED TO BE THE FIVE DAY EVENT THAT MARKS THE START OF THE SEASON. BEFORE THE QUEEN ARRIVED FOR HER TOUR, SO BRIGHTON & HOVE HAD ITS OWN EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW (AS YOU’D EXPECT FOR SUCH A MAGAZINE) OF ALL THE HORTICULTURAL HIGHLIGHTS AND CAUGHT UP WITH A COUPLE OF MEDAL-WINNING EXHIBITORS FROM EAST SUSSEX

Brighton-based Nick Dexter returned to Chelsea for a second year running in the Urban Courtyard Garden category. Working with sartorial website BrandAlley.co.uk, he was inpired by fabric textures, fashion design and the work of artist Sonia Delaunay (1885-1979). The garden received a Silver-Gilt medal and Nick was delighted.

”Last year, I won a Silver and was really pleased, so I wanted to get the same or better on my second visit. The Silver-Gilt medal is fantastic and it was great to see so many months’ work come together successfully. This year saw a return to the golden age of Chelsea and I’m looking forward to coming back next year.”

marvellous

Garden Style

In the PavillionAway from the grand scale of the gardens, individual exhibits in the Chelsea Pavillion are a chance to showcase expertise in a specifi c area. It was here that 85-time exhibitor McBean’s Orchids of Lewes was again the proud recipient of a Gold Medal – adding to the 79 received in years gone by. McBean’s Jim Durrant says it’s always good to be recognised for your work.

”Every year we try to be different and show new or unusual orchids. We had a fantastic response this year and were glad to take home another Gold.”

C H E L S E A F L O W E R S H O W SO

J U LY 2 0 1 0 35

SO BH_July10_Chelsea.indd 95 17/06/2010 17:23

CHELSEA ATTRACTS GARDEN-LOVERS AND SOCIAL BUTTERFLIES (LIKE US), AS WELL AS A FAIR FEW FAMILIAR FACES. WE BUMPED IN TO A NUMBER OF THEM ON OUR WALK ROUND THE PLACE AND THEY WERE ALL MORE THAN WILLING TO BE PICTURED BY OUR SO BRIGHTON & HOVE PHOTOGRAPHER. HOW MANY DO YOU RECOGNISE?

WILLING TO BE PICTURED BY OUR & HOVERECOGNISE?

gardenparty

Celebrities enjoying the sunshine and fl owers included Piers Morgan, Jamie Oliver, Ainsley Harriott, Bill Bailey, Lulu, Nigel Slater, Bill Oddie, Carol Klein, Alan Titchmarsh, Chris Beardshaw, Nick Knowles, Christopher Biggins, David Bellamy, Floella Benjamin, Lesley Garrett, Raymond Blanc and Ronnie Wood.


36 J U LY 2 0 1 0

SO BH_July10_Chelsea.indd 99 17/06/2010 17:24

...encompasing all styles from modern high gloss doors through to painted

solid wood shaker and in-frame doors.

Free design and planning service

Offering a wide range of traditional and contemporary fi tted kitchens in Brighton and the surrounding areas....


p37_ADS_So BH_JULY10.indd 94 18/06/2010 16:20

HE’S FINALLY EMERGED FROM THE SHADOW OF MR DARCY THANKS TO THE FACT HE’S ABOUT

TO CELEBRATE HIS 50TH BIRTHDAY. BUT WHY HAS IT TAKEN COLIN FIRTH 15 YEARS TO BREAK FREE

FROM HIS TYPE-CAST IMAGE AND BECOME THE

DARLING OF HOLLYWOOD?

Without HE’S FINALLY EMERGED FROM THE SHADOW OF MR DARCY THANKS TO THE FACT HE’S ABOUT

TO CELEBRATE HIS 50TH

Without prejudice

WORDSDAN SMITH


38 J U LY 2 0 1 0

SO BH_July10_COLIN FIRTH_FINAL.indd 38 17/06/2010 17:07

similar outings meant Colin was soon synonymous with the period-drama-heartthrob or romantic-comedy love interest.

In these “empty shirt” roles he never really had to stretch his acting – simply needing to be charming and, for the most part, British. Certainly for some actors, repeatedly playing a stereotype is considered to be a reasonable option. Indeed, many have built a whole career on such clichés (Hugh Grant springs to mind).

But one senses with Colin Firth that he appeared in crowd-pleasers to pay the bills and the riskier dramas for the joy of acting. In the bill-paying fi lms, as well as a number of period roles, Colin’s been dashing and very British. What Girl Wants (2003), St. Trinian’s (2007), Mamma Mia! (2008) and of course Bridget Jones are cases in point.

At the same time he was also making lesser-known, more character-led fi lms such as Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003), Where the Truth Lies (2006) and Genova (2008). Perhaps his approach to fi lm making was best summed-up when he declared:

“I would rather fi ve people knew my work and thought it was good work than fi ve million knew me and were indifferent.”

This comment is typical of the man who seems to prefer quality over quantity. He once said that acting is his day job, rather than his life and that he was “not remotely interested in Pride and Prejudice” and had not watched it since it was made.

His approach to fame and life has enabled him to be a dedicated family man and also explains his lack of desire to chase glamour and glory at any cost.

His 19-year-old son Will, from his fi rst marriage to former actress Meg Tilley, lives in Canada with his siblings. Colin manages to stay in regular contact having acted as a surrogate father to Tilley’s other children while the couple were together from 1989 to 1994.

Colin and current wife, Livia Firth (née Giuggioli) have two boys, Luca (9) and Matteo (6). The family try to spend three months a year in Italy, Livia’s home country, although the majority of the time they reside in London.

It’s from his London base that Colin deals with another of his passions - humanitarian charity work. Not only has he supported anti-deportation campaigns, but he’s also been a long term supporter of Survival International, an NGO dedicated to defending the rights of tribal peoples.

“These people are not the remnants of a past era who need to be brought up to date,” he once explained. “Those who are able to continue to live on the land that is rightfully theirs are facing the 21st century with a confi dence that many of us in the so-called developed world can only envy.”

Earlier this year Colin helped Livia launch Brightwide.com, a movie-hosting website that specialises in distributing

For his quite excellent performance in A Single Man (2009) Colin Firth is now reaping the rewards as he turns 50 this Sepetmber.

His sensitive and stylish portrayal of the gay academic George Falconer has already earned him the Bafta award for

Best Actor and an Oscar nomination.

The Hampshire-born actor is being touted as Britain’s next major player in Hollywood, despite losing out in the Oscars to Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart) and casting directors throughout L.A. are talking about him taking the lead in a host of future blockbusters.

It’s taken a long time for the actor to become fully appreciated by the industry, simply because, since the mid-90s, he’s suffered from a bit of an image problem.

Having appeared in the BBC television adaptation of Pride and Prejudice (1995) as Mr Darcy, famously emerging from a lake in its fourth episode, Colin quickly became a 19th Century pin-up, of sorts.

“…the word Darcy is like a phantom that won’t leave me alone,” he says, “like a school nickname that sticks with you for years afterwards.”

Appearing as a character named Mark Darcy in both Bridget Jones fi lms (2001 & 2004) didn’t make losing that particular label any easier. This coupled with a number of

C O L I N F I R T H SO

J U LY 2 0 1 0 39

▼



“I WOULD RATHER FIVE PEOPLE KNEW MY WORK AND THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD WORK THAN FIVE MILLION KNEW ME AND WERE INDIFFERENT.”

thought-provoking fi lms designed to spread awareness of pressing global issues such as poverty, inequality and other widespread hardships.

So, was it this urge to rally against inequality that led Colin to take his part in A Single Man and portray a gay male struggling to get by in 1960s California? Well, apparently not… Colin has revealed that one of his reasons for taking the role was the chance to get his kit off on camera (so to speak).

“I pick up the script and it says, ‘Naked man lies on bed’. And then a few pages in, ‘naked man jumps in ocean.’

“‘Well’ I thought. ‘It’s time. One more push against gravity before I turn 50 and it’s all downhill.’”

In the fi lm he’s been able to marry two of his strengths into one role; providing a bit of eye-candy for his adoring Darcy fans and putting in the acting performance of a lifetime.

Nudity aside, Colin spent a great deal of time in a sharp, 60s suit reminiscent of Alfi e-era Michael Caine. However, George is a complicated being and playing him required all of Colin’s abilities to convey the spectrum of emotions the character is subjected to throughout the plot.

The fi lm looks incredibly slick and was, remarkably, shot in just 21 days, marking an impressive directorial debut for fashion designer Tom Ford. It’s obvious that his years as a director of fashion shoots have equipped the 48-year-old with a great eye for framing scenes. The result is a fi lm that’s truly a visual treat.

“Even though it was his fi rst fi lm, it certainly didn’t feel like we were working with a novice,” Colin says of the director.

“Tom has a great gift. He let nothing get in the way of his quest for perfection.”

Aesthetically speaking the fi lm bears more than a passing resemblance to the 60s style benchmark that is Mad Men (HBO & BBC4) and the link is more than coincidental. Both the fi lm and the series use the same production design team, meaning great looking sets and laborious attention to detail.

Tom Ford had George’s suit tailored in Saville Row with the character’s name and ‘1957’, the fi ctional year made, embroidered inside. The fi ve year hiatus between the making of the suit and the setting of the fi lm is to illustrate that George, a well-educated and affl uent Englishman, is somewhat thrifty, wearing a nice suit, though one a few years old.

With this kind of obsessive approach, it’s a miracle the fi lm was shot in just three weeks; a fact that is clearly testament to the effi ciency and quality of the crew and acting cast.

A Single Man has been a success for all involved, although it was a risky venture. Being funded as well as directed by Ford, if the fi lm had fl opped it would have been highly embarrassing.


J U LY 2 0 1 0 41

▼



42 J U LY 2 0 1 0


“Some of the people advising me were very keen for me not to do it,” says Colin. “…in fact adamant that I shouldn’t do it, that it was a very dangerous thing to take on. Everyone would notice this fi lm, and if it was a catastrophe it would be a very, very noticeable one.”

Luckily it’s been the opposite. But where does that leave Mr Firth? Sure, he’ll always be remembered as Mr Darcy, but he’s reinvigorated his career and the future’s bright for the man.

His next release is The King’s Speech (2010) and stars Colin as another George, this time King George VI. The fi lm explores how the monarch was initially a reluctant king with a terrible nervous stammer. To save his reputation he hired an unorthodox speech therapist who helped him fi nd his voice and boldly lead the country into war.

The fi lm features a whole host of big names from British cinema. With Colin at the helm, we’re also treated to Geoffrey Rush, Guy Pierce, Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Gambon and Timothy Spall, who plays Winston Churchill.

Main Street (2010) is also due for release later this year, or perhaps early 2011. The fi lm is set in an American small town which is shaken up when a new arrival (Firth) turns up with controversial plans to save their decaying community. Based on a 1920s novel of the same name, Main Street will no doubt fall into Colin’s more character-led catalogue of fi lms. With plenty of squabbling between townsfolk, the movie is likely to revolve around character interactions rather than explosive action.

It’s been an exciting year so far for Mr Firth although it might have started so very differently... Upon receiving his Bafta award he explained how he almost pulled out of acting in A Serious Man.

Feeling he wouldn’t be able to do the part justice he wrote an email to Tom Ford turning down the role but before he had time to send it, a fridge engineer knocked at the door.

“I was about to send this [email] when a man came to repair my fridge,” he recalled. “I don’t know what’s best for me, so I would like to thank the fridge guy.” (The man has since been identifi ed as 23-year-old Zak Marhi of Wembley who didn’t know Colin was a famous actor.)

The Bafta speech, as one might expect, was gracious, gentlemanly and unpretentious, essentially typical of the family man.

Colin will turn 50 in September then and his career is at an all time high. In the last 12 months he’s simultaneously proven his acting credentials and shed his rom-com image to take his place alongside the big guns in the fi lm industry.

So, keep an eye out for him in the coming years and we’ll see how well he performs when all eyes are on this very modest man. We reckon he’ll do just fi ne... with or without his clothes on. SO


J U LY 2 0 1 0 43



44 J U LY 2 0 1 0


The trend for nude colourways is to continue right through the warmer months, so it’s time to update your

wardrobe with lighter-weight fabrics. Look for

chiffon overlays and sheer detailing to keep the style current.

We love this delicate blush top with polka dots and ruffles from 3.1 Phillip Lim. Sheer silk top £245, 3.1 Phillip Lim @ cruisefashion.co.uk

Ok to blush

Give it some wellyHeading for a festival this month? With the British weather being far from reliable, it’s worth investing in a pair of ‘just-in-case” wellies to prevent your weekend becoming a washout. This Summer, welly specialists Hunter have teamed up with footwear favourite Jimmy Choo to design an imitation crocodile skin pair. Featuring leopard print lining, gold buckle hardwear and the signature lengthened buckle

strap. Limited edition Hunter and Jimmy Choo Wellington

boots £255, exclusively from hunter-boot.com

FaSHion EdiTor MELiSSa WoodLand on WHaT you nEEd To knoW THiS MonTH

FASHIONINSIDER

WOMEN

if there is one must-have item for July, it’s the maxi dress. Printed or plain, halterneck, bandeau or long-sleeved, jersey or cotton, the full-length dress is an essential element of your Summer style. They’re as at home on the seafront as they are in the office. if you’ve never tried one before, now is the time to be brave. Just make sure you find one the right length. (They should finish on the ankle bone) Copacobana dress £69.99, Fever @ MeMe Boutique, Church Road, Hove.

Maxed out style

if packing light is a priority for your annual trip to the tropics, you’ll want to pick versatile pieces that work together in a capsule wardrobe. Easily dressed up or dressed down, these gold, sunflower-inspired sandals fulfil the brief. Slip on with a sarong and hat and you’re your ready to hit the beach. Team with an elegant maxi dress and a few gold accessories when it’s time for dinner. Gold sandals £265, Marc by Marc Jacobs at matches.com

Best foot forward

Sunglasses, sun screen, a cardigan in case it gets chilly, an umbrella in case it rains, plus all the usual paraphernalia. There seems to be a lot more for you to carry around with you in the Summer, doesn’t there? Give your trusty tote a rest for a few months and treat yourself to a canvas holdall instead. opt for one with a nautical theme, like this one from By Malene Birger, or choose a block colour bag in a summery shade. Stripe bag £67, By Malene Birger @ Nola Boutique, Gardener Street, Brighton.

It’s in the Bag

Fa S H i o n SO

J u Ly 2 0 1 0 45

SO BH_July10_Fashion_Womens_Insider.indd 94 17/06/2010 16:39


Little BelterNow, how do you hold up your new Summer trousers? Black and brown leather belts have their place, but might be a tad too formal for your casual July look. Watch out for a softly-coloured woven belt like this pale blue Havelock piece from Reiss. Its leather trim and solid weave ensure it’s a versatile option. Havelock belt, £59, Reiss, East Street, Brighton.

FASHIONINSIDER

MEN

WHAT YOU SHOULD BE WEARING THIS MONTH AT WORK, REST AND PLAY

Body scanIf you want to stand out on the beach, statement print shorts are the way to do it. We love these barcode print Vilebrequin swim shorts. Ocean barcode swimwear £105, Vilebrequin @ menalamode.com

INSIDERINSIDERMENBody scan

statement print shorts

We love these barcode

£105, Vilebrequin @

Continental styleWe may be in the grip of World Cup Fever, but that’s no excuse for letting your style slide. Most men’s fashion houses have given a nod towards the footballing event, releasing polos, hats and t-shirts in team colours. So, you can look good while being patriotic.World Cup polo shirts, £100, Ralph Lauren @ Profi le, Dukes Lane, Brighton.

Cottoning onFinding the right Summer trousers can be tricky. Jeans are too heavy (and hot!) and linen only looks good for about ten minutes before it creases. A well-tailored, soft-toned pair with a high cotton content could be the solution. Cool and lightweight, these 100 percent cotton trousers by Balenciaga should be a wardrobe staple. Cotton trousers £335, Balenciaga @ matches.com

If you’ve been wearing the same selection of shirts for your nights out with the boys, it may be time to trade in block colours for something more exciting. The latest collection from British designers Eccentric Shirts features playful patterns that will certainly make you stand out at the bar. Plus, for every Union Jack shirt sold, the company will donate £10 to Help for Heroes. Stylish and philanthropic! Lulu shirt £95, eccentricshirts.com

Get Shirty

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SO BH_July10_Fashion_Mens_Insider.indd 94 18/06/2010 11:59

MEET...

SLEEP...

RELAX...

DINE...

Dale Hill more than just a golf clubDale Hill Hotel and Golf Club, Ticehurst, Wadhurst, East Sussex, TN5 7DQ

Tel: 01580 200 112 | Fax: 01580 201 249

email: [email protected]

www.dalehill .co.uk

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Labels to go there for:

Men’s:

Baracuta

Barbour

Belstaff

Ben Sherman

Carhartt

Dockers

Fred Perry

G-Star

Hackett

Henri Lloyd

Hilfi ger

J Lindeberg

John Smedley

LeeLeviLukeLyle and Scott

Penfi eld

Original

Penguin

Schott

Scotch And

Soda

Women’s:

Birkenstock

G-Star

Hush Puppies

Camper

Fred Perry

Belstaff

UggGreat Plains

John Smedley

Kuyuchi

Lee

Maison Scotch

Carhartt

LeviBarbour

Original

Penguin

Stewart &

Brown

FryeNumph


Boutique: Badger Clothing

Where: 25 and 26 Bond Street, Brighton

Contact: Men’s 01273 722245 Women’s 01273 325421 badgerclothing.co.ukOpened: 1998

BRIGHTON AND HOVE IS A HAVEN FOR THOSE WITH AN EYE FOR STYLE, WHICH PROMPTS US TO LOOK AT A FEW OF OUR HOTTEST BOUTIQUES FOR MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN: WHERE THEY ARE, WHAT THEY SELL AND WHAT TRENDS THEY PREDICT FOR SUMMER

boutiqueslabels

trends

Client profi le: “Our customer base is very broad,” says Manager, Adam Smith. “In both age range and personality, so we have lots of types of clothing all across the spectrum. A bit of something for everybody.”

Boutique style: “Original, knowledgable and friendly staff. A relaxed environment. Always looking for up to date trends and styles.”

Key trends for Summer: “The preppy look. Chinos, deck shoes and lots of vibrant colour.”

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Client profi le:“Surprisingly we have a real selection of customers,” says owner Charlotte Wilkie. “From mums and dads to grandparents and to people wanting to buy a gift to celebrities. That’s why we try to offer something at different price points.”

Boutique style:“Our shop has a very simple layout – with boys on one side (blue wall) and girls on the other (pink wall). We do also stock a small selection of unisex and premature clothing. Our aim is to offer a diverse range of products for 0 to 8 year olds that are unusual, fun and have that wow factor. We know our customers want to buy something that is a little bit different and stylish, but don’t want to pay the earth for it. So, as well as stocking known brands, we actively look for interesting and different brands from around the world.”

Key trends for Summer:“This Summer we have continued to offer bright bold colours and prints. Children tend to gravitate towards brighter colours.“

Boutique: Charlie Barley

pay the earth for it. So, as well as stocking known brands, we actively look for interesting and different brands from around the world.”

Key trends for Summer:“This Summer we have continued to offer bright bold colours and prints. Children tend to gravitate towards brighter colours.“

Labels to go there for:No Added Sugar, Original Penguin Kids,Molo, Me Too, Boboli, Louie Louis, D&G Junior, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Pediped, Trumpette, Snuglo, Beauty & the Bib, Kidorable

Boutique: Last

Where: 17 Meeting House Lane, Brighton

Contact: 01273 774000charliebarley.co.uk

Opened: This store opened May 2004, but the business has been going since December 2002


Falke Hosiery, Trippen, Cydwoq, Wolfram

Lohr, Rachel Eardley, Bespoke Shoes and

accessories made in store.

Where: 3 Pool Valley, Brighton

Contact: 01273 777141 lastfootwear.com

Opened: July 2004

and premature clothing. Our aim is to offer a diverse range of products for 0 to 8 year olds that are unusual, fun and have that wow factor. We know our customers want to buy something that is a little bit different and stylish, but don’t want to pay the earth for it. So, as well as stocking known brands, we actively look for interesting and different brands from around the world.”

Client profi le: Owner Alex Herdman says customers are mainly female. “They work or have worked in creative industries, are aged 20 to 65 and are looking for a viable alternative to the high street and the more well known brands.”

Boutique style: “We specialise in art and design led shoes and hosiery for the individualist. Our philosophy is to offer products that use quality materials and wear in rather than out.”

Key trends for Summer: “It appears to be the clog sandals that are made in the UK and are not only in fashion but also very comfortable.”


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Boutique: Pretty Eccentric

Where: Meeting House Lane, Brighton

Contact: 07870607925 prettyeccentric.co.uk

Opened: 2009


Fashion Blank, Nancy Mac, Michal Negrin

Soma , Ziio, The 3 of Clubs, Mary Frances

Lie down I think I love you, Bellapecella,

Vivi, Tokyo Milk

Boutique: Me Me

Boutique: Pretty Eccentric


Sandwich, Part Two, Fever, Not your Daughters

Jeans, Eucalptus, Ipenema fl ip fl ops, Penelope

and Parker, Martine Wester jewellery.

Client profi le:“The core group is aged 30 plus,” says owner Louise Shiangkwang. “They’re yummy mummies and their mummies. For occasion wear, our clients are usually a friend of the bride.”

Boutique style:“We’re a simple boutique offering well designed quality clothing for the discerning woman.”

Key trends for Summer:“Maxi’s that give maximum impact, vintage-inspired dresses for occasion wear and soft separates in mix of brown and nude hues for everyday dressing.”

Where: 142 Church Road, Hove

Contact: 01273 323122

Opened: 2010

Get in touch: If you have products, boutiques, designers or thoughts you’d like to see on these pages, please call Fashion Editor Melissa Woodland on 01892 616103 or email [email protected]

For occasion wear, our clients are usually

Client profi le:Owner Michelle Scott says her customers are aged 25-50. “They’re looking for beautiful, imaginative, eccentric and vintage inspired fashion, accessories and toiletries that refl ect their individual style and attitude.”

Boutique style:“Pretty Eccentric is passionate about creativity and individuality. It is more than just the name of a brand. It’s a state of mind, a way of being fun, imaginative, slightly off the wall but above all beautiful.”

Key trends for Summer:“Vintage lace dresses, Steam Punk jewellery made by customizing Victorian pocket watches and antiques and handbags that are works of art.”

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Five days of fashion. Heaven. From the launch event through to the ready-to-wear collections, via an innovative ‘Trashion’ exhibition, Brighton Fashion Week promised to satisfy even the hungriest of sartorial appetites. But it was the Couture show that was the most hotly anticipated.

On Friday night, the queue of suitably fashionable people waiting for the Couture Show snakes all the way down Church Street, everyone eager to see the collections of the latest up-and-coming designers.

Runwaysuccess

It’s the regIonal fashIon event of the year. In just sIx years,

BrIghton fashIon Week has groWn from a sIngle catWalk

shoW to a must-see event on the BrItIsh fashIon calendar.

2010 Was the fIrst tIme It spanned a Week and We

Were there to take In all the actIon

▼

Words melIssa

Woodland

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SO BH_July10_Fashion Show_v2.indd 55 18/06/2010 13:06

Taking my seat alongside the catwalk, the audience of celebrities, stylistas, buyers, press and fashion fans are buzzing with expectation. Many people are here to see Nikolo Bertok – hailed as the new Valentino, while whispers about studio_805’s quirky styling are ramping up enthusiasm for that collection.

The lights dim and fi rst up is Joanne Fleming Design. Titled Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, her anthology of dresses mixes ice cream shades and full-skirted 50s dresses (Good) with more sombre full-length gowns in silk and chiffon (Evil). Her covetable pieces are romantic without being twee – classic styling with a luxurious feel.

Dreamy romanticism makes way for edgy modernity with Ada Di Vincenzo’s Plastic Shell collection. Sculptural shoulders, cutaway shirts and refl ective Perspex accessories sashay down the catwalk. The predominance of black is lifted by fl ashes of neon brights which line many of the pieces.

Cocoon shapes and cut-out leather dresses are next. Rosalind Frances Holmes’s The Bathos offers up statement necklaces reminiscent of animal bones, while Fairytale Emotions from Leeanne Garrett showcases a stunning funnel neck coat and

asymmetric detailing.

Wearable fashion takes a seat for the next few collections. Megann’e Murrin’s Alien


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Armour: a Second Skin and studio_805’s archive are more challenging. The fi rst anthology features shimmering black ostrich feathers, snakeskin print panels and body-con dresses. archive is surreal from start to fi nish; bold patterns in red and white, blow-up doll-styled models and snowfl ake-print fl eece.

The audience comes back to reality with Nikolo Bertok’s offering. Unlimited features an eclectic array of evening gowns. Whimsical ribboning and strongly beaded pieces elicits gasps of appreciation from the crowd. A truly beautiful collection.

Lace on Leather by Kayleigh Valentine is pretty and edgy, while Joy Williams’ Latex Couture uses the material to create undulating skirts and more predictable form-fi tting dresses.

Flik Hall’s collection is more intriguing. Innovative use of hessian in her Mannequin Parade combines effortlessly with a custom print fabric and skintone leather is lifted by doll-print panels.

The fi nal show of the night is certainly worth waiting for. Sarina Poppy’s The Enchanted Forest is a ethereal journey through fairy dresses and fairy tales. Tartan and lace are gathered to create a full skirt and corset detailing lifts a grey pencil dress to covetable status. Fun, creative and fanciful, Poppy’s collection is a huge hit with the discerning audience.

Fourteen hours later and feeling inspired after the Couture collections, I’m back in the front row waiting for the Ready-to-Wear show to begin. Of the ten RTW collections showcased, there are certainly a couple of designers to watch out for.

Orleans Design’s vibrant patterns and raw fi nishing are intriguing, but their grey satin draped dress with a red detail zip is stunning.

Playsuit Parlour’s vintage prints and kimono sleeves are playful yet classy and Yamama’s pink and black silk dress is sure to fl y off the rails.

Former Glory challenges convention with a Union Jack print puffball skirt and pompom accessories, while Another 7th Day’s eclectic collection offers up deconstructed jeans, butter-soft leather jackets and a 1930’s style pleated evening gown.

One of the most wearable sets comes from Be Urban Chic. The label’s range of day and evening dresses is pretty and sophisticated, with a knock-out hot pink full length dress inducing gasps and applause from the audience.

Ceci’s pale yellow dress coat is another hit while the collection from designer boutique Profi le inspires. Kerry Knowles’s unisex range is thought-provoking, in particular, the origami-style waists on her selection of trousers.

The fi nal show comes from Ailsa and features billowing harem pants, monochrome stripes and softly draping jersey. Each and every piece is applauded and her pop-up shop fi lls with shoppers as soon as the catwalk event fi nishes. She’s defi nitely worth keeping an eye out for. ▼


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▼▼

We caught up with the woman behind Brighton Fashion Week, Director Liz Bishop to fi nd out how she makes the event such a success.

How long have you been involved?Since day one. I launched the event as the Brighton Frocks catwalk show six years ago, consisting of one venue and a handful of independent designers. Since then the event has evolved so much. After the fi rst show, it quickly became evident that Brighton, a real creative hub bursting with unique, innovative and inspiring individuals, needed a platform for local and national designers to showcase their work – and so Brighton Fashion Week was born. The event has since snowballed and this year we’ve had an unprecedented amount of interest from designers, sponsors and talented people who want to get involved, so it’s all very exciting! And how did it all start?Immediately after graduating from University of Brighton my life was put on hold as I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease. After surviving this I decided to embark on a well-deserved recovery and went travelling for 18 months. Returning home to the UK I knew I wanted to work for myself but I wasn’t sure doing what. I was seeking work in the events industry when a designer friend of mine challenged me to organise a catwalk show for her and other independent designers, and I haven’t looked back since. Surviving cancer certainly gives you an element of no fear, encouraging you to take lots of risk, as you realise life is too short and you seek every opportunity life gives. What’s your favourite part of Brighton Fashion Week?In the run up to the event it can be hard to distinguish the days between the weeks! So I’d have to say every part. This job opens up doors, new people, and new and exciting challenges and opportunities on a daily basis, and the best bit? It allows complete creative freedom, which for me is the autonomy I have sought but not achieved through so many other roles.

So Brighton & Hove meets…

Brighton Fashion Week, Director Liz Bishop to

Since day one. I launched the event as

Hove meets…SO B R I G H T O N & H O V E

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Being able to choose what I want to do, when and how I want to do it brings me true happiness and it’s what makes me skip through life with a smile. Which designers should we be looking out for?There are so many up and coming designers showcasing at the shows, it is diffi cult to pinpoint just one, as our designers satisfy such diverse tastes, and as with everything: one man’s trash is another man’s Prada – it’s all about perspective! Essentially, we provide the platform for our designers’ creations and as an alternative fashion week, we’re not dominated by trends, the collections we show are seasonless, they’re not infl uenced by the diktats of fashion, we just help people on their journey to where they want to be in setting their own trends.

For sheer clothes lust, Alisa for the Ready-to-Wear Show and Rosalind Francis Holmes for the Couture Show are my picks. Favourite collection?My favourite collection is my own collection of clothing, I have a mixture of past seasons that I have adored and things I just can’t get rid of. I think the best collection is one that is personal to you. Each item of clothing I own has its own meaning, and that’s what makes a piece important to me. In terms of my favourite designers, I love supporting emerging designers so I try and attend the graduate shows, Graduate Fashion Week and Vauxhall Fashion Scout, of which a couple of the ‘Ones to Watch’ were showcased at Brighton Fashion Week. I’ve had my eye on David Koma for a while; I love his surrealist-inspired structures and shapes. What’s your trend prediction for Autumn/Winter 10/11?Diffi cult one! I am not one for predicting trends, but I will defi nitely be championing studded or sculptured knitwear next season. It’s edgy, feminine and warm too! If I’m not the one making this trend then I’d like someone to make it happen so I could wear it for next season – so Burberry et al… any takers? SO

The Week in NumbersDays 5

Models 100

Designers 45

Different outfi ts 400+

Visitors 3000+


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What your little darlings should be Wearing, seeing and doing this month Words: Melissa Woodland

Dot-to-dotyou may not want to encourage your offspring to draw on the walls, but if you’re keen to develop any artistic tendencies, the Join the dots wallpaper is a fun way to go. Just paste the paper to the wall in the usual way, then let your little ones loose with pens and pencils to create their own dotty masterpieces. it won’t be long before you join in. Join the dots wallpaper £50 per roll, coxandcox.co.uk

Keep out!every child loves a space to call their own. Whether it’s a home-made den at the end of the garden or a precariously balanced tree house, it’s somewhere for them to play, relax and see their friends, and is usually out of bounds to grown-ups. With the summer holidays fast approaching, now is the time to invest in something a little more long-lasting and commission a playhouse to fit your outside space. From fortresses to weatherboard residences, pretty much any design is possible – you can even incorporate climbing frames, swings, slides and storage. Playhouses from £2,000, theplayhousecompany.co.uk

To Infinity...buzz, Woody, mr Potatohead and the toy story gang are back with a new adventure. owner, andy, is heading off to college, which means his faithful childhood friends are being given away to a children’s nursery. how will they escape their new toddler playmates? Odeon Cinema, West Street, Brighton from Friday 23 July.

Rock-a-by-babytired of the usual pastel-shades of baby wear? bon Jovi drummer tico torres was, so he’s developed an edgy range of rock-inspired clothing for tots, all in black, white or grey. the collection includes baby grows, vests and bottles, all with more than a hint of the rock star. Rock Star Baby Deluxe Starter Set £82 rockstarbaby.com

Ahoy therethe summer’s fashionmust-haves have reached miniature proportions. the nautical trend is everywhere, with shrunk-down breton stripes and anchor detailing. this fun sundress in alternating stripe and block colour sections features tie shoulders and ruffle detailing. louie louis cotton dress, £26.00, Charlie Barley, Meeting House Lane, Brighton.

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THE GALLERY - SIMON ROYER


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on this page:Mackerel Shoal Graphic Display Code:501-3 - Size Framed:130 x 92 cm - Print Media - £ 1650.00

Fish & Chips Code:406-3 - Size Framed:52.5 x 52.5 cm - Mixed Media - £835.00

Seascape Code:437 - Size:5 x 1ft - Acrylic on 18mm MDF - £425.00

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on this page:Whale Shark Code:547 - Size Framed:103 x 73 cm - Acrylic on MDF - £750.00

Galapagos Sea-lions Code:554 - Size Framed:60 x 74 cm - Acrylic on canvas mounted board - £875.00

Black Rock Code:463 - Size Framed:77 x 96 cm - Acrylic on on Board - £925.00

Seascape Code:454 - Size:3 x 2 ft - Acrylic on 25mm MDF - £750.00

All works here can be viewed at the Gallery 94, 94 North Road, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 1YE - Please quote ‘So”.01273 675991 [email protected] www.gallery94.co.uk

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▼

OUR ROUND UP OF SOME OF THE BEST NEW STAGE AND THEATRE SHOWS TAKING PLACE IN SURREY AND THE CAPITAL THIS MONTH

On September 15, 2008, in the midst of the banking crisis, the London auction house Sotheby’s raises £110m with its Beautiful Inside My Head sale of works by the UK’s Damien Hirst. To many this is the

fi nal defi ant stand of an over-heated contemporary art market that will not be repeated for many years.

Fast forward just 18 months to February 3, 2010, when the global economy is recovering, but hardly in rude health. Walking Man I, a bronze by Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti, beats the previous record for a single work – Picasso’s 1906 portrait Boy with a Pipe – when it is sold by Sotheby’s to an anonymous buyer for an astonishing £65m, four times its high estimate.

The Giacometti sale is not alone in achieving stellar prices. In November, 2009, 12 bidders push Andy Warhol’s early Pop painting 200 One Dollar Bills past its $8-$12m estimate to almost $44m.

Over a similar timescale, prime property in London, driven by a shortage of stock and a surge in interest from overseas buyers, increases in value by 15% from its credit-crunch nadir.

Jonathan Binstock, an expert on contemporary art at Citi Private Bank’s art advisory service, says similar drivers are at play in the art world.

“Volumes are down very dramatically. There hasn’t been an overwhelming number of forced sellers, and people who don’t have to sell aren’t.”

Auction houses are also being very conservative about what they sell and how they set their pre-sale estimates to help encourage competitive bidding, he adds.

What has really helped sustain the contemporary market, however, is the globalisation of demand on the back of rapid wealth creation in developing nations, Binstock emphasises: “Buyers are not just coming from the UK and US.”

EXCEPTIONAL AUCTION RESULTS FOR CONTEMPORARY ART OFFER INTERESTING PARALLELS WITH OUR PRIME PROPERTY MARKET. ANDREW SHIRLEY INVESTIGATES

ArtPROPERTY

A R T SO

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Mirrors

the global economy is recovering, but hardly in rude health. Alberto Giacometti, beats the previous record for a single work – Picasso’s 1906 portrait when it is sold by Sotheby’s to an anonymous buyer for an astonishing £65m, four times its high estimate.

The Giacometti sale is not alone in achieving stellar prices. In November, 2009, 12 bidders push Andy Warhol’s early Pop painting 200 $8-$12m estimate to almost $44m.

Over a similar timescale, prime property in London, driven by a shortage of stock and a surge in interest from overseas buyers, increases in value by 15% from its credit-crunch nadir.

Jonathan Binstock, an expert on contemporary art at Citi Private Bank’s art advisory service, says similar drivers are at play in the art world.

“Volumes are down very dramatically. There hasn’t been an overwhelming number of forced sellers, and people who don’t have to sell aren’t.”

▼

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According to Oliver Barker, senior director of contemporary art at Sotheby’s, the art market is more international than ever before. “Buyers of lots that sold for over $1m came from 27 countries in 2004. In 2008-09 this doubled to 54 countries.”

The same pattern has been seen for prime London property. In 2007 Knight Frank sold houses to 33 nationalities. Last year it was 49.

“Art follows commerce, “ says Peter Boris, executive vice president of leading New York-based gallery Pace Wildenstein. “Without doubt, artists from the world’s new economies will play an increasingly important role in the history of art.

“New art-making centres are springing up around the world. It is happening in China and India, but also Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.”

Leng Lin, president of Pace’s Beijing gallery, says more Chinese collectors are now paying attention to contemporary art.

“The number is small comparatively, but they are beginning to play a more important role. More attention is paid to local artists, but Chinese collectors are never narrow-minded as the country itself has been deeply involved in globalisation.

“There are more and more good artists, but during the past decades wealth has grown at an even higher speed in China and, as a result, the money overfl owing from the local art market will go into the international market.”

Another parallel between art and property markets playing out now, in contrast to the frenzied, and some might say undiscerning buying frenzy witnessed in both sectors at the height of the boom, is the focus on quality.

“Masterpieces and works that rarely enter the market are aggressively sought after,” says Peter Boris.

Extremely wealthy art collectors are prepared to pay top prices, but only for the very best works from top-drawer artists, confi rms Jonathan Binstock.

“This approach is much more reminiscent of the purchase of a primary residential property. People are not buying on spec or looking for the next hot artist.”

Leng Lin, who has played a key role in the development of Chinese contemporary art as a dealer, curator, critic and artist, says that contemporary art is no longer being judged purely by its fi nancial value since the economic crisis.

“The art that emphasises humanity and spirituality, the work that shows a connection and awareness of history is most valued. The more conservative artists, those who have a direct hand in the art-making process, have performed better.

“The new trend will be opposing making art entertaining or fashionable. It will be focusing more on purifi ed forms.”

Extrapolating this trend to property markets may be stretching the parallels too far, but the similarities and lessons from the past are clear. Art or property of the very highest quality will always be attractive to the discerning buyer, but speculate at your peril. SO

Artists to watchJonathan Binstock says:Luc TuymansGeorge CondoEl AnatsuiPeter Boris says:Stirling RubyLi SongsongSudarshan Shetty

Leng Lin says:Hai BoYin XiuzhenWang GuangleOliver Barker says:Chris Ofi liUrs FischerFirst published in the Wealth Report

2010 produced by Citi Private Bank and

Knight Frank. Andrew Shirley is Editor

of the Wealth Report

SO BH_July10_Art_Investing.indd 92 17/06/2010 17:17



SO T U N B R I D G E W E L L S

67 M AY 2 0 0 9

A LUXURY TWO NIGHT STAY AT THE

HILTON BRIGHTON METROPOLE

PLUS PAMPERING TREATMENTS AT

THEIR SPA ALL WORTH £1,000

A couple of days away from the stresses and strains

of life can make all the difference, especially if you

don’t even have to leave your home town to enjoy

it. That’s why, in association with the Hilton

Brighton Metropole, we’re giving away a two night weekend

stay for two people in their elegant four-star hotel with its

heated indoor pool, fantastic gym and spa.

From the moment you walk into the lobby of the Hilton

Brighton Metropole you can relax, settle into your deluxe,

sea-facing suite and let the team cater to your every need,

including making those arrangements for your sessions at

the spa. A facial perhaps or maybe a massage?

The Hilton Brighton Metropole on Kings Road is the epitome

of a great hotel; large, spacious and refi ned, it’s just perfect

for a weekend away and is only minutes from the centre of

the city.

Your prize will include:

• Deluxe, sea-facing suite for two people for two nights

• Bottle of Champagne on arrival

• A welcome la carte dinner for two in the Windsor restaurant

• Two treatments for each guest at the luxury spa

• Saturday Night Pimms and tapas for two on the 106 Terrace

• Twinnings Afternoon tea for two experience

• The sensational Hilton breakfast for two both mornings

For your chance to win simply send a postcard with your

name, address and contact number to:

So Brighton & Hove Metropole Competition

Suite G03, Brighton Media Centre, 15-17 Middle Street,

Brighton BN1 1AL

Alternatively, email us on [email protected] and

mark the subject ‘ Hilton Brighton Metropole Competition’.

The closing date is midnight July 31 2010 after which two

names will be drawn at random.

Offer subject to availability at time of booking. Valid until December 15 2010. Only applicable to

Hilton Brighton Metropole and is not transferable.

All standard competition Terms and Conditions of the Magazine People Ltd apply. Only one entry

per person per household. Entrants must be over 18. Editor’s decision is fi nal.

To fi nd out more about the Hilton Brighton Metropole and its facilities visit Hilton.com/Brighton

WIN

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C O M P E T I T I O N SO

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Among the most rewarding places to visit is The Ginger Pig in Hove, which is for me the jewel in the crown of the Gingerman group of four restaurants and pubs.

It is a pub, and probably gastro, but the food is of top restaurant quality, and the balanced, slightly

less formal atmosphere brings a greater degree of relaxation to a dining experience. And you can have a decent pint as an aperitif.

Which is where it begins on this visit – a Harveys Sussex Best, the near ubiquitous workhorse bitter of Sussex. It’s a fine pint, well conditioned, and crystal clear, which in my experience is sadly unusual in other hostelries, and all the more pleasing to find it so well-kept here.

Not a surprise, though – the standards are high, and there is a stronger attention to detail than is common in similar style establishments. Water is automatically served, and followed by warm sourdough bread and some top grade extra virgin oil for dipping; the loos are classy and immaculate, the crockery, glassware and napery is a step up from most gastro establishments.

Philosophically, the food is close to that in many modern restaurants; the finest quality fresh ingredients, procured from as local a supplier base as is reasonable, with more than a nod to seasonality, and a focus on flavour.

The dishes are contemporary in style and presentation, although retaining the best of classic cuisine and some inspiring use of the more unusual cuts of meat, in the mode of the great Fergus Henderson of St John fame.

The decor is essentially brown, reminiscent in a comforting, familiar way of the early 70s without the dodgy man-made fibres. Wood

What apig!THERE ARE A

PLETHORA OF cREATIVE,

HOSPITABLE ANd INTERESTING EATERIES

AROUNd BRIGHTON & HOVE TO SUIT ALL TASTES ANd BUdGETS. WE SENT OUR RESIdENT FOOdIE Damian

Cotton ALONG TO ONE OF THEm ANONYmOUSLY

SO BH_July10_Restaurant_V2.indd 98 17/06/2010 19:16

MENU AT A GLANCE• Starter from £5.50• Mains from £10• Dessert from £5• Wine by the glass from £3.75• Wine bottle from £15

The Ginger Pig, 3 Hove Street, Hove , East Sussex BN3 2TRTelephone: 01273 736123gingermanrestaurants.comOur man Damian Cotton visited this restaurant anonymously

and paid for the meal.

floor, beige walls, wooden furniture and most of the artwork and lightshades in brown, but with strong lighting and regimented straight lines, it is an environment that is aimed at eating comfortably.

To begin, a composition of ham hock and smoked eel with apple and beetroot. The ham is a cylinder of coarsely shredded meat, with the rich silky texture of perfect poaching and sweet bacony flavour. Eel is served as it is - which is totally right for such a good ingredient, and the sweet ham and smoky eel complement well.

The beetroots are tiny and have been roasted to bring out their deep and slightly earthy taste, and the apple has been pureed with lemon juice to provide a slick of sauce. It is a busy plateful (or rather slateful, since it comes on a slab of black metamorphic rock - very trendy), as there is also some celeriac remoulade, mini cornichons, and pea shoots (not just a fashionable micro-green, but a fine partner to ham).

However, the ensemble works very well – it’s a dish made with confidence and a sure grasp of balancing flavours. I am not greatly surprised that the ham is so good - although I have only met Head Chef Dave Mothersill once, I am better acquainted with his Mum who lives in North Yorkshire near my own ancestral home, and she can certainly cook a highly superior gammon. It must be genetic.

Washing down the meal is a Devils Corner Tasmanian Pinot Noir – vines grown in a cooler climate than the rest of Australia produce a magnificent wine. Fruitier than Burgundy although with the classic faint farmyard nose, but smoother and fuller in flavour than the wines of the same grape produced in California and Chile, it is a cheering drop that works very well with the starter.

A note on wines – as well as a thoughtfully selected overall list and a decent range of wine by the glass, a fair number of the wines are also available in a half-bottle carafe. This is a superb provision, allowing much greater choice, especially for smaller groups or lone diners, and merits congratulating.

The main work arrives – roast loin of pork, crispy pigs head, apples and lentils. Not a bad bit of meat, and technically well cooked – personal preference would dictate a less lean cut, but this is a more popular bit of pig, and none the worse for it. The lentils are succulent - soft but still keeping their structure, enhanced with sweet baby carrots and pearl onions, and surrounded by a pool of rich porky jus.

It’s a good solid peasant dish brought to life by imaginative cooking, and topped off by the winning item of the day – the pigs head. Not to be frightened of at all, as the kitchen team have done all the work – it is a patty of finely chopped bits of meat from the head (something like a lend of Bath Chap and brawn) with all the enthralling flavours that entails, and then topped by a crust of breadcrumbs, horseradish and parsley. Smashing. I could eat a whole bowlful.

Eating alone leaves time to people watch. The other customers on a quiet, early Monday lunchtime are mostly older folk – one chap must be nonagenarian – and some bluff, comical Germans who seem determine to live up to every old music hall stereotype. Every single one is looked after with patience and consideration by the elegant black clad staff, who are also very knowledgeable about the food and wine. They are an attractive bunch, too - not of the bland “resting actor” type found in so many London restaurants, but interesting, stylish people who care about their customers. I don’t know if it’s a recruitment policy, or a natural gravitation of the good people to a good place, but it certainly works.

Dessert is taken from the specials menu – since the chef is a Yorkshireman, it seems wholly appropriate to have Parkin. It comes with a fresh vanilla custard and orange marmalade ice cream. The Parkin is as dark, rich and sticky as you could desire (and a good sized portion), and marmalade ice cream turns out to be a rather good idea.

Unsure on which dessert wine to try, the charming waitress advises a Dubonnet on the rocks, as its citrus notes should go well with the ginger in the Parkin – and she is absolutely right. One finishing touch that impressed – a well made espresso had a pig shaped ginger cookie perched on the saucer – so much nicer than branded cheapo chocolates or pebbles of mint imperials.

Overall, a very fine lunch indeed. If you want to eat well in informal but smart surroundings, and be looked after properly by the best in the hospitality industry, at reasonable prices, then The Ginger Pig is for you. See you there. SO

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SO BH_July10_Restaurant_V2.indd 99 17/06/2010 19:17

EXCLUSIVE TO ‘SO’ MAGAZINE READERS

We would love to welcome you to

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£17.50 for 2 courses*

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Pompoko110 Church Street, Brighton, BN1 1UD07796 001 927Cuisine: Japanese

Warung Tujuh7 Pool Valley, Brighton, BN1 1NJ 01273 720 784Cuisine: Indonesian

Sopar Thai40 Upper St. James St., Kemptown, Brighton, BN2 1JN 01273 628 427Cuisine: Thai

Casa Don Carlos5 Union Street, The Lanes, Brighton, BN1 1HA 01273 327 177Cuisine: Spanish

Pomegranate 10 Manchester St, Kemp Town, Brighton, BN2 1TF 01273 628 386Cuisine: Turkish

Good Friends25 Preston Street, Brighton, BN1 2HN 01273 779 836Cuisine: Chinese

Blue Man North African Bistro11 Little East Street,, Brighton, BN1 1HT 01273 325 529Cuisine: African

The Chilli Pickle42 Meeting House Lane, Brighton, BN1 1HB 01273 323 824Cuisine: Indian

Kemp Spice51 St Georges Road, Kemp Town, Brighton, BN2 1EP 01273 623 331Cuisine: Indian

The Restaurant at DrakesDrakes Hotel, 43-44 Marine Parade, Brighton, BN2 1PE 01273 645 346Cuisine: Modern European

Pho12 Black Lion Street, Brighton, BN1 1ND 01273 202 403Cuisine: Vietnamese

Archipelagos121 Western Road, Hove, Brighton, BN3 1DB 01273 779474Cuisine: Greek

Havana Restaurant & Bar33 Duke Street, Brighton, BN1 1AG 01273 773388Cuisine: Modern European

Terre a Terre71 East Street, The Lanes, Brighton, BN1 1HQ 01273 729 051Cuisine: Vegetarian

Max’s Sea GrillRoyal York Hotel, Old Steine, Brighton, BN1 1NP 01273 766 700Cuisine: Modern European

Hotel du Vin & Bistro2-6 Ship Street, Brighton, BN1 1AD 01273 718 588Cuisine: Modern European

In Vino Veritas103 North Road, Brighton, BN1 1YW 01273 622 522Cuisine: French

El Mexicano7 New Road, North Laine, Brighton, BN1 1UF 01273 727 766Cuisine: Mexican

Moshi Moshi SushiOpticon Building, Bartholomew Square, Brighton, BN1 1JS 01273 719 195Cuisine: Japanese

The Meadow64 Western Road, Brighton, BN3 2JQ 01273 721 182Cuisine: British

Food for Friends17-18 Prince Albert Street, Brighton, BN1 1HF 01273 202 310Cuisine: Vegetarian

OUR HANDPICKED SELECTION OF SOME OF THE TASTIEST TABLES IN TOWN

Happy Eating!

To discuss your restaurant appearing in the gourmet guide, or if you would like to suggest one, please call 01892 616103.

Gourmet GuideSo Brighton & Hove

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SO_AD_Sainsburys_.indd 1 18/06/2010 16:20

To help you make the most of what’s on offer in shops and on market stalls, each month we talk with top local chefs to give you suggestions of what to cook at home. This month we speak to Peter Bohannon, Chef at the Gallery Bistro in Hove.

What should we be looking out this month?It’s a great time of the year for local fish, and the local supplier that I use, MCB Fish, have no fewer than 30 day boats landing the fruits of the sea. A few worth a mention are scallops, Dover sole, brown crabs and native lobsters. To accompany these I would chose English asparagus, marsh/rock samphire and Jersey Royal potatoes.

Fish is very close to my heart when cooking, coming from a background of working as

a fisherman on my father’s boat out of Brighton before I became a chef. It’s important to keep the

dishes simple so as not to take the taste away from the fish, but to lift the flavor and keep a real taste of the sea.

And how will you be using those here at your restaurant?

In the next month I’ll be putting together some of these

ingredients like poached Dover sole fillets served with a warm samphire and

caper salad with buttered Jersey Royals and chopped parsley.

How would we do that at home?Ask your local fish supplier for the samphire and ask him to fillet the Dover soles. Roll each fillet and hold together with a cocktail stick and

place in simmering water for 4/6 mins depending on the size of the fillets.

Rinse through the samphire and discard any thick or woody looking stalks then drop into boiling water for 1 minute. Lift out and leave to drain. Heat a frying pan up and pour in a cup of white wine and reduce by two thirds. Throw in a knob of butter add the samphire, capers and lightly toss. Place in the center of a plate keeping back some of the liquid.

Lift out the Dover sole fillets and drain any excess water and remove the cocktail stick. Arrange the fish on top of the warm salad. Squeeze a small wedge of lemon in the remaining liquid and throw in a pinch of freshly cracked black pepper, mix and spoon over the fish.

You could always replace the Dover sole with bass or cod and the samphire with English asparagus.

What about the wine?A great white wine to go with this dish would be the delicate Italian, Gavi di Gavi 2009 La Toledana. Enjoy!

gallerybistrohove.co.uk

THERE’S NO BETTER WAY OF ENJOYING FOOD THAN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SEASONS – AS THEY CHANGE SO DOES OUR CHOICE OF INGREDIENTS AND PRODUCE

To help you make the most of what’s on offer in shops

approach A seasoned

place in simmering water for 4/6 mins depending on the size of the fillets.

C H E F SO

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SO BH_July10_Chef.indd 95 17/06/2010 16:28

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We can offer a tailor made package to suit your budget and requirements with advice and free consultation.

If we can help in organising your special occasion, wedding, private party, birthday or anniversary or corporate event please feel free to contact us.


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Heartwords

dAN sMITH

They say opposites attract and that’s certainly the case with Tom, Lynsey and Jack, hosts of Heart of Sussex’s Breakfast Show. If you’re familiar with the team, you’ll know what I mean, but if not, let me explain.

Tom Evans is a middle-class 31-year-old from a family of thespians in Stoke. Jack, 35, is known only as ‘Jack the lad’ due to his mischievous nature. He moved down to Sussex from London some 16 years ago, but retains his lad-about-town, cockney manner. While Lynsey Bartlett, also 35, is surrogate sister to the boys, keeping the pair in check and the toilet humour at a minimum. She gives the impression that she prefers a good bit of shopping with the girls rather than beers and the football World Cup.

We meet Lynsey and Tom in the Hove-based Heart studio after their morning show. Relaxed and friendly, they welcome me into the stereotypical radio workspace - mics sprouting out from desks, laptops blinking away and huge sound desks with a variety of buttons and knobs; none of which I can begin to understand.

Jack bounds in a little later, with a huge grin and enough enthusiasm for the entire team. With the three together, we want to find out what they believe makes the show such a success.

“I just think we’re really lucky,” says Tom, the tall, rugby-type anchor. “It’s a lot of luck putting a breakfast show together, you never know at first if the team’s going to work until five or six months down the line, when you’re good mates. And we genuinely are good mates and really

have a lot of fun off-air as well.”It’s this fun, feel-good factor that’s the ethos behind Heart FM; the whole station is geared towards foot-tapping music, light-hearted chitchat and an entertaining mentality.

As presenters of the flagship show - that kicks off each weekday from 6am to 10 am - Tom, Lynsey and Jack represent that mood and for them, the music comes first.

“We’re here every day”, says Lynsey. “But every now and again you’re still saying ‘Oh my god, I love that song’. It’s great to be working in an environment like that, where you get to play all that kind of stuff.”

Tom nods in agreement:

“Music is a passion for us here. The variety you have on Heart is

HAVING RECENTLY SCOOPED A PRESTIGIOUS SONY RADIO ACADEMY AWARD, HEART OF SUSSEX’S BREAKFAST TEAM ARE AT THE TOP OF THEIR GAME. TO FIND OUT ABOUT THEIR WINNING FORMULA, WE WENT BEHIND TO SCENES AND MET THE DJ/PRESENTERS

of the Matter▼

Tom

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amazing. You get all the oldies and the new stuff; the Time Tunnel takes up the last hour and is a massive part of the show. We have two different years of music and people guess what the year the music’s from. We go right back to the seventies as well as the noughties.”

Variety is an important aspect, especially in and around Brighton with such a diversity of cultures and people.

“I think that’s what I love about it,” says Jack, not a big guy, but full of passion. “It’s multicultural. There’s so many different kinds of people here, and it’s such a popular city, especially in the summer time.

“There’s scope for it to get a bit too much, but what I love about the city is that when you’ve lived here for a while and know Brighton, there’s always places you can go to get away from the maddening crowd.”

This sentiment is echoed by Lynsey, indeed the entire team is clearly passionate about the city and its Sussex surroundings.

“It’s got everything you need it to have,” she says. “The shopping is amazing, so is the beach, granted we wouldn’t mind a bit of sand, but every angle is covered really. Anyone who visits down here can find something to do. There’s always something going on.”

“… I grew up I Stoke,” interjects Tom. “Sussex compared to Stoke? It’s like Mauritius down here! Driving through the little villages and country lanes, it’s absolutely beautiful.”

So they love Sussex, but does Sussex love them? Apparently so. It’s the most popular commercial

radio station in the county and with the recent accolades in the mass media,

more people are tuning in and, importantly, getting in touch.

“We get lots of feedback.” Lynsey explains. “Dean, a

dairy farmer in Chailey who’s one of our regulars, was getting really excited about the music this morning. He has us on when he milks his cows – which is an image I just love.”

Jack jumps in. “They like Pixie Lott, apparently. That really gets them producing.”

This kind of jovial

atmosphere is typical on the show and it’s that light heartedness that Tom, Lynsey and Jack believe gets their listeners through the morning. Getting breakfast for the kids, finding homework and PE kits, doing the school run and then eventually getting themselves work.

How do the DJs themselves stay chirpy and on form when they roll out of bed at 4am?

“I used to run pubs and clubs,” says Jack, “so I was used to going to bed at the same time we’re getting up now. It’s a struggle and I’ve got a six-week-old son, Ruben, and it’s hard, I don’t think you ever get used to it. I’ve been doing breakfast for six and a half years now and I’m not used to it at all.”

“It’s not normal!”, offers Lynsey before Tom summarises the team’s thoughts.

“You don’t ever get used to it, but we’re not going to do some other job we hate. We’re coming in and driving to work genuinely looking forward to the banter between us, or a massive prize we’ve got to give away - I get really excited when we know we’re going to make someone’s day, or even year.”

Jack, suddenly serious for a moment, agrees:

“Everyone who listens to us, has a harder job than us. Everybody. We’re very lucky to do what we do, so we always try and remember that because there’s always someone out there grafting and lifting and all that.”

Jack’s never been a labourer but he did have a few professions in mind when he was growing up.

“When I was at school there were a number of things I wanted to be. Footballer… dog… drummer… train driver… woman.”

For Tom and Lynsey, however, they’re doing what they always wanted to do - playing great music and having fun, on air, with some good friends.

Heart of Sussex: 102.4 & 103.5

Jack

Lesley

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SO BH_July10_Heart.indd 99 17/06/2010 18:42


Sussex Farmerset for space

WILL WHITEHORN IS FAR FROM YOUR AVERAGE FARMER. WHEN HE’S

NOT WALKING THE FIELDS AROUND HIS EAST SUSSEX HOME HE’S WORKING AS PRESIDENT OF VIRGIN GALACTIC – AND PLANNING TO TAKE US ALL INTO SPACEWORDSDAN SMITH


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SO BH_July10_Whitehorn.indd 82 17/06/2010 16:59

For a number of years we’ve been keeping an eye on the amazing progress of Virgin Galactic, the space tourism division of Sir Richard Branson’s empire. It’s a bonus when we discover that the president of the company, Will Whitehorn, lives in a village in our part

of the world. Naturally we pay him a visit to talk space, the future of mankind and, rather surprisingly, lambing.

In a little under six years, a relatively short period in aeronautical terms, the fledgling company has taken the idea of putting non-professional astronauts into space and flown with it. Virgin Galactic is now tantalisingly close to completing tests in the Californian Mojave Desert and should be ready for fare paying customers in the next 18 months to two years.

Will, who should be flying to space himself next year, greets me on the driveway of his home, a traditional thatched cottage nestled in a modest plot of Sussex farmland. He welcomes me into the kitchen and makes coffee while explaining he’s been in the top field helping Roy, an old friend, with the birthing of some lambs.

It’s a homely and traditional kitchen with an AGA keeping the place at a cosy temperature.

“We’ve lived here for around 15 years,” says Will. “I’m from Scotland originally but ironically the first Whitehorns ever to be recorded in England, in the 1200s, were in Sussex as well. They came from the Scottish village of Whithorn, which is where the

name comes from. There was a trade route round to the Sussex ports even in the 12th Century.”

Will mentions the etymology of the family name, which in Gaelic probably meant “he of the

great horn or drinking cup”. At this, he laughs and says the name still rings

true today.

With all this talk of history, I begin to wonder if

we’ve come to the wrong house,

although

glancing around the kitchen I notice a number of clues about Will’s involvement with Virgin’s space programme.

There’s a scale model of one of the early Virgin Galactic spaceship prototypes hanging from a low beam, a waterproof jacket slung over a nearby chair carries the distinctive graphics of the project and when Will passes me his business card for future correspondence it carries the slogan SPACE IS VIRGIN TERRITORY – very clever.

The model is similar in concept to the most recent prototypes (see pictures). VMS Eve, the mothership, carries under its wing the smaller space-bound craft named VSS Enterprise. Together they carry 16 people on each 2.5 hour trip. Will explains:

“Two pilots here,” he says pointing to one of the fuselages of VMS Eve. “Two pilots here,” he continues, this time tapping the nose of the VSS Enterprise.

“Then there are six people Enterprise in who will actually fly to space and six fledgling astronauts in Eve, who’ll go all the way the next

“At 52,000 feet, the secondary ship drops away from Eve, fires the rocket motor and blasts into space. Once that’s flown up, Eve flies fast parabolas and becomes a zero-G training craft for the next day’s passengers.

“Also by flying in circles at high speed it turns into the world’s first flying centrifuge, creating high and sustained levels of G-force.”

The 50-year-old is clearly a man who’s both highly enthused about, and very proud of, what Virgin has achieved. He’s been working for and alongside Virgin for almost a quarter of a century, seeing the company grow from a minnow in the international arena to one of the big hitters.

After graduating from the University of Aberdeen, Will flew helicopters for the then state-owned British Airways out to oil rigs in the North Sea. He became the youngest Trade Union representative for BA and ended up on a Thomas Cook graduate training course for up-and-coming young businessmen.

From there he worked for the TSB banking group on investor relations, then took the leap to the PR world with, amongst others,

the record company Chrysalis. It was from Chrysalis that he was head hunted by Virgin in 1986.

“I eventually started working full time for them during the famous October ’87 stock market

crash. The first thing I actually did was work on taking the company private from the

stock market.

“Then I got more involved in the airline and because

Sir Richard had seen I’d been

involved in search

▼

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“I was always the one hangIng out of a helIcopter on a wInch pIckIng sIr rIchard up from somewhere”

and rescue in the north sea, I ended up doing the same thing for his balloon trips... I was always the one hanging out of a helicopter on a winch picking him up from somewhere.”

will’s description of his career downplays his influence as a key figure in Virgin’s development. remember, this is someone who (against his liking) has been referred to as ‘Branson’s right hand man’.

for a while he was the spokesman for Branson, helping guide the company through the infamous ’93 Ba dirty tricks affair, and was also on their investment committee. surely he feels partially responsible for the success of Virgin.

“It really is a very collegiate organisation and I just played my part. the dirty tricks affair and winning the court case against Ba was a seminal moment for Virgin, there’s no doubt about that… sir richard had found it very difficult to buy new aircraft before that happened because Virgin atlantic wasn’t taken that seriously. But after that, people took it very seriously.

“to say that I feel responsible would actually be to not understand the way Virgin works. the person who is ultimately responsible is the one with the beard; who’s been pretty dedicated to his business since he was 16 years old.”

Being dedicated to his business has led Branson to make some risky moves in his career and the current venture is no different. will claims that galactic is one of the biggest and toughest investment projects Virgin has ever done, but if successful the program could have a momentous impact on man’s access to space. the possibilities which stem from that, both commercial and industrial, are almost endless.

Virgin now has over 340 passengers booked for their flights into sub-orbital space, which has generated around £35million of deposits. these deposits have given Virgin the confidence to continue with the venture and by using investments of its own and from associated organisations, Branson has created what is essentially the first autonomous non-governmental space agency.

It’s all exciting stuff and means that Virgin galactic civilian astronauts will pave the way for relatively cheap, more environmentally friendly and, above all, safe space flight.

this type of business model is incredibly clever. It takes the public’s passion and excitement for space flight and, using the capital from ticket sales, is able to bypass the board rooms and economists of industry, which are often wary of big leaps of faith.

once space tourism proves itself, Virgin hopes that big business will quickly follow suit.

“If this project works,” says will, again animated about the venture. “It’ll bring in a wall of private sector money.”

and those claims are echoed around the world. the american magazine Business week described Virgin’s success in raising second round finance as the ’netscape moment’ of the space industry.

netscape was the first company on the internet in the early-mid ▼

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1990s to raise extensive finances; the result was the e-commerce boom. That’s how important this could be.

With the termination of NASA’s space shuttle program we need a more cost effective, reliable and modern system to get people and equipment into space. It’s intended that the Virgin Galactic flights will act as the forefather to such a system.

But should we be focusing on space and what some might call ‘wasteful’ tourism when we’re told so much is wrong with the environment of our own planet? Surely such commercial folly will further damage our fragile atmosphere?

“We’ve actually only discovered what’s wrong with our planet by being in space and having the ability to look at our planet from a distance,” Will counters. “It’s also been estimated that a further 1 billion people would be starving in the world if we hadn’t been able to use satellite technology to aid modern agriculture.”

In addition, the Galactic project isn’t taking green concerns lightly. When VMS Eve is cruising at 52,000 feet it uses about the same amount of fuel as a Range Rover, thanks to its carbon fibre construction.

But creating a less environmentally damaging and more economical way of taking man to sub-orbital space is just the beginning for Virgin. They want to see humans in the depths of space looking for a new home.

“Yes, we’ve got to avoid using fossil fuels and yes, we’ve got to protect this planet. But to not take our civilization and culture into space will ultimately lead to its destruction in other ways.

“We know enough about this planet’s history to know that this is the case; there are things that will happen that we just can’t control. Therefore to not go to space is criminal… I put it as strongly as that.”

Coming to see Will today I’d expected interesting debate, but

discussing the future of humanity just seems bizarre in this most traditional of settings. But as it turns out rural Kent and Sussex is the spiritual home of Virgin Galactic, and the UK itself is a stronghold for the space industry.

“Ironically, the three original employees of Virgin Galactic all live within eight miles of here. Steven Attenborough, who’s now Commercial Director and Susan Newsam who’s Head of Marketing Promotion. .

“Here in the UK we manufacture huge numbers of high tech, high value added items. The UK is actually the sixth biggest exporter of goods and services in the world and we do this with the same population as California. For some reason we do ourselves down, the media seems to educate us that way, but we’ve got to get out of that mindset.

“I’m a great believer that industrialism is Britain’s future. I think more and more people are getting in tune to that. And even if we’re organising the design of these things and building them somewhere else, that’s still our industrial skill at the heart of a new economy for the future.”

At this point Lou, Will’s wife, walks into the kitchen and it seems an apt opportunity to find out a bit more about the family. How did the family of the man who’ll become the first Scotsman in space end up in East Sussex?

“We were living in London about 15 years ago. The kids (Rose, 20, and Angus, 17) had been born and because I was brought up on a little farm house in Scotland I didn’t want to carry on with the thing in London.

“But I hated the idea of commuting. I hated the idea of this suburban countryside around London, I mean, when you come from somewhere like Scotland you don’t really think of places like Surrey as outside of the city.

“We had some very good friends who phoned us up and said,


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Virgin galactic Firsts:■ VSS Enterprise and VMS Eve - The first commercial

aircraft to be manufactured entirely from carbon fibre,

devoid of metal in their structures

■ VMS Eve - The first passenger aircraft with the ability to

become a high speed centrifuge.

■ The first commercial space agency

■ Spaceship One prototype – Holds the record for the

highest recorded aeroplane flight into space

‘there’s a cottage for sale down here’. .

“Then I got the urge to do a little bit of hobby farming and that’s why we bought this place, as it has a bit of land. Almost all my relations are farmers in Scotland.”

We decide to take a walk around the farm on which the Whitehorn’s have a number of pig litters, a chicken run, a herd of Pedigree Sussex cattle and sheep.

As we walk up the field Lou, who walked ahead, is calling out to tell us that a pair of lambs have just been born. Simultaneously the heavens open and a glorious late-spring morning turns into a grey washout. It’s cold and the new-borns need to be sheltered out of the rain.

What ensues is a rather frantic episode during which Lou and Will ferry the lambs to a shelter in the next field, while I stand in the rain feeling a bit helpless. The lambs, not three minutes old look naked and alien, reminding me of a question my Editor wants me to ask.

“Will,” I say. “Do you think we’re alone in the universe?”

Clearly he’s been asked this before and he’s quick to answer:

“Given that our own galaxy has billions of planets and there are billions of galaxies out there it would be utterly amazing if we are the only planet with life. Despite this, given the vast distances between any possible intelligent extra terrestrial life it will also be utterly amazing if we ever actually find each other.

“And, as Prof Stephen Hawking who’s booked to fly with us points out, we may not want to attract their attention even if they are there!”

True, but in my opinion there’s only one way to find out… I’ve already started saving up for the £200,000 ticket that’ll see yours truly visiting the final frontier.

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SO_AD_Sainsburys_.indd 1 18/06/2010 16:21

The icelandic eruptions and strikes have provided an unexepected boost for a West Sussex businessman who runs a private air charter company. Barrie Prescott has had a passion for aircraft for more

years than he cares to remember. It started with the Spitfi res, Hurricanes and Lancasters he saw as a child growing up in Liverpool during the Second World War and it’s never abated.

Today he runs Conciair which operates from Goodwood Aerodrome near Chichester in West Sussex and Bournemouth in Dorset with a fl eet of luxury aircraft. They include the top of the range Beechcraft Barons and other quality aircraft.

His father was in the Royal Airforce and Barrie Prescott himself has almost always been involved in the one industry he knows and loves – aerospace.

“Across the years I have been fortunate to be involved with most of the British and European aviation projects,” he says, “including Tornado, Concorde, the Airbus and Rolls-Royce, mainly in a sales and engineering capacity.

“Flying has always been in my blood and for the past 20 years I’ve been fl ying single and multi-engine planes and helicopters. “I am passionate about our new company and we are pleased to announce that since June 15 Conciair Ltd has been licensed to fl y into London City Airport from all European locations.”

Barrie Prescott believes it presents a great new opening for both the company and its passengers. “We are now able to fl y you from Chichester (Goodwood Aerodrome) to the City of London within 30 minutes, then onward to European and International locations.

EVERY VOLCANIC CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING...

BARRIE PRESCOTTCONCIAIRProfile:The

“We have been striving to secure this approval for the last 12 months and this is a real ‘Jewel in the Crown’ for Conciair.”Early in 2009 Barrie Prescott put all his passion and experience into launching Conciair and has built a professional support team of pilots and customer

“With airline traffi c being hit by strikes and volcanic ash stoppages we’re able to step in and offer companies and individuals a way to save valuable time whilst providing a luxury service that until now has been hard to come by,” he explains.

“We can do the whole thing with a bespoke service where you’re picked up at your home or offi ce, brought to Goodwood or Bournemouth and then escorted a short distance to your aircraft.”

The company is also looking to establish other open points in the UK to incorporate the West of England. “What we offer is fi rst class effi ciency and convenience travel,” says Barrie Prescott. “You depart at your leisure, travel in comfort and arrive in style, feeling refreshed and not stressed.“

With just 72 hours notice Conciair can arrange air travel within a 1,000 mile radius of Goodwood or Bournemouth.“What’s more,” explains Barrie Prescott, “ you could be at most European destinations in the time it would take to simply travel from your home or offi ce and check in at Gatwick or Heathrow.”

To make the point he tells us about the clients who took off from Goodwood at 4.30pm and just fi ve hours later were sitting in a Milan restaurant. SO

For more details visit conciair.co.uk

P E O P L E SO

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SO BH_July10_BusinessProfile.indd 95 18/06/2010 12:18

Maserati say all its vehicles have style and luxury as well as high perforMance and after driving the gran turisMo last year we agree. But what of their new italian stallion?

gorgeousdropdeadSO B r i g h t o n & h o v e

90 J u ly 2 0 1 0

words Nick MoorE

SO BH_July10_Motors.indd 98 17/06/2010 18:51

M O T O R S SO

Maserati is a car brand that conjures up all the right images. The problem was that for too long, the achingly cool Italian heritage was fronting up for a lacklustre product range.

The good news for anyone with a soft spot for the classic Maseratis of the 50s and 60s, or a spare hundred grand to spend on a luxury saloon or sports car, is that the company looks to have turned the corner. The latest crop of cars is worthy of the trident badge and none whisper Maserati more seductively than the GranCabrio.

Maserati’s Fiat Group overlords detached it from Ferrari in 2005 and are aligning it more closely with Alfa Romeo these days. The brand had appeared to lose its way in the 80s and 90s but turned a profit for the first time in 17 years of Fiat Group ownership in 2007, something that was largely thanks to the introduction of the GranTurismo coupe.

In combination with the Quattroporte saloon, the car signalled a repositioning of Maserati into a more luxurious Italian performance car brand. The GranCabrio, the open-topped version of the GranTurismo only strengthens its hand in this area. ▼

J U LY 2 0 1 0 91


Engine choice isn’t a Maserati forte and those with an aversion to petrol V8s will need to look elsewhere. It’s a good thing that there’s very little not to like about the hugely charismatic 4.7-litre engine that powers the GranCabrio and the other modern Maseratis.With 440bhp at 7,000rpm, owners can expect that sports car intensity at the top end with a beguiling exhaust note to match but there’s also 490Nm of torque at 4,750rpm so it should be perfectly possible to leisurely waft the GranCabrio around at speeds more suited to showing-off. A 175mph top speed and 5.4s 0-60mph sprint time will leave nobody in any doubt as to the car’s potency.

A Maserati should be beautiful and with the GranTurismo, this manufacturer showed it has regained a firm grip on what makes a car gawp-worthy. The GranCabrio appears to have shed none of the coupe version’s elegance and poise in the process of losing its roof. The replacement for the hard-top is a traditional canvas item that takes a leisurely 28 seconds to lower, but then, the GranCabrio is touted as a full four-seater convertible and a 2,942mm wheelbase would appear to back this up.

The roof has a lot of cabin to cover and should be forgiven for taking its time. At least the conversion process can happen at speeds of up to 19mph. The advantages of a canvas roof are clear for Maserati. As well as being the traditional method by which classic open-topped models like the A6G Frua Spyder, 3500 GT Vignale Spyder and Mistral Spyder kept the weather out, it helps the car retain its aerodynamic shape and optimum weight distribution.

The GranCabrio has the same high level of aerodynamic performance as the hard-top GranTurismo, a lower centre of gravity and the same slightly rear-biased weight distribution. Great pride is taken by Maserati in its ability to offer a whole host of bespoke trim and colour options to its customers.

With 14 exterior paint shades, six different canvas colours for the soft-top roof, a variety of interior leather options and cabin trim finishes ranging from Dark Chrome to Moonwood, there’s huge scope to let your personal taste, or lack thereof, run wild.Included is a BOSE audio system and an advanced dual-zone climate control system. There’s even a bespoke luggage set specially designed to fit the 173-litre boot on the options list.

With an asking price that’s homing in on the £100,000 barrier, the Maserati GranTurismo is pitched against some illustrious rivals. Customers may also have considered top-end versions of the Mercedes SL, the Aston Martin Vantage Roadster and BMW’s M6 convertible but even in this company, the Maserati badge holds a powerful allure.

Assuming you’re imagining that some seriously prohibitive running costs will accompany the GranCabrio, the actual running costs aren’t as frightening as you might think. The car returns around 18mpg on the combined cycle but you might get as much as 25mpg on the open road if the temptation to plant the throttle can be resisted.

CO2 emissions are measured at 354g/km, so taxation will be hefty but that’s about as predictable as the group 20 insurance. None of this matters unduly in a car costing £100,000 and owners could always plant a hectare or two of forest in their back garden to salve their environmental conscience.

Convertible sports car buyers who find Ferraris and Lamborghinis too extrovert, Aston Martins and Jaguars too stuffy and offerings from BMW and Mercedes-Benz too clinical, now have an alternative that blends beauty with, performance and class. The GranCabrio is a good approximation of just what Maserati is capable of in the modern era and even pitched against the finest open-top sports cars around, it’s equipped to stand out. SO

the facts...Car: Maserati GrancabrioPrice: £97,500Insurance group: 20Performance: 0-62mph 5.4Sec / max speed 175mphFuel consumption: 18.5 mpg (combined)Size: length 4875mm width 1890mm height 1370mm

the facts...Car: Maserati GrancabrioCar: Maserati GrancabrioCar:Price: £97,500Price: £97,500Price:Insurance group: 20Insurance group: 20Insurance group:Performance: 0-62mph 5.4Sec / max speed 175mphPerformance: 0-62mph 5.4Sec / max speed 175mphPerformance:Fuel consumption: 18.5 mpg (combined)Size: length 4875mm width 1890mm height 1370mm


92 J U LY 2 0 1 0



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WHY HE DITCHED DARCY

AND WENT NAKED

Maserati say all its vehicles have style and luxury as well as high perforMance and after driving the gran turisMo last year we agree. But what of their new italian stallion?

gorgeousdropdeadSO B r i g h t o n & h o v e M o t o r s SO

Maserati is a car brand that conjures up all the right images. the problem was that for too long, the achingly cool italian heritage was fronting up for a lacklustre product range.

the good news for anyone with a soft spot for the classic Maseratis of the 50s and 60s, or a spare hundred grand to spend on a luxury saloon or sports car, is that the company looks to have turned the corner. the latest crop of cars is worthy of the trident badge and none whisper Maserati more seductively than the grancabrio.

Maserati’s fiat group overlords detached it from ferrari in 2005 and are aligning it more closely with alfa romeo these days. the brand had appeared to lose its way in the 80s and 90s but turned a profit for the first time in 17 years of fiat group ownership in 2007, something that was largely thanks to the introduction of the granturismo coupe.

in combination with the Quattroporte saloon, the car signalled a repositioning of Maserati into a more luxurious italian performance car brand. the grancabrio, the open-topped version of the granturismo only strengthens its hand in this area. ▼

90 J u ly 2 0 1 0 J u ly 2 0 1 0 91

words Nick MoorE

▼

best bit? It allows complete creative freedom, which for me is the autonomy I have sought but not achieved through so many other roles. Being able to choose what I want to do, when and how I want to do it brings me true happiness and it’s whatmakes me skip through life with a smile. Which designers should we be looking out for?There are so many up and coming designers showcasing at the shows, it is difficult to pinpoint just one, as our designers satisfy such diverse tastes, and as with everything: one man’s trash is another man’s Prada – it’s all about perspective! Essentially, we provide the platform for our designers’ creations and as an alternative fashion week, we’re not dominated by trends, the collections we show are seasonless, they’re not influenced by the diktats of fashion, we just help people on their journey to where they want to be in setting their own trends.

The work we show is simply what it is: talented, beautiful creations that inspire, imagine; that make you love, laugh and dare to be different. For sheer clothes lust, Alisa for the Ready-to-Wear Show and Rosalind Francis Holmes for the Couture Show are my picks. Favourite collection? My favourite collection is my own collection of clothing, I have a mixture of past seasons that I have adored and things I just can’t get rid of. I think the best collection is one that is personal to you. Each item of clothing I own has its own meaning, and that’s what makes a piece important to me. In terms of my favourite designers, I love supporting emerging designers so I try and attend the graduate shows, Graduate Fashion Week and Vauxhall Fashion Scout, of which a couple of the ‘Ones to Watch’ will be showcasing at Brighton Fashion Week. I’ve had my eye on David Koma for a while; I love his surrealist-inspired structures and shapes. What’s your trend prediction for Autumn/Winter 10/11? Difficult one! I am not one for predicting trends, but I will definitely be championing studded or sculptured knitwear next season. It’s edgy, feminine and warm too! If I’m not the one making this trend then I’d like someone to make it happen so I could wear it for next season – so Burberry et al…any takers? SO▼

We caught up with the woman behind Brighton Fashion Week, Director Liz Bishop to find out how she makes the event such a success.

How long have you been involved? Since day one. I launched the event as the Brighton Frocks catwalk show six years ago, consisting of one venue and a handful of independent designers. Since then the event has evolved so much. After the first show, it quickly became evident that Brighton, a real creative hub bursting with unique, innovative and inspiring individuals, needed a platform for local and national designers to showcase their work – and so Brighton Fashion Week was born. The event has since, snowballed and this year we’ve had an unprecedented amount of interest from designers, sponsors and talented people who want to get involved, so it’s all very exciting! And how did it all start? Immediately after graduating from University of Brighton my life was put on hold as I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease. After surviving this I decided to embark on a well-deserved recovery and went travelling for 18 months. Returning home to the UK I knew I wanted to work for myself but I wasn’t sure doing what, I was seeking work in the events industry when a designer friend of mine challenged me to organise a catwalk show for her and other independent designers, and I haven’t looked back since. Surviving cancer certainly gives you an element of no fear, encouraging you to take lots of risk, as you realise life is too short and you seek every opportunity life gives. What’s your favourite part of Brighton Fashion Week? In the run up to the event it can be hard to distinguish the days between the weeks! So I’d have to say every part. This job opens up doors, new people, and new and exciting challenges and opportunities on a daily basis, and the

So Brighton & Hove meets…

We caught up with the woman behind

how she makes the

How long have you

Since day one. I launched the

The Week in NumbersDays 5

Models 100

Designers 45

Different outfits 400+

visitors 3000+


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58 J U LY 2 0 1 0

SO BH_July10_Subscribe.indd 1 18/06/2010 14:51

▼S

andyknowe certainly ticks all the right boxes. A long and bluebell-lined driveway weaves through the entrance gardens and up to the front door. Tudor beams are mixed with bargate stone on the exterior walls, giving the property an element of esteem. And dotted around the six-acres of ground is a swimming pool with pool house,

a tennis court and a barn-style four bay garage.

Built in 1908, the property features twin front-facing gable extensions, creating an impressive façade, while the grounds of Sandyknowe back onto the land of Losely Park. Mature woodland lines the borders of the property and extensive gardens stretch into the distance – this is truly a classic Surrey country pad and one which defi nes the word picturesque.

Entering the house you’re treated to more than enough space as well. Once through the impressive front door, you immediately fi nd yourself in the reception hall, one of the largest areas in the house. It’s a particularly grandiose spectacle and one in which you could easily imagine greeting guests for a summer party, or evening’s entertainment.

Doors from the hall lead into the west wing, where a large drawing room overlooks a set of stone steps that drop down into the garden. Off the back of the

OnOnOnStageOUR ROUND UP OF SOME OF

THE BEST NEW STAGE AND THEATRE SHOWS TAKING PLACE IN BRIGHTON AND

THE CAPITAL THIS MONTHStageQuartetWhat? Retired opera singers Cissy, Reggie and Wilfred are excited about performing a concert until their tranquil world is unexpectedly interrupted by the arrival of legendary Diva, Jean Horton. Old rivalries resurface and past secrets are revealed.Where? Theatre Royal BrightonWhen? Monday July 5 to Saturday July 10Web? ambassadortickets.com

ReelingWhat? Mabel Menzies was

an Austrian child star who

made a faltering transition

into British fi lms as a

young adult. She suddenly

‘disappeared’. Lenny

Fyler, a TV researcher, is

assigned to fi nd out why.

Where? The Brighton Dome

When? Saturday July 3 to

Sunday July 4

Web? brightondome.org

The Night KeeperWhat? One for the kids. Maggie stumbles through a magical dustbin in a mysterious museum and discovers a secret wing section fi lled with strange creatures. It’s up to the museum’s night keeper to convince Maggie that history’s more than just old rubbish.Where? The Brighton DomeWhen? One performance – Saturday July 24Web? brightondome.org

The Railway ChildrenWhat? To coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Academy Award nominated fi lm, Mike Kenny’s new adaptation of E. Nesbit’s novel The Railway Children will be performed at a unique venue...Where? Waterloo Station, LondonWhen? Sunday July 4 to Saturday September 4Web? railwaychildrenwaterloo.com

Shakespeare: The Man from StratfordWhat? Prolifi c thespian Simon Callow joins forces with Jonathan Bate, pre-eminent Shakespeare biographer, to bring to life the man behind some of the most famous stage works of all time. Callow resurrects fi ctitious and real characters in the life of William Shakespeare with passion and zeal.Where? Theatre Royal BrightonWhen? Tuesday July 13 to Saturday July 17Web? ambassadortickets.com

T H E AT R E S SO

JULY 2 0 1 0 95

SO BH_July10_Theatres.indd 91 17/06/2010 17:28


FROM RAP TO FOLK, WE REVIEW SOME OF THE LATEST SOUNDS EMANATING FROM THE WORLD OF MUSIC

TuneIn

Oasis - Time Flies 1994-2009They came out of Manchester, they saw that the world was there for the taking, and they most defi nitely conquered it. And here are the singles to prove it. The majestic swagger of Supersonic, Cigarettes & Alcohol and Live Forever still sound immense today, while the criminally under-rated Whatever is a work of soaring string-fi lled genius. Don’t Look Back In Anger and Wonderwall have attained National anthem status, while The Importance Of Being Idle and Falling Down show that Noel retained his magic touch in the later years. All time greatness? Defi nitely - not maybe.

Robyn - Body Talk pt.1Robyn is back with a new album Body Talk pt.1, which will be the fi rst of three album releases for the singer in 2010. It’s consistent, strong and has everything that you would expect. The Swedish pop star starts off with Don’t F*****g Tell Me What To Do - jumpy electro track with lyrics full of frustreria, through previously sampled Fembot with great robotic backing voices. The real centrepiece is a sad pop song Dancing On My Own which resembles her previous hit With Every Hearbeat. Other great pop and electro tracks include Cry When You Get Older, None of Dem feat. Royksopp and Dance Hall Queen fused with ska rhythm. Robyn’s pure vocals shine in a ballad Hang With Me with beautiful sound of strings and piano. The album ends with a traditional Swedish folk song Jag Vet En Dejlig Rosa which has a nostalgic feel to it, almost like saying goodbye to the loved one.

B.O.B. - The Adventures Of Bobby RayUS rap’s latest prodigy, Bobby Ray Simmons Jr, seems to want to be Kanye West. He’s got the bling, he’s got the rhymes and is probably showing MTV Cribs around his mansion as you read this. But while The Adventures Of Bobby Ray is full of inoffensive radio-friendly tracks that are bound to appeal to kids the world over, it lacks the wit, depth and impact Kanye conveys. From its string of cross-over collaborations (including Hayley Williams from Paramore) to its glossy production, this is music by focus-group. Like the star of a CG martial arts action adventure movie, B.O.B. might have all the moves but he wouldn’t last fi ve minutes in a real dust-up.

Oasis - Time Flies They came out of Manchester, they saw taking, and they most defi nitely conquered it. And here are the singles to prove it. The majestic swagger of Live ForeverWhatever is a work of soaring string-fi lled genius. AngerImportance Of Being Idlemagic touch in the later years. All time greatness? Defi nitely - not maybe.

1994-2009

releases for the singer in 2010. It’s consistent, strong and has everything that you would

electro track with lyrics full of frustreria, through previously sampled Fembot with great

Robyn - Body Talk pt.1

We are Scientists - BarbaraFollowing the slightly disappointing Brain Thrust Mastery, this collection of 10 songs is a welcome return to form for this off-beat four-piece. Although it never quite matches the fi zzing vibrancy of the New York-based group’s break-through With Love and Squalor, this album does exude some of that energy and exuberance. Opener Rules Don’t Stop has a funky fast bass line which sets the furious pace for the album which is packed full of achingly hip tracks such as I Don’t Bite with its syncopated beats and jangly sing-along lyrics while the pace only slows occasionally for Pittsburgh and for the more melancholic Jack & Ginger. Fans will be delighted; newcomers will want to learn more.

I N T U N E SO

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SO BH_July10_In Tune.indd 95 17/06/2010 18:46

WORDSMELISSAWOODLAND

EACH MONTH, WE TRAWL THROUGH THE CITY ARCHIVES TO FIND INTRIGUING LOCAL STORIES AND HISTORIC TALES. WITH BRIGHTON AND HOVE RECENTLY NAMED AS THE UK’S GHOST CAPITAL, WHAT BETTER PLACE TO START OUR SERIES THAN WITH A FEW HAUNTING SIGHTS

Set SailIf, while strolling along the beach at Brighton, you happen to see an ancient ship sailing across the horizon, don’t be alarmed. It may well be the haunting manifestation of the good ship Nicholas, which sank on its return from Constantinople

in the 12th Century. The crew drowned and ghostly deck hands now man an ethereal ship that drifts aimlessly along the coastline.

Phantom adventurerSoldier of fortune John Robinson roamed the globe seeking adventure. A misguided attempt at rebellion in Persia resulted in his eyes being burned out with hot irons by way of punishment. A kindly merchant helped the disfi gured Robinson return home to England, only for him to die along Old Steine. His

ghost is seen lying on the road nearby. But if you see it, don’t be tempted to look closer. A police offi cer who investigated it was physically sick and a woman was so shocked by his appearance she had to be admitted to hospital.

Blood-curdlingListen carefully if you happen to go through the Clayton Tunnel on your next rail journey out of Brighton. Since the devastating

crash of 1861, when 23 passengers and staff lost their lives, there have been reports of ear-splitting screams, cries and the sound of crunching metal coming from below ground.

On the BeatBrighton Town Hall has a couple of ghostly residents, but it’s the spectre of the fi rst Chief Constable of the town that you want to watch out for. In the middle of the 18th Century, Henry Solomon was killed during an attempted escape of a prisoner. Beaten about the head with a red hot poker, the former offi cer’s spirit haunts the building’s basement.

Playing FetchWhile you’re on the beach, keep your eye out for a large white dog. Reported to be the size of a small horse, this canine companion follows single walkers for a few minutes before disappearing…

Brewers downfallBrighton’s fi rst brewer, Deryck Carver, started the Black Lion Brewery in the 16th Century. Though he was a devout Christian, Church leaders of the time were unhappy with his alcohol-producing ways. He was burnt at the stake in 1555 and is said to walk the fl oors of the Black Lion pub to this day.

Ghost TownSecret Brighton&Hove

Sponsored by

Warners Solicitors, ‘discretion assured whatever the secret’warners-solicitors.co.uk

Town

in the 12th Century. The crew drowned and ghostly deck hands now man an ethereal ship that drifts aimlessly along the coastline.

Phantom adventurerSoldier of fortune John Robinson roamed the globe seeking adventure. A misguided attempt at rebellion in Persia resulted in his eyes being burned out with hot irons by way of punishment. A kindly merchant helped the disfi gured Robinson return home to England, only for him to die along Old Steine. His

ghost is seen lying on the road nearby. But


98 J U LY 2 0 1 0

SO BH_July10_Secrets_V2.indd 94 28/06/2010 17:15


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