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xtruss · 3 years

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Philip, In Role With No Job Description, Was Queen’s Bedrock

— By Jill Lawless And Gregory Katz | AP | Friday April 04, 2021

LONDON (AP) — When Prince Philip married the heir to the British throne, he knew he was stepping into virtually uncharted territory.

There was no official role for the husband of a sovereign queen, no constitutional duty or legal responsibility.

“There was no precedent,” he said when he turned 90. “If I asked somebody, ‘What do you expect me to do?’ They all looked blank. They had no idea.”

His wife Elizabeth knew exactly what she had to do when she became queen in 1952 after the premature death of her father, King George VI. For Philip, though, her ascension to the throne marked the end of his career as a naval officer and a plunge into uncertainty.

But at that crucial moment, he carved out the part he would carry through the decades: the queen’s honest and unwavering bedrock of support through a turbulent reign in which the thousand-year-old monarchy was forced to reinvent itself for the 21st century. It was a role the Duke of Edinburgh played until his death Friday at age 99.

His marriage both defined and constricted his life, placing the irascible, tough-minded Philip three steps behind the queen in public, even if he played a significant role at home, including in raising four children.

His life spanned nearly a century of European history, starting with his birth as a member of the Greek royal family and ending with him as the longest serving consort in British history, surpassing Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III.

He was known for his occasionally deeply offensive remarks — and for gamely fulfilling more than 20,000 royal engagements to boost British interests home and abroad. He headed hundreds of charities, founded programs that helped British schoolchildren participate in challenging outdoor adventures.

Philip saw his sole role as providing support for his wife as she confronted the changing demands placed on a constitutional monarch who began her reign as Britain retreated from empire and steered the monarchy through decades of declining social deference and U.K. power into a modern world where people demand intimacy from their icons.

In the 1970s, Michael Parker, an old navy friend and former private secretary of the prince, said of him: “He told me the first day he offered me my job, that his job — first, second and last — was never to let her down.”

The queen — a very private person not given to extravagant displays of affections — once called him “her rock” in public.

In private, Philip called his wife Lilibet; but he referred to her in conversation with others as “The Queen.”

Over the course of the decades, Philip’s image changed from that of handsome, dashing athlete to arrogant and insensitive curmudgeon. In his later years, the image finally settled into that of droll and philosophical observer of the times, an elderly, craggy-faced man who maintained his military bearing in public despite a host of ailments.

Not content to stay on the sidelines, he promoted British industry and science, espoused environmental preservation long before it became fashionable, and traveled widely and frequently in support of his many charities.

In those frequent public appearances, Philip developed a reputation for being impatient and demanding and was sometimes blunt to the point of rudeness.

Many Britons appreciated what they saw as his propensity to speak his mind, while others criticized behavior they labeled as racist, sexist or out of touch.

In 1995, for example, he asked a Scottish driving instructor, “How do you keep the natives off the booze long enough to pass the test?” Seven years later in Australia, when visiting Aboriginal people with the queen, he asked: “Do you still throw spears at each other?” On one visit to a military barracks, he asked a sea cadet instructor if she worked in a strip club.

Many believe his propensity to speak his mind meant he provided needed, unvarnished advice to the queen.

“The way that he survived in the British monarchy system was to be his own man, and that was a source of support to the queen,” said royal historian Robert Lacey. “All her life she was surrounded by men who said, ‘yes ma’am,’ and he was one man who always told her how it really was, or at least how he saw it.”

Lacey said that during the royal family’s difficult times with Diana, Philip spoke for the family with authority, showing that he did not automatically defer to the queen despite her position as monarch and head of state.

Philip’s relationship with Diana became complicated as her separation from Charles and their eventual divorce played out in a series of public battles that damaged the monarchy’s standing. It was widely assumed that he was critical of Diana’s use of broadcast interviews, including to accuse Charles of infidelity.

But letters between Philip and Diana released after her death showed that the older man was at times supportive of his daughter-in-law.

After Diana’s death in a car crash in Paris in 1997, Philip had to endure allegations by former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed that he had plotted the princess’s death. Al Fayed’s son, Dodi, also died in the crash.

During a lengthy inquest into their deaths, a senior judge acting as coroner instructed the jury that there was no evidence to support the allegations against Philip, who did not publicly respond to Al Fayed’s charges.

Philip’s final years were clouded by controversy and fissures in the royal family.

His third child, Prince Andrew, was embroiled in controversy over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, an American financier who died in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

U.S. authorities accused Andrew of rebuffing their request to interview him as a witness, and Andrew faced accusations from a woman who said that she had several sexual encounters with the prince at Epstein’s behest. He denied the claim but withdrew from public royal duties amid the scandal.

At the start of 2020, Philip’s grandson Prince Harry and his wife, the American former actress Meghan Markle, announced they were quitting royal duties and moving to North America to escape intense media scrutiny that they found unbearable.

Britain’s Prince Harry talks to Prince Philip as members of the Royal family appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, during the Trooping The Colour parade, in central London on June 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Last month, they gave an explosive interview to Oprah Winfrey, saying that Meghan had suffered neglect and racist attitudes while a working member of the family, though Winfrey later said Harry told her one particularly hurtful remark did not come from either of his grandparents. The palace called the issues raised by the couple “concerning” and said they would be “addressed by the family privately.”

Born June 10, 1921, on the dining room table at his parents’ home on the Greek island of Corfu, Philip was the fifth child and only son of Prince Andrew, younger brother of the king of Greece. His grandfather had come from Denmark during the 1860s to be adopted by Greece as the country’s monarch.

Philip’s mother was Princess Alice of Battenberg, a descendant of German princes. Like his future wife, Elizabeth, Philip was also a great-great-grandchild of Queen Victoria.

When Philip was 18 months old, his parents fled into exile in France. His father, an army commander, had been tried after a devastating military defeat by the Turks. After British intervention, the Greek junta agreed not to sentence Andrew to death if he left the country.

Philip went to school in Britain and entered Dartmouth Naval College as a cadet in 1939. He got his first posting in 1940 but was not allowed near the main war zone because he was a foreign prince of a neutral nation. When the Italian invasion of Greece ended that neutrality, he joined the war, serving on battleships in the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean and the Pacific.

On leave in Britain, he visited his royal cousins and, by the end of war, it was clear he was courting Princess Elizabeth, eldest child and heir of King George VI. Their engagement was announced July 10, 1947, and they were married Nov. 20.

Then, in 1952, King George VI died of cancer at age 56.

Philip had to give up his naval career and his subservient status was formally sealed at the coronation, when he knelt before his wife and pledged to become “her liege man of life and limb, and of earthly worship.”

The change in Philip’s life was dramatic.

“Within the house, and whatever we did, it was together,” Philip told biographer Basil Boothroyd of the years before Elizabeth became queen. “People used to come to me and ask me what to do. In 1952, the whole thing changed, very, very considerably.”

Said Boothroyd: “He had a choice between just tagging along, the second handshake in the receiving line, or finding other outlets for his bursting energies.”

So Philip took over management of the royal estates and expanded his travels to all corners of the world, building a role for himself.

Since 1956 he had been Patron and Chairman of Trustees for the largest youth activity program in Britain, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, a voluntary, non-competitive program of practical, cultural and adventurous activities for young people that exists in over 100 countries worldwide.

He painted, collected modern art, was interested in industrial design and planned a garden at Windsor Castle. But, he once said, “the arts world thinks of me as an uncultured, polo-playing clot.”

In time, the famous blond hair thinned and the long, fine-boned face acquired a few lines. He gave up polo but remained trim and vigorous.

To a friend’s suggestion that he ease up a bit, the prince is said to have replied, “Well, what would I do? Sit around and knit?”

But when he turned 90 in 2011, Philip told the BBC he was “winding down” his workload and he reckoned he had “done my bit.”

The next few years saw occasional hospital stays as Philip’s health flagged. He announced in May 2017 that he planned to step back from royal duties — after roughly 22,000 royal engagements since his wife’s coronation.

Philip is survived by the queen and their four children as well as eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

— Katz and Associated Press writer Robert Barr contributed to this report before their deaths.

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businessliveme · 5 years

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Britain Beckons

Tricia Warwick, Director for Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa at VisitBritain, the national tourism agency for Britain, talks about tourism plans to the country for 2019, attractions and more

How is the tourism industry looking for UK in 2019?

Tourism is one of the UK’s most valuable export industries and needs no trade deals to attract overseas investment. It is also a fiercely competitive global industry and people have a lot of choices. We want the UK to be the number one destination for global travellers so it is great to see forward bookings looking strong in the coming weeks and months from some of our most valuable long-haul visitor markets. Forward flight bookings for arrivals to the UK from the Middle East are tracking up 5% from February to July this year compared to the same period in 2018.

London is a hotspot for travellers from the GCC including Oman. Which other destinations within Britain would you suggest for people to explore?

We are making it easier for Omanis to visit London and other parts of England, as we are promoting airline accessibility to regions re: good connectivity, seat capacity (eg: Oman Air flies twice a day into London Heathrow and daily to Manchester). Travellers can also fly into London and fly out from Manchester allowing them to explore other regions between these two gateways (e.g. the Cotswolds).

We’re working with the travel industry on luxury itineraries, promoting VIP shopping experiences (e.g. Bicester Village 45 min away from London) and new products (e.g. Horseracing Package ‘Sport of Kings’ – you get to have luxury experiences across 5 racecourses in England – Ascot, Chester, York, Windsor and Newmarket. Tours of racehorse stud-farms, training stables, also visit world-class heritage and sporting venues.

Are there any specific spots/areas in Britain that you are promoting currently?

We are providing visitors from Oman with more reasons to travel to Britain, from world-class shopping such as Harrods, to fine-dining in Michelin star restaurants like the Greenhouse in Knightsbridge in London. Sharing the contrast of contemporary culture through our vibrant cities to the quintessentially British countryside, we seek to inspire visitors to explore more, travel further and extend their stay by embracing the warm hospitality of Great Britain. Within just two hours of London, visitors can experience Royal Britain through Windsor, the venue of two royal weddings in 2018, Oxford, made popular by exploring world class and historic universities complemented by a traditional afternoon tea. If arriving at Manchester, visitors can experience the life of a Premier League player during an unforgettable stadium tour at Manchester City or Manchester United; sit in the press room hot seat, walk down the players’ tunnel, and sit in your favourite players’ chair. Manchester is also a short drive from England’s iconic Lake District to explore the breath-taking natural landscapes and experience relaxation or adventure with the option of staying in a variety of luxury boutique hotels, for example, the Applegarth Villa Hotel and Restaurant or the Lakeside Hotel.

What is the percentage of the number of visitors from GCC to Britain compared to the rest?

GCC is a priority market as we invest more here. A £2.2 billion market, GCC is the 2nd most valuable market to inbound UK tourism (after US) – when all 6 Gulf countries combined, (including Oman).

In 2019 we are expecting 825,000 visits from GCC and we forecast a £2.4 billion spend (visits rose +53% 2012-17 and spending rose + 89%). Looking at a longer-term growth 2017-2027, visits expected to increase by 17%. Visitors from GCC spend more (in 2017, the average spend per visit was £2,733, more than 4 x all market average) which is also great for repeat visits to Britain.

What can visitors look forward to in 2019?

Sport: The usual highlights of Wimbledon in July and Premier League football with the final in May (e.g. travellers can combine a visit to Manchester, home of two main football teams; Manchester United and Manchester City with a football match).

Culture: the Christian Dior exhibition at V&A (February-July); Palace of Holyroodhouse Edinburgh, wedding outfits of Duke and Duchess of Sussex on display (June-Oct); Queen Victoria’s 200th birthday celebrations; UK’s largest display of Van Gogh in a decade at Tate Britain (March-August); 500th celebration of Leonardo Da Vinci with exhibitions across UK (Feb-May).

What would be an ideal itinerary for a visitor travelling to Britain for the first time?

If it’s their first time in the UK visitors must start with London and visit famous icons such as Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Oxford Street, the Tower of London and Big Ben. Omanis can combine their sightseeing with a personalized shopping experience in Selfridges and a world-class food experience in one of London’s Michelin-star restaurants such as the Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester Hyde Park.

We are inviting all your readers to discover more of the unexpected experiences in Britain by visiting our website www.visitbritain.com.

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wiremagazine · 5 years

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OUT & ABOUT: PALACE

By Rafa Carvajal

Palace has heightened its success since owner Tom Donall reopened it at its new location, 1052 Ocean Drive in South Beach. The motto of "Every Queen Needs A Palace" is being enjoyed more than ever before by both tourists and local patrons who relish its famous drag shows, while dining and cocktailing on Ocean Drive. As part of the continued evolution of Palace, Tom Donall hired Ahmed Labib as the new general manager to take this beloved establishment to new heights, so I sat down with Ahmed to preview the improvements he is making at Palace, discuss what patrons should expect in the future and find out what the Palace team is planning for their New Year's celebration.

Rafa Carvajal: Why did you decide to become the new general manager at Palace? Ahmed Labib: I am a firm believer in the quote, “everything happens for a reason.” Upon completion of my contract with Segafredo L’Originale on Lincoln Road, where I functioned as general manager and renovation consultant, I wanted to continue working in an environment with high energy, rotating DJs, in a sexy, loungy aesthetic and secure an entrance into clubs, lounges, and Miami Beach nightlife. When I heard that Palace, the iconic and legendary location of 30 years, was looking for a general manager to take them to the next level, I knew I had found my true destiny, and feel like the universe has placed me right where I needed to be at that exact moment. To be selected and able to be the leader and brand ambassador of Palace, as well as the honor of celebrating the LGBTQ community is truly humbling. I am so honored, privileged and proud to be a part of such a tremendously prestigious and legendary venue with a reputation that has housed celebrities such as Gianni Versace, Madonna, Princess Diana and more. As a gay man myself, it is a way for me to consecrate my lifestyle, as well as tie in my love and passion for the arts, theater, performance, food, and beverage while celebrating and sharing it with the entire community.

RC: What are your plans to make Palace better than ever before? AL: My philosophy is very simple… If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. Palace has already staked its claim as an iconic staple and landmark destination here on Miami Beach’s famous Ocean Drive. My plan is to continue to celebrate all that we are, yet take us to the next level via implementation of new food, beverage, New York City style service and world-class entertainment in our drag performances. I want us to be recognized across the globe for our uniqueness, talent and world-renowned, innovative food and beverage on an epic scale. RC: Give us a sneak peek at some of the things you are working on to enhance what customers experience at the Palace. AL: Oh, I’ll give you a “sneak peek,” haha. On a less “perverted” note, or actually on a perverted note… perversion, which by definition expresses “a type of human behavior that deviates from that which is understood to be orthodox or normal.” In a culinary, beverage related and a more appropriate context, the newly “perverted” Palace will dare to take the simple, ordinary act of eating and drinking and transcend and elevate it to a decadent sexy artform and gastronomical indulgence. The relaunch of Palace’s food and beverage program will exude the ultimate in sexy, and display "perversion" through a moderately priced, authentic gastropub inspired menu, paired with unrivaled music, ambiance, service, and world-class entertainment. It will become an operation for all to enjoy and afford the quality of products and services offered. Top quality, luxury, gourmet and imported selections will serve to tempt, tantalize and titillate the senses of the engaging diner as their body, mind, soul, and palates are invited to surrender to our playground. Palace will use "perversion” to provide a sophisticated, unique and provocative experience that will take guests on a sinful journey through ultimate decadence, desire, drag, and drama.

RC: What improvements have you already made to the Palace brunch? AL: I have always been a stickler for quality, presentation and the use of top quality ingredients in my menus. Here at Palace, this declaration will continue to resonate. I have an honest approach to business where I believe in giving my guests the best quality and value for the best price. I have been working closely with my chef, Denis Ampie, in order to roll out new menus for all dining periods. I chose to start with brunch, as this seemed to be where I could achieve the quickest, yet most powerful impact on my guests. Bringing in some of my own recipes, and collaborating with my chef, we conceptualized, executed and launched our first new brunch menu together almost six weeks ago. Some of our new and my favorite dishes include: Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with wild blueberry compote, maple brown butter reduction, candied lemon zest and house-made chantilly creme; Avocado Toast with toasted Campagnolo bread, sunny side up eggs, avocado-jalapeño tapenade, heirloom cherry tomatoes, micro cilantro and black lava salt; and one of my personal favorites from my arsenal, Tegamino Al Salmone Affumicato with free-range fried eggs, Norwegian smoked salmon, goat cheese mousse, micro cress and black caviar. My style has always been a little more of an Italian approach, as it is in my blood, as well as my training. Most of my mentors were of Italian descent, and have instilled their love and passion for food and people into me. Whilst I am aware that Palace is not an Italian concept, I will ensure that the same passionate, personal, warm and engaging style of guest service and quality is presented at all times, paralleled with unrivaled food and beverage.

RC: Tell us about the new bar Palace is opening upstairs. AL: Tom – Palace’s owner – and I are working very diligently in order to finalize all logistics in order to pull off a tight and flawless execution of the launch of our Rooftop Pool Bar, located directly above Palace on the sixth floor of the Strand on Ocean hotel. I want to ensure that we launch it in style and with great pride, honoring every single detail from setup, glassware, to lighting, music, sound, and ambiance. We still have yet to announce our official opening date, however, it shouldn’t be too long until you are sipping on a frozen margarita on the roof, bathing in the pool, overlooking one of the most gorgeous and breathtaking rooftop ocean views of South Beach. A multitude of luxuriating things are all in motion, all to materialize in due time.

RC: What experiences from working in hospitality and food & beverage do you bring to your new role as the general manager at Palace? AL: Food has always been a passion for me, whether I was watching cooking shows as a child or learning about fine dining from my father who worked at the famous Russian Tea Room in New York City. Growing up in an Italian and Egyptian family, I absorbed all the influences available to me and learned how to create food inspired by other cultures with my own unique twist. I began my restaurant career working at Jonathan’s Ristorante in Huntington, Long Island’s culinary capital. Jonathan’s northern Italian food presented another new influence for me and I quickly learned another layer of a cuisine I had grown up around initially. For me, food is always evolving in ways that surprise me so I can, in turn, surprise the people I feed. Operating as general manager at Jonathan’s, I worked alongside James Beard award-winning Chef Tito Onofre and ran this high-end establishment with dedication, passion, and attention to detail that upheld Jonathan’s multi-award-winning reputation. When the opportunity arose to open my own establishment in Howard Beach, I bowed gracefully out of Jonathan’s and moved on to owning and operating a gourmet deli and catering company. After operating multi-million dollar venues in Manhattan predominantly my entire career, I caught the attention of investors in Beijing, China who were looking for someone creative, trustworthy, and committed to open a venue in the heart of their city. I relocated to China and opened The Woods with two partners at Central Park in Beijing in May of 2013, functioning as general manager, executive chef, and operating partner. Since then, The Woods has opened eight other locations, six of which have been under my orchestration, supervision, and direction. My last opening endeavor in China was probably the most memorable and most humbling and proud milestone of my career. I was selected to function as the pre-opening consultant/general manager and executive chef for Harrods Tea Room at The British House in Beijing. The British House is a 1,000 square meter and two-floor mecca, which showcased the finest in luxury retail brands endorsed by Royal Warrants, proudly featuring Highgrove products owned by Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales. I flew to London and trained in Harrods’ prestigious pastry kitchen and returned back to Beijing to open Harrods Tea Room at The British House. This marked Harrods first entrance into the China market.

RC: What is Palace planning to do for its New Year's celebration? AL: What aren’t we planning should be the question, haha. This year, at Palace, we will be ringing in the new year with a Masquerade Ball themed New Year’s extravaganza. We will be featuring a 3-course prix fixe menu starting at $95 per person, with a special discounted rate of $100 bottles of Veuve Clicquot and Möet & Chandon. Chef Denis Ampie, the team and I are truly excited to take you and your palates on this culinary journey with us. Seating starts for dinner at 8 p.m., and we’ll all ring in the new year together with jaw-dropping drag performances on a stage built into the street, DJ Cesar Hernandez will be spinning his sick beats, concluding with stunning fireworks on the beach at midnight.

RC: Is there anything else you'd like to share with Wire Magazine readers about yourself and Palace? AL: I would just like to express from the bottom of my heart how truly honored, blessed and proud I am to be a part of such an iconic place with an incredible team and staff behind me. There is no “I” in team, and there is no “I” in Palace. So, I would like to personally recognize the efforts of my amazing management team: Carlos Rojas, Branden Vidal, Skyler Styles, Godric Miguel Blanco, Denis Ampie and, of course, the owner, Thomas Donall. I wouldn’t be able to do this without all of their prodigious support, talent, and encouragement. I get chills and goosebumps when I talk about the future of Palace because I know in my heart that with my amazing management, my wonderful staff, mind-blowingly talented performers and ultimately, the family we have become. There is no stopping us from reaching monumental heights together. Here's to the next 30 years. Cheers!

This was originally published in Wire Magazine Issue 51.2018

#wire magazine #wiremag.com #wire #miami #miami beach #south beach #sobe #fort lauderdale #wynwood #wilton manors #gay #lgbt #glbt #palace

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marthaohara · 6 years

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Be Inspired By The Best Design Projects From Tom Dixon

Be Inspired By The Best Design Projects From Tom Dixon – First of all, who is Tom Dixon? But for those who love design, who doesn’t know Tom Tixon, right? Tom Dixon is a British designer who is worldwide recognized. His Projects have been acquired by museums across the globe, such as the Victoria and Albert Museum, Museum of Modern Art New York and Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris. Established in 2002, Tom Dixon is a British product design brand. With a commitment to innovation and a mission to revive the British furniture industry, the brand is inspired by the nation’s unique heritage and produces extraordinary objects for everyday use.

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Biography the man before the myth

Born in Sfax, Tunisia in 1959, to a French/Latvian mother and an English father, Dixon moved to England aged four and spent his school years in London. Attending Chelsea Art School for a brief six-month period, a motorbike accident curtailed any artistic ambition and left him in hospital for three months. Having dropped out of Art school, Dixon spent two years as a musician, playing bass guitar in a disco band until another motorcycle accident left him unable to play for a period.

He spent two more years in the burgeoning London night club and warehouse party scene. This nocturnal lifestyle left plenty of time in the day to start experimenting with welded structures. Necessary bike maintenance had required welding skills, which a friend supplied in one quick lesson.

The new found welding skills were soon put to work as Dixon explored the decorative and structural potential of recycled materials and industrial scrap. It was a very hands-on period, working from his own workshop. Each piece evolved in a built form with no need for design sketches. Some of Dixon’s favoured materials at this time included railings, concrete reinforcement bars, car inner tubing and saucepans. “I was immediately hooked on welding…mesmerised by the tiny pool of molten metal, viewed from the safety of darkened goggles. Allowing an instant fusion of one piece of steel to another. It had none of the seriousness of craft and none of the pomposity of design: it was industry.

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It suited my impatience perfectly…giving me the opportunity to build, destroy, adjust and remake structures instantly.

London at the time was still full of scrap metal yards and the skips were piled full of promising bits & pieces due to the eighties boom….all of which presented themselves to me as potential chair backs or table legs. Unhindered by commercial concerns (I had my night job,) or formal training I made things just for the pleasure of making them. It was only when people started to buy that I realised I had hit on a form of alchemy…I could turn a pile of scrap metal into gold.”

It wasn’t long before Dixon’s sculptural objects began to get recognition and commissions and exhibitions followed. This rapid increase in demand required a more plentiful and reliable source of materials. He turned his attention to ready-made forms and technology to feed his increased interest in industrial techniques and batch production. He designed in sheet metal creating a much more minimalist product that was determined by the industrial technique used for production.

As Dixon’s international reputation grew, he was approached by Italian furniture design company, Cappellini. He began to be taken seriously on the international stage as Cappellini worked to put some of his designs into major production. The “S” chair made Tom Dixon’s name, evolving from early prototypes in his Creative Salvage days. It was initially woven with recycled rubber inner tubes, and then covered in rush, a material traditionally used for drop in seats. Cappellini were attracted by its sculptural form and amazing legless structure of bent steel frame. Launched by Cappellini with a vibrant felt upholstered covering in 1989, the “S” chair quickly reached iconic like status and now has a permanent place in the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Dixon has since collaborated with Cappellini on many other projects, including the Bird Rocking chair, the Pylon table and chair and the tub chair to name a few.

TOM DIXON the company was started by Tom Dixon and David Begg in 2002. Since its inception, the company has developed its own collection of contemporary lighting and furniture including the acclaimed Mirror Ball Collection of lights and more recently Copper Shade. TOM DIXON designs have entered the international major league through renowned shows at major venues like the Milan Furniture Fair and the London Design Museum, where Tom Dixon is currently nominated for Designer of the Year. Tom Dixon the designer is particularly well known for his earlier designs such as the S-chair, designed for Cappellini, and the rotationally moulded Jack Lamp which gained the Millennium Mark for Great British Design in 1998. He was awarded the OBE for services to British Design in 2000. In 2004 a partnership was established between the TOM DIXON founders and the venture capital company Proventus, forming Design Research, which today owns and manages both TOM DIXON and Artek, the Finnish modernist furniture manufacturer which was established by Alvar Aalto in 1935. Additionally, Tom Dixon has also been the creative director for major furniture retailer Habitat since 1997.

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Tom Dixon at Maison et Objet January 2015 by Daily Design News

Backgroung & Realizations: best projects

The Tom Dixon brand launches new collections of lighting and furniture bi-annually at the Milan international furniture fair and at London Design Festival. In 2012 the company launched its first accessories range at Maison et Objet, Paris. The company’s products are sold internationally in 65 countries.

In 2007 Dixon launched Design Research Studio, an interior and architectural design studio. High profile projects include Restaurant at The Royal Academy in London ,[5] Jamie Oliver’s London restaurant, Barbecoa as well as Shoreditch House. Most recently Design Research Studio announced their first ever hotel project, redesigning the iconic Thames-side Sea Containers House in collaboration with US hotel giant Morgans Hotel Group due for completion summer 2014.

He is an industrial interior designer as well as a product designer. His copper products and specially lighting are really well known.

Tom Dixon’s products are feature in a lot of projects around the globe, get to know some of those projects:

Harrods Sandwich Cafe

The Tom Dixon Sandwich cafe is situated between the designer’s two concessions on the third floor of Harrods, in London’s Knightsbridge area.

The project was undertaken by Dixon’s Design Research Studio, which focuses on large-scale architecture, interiors and installation projects and recently fitted out the Mondrian Hotel in London’s Sea Containers Building.

“The 152-square-metre space takes inspiration from classical London club interiors using hues such as deep green, dark blue and rich burgundy,” said a statement from the studio.

Tom Dixon Sandwich, which opened last month and serves various types of the traditional British tea-time snack, is furnished with pieces from the designer’s range. These include brass lighting fixtures, upholstered club chairs and marble-covered tables.

Black tiles are arranged in brickwork patterns along the front of the counter, above seating on the opposite wall and around the structural columns in the space.

The space is divided into three areas, defined by seating of different styles and colours as well as various lighting designs.

An informal zone features wing-backed armchairs and smaller lounge seats, all upholstered in dark green and positioned around circular tables. Spherical brass pendant lamps hang in a cluster from a recessed rectangular section in the ceiling above.

Top interior designers: MATTEO NUNZIATI

Fixed purple seating runs the length of the black-tiled wall, with colour-matched moveable chairs positioned the other side of square marble tables. Lustre pendants lights, designed by Dixon in 2012, illuminate the surfaces in groups of four.

The remainder of the space is taken up by square tables, each surrounded by four bent-wood dining chairs and located below a circular arrangement of Dixon’s Beat pendant lamps in brass. Further seating is available along the serving bar.

More brass is used for tableware and accessories throughout the cafe, including Dixon’s Form Tea Set and his collection based on cogs.

Mondrian London Hotel Interior

British designer Tom Dixon’s interiors outfit Design Research Studio used a 1920s cruise liner as a visual reference for interiors at the Mondrian London hotel, which opens today in the Sea Containers House building.

Design Research Studio created the interiors for the 359-room hotel, which occupies the south wing of Sea Containers House located between the OXO Tower and Blackfriars bridge on the south bank of the River Thames.

Originally intended as a luxury hotel, the building was designed in the 1970s by American architect Warren Platner and became offices for shipping company Sea Containers, from which it takes its name, before being bought by developers Archlane in 2011.

This maritime history was used as the starting point of the interiors concept for the hotel, which “embodies the elegance of a transatlantic 1920s liner” according to the designers.

A giant copper-clad wall shaped like a ship’s hull curves into the lobby from outside, with a reception desk set into the form.

The rectangular sections of copper are riveted together to create a patchwork across the surface, which is edged with cove lighting above and below.

Also located on the 1,500-square-metre ground floor are a riverside restaurant and a breakfast bar.

A 61-seat screening room for TV and film premiers is decorated with blue walls, carpets and chair upholstery, contrasted with brass handrails and step edging.

“The hotel’s 359 bedrooms will be furnished with custom designed furniture from Design Research Studio featuring rich colour palettes contrasted against standout metallic pieces following the nautical theme,” said a statement from the studio.

Public bathrooms feature porthole-shaped mirrors and other details borrowed from marine engineering.

Users of the Agua spa move through a submarine-like space, which changes gradually from white to black, to a hidden water feature.

Brass elements run throughout the building, edging door frames as they continue to the top of the building, where a bar on the roof is designed to look like the top deck of a cruise liner.

The terrace is surrounded by glass balustrades so the views of London to the north and south are unobstructed.

Restaurant at Royal Academy London

The refurbishment of the RA restaurant for Peyton and Byrne references and respects the long and illustrious history of the academy and its existing architecture, whilst injecting a strong sense of world class contemporary operational elements and a new level of comfort.

The zones in the restaurant are inspired by some of the Royal Academy Greats: Turner, Paolozzi and Sir John Soane. High quality finishes include velvet, brass, marble and lava stone. Soft lighting, rich, warm colour tones and juxtaposing textures contribute to the restaurant’s rich and welcoming ambience. Key design features include a contemporary cubic glass unit housing an extraordinary selection from the RA permanent collection of sculptures, acting as a room divider, and also a sculptural, deconstructed brick counter inspired by Paolozzi. The colour scheme has been selected to improve the experience of the existing murals painted onto the restaurant walls by previous Academicians.

Now, talking about products: Tom Dixon’s products go from furniture to accessories and lighting. The collections are endless!

Lighting

Beat Fat Black

Copper Shade

Melt Mini Copper

Furniture

Wingback Chair Black

Pylon Side Table

Pivot Low Back

Gifts & Accesories

Contemporary gifts & accessories by Tom Dixon, Shop the full Tom Dixon collection of everyday home accessories, giftware and design objects formed from honest and resilient materials. The range includes table-top dining accessories, bowls, vases, scented candles, diffusers and design objects for the home. All of our designs are inspired by Britain’s unique heritage and are designed in London, made using unique processes and materials.

Etch Tea Light Holder Brass

Cast Mini Jack Copper

Bash Vessel Large

Block Watch Brass Leather

The Most Iconic Products and Projects

Cappellini chair

First designed for the Italian giants Cappellini in 1987, incorporating Dixon’s welding abilities. At this early point in his design career, Dixon did not use drawings. Instead, he built early prototypes of the chair and altered the design in his studio. He says his only inspiration for the design was a “small doodle of a chicken on a back of a napkin”.

Commissioned by Nick Jones in 2007 to take on his outsized members club, Dixon’s design ensured Shoreditch House became one of the capital’s leading destinations. And furthermore, helped hit fast-forward on east London’s gentrification. The integrity of the original industrial architecture was maintained with Dixon curating each room with original and revised pieces.

The Eclectic opened in January 2014. Dixon was approached by renowned French restaurateurs Jean-Louis Costes and Philippe Amzalak to soften the almost brutalist finishes of the contemporary building within the freshly renovated Beaugrenelle shopping centre in Paris. The result? Bold geometry, warm, inviting colour and brass and outrageous centrepiece lighting.

“Minimal and geometric”, Dixon’s Plane lights were launched during Milan’s 2014 Salone and have already been nominated for an Elle Decoration award. The collection features spherical diffusers in white glass set within two-dimensional flat steel panes covered in reflective brass plating, creating lamps with geometric silhouettes that vary according to the angle from which you view them.

Serpentine is at once minimalist in its adherence to sofa convention (the low key curves and straights) and ultra futuristic in the breakneck chicanes that combined modules can create. Launched in 2003 Toulouse airport has Serpentine sofas darting through its departure hall. The possibilities for regular living rooms are endless.

Located on levels 31, 32 and 33 of London’s first skyscapers, the imposing Centre Point building. Inspired by the modern, tough-edged aesthetic, shapes found in the concrete of the outer building, these feature throughout the interior in the design of the bar, furniture and wall panelling. Of course, the view is the real star and the design shows acute awareness of this. All internal light is directed away from the windows and matt finishes are used throughout.

Special Project

Tom Dixon apartments

The towering combination of glass and stone façades of Upper Riverside created by architects SOM, have been designed to maximise light and views across London in every apartment. The angular form of the building creates individual living spaces that are full of character.

Gallery

Read also:

Complete City Guide For Upcoming Milan Design Week 2017

Enter Icon Hotel Project With Luxury Outdoor Furniture Brand Vondom

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DESTINATION: Berlin, Germany | The Artsy Young Free Capital City

DESTINATION: Berlin, Germany

Politically and physically divided into East and West by the Berlin Wall for nearly 30 years, Berlin is one of—if not the—most unique capital cities in the world. Since November 9, 1989 when thousands of East Berliners stood up for their freedom, Germany’s headquarters have stood tall, unified by an audacious, artistic spirit, and amazing tourist attractions. Here are some tried-and-true, trendy and neu (new) ways to: STAY | SHOP | EAT | TOUR | PLAY in Berlin.

STAY

Dive right into your tourist checklist when you book a stay at Das Stue, the #1 ranked hotel in Berlin and all of Deutschland (the way Germans actually say “Germany”). Located next to Tiergarten (“Animal Park”), this luxury boutique hotel features a private entrance to Tierpark (Berlin Zoo) and the fine dining of Michelin-starred restaurant Cinco by Paco Pérez. If you prefer a higher profile place to lay your head, Hotel Adlon is just adjacent to Brandenburger Tor, Berlin’s top tourist site, and has hosted dignitaries and celebrities from President Barack Obama to Queen Elizabeth II to Charlie Chaplin to Michael Jackson who infamously dangled his baby “Blanket” off an Adlon balcony. To feel like royalty, The Ritz Carlton at Potsdamer Platz will suffice, however if you’re more of a trend-seeker—and setter—check into the Members’ Club and Hotel Soho House Berlin or try the Über creative Michelberger Hotel with a funky bar and bedazzled rooms like the “Golden One”.

SHOP

For the ultimate Berlin shopping experience, look no further than Kaufhaus des Westens, aka KaDeWe, the largest department store in Europe outside of Harrods in London, dressed head to toe in high-end luxury. Other world class shopping centers include the impressive Mall of Berlin, Galeria Kaufhof (with the newly opened TOPMAN), and Alexa Centre near Alexander Platz where you’ll find the tallest structure in Germany, the Berliner Fernsehturm—that iconic TV Tower punctuating the city’s skyline. And get your vintage kicks—literally—at Paul’s Boutique in Prenzlauer Berg stocked with 1000s of sneakers, T-Shirts, Star Wars collectibles, boomboxes and more showcased amidst eccentric décor.

EAT

After all that shopping, it’s time to EAT! Listed as the top restaurant in the city, Zur Gerichtslaube is in the heart of Berlin’s Old Town and considered one the city’s oldest structures having been built around the year 1270. Old World meets Art Nouveau at the inviting bar, restaurant and ballroom Wirtshaus Max und Moritz.

For food on the go, you must try Berliner street food. First up is Currywurst. Made of sliced sausage (Bratwurst) served with curry ketchup, and best enjoyed with Pommes (French Fries), the most sought after Currywursts are at Curry 36, and Konnopke’s Imbiss under the Schönhauser Allee S-Bahn (city train). And perhaps even more popular to eat on the street is Turkish döner kebab, with the best spot—and longest line—hands down being Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap in Krezberg right outside the U-Bahn (underground train) Merringdamm Station.

TOUR

Berlin is a lovely city to include on your Cycling Through Europe tour, rich with art, culture and history. Of its many museums, the Pergamon Museum on Museumsinsel (Museum Island) along the River Spree is a tourist favorite, while Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, provides a way to honor the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Experience “Berlin’s C.B.G.B.” at the Ramones Museum and tribute to the legendary punk band.

See and touch what still stands of the Berlin Wall at the outdoor East Side Gallery painted with powerful murals and signature graffiti art. Viktoria Park has a 360° view of Berlin and running waterfall during warm-weather months, while Mauerpark (Wall Park) hosts a flea market and Bearpit Karaoke on (most) Sundays. One of the most beautiful squares in Europe, Gendarmenmarkt includes Konzerthaus Berlin and, during the holidays, WeihnachtsZauber (“Christmas Magic”) Market which is key to the German Winter Wunderland experience—especially when you warm up some Glühwein (Mulled wine).

PLAY

Now it’s time to…DANCE! Germany is world-renowned for its electronic music scene, and the hottest nightclub in Berlin is Berghain where celebs like Lady Gaga and André Galluzzi frequent. Join the party after 3am, that is, if you can get in. (Our sources say Britney Spears was once turned away at the door due to her poor choice of shoes.) With a panoramic view of the Oberbaum Bridge and Spree River, Watergate is another topnotch club playing techno, electro and house music. For a “jazz lounge” that also plays funk, soul, Latin, blues and rock, Quasimodo is king. For hip hop, check out The Swag Jam at Badehaus Szimpla every Tuesday. And for Berliner-style Ballroom Musik & Tanz (music & dance) like Salsa and tango, give Clärchens Ballhaus a whirl.

If you don’t speak Deutsch and feel a bit intimidated to visit Berlin, read our guide on how to prepare for a country when you don’t speak the language, then go for it! You’ll encounter interesting people from all around the globe, visiting and living in Germany’s dynamic capital city. Do you have other spots to recommend in Berlin? Let us know in the comments.

The post DESTINATION: Berlin, Germany | The Artsy Young Free Capital City appeared first on Pinstripe Magazine.

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Repeat Offender’s Guide To Exploring The Real Gems Of London

So you’ve visited London more times than the queen’s seen a curtsey? Having ticked off the Tate, danced through Covent Garden and grazed at Borough, now you're back in the UK capital and wondering: what next?

Well this 2000 year-old dolly has a whole host of off-the-tourist-agenda offerings to tempt repeat visitors. Here are LUXE’s top picks. Where To Stay Mondrian London [caption id="attachment_181846" align="alignnone" width="960"] Perched in the famed Sea Containers building[/caption]

Last time you stayed at nip/tucked The Savoy, this time why not cross the river and bed down at bold contempo bunker Mondrian London? Perched in the famed Sea Containers building and surrounded by atmossy Southbank’s sup n’ sip spots, it flaunts its nautical heritage through sinuous, moulded copper walls and colour-splashed modish abodes, some replete with patios and Thames outlooks.

Libation sensation Dandelyan is also here for botanical ‘tails, there’s a trig rooftop for sunnier climes, and brunch-tastic Sea Containers resto. 20 Upper Ground, SE1. Ham Yard Hotel [caption id="attachment_181847" align="alignnone" width="960"] Give the grittier, less touristy end of Soho a go[/caption]

Give the grittier, less touristy end of Soho a go at this boho-chic, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it courtyard. This is the Ham Yard Hotel. Ninety-one character-packed, individually designed digs are decked with a Kit Kemp-selected jumble of eye-popping patterns, art, antiques and on-trend design accents, while outta-room entertainments include a best-in-Brit resto, bar, spa, library, cinema screen, rooftop herb garden and ab-fab 50s-style bowling alley. 1 Ham Yard, W1. Where To Eat Fera [caption id="attachment_181848" align="alignnone" width="960"] Shimmy over to farm-to-table Fera for seasonal, polished Brit fare[/caption]

If you’ve already done dine time at Dinner by Heston and Notting Hill’s The Ledbury, shimmy over to farm-to-table Fera for seasonal, polished Brit fare by Simon Rogan. Yes, this eatelier is inside art deco doyenne Claridge’s, but it’s keeping a low profile compared to the hotel’s glamazon bars, so you won’t have to book a table before your airline ticket – hoorah! Claridge’s, 49 Brook St, W1K. Scott’s [caption id="attachment_181849" align="alignnone" width="960"] For a clubby vibe, smart service and succulent sustainable seafood[/caption]

Every schmuck and his schnauzer has heard about The Ivy and Chiltern Firehouse, for their celeb scenes, but plugged-in Londoners (and discreet A-listers) favour Mayfair sophisticate Scott’s for its clubby vibe, smart service and succulent sustainable seafood. Make like Mossy and get your PA to nab you a terrace spot in fine weather. 20 Mount St, W1K. What To See Sir John Soane’s Museum [caption id="attachment_181850" align="alignnone" width="960"] For an intimate peek into how people used to live[/caption]

Big daddies like the Natural History Museum and Tate Modern are, of course, a must. But for intimate peek into how people used to live, venture to one of London’s smaller, private house museums.

Overlooking the city’s largest public square, Sir John Soane’s former home is an enchanting, atmospheric escape stuffed with C.18th art, antiquities, sculpture, sketches, models and canvases.

The candlelit tour, first Tuesday of every month is all the more magical, but you have to be prepared to queue extra early. 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, WC2A. The Monument [caption id="attachment_181851" align="alignnone" width="960"] The 311 steps will give your glutes quite the workout[/caption]

Forget the London Eye, you’ll find fab vistas and a heck more history if you climb this iconic, gilded Doric column, built by Christopher Wren in testament to the Great Fire. The 311 steps will give your glutes quite the workout but it’s worth it for the clear autumn views from up top. Fish St Hill, EC3R. Old Operating Theatre [caption id="attachment_181853" align="alignnone" width="960"] Not one for Fanny fainthearted[/caption]

After a macabre moment? Don’t even think of queuing for the London Dungeons, instead totter over to what is the only surviving C.18th operating theatre, set in the roof space of a Baroque church. Not one for Fanny fainthearted. 9a St Thomas St, SE1. Where To Shop Liberty [caption id="attachment_181855" align="alignnone" width="960"] This age-old emporium housed in its iconic architecture[/caption]

Avoid the hordes of Amex-flexing aspirationalists at Harrods or Selfridges, and head instead to our favourite one-stop department shop, Liberty.

This age-old emporium housed in its iconic, faux Tudor building, is best in town for cutting-edge Brit designer threads and accessories (for him and her), exceptional beauty booty, dazzling artisan jewels and lest we forget, it’s gorgeous stash of fabrics, upon which it made its name.

Plus there’s a Margaret Dabbs Sole Spa, for London’s best pedis and Café Liberty for mid-retail refuelling. Regent St (enter on Gt Marlborough St), W1. The New Craftsmen [caption id="attachment_181856" align="alignnone" width="960"] Fine art for the home[/caption]

The lovely Heal’s might be London’s best-known homewares haven, but for hand-wrought off-beat furny and natty nest featherings we prefer modest Mayfair concept store The New Craftsmen for it’s small-batch pieces from across the Isles, plus clothing, jewellery and toys to kit out your whole family. 34 North Row, W1. See More Of London... 15 Coolest London Restaurants According To A Londoner 12 Coolest Airbnbs In London

LUXE City Guides are the stylish pocket print and digital travel guides packed with astute, opinionated information for modern, sophisticated travellers. You can buy the guides here and download the app here.

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Insider City Guide: Walton Street, South Kensington

When you hear the names South Kensington and Knightsbridge in passing conversation, the images conjured by the mind are most probably those of Harrods’ iconic façade, museums, the neon glow of flagship store shop-fronts and a claustrophobic sea of tourists who offer these places their custom. And, frankly put, these mental notes of Knightsbridge are somewhat accurate, faithful to slightly jaded truth that we, as Londoners, have spun for the city’s tourist districts, like Knightsbridge. But look a couple of streets back and the story is wonderfully different. Our tour today centres on Walton Street and we love it!

What makes Walton Street notable is the way it so readily challenges this perspective of ours. The words ‘independent’ and ‘local’ set the tone for many of the businesses of Walton Street. Here, you can discover a side of Knightsbridge unencumbered with the rhetoric of tourism, on the contrary, it’s brimming with an authentically West London character, marked by the area’s flirtatiously bohemian and aristocratic pasts. The boutiques and galleries of Walton Street, whilst carrying this energy, are all undeniably unique. By this token, they offer your home innumerable possibilities. We’d be the first to say these places are not for those of us shopping on a budget, but they are packed with great ideas and every place we visited we were made to feel welcome. It’s not the natural home of ripped jeans and piercings however — head to Shoreditch for that! If you like your looks vintage and eclectic and your choice of interiors distinctive — then there’s some great finds to be had here.

We’ve shortlisted some of the best that Walton Street has to offer:

Andrew Martin

Regarded by the Sunday Times as ‘a barometer of style for our times’, Andrew Martin’s 190 Walton Street showroom makes you understand precisely why the brand has been the recipient such international acclaim. The shop is a tapestry of wallpapers, fabrics and home accessories, all kaleidoscopically arranged in the brand’s signature style. True to co-founder and company director Martin Waller’s vision when he established the brand in 1978, Andrew Martin’s Walton Street is a cool mix between styles from various eras and cultures. It’s inspiring, tastefully eccentric and exudes a certain genius in the way it makes things that every style guide has told you shouldn’t go together- well, go together.

Image: Andrew Martin International

Chelsea Textiles

Having identified a demand of meticulously embroidered fabric to complement interior of period homes, Mona Perlhagen founded Chelsea Textiles in 1990. In the past twenty seven years, the brand has developed a reputation for the excellence in the quality of their materials and standard of their workmanship, comparable to the embroidery of 17th and 18th century artisans. This is not to say that the brand only looks to the past. Chelsea Textiles also offer a variety of classically inflected Gustavian and Early 20th century designs that make for a tasteful fit with a variety of modern homes.

Besselink & Jones

The brainchild of Hank Besselink and Nigel Jones, Besselink & Jones’ Walton Street shop displays the exquisite lighting the brand is so renowned for. The shop offers a selection of Besselink & Jones’ best pieces, which are complemented by an array of antiques and chandeliers. With commissions from the likes of royalty, it is difficult to overstate Besselink & Jones’ excellence in this field. It won’t take long until you find something you’ll fall in love with.

Andipa Gallery

The Andipa Gallery has been a Modern Art institution since 1967. It boasts an extensive inventory of sculpture, paintings and drawings that feature masters such as Picasso, Warhol, Lichtenstein Matisse and Hockney, to name only a few. Private clients of the Andipa Gallery enjoy the extensive service provided to them by the gallery, ranging from investment consultation to advisory aspects on collating a personal collection. The Andipa Gallery is warm and welcoming and is must for enthusiasts and investors alike.

Brownsword Hepworth

For Modern Art enthusiasts, Brownsword Hepworth is an absolute must. Taking residence at 15 Walton Street, the gallery specialises in modern British and contemporary art and sculpture, particularly focussing on the work of the iconic Keith Vaughan. Their dealers and agents are meticulously versed with both the shop’s curated works and the Modern Art market, and are wholly committed to your pursuits as an avid collector or fan.

Dining:

Walton Street exudes the upmarket and artsy charm of the area’s past. The street’s many restaurants and cafes also play a vital part in this culture that has formed here, offering some of the best the Mediterranean has to offer in addition to classics closer to home.

Scalini

Proudly taking residence at numbers 1-3 Walton Street, Scalini have been offering Londoners a superlative Italian fine-dining experience for over twenty years. In their own words, their menu is ‘resolutely Italian’, and boasts authentic ingredients sourced from Italian producers from all regions of the country. The stunning food on offer is only matched by their outstanding collection of wines. Something of an institution in the area, Scalini brings the best of Italian food to the heart of Knightsbridge.

The Enterprise

Branded as ‘a bar and restaurant that is like a members club…but without the fee’, The Enterprise is a gastropub with that notably Knightsbridge touch. The restaurant’s ambience is a playful medley of quaint and ambient architectural notes, boasting touches that give it a modern, metropolitan edge. The menu follows suit. Traditional dishes are infused and reimagined with an adventurous edge for a truly 21st century gastropub experience.

Zefi

For fans of all foods Mediterranean, Zefi, on 103 Walton Street, offers an eclectic mix of foods from the region along with an assortment of British favourites. Its warm and welcoming atmosphere makes it perfect for casual dining or light lunches during the day. Their deserts are particularly great; their cheesecake in particular, comes highly recommended by customers. A bountiful bar menu makes Zefi a perfect evening haunt also. Its cool yet sophisticated atmosphere attracts a youthful crowd of young professionals, and keeps this pace till the early hours of the morning.

Jak’s Bar

Classy, high-end, and bristling with an unruffled, cosmopolitan vibe, Jak’s Bar is a great place to grab those late night drinks when in the area. A favourite amongst the young and creatives of the area, Jack’s Bar is a sophisticated yet youthful haunt. If that was not convincing enough, word on the street is that their pizzas are something special.

How to get here and staying nearby

With both Sloane Square, South Kensington and Knightsbridge Underground stations just a stone’s throw away, Walton Street’s central location means it is incredibly well connected to London’s public transportation network. With just a quick Oyster Card top up, you can easily be there within the hour.

The Cadogan

Just six mins from Walton Street is the iconic Cadogan Hotel. Built in 1877, the boutique Edwardian hotel has hosted royalty and is a connection to Knightsbridge’s aristocratic past. It’s hushed and warm interior is steep in history, with the famous Room 118 having been the one that Oscar Wilde was arrested in, in 1895. It captures the area’s opulence and bohemian spirit, and has been a favourite with people visiting the city for generations.

The Beaufort Hotel

Only seven minutes away from Walton Street, amongst the stucco-fronted townhouses of Knightsbridge is the Beaufort Hotel. Boutique and family run, the Beaufort Hotel has developed an international reputation for the excellence of their service. Their classic interior boasts fresh flowers, luxurious marble bathrooms and airy decorative suites that exude luxury.

Knightsbridge Hotel

Situated at the leafy address of 10 Beaufort Gardens, the Knightsbridge Hotel is also a mere seven minute walk away from Walton Street. The Knightsbridge Hotel packs all the trimmings of the hospitality you can expect of this calibre. A twenty four hour room service, concierge and valet parking is all standard operating procedure for the Knightsbridge, which paired with the rooms, individually designed in a modern English style by designer Kit Kemp, make for a truly luxurious stay.

For lovers of art and masterfully orchestrated interiors, the galleries and designer boutiques, most of whom are heavyweights in the interior design world, can be located on Walton Street. Take advantage of the restaurants and hotels on offer, and you can easily immerse yourself in the artistic and aristocratic traditions of the Knightsbridge of old, far from the din and bustle of tourism.