Hotfoots it to Mayfair - Mayfair Times

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30 retail “THE CROWN ESTATE SUPPORTS West End business through its £750 million revitalisation of Regent Street. We are proud to be founder members of the New West End Company, which brings together property owners and retailers to deliver the 21st century foremost shopping area in the world.” DAVID SHAW, Head of Regent Street Portfolio, The Crown Estate “I WOULD LIKE THE WEST END to be an inspirational, one-stop retail destination, featuring a world-renowned environment which gives customers the very best shopping experience at the heart of the greatest city in the world. With the support of the New West End Company, the West End will continue to be the epicentre of the British high street, a focal point for British fashion and an attraction for shoppers from around the world. Continued investment in attracting strong brands and enhancing facilities and transport will mean that the area continues to stand out as one of the REVITALISING OXFORD STREET IS HIGH ON THE AGENDA UK’s premier shopping destinations. As the busiest shopping street in Europe, Oxford Street attracts a fashionsavvy customer who is always on the lookout for the best trends. M&S is the UK’s largest clothing retailer and with two stores on Oxford Street we’re ideally placed to anticipate future trends and react accordingly, helping to meet the needs of the 21 million customers who come into our stores every week.” STEVE ROWE, Director of Retail at Marks & Spencer “I AM FULLY SUPPORTIVE of initiatives that keep the West End as a leading and innovative retail destination. By 2020, many shopping habits will have evolved almost unrecognisably, and it is the task of the retailers to make both the customers’ experience and product selection exciting and fresh. Clearly, technology will play a key role, but in my view, the flagship retail by 2020, with a dedicated surface-transit system down Oxford Street and Regent Street. With the Olympic Games less than two years away, the shortterm priority for New West End is to maximise the West End’s potential in the run-up to and during the event. More than 15,000 international media and one million additional shoppers will visit the West End in the summer of 2012, generating an additional £100 million in spend. “There will be lots of events around the Olympic jamboree, which we are planning to latch onto,” says Dickinson. “The Games are a huge catalytic opportunity for London, putting a global spotlight on the capital. Making sure the West End is fit for purpose is fundamental to our success.” It may seem a hard call, but Dickinson is confident that the New West End Company’s 2020 Vision is achievable. “New ways of funding and inward investment are very important,” he says. “We are pretty confident in the private sector’s ability to push this agenda forward because of where London and the West End is in relation to trends – and you’ve seen from the Drapers report we’re pretty high on the fashion agenda. But it’s about convincing our political masters to keep investing in the West End.” environment that so many brands showcase in the West End will always need to have the wow factor to keep people visiting this area. Ease of transport, pedestrian access, safe public spaces and the support of aspirational luxury and cutting-edge brands also all have a part in ensuring London’s West End is the best destination in the world for high-street fashion.” SIR PHILIP GREEN, owner, Arcadia Group “THE ARRIVAL OF CROSSRAIL into the heart of the world’s premier shopping district will deliver thousands more shoppers every day. This and other major transport upgrades will make London the best-connected city in the world. Our fantastic West End needs to be both ready to satisfy increased demand and ensure this jewel in London’s crown retains its unique global appeal and flourishes as a beacon for tourists, shoppers and investors.” BORIS JOHNSON, Mayor of London
Dream boat It’s the butt that gets it, apparently. The butt and the hands. Those are the pressure points when you’re rowing two hours on, two hours off, for 68 days. “White spirit on the hands is quite good,” Ollie says, “and on the arrr … er … butt, as well,” he says, unsure whether the Saxon word “arse” is polite enough for an interview. “The sea is teeming with sharks and all sorts of fish, whales, dolphins – we’ll see all of that,” he adds. “Apparently the wildlife is amazing. I think we’ll be quite wary of the sharks. I don’t think we’ll be swimming around for pleasure for very long...” Ed chips in: “There is the need to clean barnacles off the base of the boat so it’ll be whoever draws the short straw.” Ollie – Oliver – is a 28-year-old chartered surveyor with Strutt & Parker on Hill Street. His brother Ed is two years older and also a surveyor, although these days he works as a headhunter. Along with friends Captain James Kayll, a 28-year-old army officer serving with The Light Dragoons, and 28-year-old CBRE surveyor Tom Kelly, they’re in training for one of the most gruelling adventures on earth – so tough that they will each lose two stone. They’re planning to row across the Indian Ocean next April – a total of 3,100 nautical miles. Their sponsor package states with an odd exuberance: “Extreme fatigue, crippling sores, mental stresses, fear and isolation will be commonplace in their daily lives.” So, what on earth are they up to? “Ed and I, when we were growing up, had lots of dreams about doing something like this,” Ollie says. “We were in Mayfair in a pub having a few beers and I saw this and I thought, this is exactly what we want. So, I turned to Ed and he said, ‘Yeah, bang on’. There were two other people I went to uni with and it seemed natural to get them involved: Kaylie and Kells. So, we made a decision two years ago to do it.” Ed is the only one who is married, and he admits it has taken him a long time to persuade his wife – “she’s still not convinced”. Their parents aren’t exactly overwhelmed either. “It’s been quite hard convincing the family,” Ollie says, “because it’s both sons going off. My parents are not risk takers. My father’s in the church and he says, ‘I don’t know quite where you got all this from’.” During the WoodVale Indian Ocean Race, the four will carry out oceanographic research – measuring salinity, a critical ecological factor, for example – and will be subject to physiological research. Dr Nick Knight will carry out tests on the rowers throughout training, during the race and after the race. The team will also be raising funds for The Light Dragoons LEFT: OLLIE AND ED GET IN TRAINING MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE HAVE ROWED ACROSS THE ATLANTIC, 12 HAVE WALKED ON THE MOON, BUT ONLY 11 HAVE ROWED ACROSS THE INDIAN OCEAN – UNTIL NOW. MAYFAIR SURVEYOR OLLIE WELLS, HIS OLDER BROTHER ED AND TWO TEAMMATES GET READY TO ROW 3,100 MILES. ERIK BROWN REPORTS THIS BOAT, FROM A PREVIOUS WOODVALE EXPEDITION, IS SIMILAR TO THE ONE THE BOYS WILL BE USING Charitable Trust (The Colonel’s Fund), Compassion UK, Access Sport and The Mark Evison Foundation. Lieutenant Mark Evison was a friend who was shot and killed, aged 26, while serving in Afghanistan. The foundation set up in his name provides funds for the personal development of young people aged 16-30. The boat the four are having built in Cornwall is 29ft and has a carbon-fibre shell. There are two rowing stations and one mattress. When they’re not rowing, the crew will be sleeping or cooking. Temperatures will be fierce – especially near Australia – and weather and currents unpredictable. There will be times when they’ll be going backwards, caught in powerful currents. And, amazingly, it’s a race. Teams from all over the world are competing. The fastest time in 2009 was 68 days, 19 hours and 40 minutes. The Mayfair team is hoping to break that record. First they have to raise some money, and on Friday, October 29 they’re staging The Indian Ocean Charity Ball at the Hurlingham Club in West London. The boat they’re going to sail in will be there, along with James Pearson’s Trio from Ronnie Scott’s. Tickets range from £110 to £3,000 for a table of 12 (rsvpcharityball@gmail.com). The aim is ro raise £100,000 for charity on that night alone. And they do need help, these guys. They borrowed a boat for the Henley Regatta and rowed up and down the Thames for two days. “Apparently some guy on the bank said we were the worst rowers he’d ever seen,” says Ollie. “But we managed to do it without any accidents – and we got lots of attention.” Sponsorships opportunities are now open. For details, go to www.indianocean3100.com. 33 charity
Page 1: CHARLOTTE DELLAL Hotfoots it to May
Page 4 and 5: 6 news EMBASSY LONDON A month in Ma
Page 6 and 7: 10 what’s on events what’s on f
Page 8 and 9: 14 film AHEAD OF BEING THE HOST HOT
Page 11 and 12: Savile Row may be better known for
Page 13 and 14: 24 art art events Fair dealers THE
Page 15: 28 retail brand it better? Can we g
Page 19 and 20: 36 37 food & drink The kitchens of
Page 21 and 22: 40 fashion “I’ve a nostalgia fo
Page 23: 44 restaurant directory To appear i
Page 26 and 27: 50 business “I’m getting to kno
Page 28: Mayfair Times is available on subsc
Page 31: 60 commercial property “I want to
Page 34: Small is marketable A TWO-BEDROOM A
Page 45: 88 interiors “It’s all about be

Hotfoots it to Mayfair - Mayfair Times

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