In From The Cold

It was the weekend before Christmas and as I woke up on Saturday morning, I was determined to hit the shops before the crowds arrived onto King’s Road.

What I hadn’t bargained for was a snow storm occurring within the heart of Chelsea. So as I struggled against the freezing elements instead of a panicked shopping crowd, my attempt to reach the end of the King’s Road seemed like a Sisyphean endeavour.

Stepping into Peter Jones and looking like a yeti that had to be patted down, it was awe inspiring to see all the shoppers looking thawed and calmly focused on their Christmas business. And it was a great feeling to be in from the cold.

A couple of purchases later, I decided to give up on dealing with the harsh weather outside and headed to Chelsea Library to do some work instead.


Walking into the building, I recognised the face of man standing against a radiator to keep warm. I was used to seeing him along King’s Road carrying his home in his bags and for years I had wondered what his story was. Now I was looking him in the eyes and could only see the surprising softness of a cold man.

Inside the library, there were a few more people who looked like they were reading to keep warm. So when the library announced that it was closing at 3pm instead of 5pm because of the extreme weather, I wondered where they would all go. Later, I discovered that the Chelsea Methodist Church on King’s Road was a drop in centre for the homeless but it wasn’t open during the weekends. So I can only hope that there was somewhere else for the man standing by the radiator to go.

As for the rest of my Christmas shopping list, I will deal with that tomorrow. That's one of the perks of living off the King’s Road.

Merry Christmas everyone!


Mina Zaher


Follow her @kingsroadrocks
Website: kingsroadrocks.com

Food For Thought

Over the last week I've made it to three Christmas parties and my favourite was Bluebird’s Winter Palace party, which took place in a marquee on the Bluebird forecourt. The venue was a cocoon of whiteness and lights whilst the Belvedere vodka cocktails and delicious canapés were being served. Great fun!

Yet as the Christmas party season sweeps me along, I've also started to reflect back on the year as it draws to a close. My latest thought bubble was inspired by a recent online discussion about the correlation between the affluence of Chelsea and the number good restaurants available, or lack of.

Bluebird's Winter Palace - open all month

There were a few amusing opinions expressed, such as the local residents’ penchant for school dinners rather than so-called serious food along with the suggestion that Chelsea’s apparent ladies-who-lunch should be able to prop up the local businesses with their fine dining. And whilst my initial response was reactionary (just as any Londoner would jump to the defence of their home turf), I did wonder later on why other factors such as the landlords’ rates weren’t entertained.

Chelsea has lost many of its local gems because of that simple factor called rent increase, which must give stalwarts such as Chelsea Bun and La Famiglia something to celebrate; perhaps business developers aren’t bidding for their spots just yet.

It’s also worth remembering that Chelsea isn’t just a place for the rich. There is an abundance of social housing within the area and so local restaurants such as Chelsea Kitchen make eating out accessible to all.

As for the overpriced menus that don’t deliver, it’s just a matter of time. These places simply don’t survive because the locals won't support them; the classic example being Earl Cadagon's apparent decision to close down Oriel because he didn't enjoy his meal and found it too pricey.

Still, there is one thing to look forward to next year: Picasso’s return. The locals will be getting one of King’s Road’s institutions back and I for one can’t wait.


Mina Zaher

Follow her @kingsroadrocks
Website: kingsroadrocks.com

Art and a Winter Garden Party

Snow turned Chelsea into a veritable winter wonderland last week; perfectly timed for The Phene’s Winter Garden Party.

Admittedly as I ran on the treadmill at The Chelsea Sport’s Centre and looked out of the window to see the harsh weather, I struggled to imagine heading down the road for an outdoor party.

But I persevered and a couple of hours later, I was inside a toasty pub sipping on Belvedere cocktails and the odd hot toddy.

Eventually, it was time to venture outdoors and what a delight it was. The comfy seats, which were reminiscent of an outdoor Sydney lounging vibe, were covered by stylish white canopies. Meanwhile, the outdoor heaters and a couple of burning fires kept everyone warm despite my eco conscience, which did struggle slightly. The first floor Lounge was my other favourite area. With a Christmas tree in the corner and three sofas positioned in front of a roaring fire, this was a gorgeous room to hang out in.

A couple of nights later and with the snow now settled, I visited 102 Sydney Street to discover one of the most exciting events in Chelsea. Neal’s Yard Galleries had turned a disused office block into a three floor art gallery.

This exhibition contained a huge range of works, which made every floor a genuine surprise. Take India Amos' fine art collection: her still life on linen brought texture to the simplicity of her colours and subjects. There was also the suggestive works of George Morgan whose pieces evoked a romantic and sometimes fantasy world. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Rupert Burt’s abstract works were inspired by molecular science.

Given what I have said in the past, it was so exciting to see art bring an industrial space to life in Chelsea; so much so that I might have to pop in again before it all comes down next month.

Mina Zaher

Follow her @kingsroadrocks
Read Chelsea Girl's Cocktail Diary 

Chelsea Girl

Whilst King’s Road is in full festive swing with its gorgeous lights and Christmas trees, last week was time to put myself in for a pre-Christmas MOT. So I booked myself in for a Kiehl’s facial, perfectly timed but not in anticipation of my Martini fuelled hangover from Sophie’s Steakhouse the night before.

Without realising it, I had discovered the perfect hangover cure thanks to the wonderful hydrating facial massage that was part of the treatment. And as my dehydrated skin was being brought back to life with a healthy glow, I also had the pleasure of getting to know Stephen who was taking care of me.

Stephen has been working on King’s Road since 1968 and had plenty of stories to tell, including the time when he worked at Elliott’s shoe shop where The Beatles and The Rolling Stones used to hang out.

This led me across the road to Proud Gallery Chelsea which unveiled a new John Lennon photography exhibition on Wednesday. The intimate photos of John and Yoko were a delightful glimpse into the closeness of their relationship whilst early photos of The Beatles reminded us that these legends were once fresh faced pop stars at the beginning of their career. And speaking to Jess at the gallery, I also discovered that Proud Chelsea’s building used to be the location for The Beatles’ tailor which was part-owned by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

In a world where communication is becoming less personal, it’s a real joy to speak to the other Chelsea locals and discover the stories that helped establish King’s Road as an important chapter in fashion and music history.


Mina Zaher

Follow her @kingsroadrocks
Read Chelsea Girl's Cocktail Diary

Chelsea Girl

When Cactus Blue’s doors closed this summer, it was a very sad day. All that was left of this Chelsea institution was a note on the door to thank everyone for the great memories. Months later, and a new bar and restaurant called Eighty Six has opened in its place and I have to admit, the new ground floor layout is infinitely better.

The main bar now sits to the left of the room and there is an extension towards the back, giving the ground floor a whole new space to play with. Eighty Six doesn’t have the crammed feeling associated with Cactus Blue. And with a great cocktail list and retro dance music, the atmosphere on a Saturday night was very buzzy.

Earlier that evening, I had popped over to Brick Lane for a private viewing of Stephen Santos’ art exhibition. Whilst the event was successful, with a great crowd stepping off the streets to join the party, I couldn’t help but wonder why I had to endure such a difficult journey east thanks to London Underground’s engineering works to see the exhibition of a Chelsea artist. I wondered why Chelsea’s art scene was restricted to Park Walk and Lots Road. What about the other local artists with more experimental works?

There was a time in the 60’s when Chelsea College of Art was influential with the fashion, music and graphic design scene that gave King’s Road the edge. Now, Chelsea College of Art has moved to Pimlico and the local art scene is determined by the commercial tastes of gallery owners and not the attitude of artists.

I know of one local artist who will soon be setting up a pop up exhibition using one of the empty shop units on Fulham Road. It would be great if Alahna Fiveash's show could help inject artistic energy back onto the streets of Chelsea. Why should East London have all the fun?


Mina Zaher

Follow her @kingsroadrocks
Read Chelsea Girl's Cocktail Diary 

Chelsea Girl

So I've finally tried Hari’s on King’s Road. Whilst I’d like to say it was because of Hari’s local legacy on Brompton Road for over 30 years, it was actually because I saw someone sipping something deliciously pink whilst having their haircut when I walked past Hari’s window last week.

Sold, I booked my appointment and a few days later I was sipping a deliciously green drink which consisted of Apple, Kiwi and Mint whilst having my hair cut. Jake who looked after me was great company as we rambled amiably and as I listened to tales about how his father used to cut Jimi Hendrix’s hair.

The haircut was in time for an evening at Anthropology for Love Bakery's Cupcakes From The Heart book party and more deliciousness involving champagne and cupcakes. Although, I did wait until I had returned home before devouring the chocolate cupcake which I stole away in one of the wonderfully planned takeaway boxes.

Later in the week, I finally visited Chelsea Theatre after much intrigue about its unassuming building on World’s End Estate. Turning up on Friday night for Richard Maxwell’s production of Ads, I was excited to discover a pre-show 10 minute production in the cabaret styled room. And after, we were led into the main theatre.

Ads involved a series of monologues from New York City's locals who were projected as holograms onto the stage space. Their messages explored a world free from social networking and the distractions of advertising. The irony was how these real people with their real life stories appeared as computer generated simulations. Chelsea Theatre is theatre at its most interesting: pushing the boundaries and questioning mainstream society. Its edgy voice and buzzy atmosphere excites me and I can’t wait to discover more of their work.

Mina Zaher

Follow her @kingsroadrocks
Read Chelsea Girl's Cocktail Diary 

Limited edition Lara Bohinc designer wine bottles

Turning Leaf, the premium Californian wine has teamed up with jewellery and accessories designer, Lara Bohinc to produce limited edition sleeves for their Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Grigio bottles.

For this unique partnership, Bohinc has blended her signature use of metalwork with Turning Leaf’s iconic motif to create an intricate leaf pattern metal design. The rose gold that reflects the warm tones of the Cabernet Sauvignon and the yellow gold metal that reflects the crisp refreshing notes of the Pinot Grigio will lend themselves to the ultimate dining experience this Christmas.





This exquisite designer bottle jewellery will prove to be a stylish gift and a decorative addition to any dinner table.

Price: £35


Stockist details: Lara Bohinc, 149F Sloane Street, London, SW1X 9BZ.

Chelsea Girl

This is my favourite time of the year in Chelsea mainly because of Sloane Square’s Christmas lights. So pretty.

But these aren't the only lights on the King's Road. On Saturday, Duke of York Square had a ceremony for the switching on of their Christmas lights. The children loved it, excited to see Saint Nicholas arrive on a horse drawn carriage. And with a gospel choir, free popcorn and horse chestnuts available as well as mulled wine on sale for a fiver from Manicomio, performers entertained the small crowds.

Still, the atmosphere felt a little forced especially with the MC blaring the shops’ late night opening hours on the mic. It was strange to imagine parents taking their children with popcorn sticky hands for a bit of Christmas shopping after.

I didn't hang around for too long. Instead I set off down the King’s Road to The Phene for the second time in a week.

Feel Good Shopping at French Sole

A few drinks later, I joined hoards of people from Chelsea heading over Albert Bridge to Battersea Park for the fireworks display.

Arriving at the park’s gates, being stuck in a gridlock for 20 minutes and paying £6 to get in, I started to wonder whether Battersea Park was starting to lose it. After all, I remember the days when Battersea Fireworks were free. But when we made it through the ticket gate and shunned the long food queues, Battersea Park put on its best display ever. Each sequence, carefully orchestrated to music, would have suited a finale perfectly. The entire display was superb.

Afterwards, crowds of couples, families and friends crossed back over the Albert Bridge and King’s Road had a surge of exceptional energy running through it. People were spilling out of the pubs and the restaurants were more crammed than usual. This was where the real Chelsea party was happening. So I say get a proper party started in Sloane Square and the crowds will come and maybe even shop.



Sloane Square's Christmas Lights

 


Mina Zaher

Follow her @kingsroadrocks
Read the Chelsea Girls Rock blog 

Chelsea Girl

I’m back on the King’s Road and it feels good! For the last several weeks I’ve been commuting west to Ealing for a job and whilst the work was great, I couldn’t help but wish I were somewhere else: Chelsea.

True, I have worked all over London but for the last couple of years, Chelsea has become more than my home, it is now also my office. So sometimes I sit in the Chelsea Library (where I am right now) and write. Other times I sit in a café, such as Bluebird or Chelsea Bun and work there. But my favourite writing haunt of all is the top floor restaurant of Peter Jones with its large vistas of Chelsea to inspire the imagination.


My office wasn’t the only thing I missed. I also missed having somewhere to go for lunch and I don’t mean just for food. I missed The Saatchi Gallery as well as the V&A (which is only a walk away from the King's Road). Sometimes, I like to escape to these places if only for an hour to transport myself into another world. I can’t wait to check out the Shadow Catchers: Camera-less Photography exhibition at the V&A, very soon! There’s also the new Keith Richards photography exhibition at Proud Chelsea, which I sadly missed the launch party for.

When I think back to everything I've missed over the last several weeks, I realise that there's never a dull moment in Chelsea. There is always something going on: whether it is fresh and innovative or retro and classic, King’s Road spoils me on a daily basis and that's why I love working here.

Mina Zaher

Follow her @kingsroadrocks
Read the Chelsea Girls Rock blog

Rossetti Studios Gain Listed Status

English Heritage has acknowledged Rossetti Studios' distinctive architecture and is now a Grade II listed building after lobbying by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. This means the studio cannot have any significant changes if sold to a new owner.

"It is gratifying that English Heritage has agreed with our planning officers that the Rossetti Studios are an outstanding piece example of artist studios", said Deputy Leader of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Daniel Moylan.

The studios were once home to the Chelsea Art School and once housed photographer Ronald Traeger, who famously photographed Twiggy in the early 60s.