A new approach for a renewed Battersea

2012 is truly an exciting year to be in London. However, once the world’s attention has moved on from the Olympics the attention of developers, planners, architects and construction industry will shift wholesale to Battersea.

The Mayor's planning framework for Nine Elms includes 16,000 new homes, 2 new tube stations, the new American Embassy and a new Covent Garden Market. A predicted 25,000 new jobs will be created as the area is transformed into a world class residential and business quarter. There is also internet chatter about Chelsea football club relocating to the south side of the river, the redevelopment of Wandsworth Town Centre, and the Ram Brewery Site.

The area has undergone a rapid period of change over the past decade. Despite the recent recession this transformation continues and the next decade will bring even greater changes. Improvements to our infrastructure, the requirement for more homes and better integration of public transport and public spaces will shape the area. Battersea is an exciting place to be now and for the foreseeable future and this is why we have launched our architectural practice One‐world Design here.

The One‐world design view is that there is a link between the economy, society, and our environment and architecture is part of how we can change it for the better‐ architecture should serve the community. We live and work in Battersea and care about what happens here. One‐world design has big ideas and the energy to make them happen and we are putting our manifesto into practice.

Battersea is famous for it’s the Dogs and Cats Home. When the opportunity arose to develop a scheme for 2 new kennel blocks we produced designs for the Home pro‐bono. The proposals were well received and may become part of the Homes long term plans which are undergoing a review. We hope to be able to work with them further in future.

Wandsworth has the most river frontage of any inner London borough, and Battersea has fantastic river side amenities and ample opportunity to create more. With two new hotels, including the award winning Hotel Rafayel, and several restaurants along the river east of Wandsworth Bridge an evening economy is growing along the tranquil riverside walk.

A new connection between Chelsea Harbor and Battersea would be beneficial to the communities, transport links and businesses on both sides of the river. With the support of Hotel Rafayel, Oneworld design and Expedition Engineering have progressed designs for a new bridge. We are aiming to submit The Jubilee Bridge, named due to its timing and its proximity to the departure point of Her Majesty the Queen as she joins the Diamond Jubilee Flotilla, for planning approval by the end of March 2012.

http://www.one-worlddesign.co.uk/

ENJOY THE DIAMOND JUBILEE RIVER PAGEANT ON THE RIVER THAMES

 

Be the first to know and get ready for your visit to London this summer!  

To mark the Queen's Jubilee there will be a 1000 boat pageant from tower bridge to just past Battersea bridge on Sunday, the 3rd of June. Our Japanese garden and the Banyan terrace will be the best focal points for this occasion.  For more information, go to: http://www.thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org/EventInformation.aspx

The Queen is to head a 1,000-strong flotilla of boats during a spectacular River Thames celebration marking her 60-year reign, it was announced yesterday.

The Diamond Jubilee River Pageant will be one of the highlights of a special four-day bank holiday weekend next June created so the nation can mark the monarch's milestone.

The extravaganza, expected to be the largest flotilla created in decades, is the first major public event marking the Jubilee to be announced.

The Queen will be on a vessel at the head of a fleet made up of boats from the UK, Commonwealth countries and the wider world.

More than a million people are expected to flock to the banks of the Thames to witness the celebrations on Sunday June 3 next year which will integrate music, daytime fireworks and special effects.

London Mayor Boris Johnson, speaking ahead of the event's launch, said: "I cannot conceive of a more fitting celebration of Her Majesty's 60 years on the throne than a majestic flotilla of vessels, large and small, winding their way along the iconic River Thames and showcasing our proud maritime history.

"This magnificent pageant will not only provide a terrific focal point for Diamond Jubilee commemorations, but will demonstrate to the world London's pride in its heritage and traditions."

The Queen will reach her milestone on February 6 2012 - the 60th anniversary of her accession to the throne.

The flotilla of up to 1,000 vessels is expected to be seven and a half miles long and will feature a mix of historic and modern boats in both private and commercial hands.

Everything from rowing boats and sailing ships to steamers, wooden launches and larger motorised craft will be represented and the public are invited to take part with their own vessels.

The flotilla will be made up of five sections each separated by a "herald barge", the first of which will be a floating belfry of eight new bells cast by the Whitechapel Bell foundry in east London and commissioned by the 17th century City Church of St James Garlickhythe.

Their peals will be answered and echoed by chimes from riverbank churches along the route.

Other barges will feature water jets and sprays, reminiscent of the old Thames firefighting boats, live entertainment and music from the six decades of the Queen's reign, and a pyrotechnic barge which will entertain the crowds with daytime fireworks and a mechanical flame-spitting dragon.

The water-borne parade will include representatives from the Armed Forces and the emergency services and passenger boats carrying up to 30,000 people.

The Government designated Tuesday June 5, 2012 as a bank holiday for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and, to enable a four-day weekend of celebrations, the late May bank holiday has been moved to Monday June 4.

The pageant is being organised by the Thames Diamond Jubilee Foundation chaired by Lord Salisbury and funded by private donations and sponsorships.

Lord Salisbury said: "We are planning the greatest Thames flotilla for 350 years to mark Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee.

"I believe that we should recognise her 60 years of selfless public service with an event that can properly express our admiration and gratitude. The pageant is just that."

January 2012 update - Sustainable rally? And Current Reward account at 0.5% interest rate; no thanks mate, Ill just buy Italy!

Dear all,

 

Following last month's Christmas special and despite a somewhat desultory January (as the month usually tends to be as we adjust to the new year and new tempo) there has been a sustained improvement in the wider markets. What was meant to be a short recap of my thoughts below on where we stand in the global economy and the European credit space has spiralled into a much denser picture that touches on the complex underpinning of the ongoing Sovereign issue in the eurozone and whether this mini-recovery as spurred on somewhat by the LTRO (Long term refinance option) by the ECB can in fact take on a more permanent picture and lift us collectively out of this market uncertainty.

 

I've opted to retain that initial dense stream to reflect in part that the picture remains very myriad, conditional and complex but even so these glimmers of recovery should not be ignored and instead value-seeking opportunities remain as compelling as ever. For the astute market observer must realise the beyond the gloom and doom there remains, as always, the sprouts that will redefine the next & ongoing market cycle.

 

Additionally, the current low rate environment is excellent if you are planning to get a mortgage, but what about all that cash festering away in a bank account, yielding almost naught. Some ideas on where to place your cash, at 5+% yield. In the current environment, with rates likely to be stuck here for 2-3 years, wealth creation can be a lot more simple through intelligent bond investing.

 

Enjoy the below and until next time have an excellent month as always ideas, questions and feedback always welcome.

 

Sincerely,

 

Thank you for listening; Stay Hungry Stay Foolish

 

 

Z.i.L

 

From the Desk of Zachary I. Latif

What a difference, a year makes! 2012 started with a convincing rally which has at least for now, batted away questions on sustainability of the PIIGS within the € project and while any bullish stance should be tempered, it is difficult to see a halt to the current recovery. The LTRO was mentioned in the last piece as a potential game changer, and the increased liquidity through this 3 year funding program has been a major catalyst for the recent risk asset rally. The "Black Swan" event of a complete market shut down with bank failures and a euro break-up were easy to visualise late in 2011; but the fact that the ECB has decided to embrace fiscal support and set off on a 3 year bank funding mission, has at least taken the unthinkable off the table.

 

With liquidity no longer a concern, capital raising remains the biggest challenge for European banks (the EBA has told banks to raise $150bn by Jun'12), yet for the discerning investor, this can represent the most interesting opportunity. Given how distressed secondary levels had become on Bank paper (across all spectrums: unsecured, covered and asset backed); the easiest way for banks to improve capital ratios is to launch buy backs (tenders) for these products. Its the perfect zero sum game, normally the premium over current secondary levels make it attractive for investors to tender their bonds to the originating bank, while for the bank its an easy get fix toimprove their core Tier 1 ratio. Even National Bank of Greece launched a tender on their covered bond issuance, almost 15 points higher than trading levels at the time. I suspect a number of peripheral banks, with pressing capital short falls, will continue this theme in the next few months andidentifying secondary paper which remain lucrative to tender back will be an interesting short term trade.

 

Finally the perfect storm for a sustained rally would not be complete without the Fed coming out with a statementprolongimg super low interest rates for at least another year and a half. Great for long term loans and perhaps even stimulating fixed investments, but bad for deposit holders. And this is where I think the opportunity within credit becomes so interesting for any discerning investor. One of my greatest bug bears has been the number of "unsophisticated" investors within equity markets (in spite of the greater volatility relative to credit), but now with interest rates so low, surely it is time for a number of smaller investors to start investing in high coupon investment grade credit. Without taking significant risk, yields of 4-7% are very achievable on benchmark liquid name,and surely that's a more interesting proposition than 1.5% at Natwest Advantage Current Account. If one were of the more discerning character,financials have very interesting risk-return profile. One of my favourites, Lloyds 7.5884% ECN note, currently trading at 85 cash price, implying a yield of around 10%. The risks associated with ECN's has reduced substantially over the last few months, and expect Lloyds to call this well before maturity date; so yield level can be a lot more compelling.

 

Or why not look at Sovereign debt? We discussed how Italian Government yields had hit a peak of 7% last year, and currently at 6%, with the threat of implosion now a mere dot in the horizon and a Greek debt deal nearing completion tomorrow evening, can this not equally be a nice coupon trade, while at the same time, a very compelling story to continue to grind in.

 

My dark horse favourite is Ireland, their response to the sovereign crisis has been the most credible (Michael Lewis's attempt notwithstanding) and the current sovereign/ financial rally is fully justified, given the fact that their medium term debt sustainability is credible. They have been the most active in announcing (and more importantly implementing) austerity measures, their economy remains significantly more competitive to other peripheral (or even main stream) European nations and with 10 year yields around 10%, this will continue to grind tighter based on positive economic growth this year. House price correction remains a concern but there is a lot to like about the Celtic Tigers.

 

Fundamentally I remain bullish going into the short term, it feels a lot like  early 2009 soon after Lehman's collapse when the US announced TARP and other liquidity measures, which led to a furious rally in risk assets. This time, the ECB has reluctantly taken the mantle and while one can argue the systemic risks remain, the liquidity measures announced will once again lead to a sustained (and since this is Europe, I suspect slightly more subdued) rally. Its time to pile into risk. 

 

 

www.hotelrafayel.com

Rafayel Newsletter - Valentine Issue

The Perfect Valentine Dinner - at Rafayel

Perfect-for-Valentine’s Menu

£50 per person 

On arrival

A glass of Argave kiss cocktail

 

Starters                             A Choice of:

Seafood & Avocado

Avocado, shrimp, crab meat, and cucumber topped with sweet corn sorbet

or

Bleu Cheese Salad

Romaine lettuce leaves with toasted almonds, sun-blushed tomatoes, croutons and blue cheese dressing

Main course                                        A Choice of:

Filet Mignon with Rich Balsamic Glaze

Served with flat mushroom, crispy onions and chipped potatoes

or

Grilled Rock Lobster Tails

(delicately seasoned with lemon and garlic and served with beef tomato)

or

Lamb for Lovers

Rack of lamb with rosemary and mint demi-glace

and served with oven roasted red potatoes and sautéed green beans amandine

or

Exquisite pasta

Papardella pasta tossed with broccoli, pine nuts, roasted red pepper and smoked olive oil

Desserts                                                                 A Choice of:

Chocolate and mango

Chocolate and caramel heart served with mango and chilli compote

or

Boozy strawberries

Strawberries flambéed in Vodka with black pepper ice cream

 34 Lombard Road | London SW11 3RF

Contact us at +44 (0) 20 701 3600        

 www.hotelrafayel.com | reservations@hotelrafayel.com

 

Get ready to woo your Valentine in style

Give someone you love a reason to escape and...

experience the magic of romance with our exclusive “Love in the City” packages

Arrive in your room to be graced by the heavenly scent of fresh rose petals adorning your bed, indulge in organic heart shaped chocolates, and continue the journey of the senses with spa treatments designed especially for couples at our Spa...

Then enjoy a truly romantic evening at our restaurant overlooking the Thames River, where our chefs create an exquisite cuisine and our bartenders serve sumptuous cocktails...

End your evening at our Nirvana Lounge, while listening to romantic live jazz music, and partake of the special sumptuous cocktails and delicious canapés.

Love in the City

(Package 1)

·         Fresh rose petals and sweets in room

·         Spa treatments (60 min. treatments specially designed for couples inclusive of complimentary glass of champagne and sweets) 

·         Dinner at ‘Banyan on Thames’ restaurant

·         Valentine’s at Nirvana Lounge

·          Breakfast

·         Late checkout (12 pm)

Rates from £280 (for double occupancy)

 

Love in City

(Package 2) 

·         Fresh rose petals and sweets in room

·         Dinner at ‘Banyan on Thames’ restaurant

·         Valentine’s at Nirvana Lounge

·         Late checkout (12 pm)

Rates from £195 (for double occupancy)

Love in the City

(Package 3)

 

·         Dinner at ‘Banyan on Thames’ restaurant

·         Valentine’s at Nirvana Lounge

£50 Per person

***OFFER VALID FROM 9TH-19TH FEBRUARY 2012

  

 34 Lombard Road, London SW11 3RF

Contact us at +44 (0) 20 701 3600        

 www.hotelrafayel.com | reservations@hotelrafayel.com

Get more, pay less... our guests describe us best.

“You get more than what you pay.”

Reviewed December 9, 2011 NEW

Extremely good value for your money.
It is not a five star hotel but is ten stars in value for the money.
Fabulous views to the river.
Recommended for couples,you will impress your lady.
Huge bedrooms.
Nice and attentive service.
Stay there when you go to London.

Room Tip: Stay in the suites with river view.

“Outstanding Hotel With Fantastic Service”

Reviewed December 5, 2011 NEW

Stayed at the Hotel Rafayel 01.12.11. The hotel is approx 5-10 mins drive from Clapham Common Tube. We found it very easy to travel from here across London (o2 & most of the major shopping districts such as Oxford Street). The standard of service received at this hotel was absolutely fantastic, staff could not have been more helpful or informative. The little touches made by the hotel made our stay that little bit more special.

The size of the room was unusually big for most city hotels, let alone London and everything was finished to a very high quality.

I would definitely recommend coming here and hope to be back the next time I am in the city. 

“Mixed feelings on this. Chic venue.”

Reviewed December 5, 2011 NEW

Amazingly large room, huge windows, booked a 'suite' through an Agent ' Splendia' expected a little better than a view of the local builders merchant and the main road from the panoramic windows.

Room wasn't made up on second day until we asked for it to be done. Everything had to be asked for (including milk for a cup of tea) which for 5 star is not 'really' great.

Lighting is probably amazing in summer, but was dreadful on these darker winter nights, no shaving light or bright dressing lights.

Comfy and chic it most certainly is. Decor would make me suggest it would be a perfect wedding venue, and I do like the environmentally friendly ethos they are promoting.

Chauffeur service is wonderful and much needed because the location is obscure, drivers are the most courteous people I've ever come across in London I think,

Good, if not pricey, breakfast. Very quiet ambience.

Room Tip: ASK for the river views, I wish I had. ALSO if you want a bath tub..prior request it!

Management response to guest:

December 6, 2011

Dear Ms Quinonostante,

We appreciate your views and thank you very much for your compliments.

We would like to set the records straight on the room you booked. As you explained, you booked through the agent Splendia, and not directly. 22% of your reservation price goes to them. You voluntarily opted for a room that did not have a river view, but it is very large (about 280-290 sq.ft.) compared to an average London hotel. We cannot offer you a river view room when you have selected one with limited views. Although we wish we could do that for everyone unfortunately rooms with scenic views obviously sell at a premium. In any event, the price you paid was a mere 100-odd pounds per night which included VAT. As far as breakfast is concerned, we believe that the prices are very reasonable for London standards.

Once again, we appreciate your positive comments, and look forward to welcoming you again.

Kind regards,

The Management

“Super Service and Excellent Facilities”

Reviewed December 4, 2011 NEW

Stayed at the Rafayel just for a one night business trip but would not hesitate to stay longer in the future. Great location and excellent facilities matched by superb service.

“Love it!”

Reviewed December 3, 2011

The hotel is close to the city center, the staff is nice and helpful, and the room was beautiful confortable and really clean! I will definitly come back there!

“THE BEST MODERN HOTEL!!!!!!”

Reviewed December 1, 2011

Me and my partner was celebrating our annivesary and decided to do the spa package and dinner and breakfast included. even though we were running late for our treament in the spa we still got seen to and they were so polite. food was lovely and the cocktails. The hotel was very clean and fresh will definetly go back thier again and good price aswell check out thier website. The spa facilities were amazing it was quite and it felt like we had the whole spa to ourselves which was very romantic.

Room Tip: deluxe room was a lovely room try the nile room they have a big jucuzzi tub.

“Nice for a weekend getaway”

Reviewed November 30, 2011

Took my wife here for here birthday for a nice relaxing weekend.

Nice quiet location with pick up from Clapham Junction. Was a slight problem with the complimentary pick up as they went to Clapham Common station instead. So not the greatest start.

However hotel was lovely. Received an upgrade to a huge room with river view. Nice big bathroom but TV not working in tub.

Has drinks and dinner at Banyan. Great food and very good value. 50% off voucher a must!

All in all a good stay. Hotel felt a bit empty at the weekend though.

“Wow!!!!!!”

Reviewed November 29, 2011

Me and my partner stayed here for the night and from the minute we arrived we were in heaven.
The hotels location may not be the most central, however, after a day of hectic sightseeing in London it was so relaxing and peaceful and the bus stop outside the hotel takes you straight to Victoria too, so its really straightforward to get into the city.
The room we stayed in was absolutely amazing, spotlessly clean and huge.
I would definitely stay at this hotel again.

The only negative I had was that for some strange reason they wouldn't accept my card for payment so had to venture into battersea to find a cash point but it wasn't a big deal as the staff were really helpful about it all. 

Worthy of all great reviews
Reviewed November 2011

It was nice to see great reviews before I booked this hotel but everything about the reviews and what the hotel promised was more than fulfilled. Whilst only a brief stay - lovely courteous staff, a wonderful room with everything you needed, very reasonable parking cost and great location and the courtesy lifts to the station a lovely extra touch. Faultless and trying to find reasons to stay again and this time to try the restaurant too!