Timeless Crystalware for Every Table

At Veritable, crystalware is more than just tableware — it is about creating moments that are treasured and remembered. Our collection was born from a love of fine food and drink, and the joy of sharing them with family and friends. Whether it’s a Sunday roast, an anniversary toast, or simply a quiet weekday supper, the right tableware adds a sense of care and attention that makes each occasion special.

Craftmanship

Each piece is hand-crafted by skilled artisans using traditional techniques, designed to last and be enjoyed for generations. Our timeless designs are chosen to be loved equally by grandparents and grandchildren.

As William Morris said: 'Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.'

Appeal

Crystal has been prized for centuries for its clarity, strength, and sparkle. The high mineral content allows for fine walls and thin rims, perfect for wine glasses, and enhances the natural brilliance of the glass. The soft bell-like chime when glasses meet is a joyful reminder of care, quality, and tradition. These are not just vessels, but pieces to enjoy with all the senses — sight, touch, even sound.

Authenticity

The name Veritable comes from the Latin for 'true', reflecting our commitment to authenticity, beauty and practicality.

Our crystalware is the finishing touch that brings true pleasure to everyday dining, making even simple meals feel considered and complete.

To us, dining is about taking a moment to slow down, taking pride in how it is served.

Gifting

Veritable is about treating yourself and your loved ones.

It is all about Dining Well.

Find out more at www.veri-table.co.uk

Overview:

 Blackacre is an award winning, B Corp Certified jeweller that has grown almost entirely by word of mouth since being founded in 2017. Specialising in the creation of high-quality bespoke engagement rings, personal jewellery and limited-edition designs – each piece is uniquely made to order in their London atelier. Widely regarded as the best when it comes to the creation of engagement rings a recent award win as "Bespoke Jeweller of the Year" from the National Association of Jewellers further endorses this remarkable team of experts.

With a particular emphasis on crafting designs around expertly sourced natural diamonds and gemstones, the team of designers, gemmologists and jewellers are unrivalled when it comes to bringing personal designs to life.

Most notable is their approach to expedition sourcing. Recent years have seen the team document journeys into the Sri Lankan and Colombian jungle in search of precious stones.

The Blackacre team is led by jeweller and designer Sam Stirrat, whose childhood passion for collecting pebbles on the beach and semi precious stones is the foundation upon which the Blackacre vision has evolved.

Bespoke engagement rings:

With no investment or external financing, the team chose from the outset to pick one thing to do better than anyone else – the creation of bespoke engagement rings. By channelling all their energy into a highly customer focussed approach, an exceptional reputation has been built. Now considered by many to be amongst the best when it comes to the creation of unique and personal engagement ring designs.

Each engagement ring made by Blackacre is created to order in their London workshop by a team that comprises some of the finest craftsmen and women in the world, many of whom have previously worked in the world’s finest luxury jewellery houses.

A typical engagement ring journey starts with an initial conversation to understand the exact requirements or brief. With no template designs or standardised approach, each client is provided with advice, guidance and information tailored to their needs. From here the team will support you in further homing in on the exact design and specification. Adopting a highly educational and collaborative approach, this process will involve an array of methodologies tailored to the individual couple’s needs – from pencil design work and technical designs, to viewings of loose diamonds or gemstones carefully curated by the team.

The magic of this vibrant, caring and passionate company does not stop here with clients regularly noting that one of the most joyous components of their journey is seeing the design come to life. Whilst not typically expected, the Blackacre team regularly share photo or video updates of each piece being created directly from the workshop which adds to the deeper meaning and sentiment imbued within each piece.

Sustainability:

Perceived by many as the flag bearer in a new era of responsible luxury, Blackacre became B Corp Certified in 2024.

With an exceptionally high score of 99.3 it is one of only a handful of luxury jewellers to achieve this status worldwide, and the only “Top Tier” jeweller to achieve this within the UK. Such a feat is all the more impressive given that the brand only works with natural diamond and gemstones (staying true to its roots whilst more revenue hungry brands flee to meet the rise in demand for lab grown stones).

Most notable within the brand's ethos is their approach to expedition based sourcing. Travelling to far flung corners of the earth in search of precious diamonds and gemstones, recent years have seen the team of jewellers travel to Sri Lanka and Colombia in search of Sapphires and Emeralds respectively.

Documented by expert filmmaker Will Warr, filmmaker to the Duke and Duchess of Wales, these short form documentaries highlight the lengths Blackacre go to in creating perfect pieces.

High quality and authentic experience:

A simple search online or discussion with existing clients will quickly highlight the loyalty and passion garnered amongst the brand's discerning clientele which includes entrepreneurs, financiers, lawmakers and a host of rising stars. The brand has displayed a staggering level of consistency, focussed entirely on delivering pieces that thrill each and every client, as evidenced by the plethora of glowing testimonials and reviews online.

What many connected with the brand comment on is their level of care. This might seem so simple but in an increasingly fast paced world where many are seeking efficiency, this brand is doubling down on making quality their priority. Such a focus has led to many of those within the industry frequently commenting on the quality of craftsmanship, which rivals some of the best in the world.

With the majority of clients starting their journey in the creation of a bespoke engagement ring many will go on to treat the brand as their jeweller for life.

For those seeking a personal piece of jewellery or custom made engagement ring Blackacre is a name that you will undoubtedly wish to have on your list.

Website: www.ian-norrington.com

Telephone: 01747 840200

Email: sales@ian-norrington.com

Address: Holly Cottage, Coombe Street, Pen Selwood, Wincanton, Somerset, BA9 8NF

Ian Norrington specialises in beautifully handcrafted seal engraved signet rings and engraved cuff links. He is a liveryman of the prestigious Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths. A detailed coloured brochure with prices is available on request.

In addition to gold signet rings, Ian is also able to supply signet rings set with a semi-precious stones, such as bloodstone (dark green with red flecks), carnelian (dark red), onyx (black) or lapis lazuli (blue). A first-class engraving service is on offer as well.

Signet rings are generally seal engraved whereby a family crest or coat of arms is engraved on the surface of the ring in the negative — the wax impression comes out in the positive. They can also be surface engraved in the positive with initials and dates engraved under the head. Surface engraving is ideal for cufflinks.

Ian can supply gold oval (18 x 13 millimetre) chain-linked cufflinks in either 18 carat or 9 carat in yellow gold, white gold and silver. He is happy to quote for engraved, or un-engraved, eighteen or nine carat gold cufflinks and can advise on re-engraving old or worn signet rings.

Please telephone or email for a detailed full colour brochure and price list

A 15% reader discount is available for readers of Country Life.

www.ian-norrington.com

Website: https://www.thegentlemenbaristas.com/

Address: 163 Piccadilly, London W1J 9ED

X: https://twitter.com/thegbswhatwhat?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegentlemenbaristas/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegentlemenbaristas/?hl=en

The Gentlemen Baristas’ well mannered roastery and coffee house has created a selection of gifts for coffee lovers. Inspired by the age-old traditions of serving a superb cup of coffee and providing a meeting point for London’s modern day visionaries, The Gentlemen Baristas pride themselves in serving exceptional, specialty coffee.

Coffees are suitable for cafetiere, aeropress or espresso lovers and each coffee from The Gentlemen Baristas is eccentrically named after different types of hats, since the bowler hat is said to have been designed in 1849, by the London hat-makers Bowler & Bowler, right around the corner from The Gentlemen Baristas’ first coffee house in Southwark and across the road there was a tophat-maker.

Choose from Deerstalker a coffee blend from Brazil and Colombia, complete with notes of chocolate, caramel and stone fruits to ‘Top Hat’ a single origin from Nicaragua, with tasting notes of apricot jam and nectarine.

The magnanimous roasters top picks for novices to aficionados include:

For the filter coffee novice, The Gentlemen Baristas V60 beginner Filter Coffee Bundle £55.00 plus first-class shipping from thegentlemenbaristas.com The V60 is the classic coffee dripper that helps you filter and brew coffee to exacting standards. It’s great value and comes with a server and a bag of coffee, making it the perfect gift for home-brew beginners. The bundle includes: Hario V60 Ceramic Dripper, Hario 02 FiltersbPapers, 250g Propeller single origin filter.

For espresso beginners, The Gentlemen Baristas Moka Pot Bundle £50.00 plus first-class shipping from thegentlemenbaristas.com The Moka Pot beginners bundle is ideal for those looking to discover the quick and easy Italian espresso brewing method. This bundle is great value and comes with a bag of espresso house blend, making it the perfect gift for home-brew beginners. The bundle includes: 3-cup Moka Pot in matte black, 2 x Loveramics Espresso Cup & Saucer Set, 250g Deerstalker espresso house blend.

For Aeropress beginners The Gentlemen Baristas Aeropress Bundle for filter coffee lovers who travel £45 plus first-class shipping from thegentlemenbaristas.com The ideal beginners bundle if you're looking for an easy and affordable filter brewer set for home or travel use. The AeroPress is the first coffee maker that combines affordability and simplicity with the ability to produce top quality coffee. Including: Aeropress coffee maker, 8oz Keep Cup, 250g Bowler single origin filter.

Available for purchase online, choose the perfect gift, delivered right to the recipients’ door.

For expert coffee tips and to try the hats, head to the baristas’ new brew bar at The Gentlemen Baristas flagship coffee house

163 Piccadilly St James W1J 9ED Piccadilly.

For more information visit The Gentlemen Baristas

Website: www.elegantmerino.co.uk

Telephone: 07879 438848

Email: info@elegantmerino.co.uk

Fall in love with our exclusive collection of luxurious merino wool garments and accessories.

Delightfully soft, effortlessly elegant and naturally sustainable.

The perfect choice for every season.

Wholly produced in New Zealand.

Luxury gift wrapping included with all orders.

www.elegantmerino.co.uk 07879 438848

Website: https://klscarves.com/

Telephone: 07812 341517

Email: scarvesetc@klscarves.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KLScarves

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kl_scarves/

Kate Lloyd Luxury Silk scarves, created from her own photographs, are made in England in a variety of luxury silks, printed by a family business who have existed for 40 years.

The idea for Kate to turn her pictures into scarves came from a client, who loved her horse-themed prints and suggested they'd be ideal for a scarf.

Kate went to a family-run silk mill near where she grew up in Gloucestershire, and together they created the beautiful scarves which you see here.

Find out more at klscarves.com. 

Website: www.fosterbarry.co.uk

Telephone: +44 (0)20 8368 9141

Email: esales@fosterbarry.co.uk

Address: St Andrews House, 52 Manor Drive, London, N20 0DX

Foster Barry exists to sell men’s luxury garments, clothing and accessories online that are genuinely made in the British Isles.

There are many major retail brands that trade on their 'British Heritage', whilst paying little more than lip service to that heritage and making many product lines overseas.

Expressions such as ‘made in the traditional Jermyn Street style’ are often marketing statements, deliberately used to evoke the traditional skills of English shirtmaking – despite the fact that most of the shirts being sold are actually made overseas.

This is not to decry overseas products; many are of the highest quality workmanship. Charvet make fine French shirts and Brioni make luxury Italian shirts. It is a question of authenticity and true origin.

At Foster Barry, our product ranges are all luxury items, high quality authentic garments and accessories sourced from established British manufactories.

Find out more at www.fosterbarry.co.uk

Website: www.shortandsweetbakery.com

Telephone: 07802 411618

Email: Sales@shortandsweetbakery.com

X: https://twitter.com/short_sweetbake

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShortAndSweetBakeryUK

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shortandsweetbakery

A box of six brownies makes for a lovely gift for your loved ones or as a corporate gift. Alternatively order a subscription gift box to give a gift of brownies every month from between 2-12 months.

Gluten free and vegan gluten free options.

Order by 12pm for a next working day delivery service by 12.00 for an additional fee of £3.50.

All orders can have a handwritten postcard note attached for an additional 50p. This can be added when you are in the 'cart'. It's at the bottom left hand side of the page.

Double Chocolate Brownie 

A rich yet gooey chocolate brownie made with a base of dark chocolate scattered generously with milk chocolate chips.

A box of six brownies contains a quarter of a kilo of chocolate within it.

Salted Caramel Brownie

How do you make the double chocolate brownie better? Simple - you top with generous swirls of homemade salted caramel then sprinkle with Anglesey sea salt.

This leads to a cracked effect after cooking.

Blondie

A dense butterscotch flavoured blondie that is rich, gooey and buttery. Made with vanilla and brown sugar instead of dark chocolate they also contain a healthy sprinkling of white chocolate chips. If you are looking to step away from milk and dark chocolate but still craving something sweet and chocolatey these will really hit the spot.

White Chocolate Chip Brownie

This is exactly the same as the double chocolate brownie with a rich dark chocolate base but is instead crammed with white chocolate chips.

Each box of these brownies contains a quarter of a kilo of chocolate within it.

Chocolate Orange Brownie

A rich yet gooey chocolate brownie made with a base of dark chocolate infused with a hint of orange and scattered generously throughout with a mixture of milk chocolate chips and pieces of Terry's Chocolate Orange.

After Eight Brownie

The perfect after dinner brownie! A rich yet gooey chocolate brownie made with a base of dark chocolate infused with a hint of mint and scattered generously throughout with milk chocolate chips. Each brownie is then topped with an After Eight.

Gluten Free Double Chocolate Brownie

Just as perfect as the original but this time it's gluten free. It's still rich yet gooey. This chocolate brownie is made with a base of dark chocolate scattered generously with milk chocolate chips.

Vegan Double Chocolate Chip Brownie (dairy, gluten and nut free)

This deliciously moist and gooey vegan brownie are just perfect. Made with two types of dairy free chocolate, they are filled with heaps of dairy free chocolate drops. This will satisfy every vegans sweet craving.

Pic and Mix

So you can't decide which brownie to try first. Why not just get a pick & mix box and just choose the 3 types of brownies you want to try and get a box with two pieces of each flavoured brownie all boxed up and delivered directly to your door.

Corporate Gifts

Brownies make the ideal corporate gift. Gift boxes are available in all flavours apart from Pick & Mix. All orders over 15 boxes can be branded with your logo on each box and you can also add in a handwritten note to each order for free.

www.shortandsweetbakery.com

Website: www.apposta.com

Email: info@apposta.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/apposta/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/apposta/?hl=en

Apposta blends 4th generation Italian shirtmaker heritage with an innovative and intuitive online customisation experience. On our website, you can create your own shirt by either customising one of the existing proposals or creating one starting from the fabrics. With around 3,000 of the best Italian fabrics, you can choose from the widest selection, including great everyday cottons, innovative functional fabrics as well as the most luxurious Giza 45 and Sea Island cotton from the world’s most renown mills. You can also book a free one-to-one consultation with a shirt expert in London where we will assist you through the process of creating your profile and ordering your shirt.

See the full fabric range

Visit the Apposta Website

Website: www.perilla.co.uk

Telephone: 01886 853 615

Email: info@perilla.co.uk

Address: Park FarmUpper SapeyWorcesterWR6 6XX

X: www.twitter.com/Perillasocks

Facebook: www.facebook.com/perillasocks

Instagram: www.instagram.com/perillasocks

Perilla produce a magnificent collection of yarn dyed alpaca socks that are dyed, knitted and toes hand-linked, all the United Kingdom. Bespoke gift boxes can be created from the ten ranges of alpaca socks available in four shoe sizes. They are sold online from a beautiful farm on the Worcestershire/Herefordshire border.

See the full range at PERILLA

Website: hannahsophiaengland.com

Email: customerassistance@hannahsophiaengland.com

Address: The Hub, Blackfriars St, Stamford PE9 2BW

Facebook: www.facebook.com/hannahsophiaengland

Instagram: www.instagram.com/hannahsophiaengland

Pinterest: www.pinterest.co.uk/hannahsophiaengland

Quintessentially British brand Hannah Sophia England is fast becoming the go-to brand of society women of Britain, the US and further afield. Delivering staple pieces of reversible luxury wear designed for all stages of a Lady's life — proving you can combine luxury, style and sustainability.

The brand creates elegant, meticulously hand-crafted reversible pieces that fall effortlessly and that have been designed to compliment women throughout every stage of their journey through life, while remaining practical and comfortable.

For a dress to be genuinely luxurious and timeless, it needs to have two key ‘ingredients’: it must be true to your style because clothes that last are a reflection of who you really are; and it must make you feel beautiful regardless of the stage of life you are in because we all want to look lovely. Each piece can then be accessorised and added to your personal style — and that’s when it becomes a classic.

Find out more at hannahsophiaengland.com

Website: www.plaxjewellery.com

Telephone: (+44) 203 475 7993

Email: pearls@plaxjewellery.com

Address: Woodberry House2 Woodberry GroveLondon N12 0DR

X: https://twitter.com/plaxjewellery

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PLAXJewellery

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plaxjewellery

We fell in Love.

PLAX Jewellery is a brand that specialises in luxury pearl jewellery.

We fell in love with the pearl; the most extraordinary of all gemstones, and embarked on a mission to unravel its beauty, splendour and significance through our jewellery collection.

We marry outstanding design, exquisite craftsmanship and fine pearls to create luxury pearl jewellery to fall in love with.

We adore individuality and allow for the customisation of our collection and, as a brand, we are passionate about philanthropy.

We invite you all to fall in love.

www.plaxjewellery.com

Website: www.fursofmayfair.com

Telephone: 020 7437 6276 / 020 7629 6324 / 020 7495 4559

Email: info@fursofmayfair.com

Address: 47 South Molton Street, Close to Bond Street Tube Station, London, W1K 5RY

Classic to modern styles

Part-exchange

Specialist fur cold storage

Remodelling & Repairs 

With over fifty years’ experience and four generations in fur, Furs of Mayfair is a family-owned business offering top quality furs at reasonable prices. They are specialists in fur and provide their customers with expert advice. Capes, Stoles, Ponchos, Coats, Reversible Raincoats, Accessories Gifts. They also provide Fur Storage, Remodels and Repairs.

They are the only furrier in the UK that has their own professional cold storage facility specialised for furs. This means that when you bring your fur garment to them to store, they will check the garment’s condition and carry out minor repairs, free of charge, as part of the service.

www.furstorage.uk

Website: www.huntsmansavilerow.com

Telephone: 020 7734 7441

Email: shop@huntsmansavilerow.com

Address: 11 Savile RowLondonW1S 3PS

X: https://twitter.com/huntsmantailors

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/huntsmansavilerow/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huntsmansavilerow/?hl=en

Huntsman is a bespoke tailor of the highest tradition, with a history that stretches back over 167 years making the most extraordinary clothes for discerning gentlemen and ladies.

Website: www.patrickmavros.com

Telephone: 02070520001

Email: concierge@patrickmavros.com

Address: 104-106 Fulham RoadLondonSW3 6HS

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mavros.patrick/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrickmavros/?hl=en

An African family brand whose unique luxury products and experiences represent a safari of adventure, romance and above all, unquestionable quality.

Website: www.deakinandfrancis.co.uk

Telephone: 0121 236 7751

Email: cufflinks@deakinandfrancis.co.uk

Address: Regent PlaceBirminghamB1 3NLEngland

X: https://twitter.com/deakin_francis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deakinandfrancis/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deakin_francis/?hl=en

As England’s oldest family jeweller, Deakin & Francis have been producing and manufacturing the world’s finest cufflinks, bespoke jewellery and luxury accessories since 1786.

Website: www.cassandragoad.com

Telephone: 020 7730 2202

Address: 147 Sloane StreetLondonSW1X 9BZ

X: https://twitter.com/cassandragoad

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cassandra.goad.79

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassandragoad/?hl=en

Cassandra is a designer, gemologist, adventurer, writer, polyglot. She has an artist’s sensibility, a writer’s ear for a story, a scientist’s eye for detail.

Website: www.susannahlovis.com

Telephone: 020 7493 2008

Email: info@susannahlovis.com

Address: 50 Burlington Arcade London W1J 0QH

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SusannahLovisJewellers/?eid=ARBiyFr9rcGvGkmc5FcSavQxWhOcG5GwAmhURQFPFD2YDdYr_p-CpjHnJyD9H-ciQCh9ztt0iN26hPWS

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susannahlovisjewellers/?hl=en

Susannah Lovis Jewellers is one of Mayfair’s most respected and knowledgeable jewellers, specialising in Antique and signed Vintage jewellery.

Website: www.hancockslondon.com

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7493 8904

Address: 62 St James's Street,London,SW1A 1LY

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=hancocks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hancocks_london/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hancockslondon/posts/?feedView=all

In addition, Hancocks London also follows time-honoured traditions and meticulously hand crafts a selection of signet rings, one of the oldest and most traditional types of jewellery known. These rings are all ‘seal engraved’ which is a very specific style of engraving whereby the image and lettering is carved very deeply and in reverse.

In 2024 it expanded, moving from Mayfair’s Burlington Arcade to a renovated Georgian townhouse on St James Street in St James’s. The decision to expand into its new premises was driven by a desire to return to the business’s roots. Managing director of Hancocks London, Guy Burton explained: “Throughout our history, Hancocks has served as a distinguished jeweller and manufacturer. In 1849, we were originally the House of Hancocks, known for manufacturing jewellery, important silverware and the like for clients including royalty, heads of state, and the great and the good. In 1916, we went on to become more of a shop and, post war, continued selling vintage jewellery, and signed jewellery, while also still making our own designs. As we now move forward, it feels both authentic and deeply meaningful that we go back to being what we were originally known as: one of the world’s foremost independent jewellery houses.”

With its rich legacy, including four Royal Warrants awarded, Hancocks has long been a destination for discerning clientele, seeking the finest in bespoke jewellery and exceptional service. Now, the jeweller can share its unique and historic story in its new Georgian townhouse premises and showcase its full collection for the first time in decades.

Burton said: “Our new premises represents the modern Hancocks of today while acknowledging our historic roots. It is four times bigger than our previous space and we have been able to reimagine the customer journey and are now able to offer a bespoke and intimate experience befitting of our jewels.”

With a focus on comfort, ample space, and the freedom to explore jewellery at leisure – clients will be able to explore their jewellery interest, and discover more about a particular piece in the process. By eschewing traditional retail counters, clients can immerse themselves fully in the world of fine jewellery, roam freely, and enjoy a friendly gallery-like experience.

Hancocks’ new premises boasts five floors and features a prominent window frontage looking out onto the iconic St James’s Street.

Buying a property with a holiday-let barn is a good way to pay for a grander home beyond your means. Greystones, a renovated Grade-II listed Georgian Cotswold farmhouse is for sale at £1.2 million near Chipping Norton, with a well-established holiday-let business in the ancillary long barn. Current owners Liam Clogger and Francine Rodrigues rent the barn for holidays, generating between £15,000 and £17,500 a year. 'This effectively pays for around £300,000 of our mortgage and has allowed us to own a larger property and with greater capital growth potential than otherwise would be the case,' says Mr Clogger. The couple let the barn through English Country Cottages, typically expecting about 85% occupancy between April and September, attracting £650 in rentals income per week. When the barn is vacant, it is used to supplement the main accommodation in the five-bedroom farmhouse for parties and family gatherings. Greystones is well-located in the village of Churchill, one mile from Kingham railway station (with services to London Paddington), and two-and-a-half miles from Chipping Norton. Banbury is 15 miles and Oxford around 22 miles away. The property is being sold through www.butlersherborn.co.uk

UK house prices are set to rise by 6% during 2007 and then by another 3% in 2008, predicts Knight Frank's latest report on the housing market. The areas set to do well going into next year are southern England, and Northern Ireland, as sales volumes fall slightly while growth rates settle. Central London prices should end the year 32% higher, says the report, although growth is set to be much lower for the next twelve months, at a rate of about 3%, while prime country house prices are expected to rise by 5% next year. 'Over the course of 2007 sales volumes have remained high by historic standards, and will end the year around 8% above their long term average,' it says. 'Buy to let activity has remained high, confounding many of the more pessimistic economic commentators and despite ongoing affordability constraints, the market has been far more healthy than expected.' Knight Frank's expectations for next year are a continuation of the market going into the forth quarter of the year, as the sellers market quickly replaced the buyers market in quarter three: 'The new market sentiment means that vendors are having to compete with much harder to achieve timely sales and ambitious pricing has effectively ended across the prime and mainstream markets,' states the report. Knight Frank now expects the market to behave very much like it did in late 2004 and early 2005 going into next year, an expectation also held by economists at Capital Economics. 'The prime markets are likely to perform better than the mainstream markets ? but not by a wide margin,' Knight Frank concludes. 'Vendors of the very best properties will still be able to name their own price (almost), but for the rest of the market, price growth will be noticeably lower than that seen in recent months.'

Interest rates are likely to fall by three quarters of one percent in 2008 with property price inflation remaining positive, according to forecasts from the Council of Mortgage Lenders. Gross lending will decline but is still set to exceed 2005 levels and transaction levels will remain above one million. The credit crunch has exacerbated trends that were already emerging in terms of a slow down in the house purchase market. However, the trend is anticipated to be worse than previously expected because of funding constraints and tightening of lending criteria resulting in reduced opportunities for remortgaging across the lending spectrum but particularly in lower income households. The Council of Mortgage Lenders is forecasting that base interest rates will end at 5.5% in 2007 and 5.0% in 2008. CML director general Michael Coogan commented: ?The housing and mortgage markets are facing their most challenging period since Labour came to power a decade ago. Luckily, the credit crunch occurred at a time when the UK economy was robust, but even so the effects on the financial sector are significant, and the mortgage market is not immune from them. ?We now expect a slower mortgage market next year, although by no means a stagnant one. Most borrowers will cope, but not everyone will escape unharmed from the effects of a slower market, so the government should make it a policy priority to overhaul the system of state support for home-owners, which has lagged pitifully behind the times.? * Search the finest homes on the market

Travel and Property Team up The budget airline Ryanair is branching out into estate agency. There has long been an association with air routes and property trends, and now the airline is teaming up with a property agent Majestic Worldwide to sell property on their behalf. This follows Parador properties teaming up with the UK's largest tour operator Thompson last year and sharing exhibition space and promoting each other. New Build property in France on increase VEF UK reports it sold 47% more new build property in France in 2005 than the previous year. It also transpires that 42% of the properties were bought to let. According to their latest report, new build took the larger share of spend than the resale market there. Virgin Launch New Long Hall Flights Heathrow to Mumbai ? Daily Heathrow to Shanghai ? Seven Times per week Heathrow to Dubai ? 4 days per week from March 27 Gatwick to Montego Bay (Mon & Wed from July 3) Manchester to St Lucia (Nov 2006) Leaseback Schemes in Demand They seem a relatively recent phenomenon, but France introduced the sale and leaseback scheme in the 1970's to encourage more privately owned rental property into their tourist destinations. Buying the freehold of the property and then leasing it back to the management company, the owner can take anywhere up to 6 weeks for their own use and the rest of the year the management company lets the property, and the French government even refunds the VAT back in certain circumstances. Ski resorts in France are proving most popular at present: Savills says it sold out a development in the Monchavin Ski resort within 2 weeks. Similar schemes are popular in Florida and even Thailand where Collier CRE are promoting their rental guarantee scheme in Thailand's Hua Hin. Units are offered from £133,000 and the properties come with 6% guaranteed for 5 years. For more info, log onto www.collierscre.co.uk. New York Bubble Failed to Burst Yale economist Robert Shiller predicted a 50% drop in real estate prices during 2005 and The Economist was calling U.S real estate market, the biggest bubble in history. But to the contrary, Kirk Henckels of Striblings argues that New York has only lacked inventory over $5million, and that there were plenty of wealthy buyers and a healthy economy. Similar to the UK market, it now seems the bubble is far from bursting, and the luxury property market has just levelled in New York over the last 12 months. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) raised interest rates for the 14th time in January, and a further interest hike is expected to 4.75%, but as Alexander Wright of HIFX points out this is not always bad news for those who own property: 'A high interest rate makes a currency an attractive place to deposit funds, this is good if you own a US property as an asset without a mortgage.' For more information, log onto www.stribling.com and www.hifx.co.uk.