FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4063805

LEAD IN:

The art and antique market in post-Brexit Britain is booming, according to London dealers.

A weak pound against the dollar and Euro is seeing American collectors in particular start to snap up bargains.

STORY-LINE:

The art and antiques market in the UK isn't just on target, it's positively booming post Brexit.

Dealers here at the Winter Art and Antiques Fair in Olympia say it's a great time to buy because of the weak pound.

American buyers in particular are attracted to London with the newfound strength of the dollar. Looking to bag a bargain they could save around 25-30 per cent compared to six months earlier.

Craig Carrington is an antique dealer with four decades of experience.

He sells many neo-classical antiques on his stand, but his showcase piece is this bust of a Roman goddess, thought to be designed by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, the same man who designed the Statue of Liberty.

He says: "As an antique dealer I think a weak pound is very good news because we sell to international clients and if the dollar is strong, the euro is strong then it's very good news for somebody like me, absolutely."

Art dealers are reporting a similar trend.

Tanya Baxter runs a gallery specialising in contemporary pieces. She says since the day of the referendum result, announcing Britain would leave the EU, she's been very busy.

She says many see the art market as a safe investment in uncertain times.

"And with the devaluation of the pound as well as the fact that Brexit has kind of made a cautious and volatile financial market it (art and antiques) is a very, very safe place."

According to Baxter the single largest group of buyers is coming from the USA:

"Well they're so excited particularly American collectors who we are getting calls from saying 'So what have you? Because I want to spend x amount and will fly over to do so.'"

One of the American investors who has come to London to buy is David Ryder.

The retired lawyer, originally from Chicago, had just bought this painting by British artist Amy Pugh. He says it's such a good time to buy, with the strength of the dollar against the pound, that he will return next month to buy more art.

Ryder says: "England is where we have bought probably 90 per cent of the artwork that we have, and we have a lot in numerous houses. We find this is a good country for selection of different artists, both contemporary and old artists, particularly from the auction houses and this is a particularly good time so we're here now and we'll come back in December again to look at more art."

Art and antique dealers haven't just benefited from the dip in the value of the pound. Immediately after the result of Brexit was announced British buyers quickly began to buy art and antiques fearing the collapse in the value of the pound.

Art dealer Julian Hartnoll is calling this a 'double-boom' for the industry.

Hartnoll says: "There's this nice new phrase, the double-boom. It was the English buying immediately after Brexit because they wanted to get out of pounds and get into objects because they were fearing the pound would become valueless. And then the Americans, as the pound subsided, have overcome their fear of terrorism in England and have started to buy again, so for instance last night my only clients were Americans."

Antique jewellery dealers are also benefiting.

Iranian jeweller Morteza Mojarad runs the Persis jewellers off Bond Street in London.

He says: "I've seen a big improvement, to be honest, since Brexit and that's I think because of the exchange rate, dollar to pound and especially Euro to pounds."

But if the situation is good for British based dealers, spare a thought for European antique dealers trying to sell in Britain.

David Lafleur is an antique dealer based in Paris with his shop Gallerie Buter.

The strength of the Euro might be good for some of his compatriots, but when Lafleur sells in the UK he is finding the competition difficult.

However, despite these difficulties he says he will continue to exhibit his Oriental antiques in London because international buyers have been scared away from Paris.

"Because of the economic crisis, you know, the people were afraid because of the terrorists, because of the tax. A lot of things saw the people leave France. So for us, it's better to come here in London because the people are here, the people from other countries are here."

The Winter Art and Antiques Fair in Olympia returns for its 26th year.

Around 100 exhibitors are displaying art and antiques, most are displaying collectibles at the high-end of the market.

It is the only fair in the UK to work with the top two trade associations and there is a strict vetting process for all pieces on sale at the show. Each item must be checked by a team of experts before the fair opens.

The Winter Art and Antiques Fair Olympia runs 31 October - 6 November.

London, UK - 1 November 2016

1. Pull focus of bronze Japanese archer

2. Various of Meiji period Japanese bronze crow with glass eyes

3. Mid of men admiring antique chandelier

4. Various of Dutch walnut armoire from circa 1750 with carved figures (price £35,000/ USD 42,930)

5. Wide of woman reading catalogue

6. Low angle pan right of neo-classical copper bust of Roman goddess by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi (price £16,500/ USD 20,235)

7. Various of Craig Carrington looking at bust

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Craig Carrington, antique dealer

"As an antique dealer I think a weak pound is very good news because we sell to international clients and if the dollar is strong, the euro is strong then it's very good news for somebody like me, absolutely."

9. Art dealer Tanya Baxter showing painting to visitor

10. Close tilt down of painting 'Paper Bride in Waiting' by Zeng Chuanxing (price £120,000/ USD 147,000)

11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tanya Baxter, art dealer and gallery owner

"With the devaluation of the pound as well as the fact that Brexit has kind of made a cautious and volatile financial market (art and antiques) it's a very, very safe place."

12. Various cutaways of Tanya Baxter showing 'Paper Bride in Waiting'

13. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tanya Baxter, art dealer and gallery owner

"Well they're so excited particularly American collectors who we are getting calls from saying 'So what have you? Because I want to spend x amount and will fly over to do so.'"

14. Various of art collector David Ryder looking at painting

15. SOUNDBITE: (English) David Ryder, retired lawyer and American art collector

"England is where we have bought probably 90 per cent of the artwork that we have, and we have a lot in numerous houses. We find this is a good country for selection of different artists, both contemporary and old artists, particularly from the auction houses and this is a particularly good time so we're here now and we'll come back in December again to look at more art."

16. Mid of portrait of Angelina Jolie by artist Bambi (price £14,000/ USD 17,000)

17. Tilt up of portrait of Amy Winehouse by artist Bambi (price £16,000/ USD 19,600)

18. Set up shot of art dealer Julian Hartnoll

19. SOUNDBITE: (English) Julian Hartnoll, art dealer and gallery owner

"There's this nice new phrase, the double-boom. It was the English buying immediately after Brexit because they wanted to get out of pounds and get into objects because they were fearing the pound would become valueless. And then the Americans, as the pound subsided, have overcome their fear of terrorism in England and have started to buy again, so for instance last night my only clients were Americans."

20. Various of jewellery seller Morteza Mojarad inspecting antique diamond ring

21. SOUNDBITE: (English) Morteza Mojarad, director of Persis antique jewellery

"I've seen a big improvement, to be honest, since Brexit and that's I think because of the exchange rate, dollar to pound and especially Euro to pounds."

22. Wide pan left of gallery showcasing large marble/ stone artworks

23. Close of 1930s Chinese coral sculpture

24. Various set up shots of David Lafleur, antique dealer based in Paris

25. SOUNDBITE: (English) David Lafleur, antique dealer based in Paris

"Because of the economic crisis, you know, the people were afraid because of the terrorists, because of the tax. A lot of things saw the people leave France. So for us, it's better to come here in London because the people are here, the people from other countries are here."

26. Tilt up of Italian silver and bronze library lamp in style of Pharaoh by Piel Paolo Spaina, circa 1810 (price £8,500/ USD 10,425)

27. Close of marble lioness circa 1780 (price £14,500 USD 17,700)

28. Wide of antique clock stand

29. Wide of grandfather clocks, tilt down

30. Close of Henry Jenkins mahogany table clock circa 1780 (price £75,000/ USD 92,000)

31. Various of woman opening clock and chiming its bells

32. Wide pan left of show floor

LEAD IN:

The art and antique market in post-Brexit Britain is booming, according to London dealers.

A weak pound against the dollar and Euro is seeing American collectors in particular start to snap up bargains.

STORY-LINE:

The art and antiques market in the UK isn't just on target, it's positively booming post Brexit.

Dealers here at the Winter Art and Antiques Fair in Olympia say it's a great time to buy because of the weak pound.

American buyers in particular are attracted to London with the newfound strength of the dollar. Looking to bag a bargain they could save around 25-30 per cent compared to six months earlier.

Craig Carrington is an antique dealer with four decades of experience.

He sells many neo-classical antiques on his stand, but his showcase piece is this bust of a Roman goddess, thought to be designed by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, the same man who designed the Statue of Liberty.

He says: "As an antique dealer I think a weak pound is very good news because we sell to international clients and if the dollar is strong, the euro is strong then it's very good news for somebody like me, absolutely."

Art dealers are reporting a similar trend.

Tanya Baxter runs a gallery specialising in contemporary pieces. She says since the day of the referendum result, announcing Britain would leave the EU, she's been very busy.

She says many see the art market as a safe investment in uncertain times.

"And with the devaluation of the pound as well as the fact that Brexit has kind of made a cautious and volatile financial market it (art and antiques) is a very, very safe place."

According to Baxter the single largest group of buyers is coming from the USA:

"Well they're so excited particularly American collectors who we are getting calls from saying 'So what have you? Because I want to spend x amount and will fly over to do so.'"

One of the American investors who has come to London to buy is David Ryder.

The retired lawyer, originally from Chicago, had just bought this painting by British artist Amy Pugh. He says it's such a good time to buy, with the strength of the dollar against the pound, that he will return next month to buy more art.

Ryder says: "England is where we have bought probably 90 per cent of the artwork that we have, and we have a lot in numerous houses. We find this is a good country for selection of different artists, both contemporary and old artists, particularly from the auction houses and this is a particularly good time so we're here now and we'll come back in December again to look at more art."

Art and antique dealers haven't just benefited from the dip in the value of the pound. Immediately after the result of Brexit was announced British buyers quickly began to buy art and antiques fearing the collapse in the value of the pound.

Art dealer Julian Hartnoll is calling this a 'double-boom' for the industry.

Hartnoll says: "There's this nice new phrase, the double-boom. It was the English buying immediately after Brexit because they wanted to get out of pounds and get into objects because they were fearing the pound would become valueless. And then the Americans, as the pound subsided, have overcome their fear of terrorism in England and have started to buy again, so for instance last night my only clients were Americans."

Antique jewellery dealers are also benefiting.

Iranian jeweller Morteza Mojarad runs the Persis jewellers off Bond Street in London.

He says: "I've seen a big improvement, to be honest, since Brexit and that's I think because of the exchange rate, dollar to pound and especially Euro to pounds."

But if the situation is good for British based dealers, spare a thought for European antique dealers trying to sell in Britain.

David Lafleur is an antique dealer based in Paris with his shop Gallerie Buter.

The strength of the Euro might be good for some of his compatriots, but when Lafleur sells in the UK he is finding the competition difficult.

However, despite these difficulties he says he will continue to exhibit his Oriental antiques in London because international buyers have been scared away from Paris.

"Because of the economic crisis, you know, the people were afraid because of the terrorists, because of the tax. A lot of things saw the people leave France. So for us, it's better to come here in London because the people are here, the people from other countries are here."

The Winter Art and Antiques Fair in Olympia returns for its 26th year.

Around 100 exhibitors are displaying art and antiques, most are displaying collectibles at the high-end of the market.

It is the only fair in the UK to work with the top two trade associations and there is a strict vetting process for all pieces on sale at the show. Each item must be checked by a team of experts before the fair opens.

The Winter Art and Antiques Fair Olympia runs 31 October - 6 November.

London, UK - 1 November 2016

1. Pull focus of bronze Japanese archer

2. Various of Meiji period Japanese bronze crow with glass eyes

3. Mid of men admiring antique chandelier

4. Various of Dutch walnut armoire from circa 1750 with carved figures (price £35,000/ USD 42,930)

5. Wide of woman reading catalogue

6. Low angle pan right of neo-classical copper bust of Roman goddess by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi (price £16,500/ USD 20,235)

7. Various of Craig Carrington looking at bust

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Craig Carrington, antique dealer

"As an antique dealer I think a weak pound is very good news because we sell to international clients and if the dollar is strong, the euro is strong then it's very good news for somebody like me, absolutely."

9. Art dealer Tanya Baxter showing painting to visitor

10. Close tilt down of painting 'Paper Bride in Waiting' by Zeng Chuanxing (price £120,000/ USD 147,000)

11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tanya Baxter, art dealer and gallery owner

"With the devaluation of the pound as well as the fact that Brexit has kind of made a cautious and volatile financial market (art and antiques) it's a very, very safe place."

12. Various cutaways of Tanya Baxter showing 'Paper Bride in Waiting'

13. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tanya Baxter, art dealer and gallery owner

"Well they're so excited particularly American collectors who we are getting calls from saying 'So what have you? Because I want to spend x amount and will fly over to do so.'"

14. Various of art collector David Ryder looking at painting

15. SOUNDBITE: (English) David Ryder, retired lawyer and American art collector

"England is where we have bought probably 90 per cent of the artwork that we have, and we have a lot in numerous houses. We find this is a good country for selection of different artists, both contemporary and old artists, particularly from the auction houses and this is a particularly good time so we're here now and we'll come back in December again to look at more art."

16. Mid of portrait of Angelina Jolie by artist Bambi (price £14,000/ USD 17,000)

17. Tilt up of portrait of Amy Winehouse by artist Bambi (price £16,000/ USD 19,600)

18. Set up shot of art dealer Julian Hartnoll

19. SOUNDBITE: (English) Julian Hartnoll, art dealer and gallery owner

"There's this nice new phrase, the double-boom. It was the English buying immediately after Brexit because they wanted to get out of pounds and get into objects because they were fearing the pound would become valueless. And then the Americans, as the pound subsided, have overcome their fear of terrorism in England and have started to buy again, so for instance last night my only clients were Americans."

20. Various of jewellery seller Morteza Mojarad inspecting antique diamond ring

21. SOUNDBITE: (English) Morteza Mojarad, director of Persis antique jewellery

"I've seen a big improvement, to be honest, since Brexit and that's I think because of the exchange rate, dollar to pound and especially Euro to pounds."

22. Wide pan left of gallery showcasing large marble/ stone artworks

23. Close of 1930s Chinese coral sculpture

24. Various set up shots of David Lafleur, antique dealer based in Paris

25. SOUNDBITE: (English) David Lafleur, antique dealer based in Paris

"Because of the economic crisis, you know, the people were afraid because of the terrorists, because of the tax. A lot of things saw the people leave France. So for us, it's better to come here in London because the people are here, the people from other countries are here."

26. Tilt up of Italian silver and bronze library lamp in style of Pharaoh by Piel Paolo Spaina, circa 1810 (price £8,500/ USD 10,425)

27. Close of marble lioness circa 1780 (price £14,500 USD 17,700)

28. Wide of antique clock stand

29. Wide of grandfather clocks, tilt down

30. Close of Henry Jenkins mahogany table clock circa 1780 (price £75,000/ USD 92,000)

31. Various of woman opening clock and chiming its bells

32. Wide pan left of show floor

CHRISTOPHER KANE UNVEILS NEW COLLECTION; CAROLINE RUSH TALKS BREXIT

British designer Christopher Kane unveiled his new spring/summer 2017 at London Fashion Week, Monday (19 SEPT. 2016).

The show was attended by U.S. Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, model Poppy Delevingne and Caroline Rush, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council.

Rush described the collection - which featured bold prints and metallic shades - as a highlight of London Fashion Week so far.

"It's hard not to reference him as a true innovator. There was a real play on fabrication... there was a reference to his graduate collection - but beautifully made and pulled together. I think everyone has walked out saying that has set the bar," she said.

With fashionistas from all over the world flocking to London for the five day event, Rush also discussed whether the U.K.'s recent vote to leave the European Union has been bad for business.

"There's been a lot of talk about Brexit over the last few days - of course, it's the first fashion week post the vote. But, over the summer months we've seen a bounce in luxury and retail sales and I think there's a slow element of confidence," she said

"It's definitely not something that the industry wanted, but like any business decision or challenge, you look for the opportunities in it and you overcome the challenges when they come."

London Fashion Week draws to a close on Tuesday, 20 September.

AP Entertainment - Music on catwalks not cleared for use. Please replace with your own Clearable Music

London, 19 September 2016

1. Wide shot interior of venue

2. Medium shot model Poppy Delevingne

3. Various shots Christopher Kane spring/summer 2017 collection

4. Various shots final pass

5. Wide of designer Christopher Kane receiving applause (Anna Wintour in shot at end of show)

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Caroline Rush, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council - on Christopher Kane's show:

"Well we've had an incredible four days so far. We've got one day to go. I've just come out of the Christopher Kane show and it's hard not to reference him as a true innovator. There was a real play on fabrication, on different takes and references to previous - there was a reference to his graduate collection - but beautifully made and pulled together and I think everyone has walked out saying that has set the bar and let's see what's to follow."

7. Medium shot Caroline Rush walking

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Caroline Rush, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council - on whether Britain's vote to leave the European Union is impacting the fashion industry:

"Well, there's been a lot of talk about Brexit over the last few days - of course, it's the first fashion week post the vote. But over the summer months we've seen a bounce in luxury and retail sales and I think there's a sort of slow element of confidence. It's definitely not something that the industry wanted, but like any business decision or challenge, you look for the opportunities in it and you overcome the challenges when they come."

9. Wide shot Caroline Rush walking

LEAD IN:

With less than 30 days until the UK is set to leave the European Union, 'Brexit' remains a hot topic of conversation for people across the country.

For these market stall holders working in one of London's iconic districts, will Brexit have any effect?

STORY-LINE:

London's Portobello Road and its surroundings are home to an array of iconic locations that have featured in many blockbuster films, from 'Paddington Bear' to 'Love, Actually'.

Tourists from across the world flock to the colourful and highly 'Instagrammable' locale to document their visit.

According to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Portobello Road Market is one of the leading antique markets in London, tracing its roots back to the nineteenth century - attracting millions of visitors a year.

Close to the celebrated Portobello Road Market, these women are taking pictures in front of the house that featured in a classic scene from the movie 'Love Actually' (2003).

In the film, Andrew Lincoln's character confesses his love for Keira Knightly's character with a series of romantic signs.

And there are more iconic front doors nearby.

This doorway was central to another memorable film scene, this time from the 1999 romantic comedy 'Notting Hill'.

It was here semi-naked actor Rhys Ifans encounters a huge media scrum at the house of the character played by Hugh Grant.

Far from the rom-com glamour of the area, stall holders are today wrestling with grittier issues.

Juan Carlos Restrebo runs this stall selling picture and photo frames.

He says that he fears the UK's impending departure from the EU as the tough economic conditions impact his business.

"I had the worst December and the worst January on record and not much better today. So I think it's going to get worse," says Restrebo.

The subject of Brexit has ignited strong opinions on both sides of the divide.

On this side street off Portobello Road, graffiti makes its pro-leave stance very clear.

For visitors to the area, however, Brexit may not be at the forefront of their concerns with such ample photo opportunities.

Twenty years after the film became a hit, these young fans have found a bookshop that featured in the movie 'Notting Hill'.

It is the place that inspired the shop where romance blossomed for Julia Robert's and Hugh Grant's characters.

While local businesses benefit from the footfall blockbusters like 'Notting Hill' bring to the area, stall holders cannot escape the political and economic realities of modern London.

Michelle runs two stalls on Portobello Road Market.

She claims Brexit has ruined her business, forcing her to work twice as hard in this current financial climate.

"All the ills of the country blamed on the EU by God knows how many, forty years by our absolutely insane right-wing media. It's destroyed my business, this isn't my business. I'm having to work two part-time jobs because my business has been destroyed and no-one's buying," says Michelle.

Mark Barr is the chairman of the Portobello Road and Golborne Management Committee.

He has been selling wooden toys and puzzles for over thirty years.

He says while trading at Portobello Road Market is currently difficult, so too are economic conditions around the world.

As for Brexit, he says nobody can predict how it will impact the market.

Barr explains: "None of us knows what's going to happen come March. Trading at the moment, again, trading is difficult. Everything, I mean, there's financial downturns worldwide so there's going to be a financial downturn here. So, I don't know how Brexit is going to affect the market or affect us."

"We'll just have to deal with things as they come because the decision is not ours to take what happens, so we're just waiting for it to happen and finish. We just want it over with whatever they're going to do. So we can deal with any problems or any solutions that are needed to be found."

For some traders, however, Brexit does not seem to be a topic of conversation.

Alex Boden works outside the instantly recognisable antique shop which features in 'Paddington 2' (2017).

"We don't really talk about Brexit to be quite honest, it's not a big subject in the market trade that I'm aware of any way to be quite honest. We'll be here before and after Brexit," Boden says.

Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29.

London - 9 February 2019

1. Close up of Paddington Bear toys in a shop window

2. Wide of window display featuring Paddington Bear

3. Tilt up women taking photos in front of pink house (featured in the film Love Actually)

4. Close up sign reading 'Love Actually?' Please give £1 to charity'

5. Front door that featured in the film 'Love, Actually'

6. Pan-right from people in front of door that featured in the film 'Notting Hill' to woman taking photo

7. Tilt up blue door that featured in the film 'Notting Hill'

8. Various of market stalls selling antiques

9. Juan Carlos Restrebo, stall holder at Portobello Road Market serving customer

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Juan Carlos Restrebo, stall holder at Portobello Road Market:

"Fears. What will happen, the economy's going down, I already feel it. I had the worst December and the worst January on record and not much better today. So I think it's going to get worse."

11. Pan-right of graffiti reading (English): "We voted to leave"

12. Wide of graffiti reading (English): "We didn't vote for a deal, we voted to leave"

13. Close up graffiti reading (English): "Hard Brexit"

14. Close up graffiti reading (English): "Keep Brexit white"

15. Portobello Road street name

16. Woman posing for a friend's photograph in front of a book shop

17. Blue plaque reading (English): 'Notting Hill was inspired by a bookshop established on this site in 1981.'

18. Sign reading (English): "Notting Hill"

19. Wide of market vendor Michelle (did not want to give her surname)

20. Array of woollen goods on market stall

21. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle (did not want to give her surname):

"All the ills of the country blamed on the EU by God knows how many, forty years by our absolutely insane right wing media. It's destroyed my business, this isn't my business. I'm having to work two part-time jobs because my business has been destroyed and no-one's buying."

22. Wide of colourful building of Portobello Road Market

23. Portobello Road street name

24. Tilt up model of Elizabeth Tower (popularly known as Big Ben)

25. Mark Barr, chair of the Portobello Road and Golborne Management Committee

26. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Barr, chair of the Portobello Road and Golborne Management Committee:

"None of us knows what's going to happen come March. Trading at the moment, again, trading is difficult. Everything, I mean, there's financial downturns worldwide so there's going to be a financial downturn here. So, I don't know how Brexit is going to affect the market or affect us. We'll just have to deal with things as they come because the decision is not ours to take what happens, so we're just waiting for it to happen and finish. We just want it over with, whatever they're going to do. So we can deal with any problems or any solutions that are needed to be found."

27. Tilt down antiques shop that featured in the film 'Paddington Bear'

28. Antiques

29. Close up of model of a flamingo

30. Alex Boden, stall holder, Portobello Road Market arranging stall

31. SOUNDBITE (English) Alex Boden, stall holder, Portobello Road Market:

"We don't really talk about Brexit to be quite honest, it's not a big subject in the market trade that I'm aware of anyway to be quite honest. We'll be here before and after Brexit, so (laughs)."

32. Tilt up antiques shop that featured in the film 'Paddington Bear'

LEAD IN:

With less than 30 days until the UK is set to leave the European Union, 'Brexit' remains a hot topic of conversation for people across the country.

For these market stall holders working in one of London's iconic districts, will Brexit have any effect?

STORY-LINE:

London's Portobello Road and its surroundings are home to an array of iconic locations that have featured in many blockbuster films, from 'Paddington Bear' to 'Love, Actually'.

Tourists from across the world flock to the colourful and highly 'Instagrammable' locale to document their visit.

According to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Portobello Road Market is one of the leading antique markets in London, tracing its roots back to the nineteenth century - attracting millions of visitors a year.

Close to the celebrated Portobello Road Market, these women are taking pictures in front of the house that featured in a classic scene from the movie 'Love Actually' (2003).

In the film, Andrew Lincoln's character confesses his love for Keira Knightly's character with a series of romantic signs.

And there are more iconic front doors nearby.

This doorway was central to another memorable film scene, this time from the 1999 romantic comedy 'Notting Hill'.

It was here semi-naked actor Rhys Ifans encounters a huge media scrum at the house of the character played by Hugh Grant.

Far from the rom-com glamour of the area, stall holders are today wrestling with grittier issues.

Juan Carlos Restrebo runs this stall selling picture and photo frames.

He says that he fears the UK's impending departure from the EU as the tough economic conditions impact his business.

"I had the worst December and the worst January on record and not much better today. So I think it's going to get worse," says Restrebo.

The subject of Brexit has ignited strong opinions on both sides of the divide.

On this side street off Portobello Road, graffiti makes its pro-leave stance very clear.

For visitors to the area, however, Brexit may not be at the forefront of their concerns with such ample photo opportunities.

Twenty years after the film became a hit, these young fans have found a bookshop that featured in the movie 'Notting Hill'.

It is the place that inspired the shop where romance blossomed for Julia Robert's and Hugh Grant's characters.

While local businesses benefit from the footfall blockbusters like 'Notting Hill' bring to the area, stall holders cannot escape the political and economic realities of modern London.

Michelle runs two stalls on Portobello Road Market.

She claims Brexit has ruined her business, forcing her to work twice as hard in this current financial climate.

"All the ills of the country blamed on the EU by God knows how many, forty years by our absolutely insane right-wing media. It's destroyed my business, this isn't my business. I'm having to work two part-time jobs because my business has been destroyed and no-one's buying," says Michelle.

Mark Barr is the chairman of the Portobello Road and Golborne Management Committee.

He has been selling wooden toys and puzzles for over thirty years.

He says while trading at Portobello Road Market is currently difficult, so too are economic conditions around the world.

As for Brexit, he says nobody can predict how it will impact the market.

Barr explains: "None of us knows what's going to happen come March. Trading at the moment, again, trading is difficult. Everything, I mean, there's financial downturns worldwide so there's going to be a financial downturn here. So, I don't know how Brexit is going to affect the market or affect us."

"We'll just have to deal with things as they come because the decision is not ours to take what happens, so we're just waiting for it to happen and finish. We just want it over with whatever they're going to do. So we can deal with any problems or any solutions that are needed to be found."

For some traders, however, Brexit does not seem to be a topic of conversation.

Alex Boden works outside the instantly recognisable antique shop which features in 'Paddington 2' (2017).

"We don't really talk about Brexit to be quite honest, it's not a big subject in the market trade that I'm aware of any way to be quite honest. We'll be here before and after Brexit," Boden says.

Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29.

London - 9 February 2019

1. Close up of Paddington Bear toys in a shop window

2. Wide of window display featuring Paddington Bear

3. Tilt up women taking photos in front of pink house (featured in the film Love Actually)

4. Close up sign reading 'Love Actually?' Please give £1 to charity'

5. Front door that featured in the film 'Love, Actually'

6. Pan-right from people in front of door that featured in the film 'Notting Hill' to woman taking photo

7. Tilt up blue door that featured in the film 'Notting Hill'

8. Various of market stalls selling antiques

9. Juan Carlos Restrebo, stall holder at Portobello Road Market serving customer

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Juan Carlos Restrebo, stall holder at Portobello Road Market:

"Fears. What will happen, the economy's going down, I already feel it. I had the worst December and the worst January on record and not much better today. So I think it's going to get worse."

11. Pan-right of graffiti reading (English): "We voted to leave"

12. Wide of graffiti reading (English): "We didn't vote for a deal, we voted to leave"

13. Close up graffiti reading (English): "Hard Brexit"

14. Close up graffiti reading (English): "Keep Brexit white"

15. Portobello Road street name

16. Woman posing for a friend's photograph in front of a book shop

17. Blue plaque reading (English): 'Notting Hill was inspired by a bookshop established on this site in 1981.'

18. Sign reading (English): "Notting Hill"

19. Wide of market vendor Michelle (did not want to give her surname)

20. Array of woollen goods on market stall

21. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle (did not want to give her surname):

"All the ills of the country blamed on the EU by God knows how many, forty years by our absolutely insane right wing media. It's destroyed my business, this isn't my business. I'm having to work two part-time jobs because my business has been destroyed and no-one's buying."

22. Wide of colourful building of Portobello Road Market

23. Portobello Road street name

24. Tilt up model of Elizabeth Tower (popularly known as Big Ben)

25. Mark Barr, chair of the Portobello Road and Golborne Management Committee

26. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Barr, chair of the Portobello Road and Golborne Management Committee:

"None of us knows what's going to happen come March. Trading at the moment, again, trading is difficult. Everything, I mean, there's financial downturns worldwide so there's going to be a financial downturn here. So, I don't know how Brexit is going to affect the market or affect us. We'll just have to deal with things as they come because the decision is not ours to take what happens, so we're just waiting for it to happen and finish. We just want it over with, whatever they're going to do. So we can deal with any problems or any solutions that are needed to be found."

27. Tilt down antiques shop that featured in the film 'Paddington Bear'

28. Antiques

29. Close up of model of a flamingo

30. Alex Boden, stall holder, Portobello Road Market arranging stall

31. SOUNDBITE (English) Alex Boden, stall holder, Portobello Road Market:

"We don't really talk about Brexit to be quite honest, it's not a big subject in the market trade that I'm aware of anyway to be quite honest. We'll be here before and after Brexit, so (laughs)."

32. Tilt up antiques shop that featured in the film 'Paddington Bear'

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4080859

LEAD IN:

London has always been one of the world's leading lights in the fashion industry - but has Brexit dulled some of its shine?

At the Pure London fashion retail show - and with London Fashion Week on the horizon - brand owners and designers give their views on doing business in Brexit Britain.

STORY-LINE:

On the catwalk at Pure London it's business as usual.

The models strut their stuff to the music and packed crowds squeeze in for a glimpse of the latest trends.

But behind the flash and the glamour - is London still an attractive venue for fashion brands?

With Britain voting to leave the EU, and uncertainty hanging over all sectors of industry, the UK's fashion talent is preparing to weather the storm.

Maggie Song studied fashion in Beijing but came to the UK 13 years ago to make her name in the industry she loves.

In this time she has founded three labels, her most successful brand is Jolie Moi which can be found in some of the UK's largest department stores (John Lewis, Debenhams, House of Fraser).

She considers her business to be small to medium sized. Her clothes are designed in the UK but the materials and production happen in China.

When the result of the Brexit vote was announced she was on a business trip in Beijing and recalls her horror at hearing the news.

"I was shocked (when she heard the Brexit result). I couldn't think anything and also I couldn't speak, so, I was watching the exchange rate on the Internet, I can see the drop, the pound, this dramatic drop to the dollar and immediately I realised how tough it will be for small business," she says.

Song is expecting a tough 2017 as the low value of the pound starts to bite. She expects she will have to lower her margins to absorb the impact of Brexit.

But not everybody is suffering from the falling pound, according to Pure London's show director Julie Driscoll.

"So the exchange rate means for international brands it's really easy for them to enter the UK market, so more than ever before we're seeing international companies, international fashion collections wanting to come to the UK to explore opportunities and indeed this means this is our largest Pure London ever," she says.

One of the foreign fashion brands visiting Pure London for the first time is French jewellery maker Pas Si Sages Bijoux (Not So Wise) from Lyon.

Their funky, Bohemian-inspired jewellery is low/to mid priced and is all designed and produced in France. They are now looking to expand into the British market.

Chloe Chenu, the director of Pas Si Sages Bijoux, demonstrates the latest product - a back necklace.

She believes Brexit has not changed anything in the fashion world and thinks the UK is still a great place to do business... perhaps thanks to the eccentric English style.

"London is always the place for fashion, the most important in the world, even after Brexit, that doesn't change anything. We always come to sell products, English people are always eccentric and they want French products," she says.

It's the same story for Turkish designer Ece Kavran, whose range called Urun features minimalist, classic pieces.

She says London is still top of her list for places to do business because of its pace and willingness to try new brands. She says in France and Italy the market is much slower and more traditional.

"But England is an expandable market, it's forever open to the new idea, to the new brand, and I think that's what makes it, England, very compelling for us," she says.

But fashion is more than just sales and spreadsheets, it's about creating brands - and there is no bigger brand than a country itself. So has brand Britain been tarnished by its decision to leave the EU?

Personal stylist Justyna Szal is at the show to soak up inspiration for new season looks.

She is originally from near Krakow in Poland, but works in London - dressing and making her clients look as on trend as possible.

Szal likes the idea of Brexit and does not feel it has had any negative impact on London as a fashion hub. In fact, she's quite enjoying all the attention, with the eyes of the world turning to Britain.

"No, I haven't found it less interesting. I actually found it more interesting because of the whole situation people are starting to be more interested in the UK and I think actually it's a pleasant advantage and the fashion business hasn't been more in bloom than it is nowadays," she says.

According to an industry report, compiled by Inside Retail, fashion is worth 50 billion UK pounds (approx. 62 billion US dollars) per annum in the UK - the second most important retail sector only behind food.

The British Retail Consortium estimates that in October 2015, online accounted for 26.3 per cent of total clothing sales - even higher for footwear.

The UK is already the world leader in online fashion sales, leading France, Germany, Japan and the USA.

Keely Stocker is the editor of Drapers, a long-running fashion industry magazine.

In a typically British way, she thinks this is a time to keep calm and carry on.

"I think it's definitely a challenging time, mainly because of the uncertainty more than anything else," she says. "But I think those people that are doing well are the ones that are really focusing on their customer, focusing on their product and just getting on with it until we know exactly what that (Brexit) is going to mean."

One of those at the show who is hoping to do just that is Bilguun Brower, owner of Mongolian Kingdom.

He is buying high-end Mongolian woollen products and selling them in the UK. The fall in value of the pound is an issue he will have to contend with in the coming years, but Brower believes there is a strong market for his products in the UK because of its damp, cold climate.

Exhibiting for the first time, he is introducing his new line of yak's wool scarves.

Brower, and the other small British business owners at Pure, will all be hoping the UK can secure strong trade deals as quickly as possible.

Pure London is one of the leading fashion retail shows in the Europe, with over 11,000 buyers visiting the show between February 12-14.

London, UK - 12 February 2017

1. Mid of woman on catwalk in furry coat and sunglasses

2. Various of woman in camel coat with long scarf on catwalk

3. Cutaway of woman taking photo of catwalk

4. Mid of woman in grey dress with metal bead shoulder attachments

5. Various set up shots of Maggie Song, owner of labels, Jolie Moi and Emily & Me, taking red dress from peg

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Maggie Song, British fashion labels owner (Jolie Moi and Emily & Me):

"I was shocked (when she heard the Brexit result). I couldn't think anything and also I couldn't speak, so, I was watching the exchange rate on the internet, I can see the drop, the pound, this dramatic drop to the dollar and immediately I realised how tough it will be for small business."

7. Mid of show visitors walking

8. Mid of woman hanging jacket

9. Various of man looking at shoes

10. Various set up shots of Pure London show director, Julie Driscoll looking at scarf

11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Julie Driscoll, Pure London show director:

"So the exchange rate means for international brands it's really easy for them to enter the UK market, so more than ever before we're seeing international companies, international fashion collections wanting to come to the UK to explore opportunities and indeed that means this is our largest Pure London ever."

12. Pan right of Pas Si Sages Bijoux jewellery from Lyon, France

13. Pull focus of bracelets

14. Tilt up from bracelets to earrings

15. Tilt up of back necklace

16. Mid of Chloe Chenu demonstrating how the back necklace is worn

17. Close details of necklace

18. SOUNDBITE: (French) Chloe Chenu, director, Pas Si Sages Bijoux:

"London is always the place for fashion, the most important in the world, even after Brexit, that doesn't change anything. We always come to sell products, English people are always eccentric and they want French products."

19. Close tilt up of two-tone leather skirt by Urun (from Turkey)

20. Close pan left of designer Ece Kavran showing colleague her new skirt design

21. Mid of same

22. Close of Kavran

23. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ece Kavran, designer, Urun:

"But England is an expandable market, it's forever open to the new idea, to the new brand, and I think that's what makes it, England, very compelling for us."

24. Wide of woman in gothic clothing on catwalk

25. Close of woman photographing the show

26. Wide pull focus of crowd on smartphones watching the show

27. Tilt up of model during gothic show

28. Various set up shots of personal stylist Justyna Szal

29. SOUNDBITE: (English) Justyna Szal, personal stylist:

"No, I haven't found it less interesting. I actually found it more interesting because of the whole situation people actually are starting to be more interested in the UK and I think actually it's a pleasant advantage and the fashion business hasn't been more in bloom than it is nowadays."

30. Various set up shots of fashion editor Keely Stocker looking at show

31. SOUNDBITE: (English) Keely Stocker, editor of Drapers magazine:

"I think it's definitely a challenging time, mainly because of the uncertainty more than anything else but I think those people that are doing well are the ones that are really focusing on their customer, focusing on their product and just getting on with it until we know exactly what that (Brexit) is going to mean."

32. Close pull from Mongolian/UK flag to Bilguun Brower, owner of Mongolian Kingdom

33. Close tilt down to yak

34. Various of Brower looking at Mongolian yak scarf

35. Various of fashion show with models in red dresses

LEAD IN:

London has always been one of the world's leading lights in the fashion industry - but has Brexit dulled some of its shine?

At the Pure London fashion retail show - and with London Fashion Week on the horizon - brand owners and designers give their views on doing business in Brexit Britain.

STORY-LINE:

On the catwalk at Pure London it's business as usual.

The models strut their stuff to the music and packed crowds squeeze in for a glimpse of the latest trends.

But behind the flash and the glamour - is London still an attractive venue for fashion brands?

With Britain voting to leave the EU, and uncertainty hanging over all sectors of industry, the UK's fashion talent is preparing to weather the storm.

Maggie Song studied fashion in Beijing but came to the UK 13 years ago to make her name in the industry she loves.

In this time she has founded three labels, her most successful brand is Jolie Moi which can be found in some of the UK's largest department stores (John Lewis, Debenhams, House of Fraser).

She considers her business to be small to medium sized. Her clothes are designed in the UK but the materials and production happen in China.

When the result of the Brexit vote was announced she was on a business trip in Beijing and recalls her horror at hearing the news.

"I was shocked (when she heard the Brexit result). I couldn't think anything and also I couldn't speak, so, I was watching the exchange rate on the Internet, I can see the drop, the pound, this dramatic drop to the dollar and immediately I realised how tough it will be for small business," she says.

Song is expecting a tough 2017 as the low value of the pound starts to bite. She expects she will have to lower her margins to absorb the impact of Brexit.

But not everybody is suffering from the falling pound, according to Pure London's show director Julie Driscoll.

"So the exchange rate means for international brands it's really easy for them to enter the UK market, so more than ever before we're seeing international companies, international fashion collections wanting to come to the UK to explore opportunities and indeed this means this is our largest Pure London ever," she says.

One of the foreign fashion brands visiting Pure London for the first time is French jewellery maker Pas Si Sages Bijoux (Not So Wise) from Lyon.

Their funky, Bohemian-inspired jewellery is low/to mid priced and is all designed and produced in France. They are now looking to expand into the British market.

Chloe Chenu, the director of Pas Si Sages Bijoux, demonstrates the latest product - a back necklace.

She believes Brexit has not changed anything in the fashion world and thinks the UK is still a great place to do business... perhaps thanks to the eccentric English style.

"London is always the place for fashion, the most important in the world, even after Brexit, that doesn't change anything. We always come to sell products, English people are always eccentric and they want French products," she says.

It's the same story for Turkish designer Ece Kavran, whose range called Urun features minimalist, classic pieces.

She says London is still top of her list for places to do business because of its pace and willingness to try new brands. She says in France and Italy the market is much slower and more traditional.

"But England is an expandable market, it's forever open to the new idea, to the new brand, and I think that's what makes it, England, very compelling for us," she says.

But fashion is more than just sales and spreadsheets, it's about creating brands - and there is no bigger brand than a country itself. So has brand Britain been tarnished by its decision to leave the EU?

Personal stylist Justyna Szal is at the show to soak up inspiration for new season looks.

She is originally from near Krakow in Poland, but works in London - dressing and making her clients look as on trend as possible.

Szal likes the idea of Brexit and does not feel it has had any negative impact on London as a fashion hub. In fact, she's quite enjoying all the attention, with the eyes of the world turning to Britain.

"No, I haven't found it less interesting. I actually found it more interesting because of the whole situation people are starting to be more interested in the UK and I think actually it's a pleasant advantage and the fashion business hasn't been more in bloom than it is nowadays," she says.

According to an industry report, compiled by Inside Retail, fashion is worth 50 billion UK pounds (approx. 62 billion US dollars) per annum in the UK - the second most important retail sector only behind food.

The British Retail Consortium estimates that in October 2015, online accounted for 26.3 per cent of total clothing sales - even higher for footwear.

The UK is already the world leader in online fashion sales, leading France, Germany, Japan and the USA.

Keely Stocker is the editor of Drapers, a long-running fashion industry magazine.

In a typically British way, she thinks this is a time to keep calm and carry on.

"I think it's definitely a challenging time, mainly because of the uncertainty more than anything else," she says. "But I think those people that are doing well are the ones that are really focusing on their customer, focusing on their product and just getting on with it until we know exactly what that (Brexit) is going to mean."

One of those at the show who is hoping to do just that is Bilguun Brower, owner of Mongolian Kingdom.

He is buying high-end Mongolian woollen products and selling them in the UK. The fall in value of the pound is an issue he will have to contend with in the coming years, but Brower believes there is a strong market for his products in the UK because of its damp, cold climate.

Exhibiting for the first time, he is introducing his new line of yak's wool scarves.

Brower, and the other small British business owners at Pure, will all be hoping the UK can secure strong trade deals as quickly as possible.

Pure London is one of the leading fashion retail shows in the Europe, with over 11,000 buyers visiting the show between February 12-14.

London, UK - 12 February 2017

1. Mid of woman on catwalk in furry coat and sunglasses

2. Various of woman in camel coat with long scarf on catwalk

3. Cutaway of woman taking photo of catwalk

4. Mid of woman in grey dress with metal bead shoulder attachments

5. Various set up shots of Maggie Song, owner of labels, Jolie Moi and Emily & Me, taking red dress from peg

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Maggie Song, British fashion labels owner (Jolie Moi and Emily & Me):

"I was shocked (when she heard the Brexit result). I couldn't think anything and also I couldn't speak, so, I was watching the exchange rate on the internet, I can see the drop, the pound, this dramatic drop to the dollar and immediately I realised how tough it will be for small business."

7. Mid of show visitors walking

8. Mid of woman hanging jacket

9. Various of man looking at shoes

10. Various set up shots of Pure London show director, Julie Driscoll looking at scarf

11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Julie Driscoll, Pure London show director:

"So the exchange rate means for international brands it's really easy for them to enter the UK market, so more than ever before we're seeing international companies, international fashion collections wanting to come to the UK to explore opportunities and indeed that means this is our largest Pure London ever."

12. Pan right of Pas Si Sages Bijoux jewellery from Lyon, France

13. Pull focus of bracelets

14. Tilt up from bracelets to earrings

15. Tilt up of back necklace

16. Mid of Chloe Chenu demonstrating how the back necklace is worn

17. Close details of necklace

18. SOUNDBITE: (French) Chloe Chenu, director, Pas Si Sages Bijoux:

"London is always the place for fashion, the most important in the world, even after Brexit, that doesn't change anything. We always come to sell products, English people are always eccentric and they want French products."

19. Close tilt up of two-tone leather skirt by Urun (from Turkey)

20. Close pan left of designer Ece Kavran showing colleague her new skirt design

21. Mid of same

22. Close of Kavran

23. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ece Kavran, designer, Urun:

"But England is an expandable market, it's forever open to the new idea, to the new brand, and I think that's what makes it, England, very compelling for us."

24. Wide of woman in gothic clothing on catwalk

25. Close of woman photographing the show

26. Wide pull focus of crowd on smartphones watching the show

27. Tilt up of model during gothic show

28. Various set up shots of personal stylist Justyna Szal

29. SOUNDBITE: (English) Justyna Szal, personal stylist:

"No, I haven't found it less interesting. I actually found it more interesting because of the whole situation people actually are starting to be more interested in the UK and I think actually it's a pleasant advantage and the fashion business hasn't been more in bloom than it is nowadays."

30. Various set up shots of fashion editor Keely Stocker looking at show

31. SOUNDBITE: (English) Keely Stocker, editor of Drapers magazine:

"I think it's definitely a challenging time, mainly because of the uncertainty more than anything else but I think those people that are doing well are the ones that are really focusing on their customer, focusing on their product and just getting on with it until we know exactly what that (Brexit) is going to mean."

32. Close pull from Mongolian/UK flag to Bilguun Brower, owner of Mongolian Kingdom

33. Close tilt down to yak

34. Various of Brower looking at Mongolian yak scarf

35. Various of fashion show with models in red dresses

LEADIN:

?Sotheby's is aiming to capitalise on demand from Middle Eastern clients by opening a gallery in Dubai, its first in the region.

Over the last five years, the 273-year-old auction house says its seen the number of Middle Eastern clients grow by 76 percent.? ?STORYLINE ? ?Good news for UAE art collectors - when hoping to buy prized items from famed auction house Sotheby's, there's now no need to hop on a private jet to London.

?That's because Sotheby's has opened this new office and gallery space in Dubai's Financial District.

?They're now giving tours of the new gallery space to interested parties.? ?"Sotheby's is delighted to be in Dubai. We are launching our new office and gallery space here in DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre)," says Edward Gibbs, Chairman of Sotheby's Middle East and India.

"We are travelling some highlights from our global sales. We've got modern and contemporary Arab and Iranian art, we've got arts of the classical Islamic world, orientalist paintings, and we've got some extraordinary pieces of jewellery and timepieces, watches from sales in London and New York."

To christen its new gallery space, the auction house has brought a number of contemporary and traditional Middle Eastern artworks.

?Also on display is a collection of expensive and rare watches.

?The auction house sold the world's most expensive 'super complication watch' for $24 million USD back in 2014.

?Sotheby's is giving Gulf buyers a slightly less expensive taste of that, displaying this 'super complication watch'. Bidding is expected to start from $6.4 to $9.9 million USD.

?Gibbs says one of main reasons to open a gallery in the UAE is the sheer number of buyers coming from the region.

"It's really about the numbers," he says.

"We've been looking at the growth of our client base in the region over the many years and over the last five years we see, participants from the Middle East growing at a rate of 76 percent.

"Then we drilled down into those figures and we see specifically for the UAE 157 percent increase in the number of participants in our global sales.

"And last year alone a 39 percent increase, so that uptick in interest and engagement from our UAE clients has initiated this launch of the office here in Dubai."

Gibbs says the move wasn't prompted by Britain's plans to leave the European Union.

?He says currency fluctuations around Britain's vote to leave the 28-member bloc have actually had a positive impact on their sales.

"There is no connection whatsoever between Brexit and our move here," he says.

"Brexit has interestingly has had a very beneficial effect on our London sales. In fact, we've seen all of our sales since the referendum result back last summer, we've seen all of them performing extremely well. I think the currency fluctuations have actually been tremendous benefit."

Some of the paintings on display here will set wealthy collectors back up to $1.4 million USD. Such as this painting by German artist Georg Emanuel Opiz. ? ?The gallery says it will not only display Middle Eastern art and collectables.

?"We will bring a whole range of different categories and we've, for this sale, for this particular exhibition, we are showing specifically works from the region, but we have plans for bringing highlights of impressionists, for instance," says Gibbs.

"We are talking to our clients, listening to their needs, their wants, their desires all the time and we see that as their tastes evolve and they are collecting patterns develop, we see that they are increasingly international."

Some of the world's biggest art collectors are from the Gulf region.

?But with the recent drop in oil prices, Gibbs says sales have actually gone up rather than down.

"Seems to be quite counter-intuitive. Maybe it's because collecting is a passionate activity and the heart being a stronger organ than the brain people are still buying," he says.

"In fact, with financial downturn often we see the benefit of that in the art market. People are looking for tangible assets, places to invest their money.

"Art gives something that stocks and shares can never give which is huge enjoyment personal enjoyment and enrichment. And statistically the numbers show that far from declining, our business is ever on the upward in the region."

Sotheby's auction house was first founded in London in 1744.

?It stages auctions in London, New York, Hong Kong, Geneva, Milan, Paris and Zurich.

ASSOCIATED PRESS?Dubai, UAE - 16 March 2017

?1. Wide of Sotheby's Gallery space?2. Various of Sotheby's gallery tour?3. Various of Edward Gibbs, Chairman of Sotheby's Middle East and India?4. SOUNDBITE (English) Edward Gibbs, Chairman of Sotheby's Middle East and India:?"Sotheby's is delighted to be in Dubai. We are launching our new office and gallery space here in DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre). We are travelling some highlights from our global sales. We've got modern and contemporary Arab and Iranian art, we've got arts of the classical Islamic world, orientalist paintings, and we've got some extraordinary pieces of jewellery and timepieces, watches from sales in London and New York."

?5. Pan left from Patek Phillipe's The Calibre 89 watch (starting bidding price $6.4 to $9.9 million USD) to press tour of watch collection?6. Various of tour

7. Various of The Calibre 89 watch?7. SOUNDBITE (English) Edward Gibbs, Chairman of Sotheby's Middle East and India:?"It's really about the numbers. We've been looking at the growth of our client base in the region over the many years and over the last five years we see, participants from the Middle East growing at a rate of 76 percent. Then we drilled down into those figures and we see specifically for the UAE 157 percent increase in the number of participants in our global sales. And last year alone a 39 percent increase, so that uptick in interest and engagement from our UAE clients has initiated this launch of the office here in Dubai."

?8. Various of Gibbs giving tour?9. Various of Georg Emanuel Opiz's 'The Arrival of Mahmal at an Oasis en route to Mecca' ($999,000-1,499,000 USD) ?10. SOUNDBITE(English) Edward Gibbs, Chairman of Sotheby's Middle East and India:?"There is no connection whatsoever between Brexit and our move here. Brexit has interestingly has had a very beneficial effect on our London sales. In fact, we've seen all of our sales since the referendum result back last summer, we've seen all of them performing extremely well. I think the currency fluctuations have actually been tremendous benefit."

?11. Various of tour?12. SOUNDBITE (English) Edward Gibbs, Chairman of Sotheby's Middle East and India:?"We will bring a whole range of different categories and we've, for this sale, for this particular exhibition, we are showing specifically works from the region, but we have plans for bringing highlights of impressionists, for instance. We are talking to our clients, listening to their needs, their wants, their desires all the time and we see that as their tastes evolve and they are collecting patterns develop, we see that they are increasingly international."

?13. Various from Fahrelnissa Zeid, 'Towards a Sky' ($680,317-$803,884 USD)?14. Pan from Mahmoud Saïd, Portrait de Madame Batanouni Bey ($185,541-$309,235 USD) to Bahman Mohasses, Requiem Omnibus (Death of Martin Luther King), ($371,082- $494,698 USD) ?15. Various of Mohasess?16. SOUNDBITE (English) Edward Gibbs, Chairman of Sotheby's Middle East and India:?"Seems to be quite counter-intuitive. Maybe it's because collecting is a passionate activity and the heart being a stronger organ than the brain people are still buying. In fact, with financial downturn often we see the benefit of that in the art market. People are looking for tangible assets, places to invest their money. Art gives something that stocks and shares can never give which is huge enjoyment personal enjoyment and enrichment. And statistically the numbers show that far from declining, our business is ever on the upward in the region."

?17. Various of Sotheby's Dubai exterior? ?

LEAD IN:

German business confidence rose more than expected last month (December 2016), with sentiment improving in the key manufacturing sector and elsewhere, according to the Ifo (Information and Forschung) Institute for Economic Research.

Germany has kept its manufacturing traditions at the heart of its strong economy... and in one region it is making of instruments that have sustained economic growth.

STORY-LINE:

Skilled musicians demand the best instruments.

In recent decades mass production of orchestral instruments is dominated by factories in China.

But quality production of instruments can still be found in the region of Vogtland in Saxony, where more than 1,300 craftsmen in more than 100 workshops continue the craft of their ancestors.

Many workshops boast 4th or 5th generation artisans and the majority of the companies are family businesses.

Jurgen Voigt is one of the medium size companies in Markneukirchen employing 30 people.

The company has been in the current owner's family for 10 generations, and it produces a variety of brass instruments and spare parts.

Kerstin Voigt says one of the extra advantages of the company is that they are able to offer not only high quality instruments but also custom made instruments.

Musicians can ask for changes on the catalogued instruments or can design new ones.

Despite the company's long tradition in handcrafting instruments, they have also embraced industrial machinery, using machines alongside the craftsmen.

At the beginning of the 20th century, factories with thousands of workers were based in Vogtland.

China has become one of the biggest producers of music instruments in recent years.

But for the manufacturers of Vogtland this does not present a threat.

"The cheap products from the Asia made the beginners (pupils) music instrument market unreachable to us.", says Kerstin Voigt.

"It has broken away (from us). They (the clients) were going there (They are all buying Chinese instruments). But professionals, (music university) students and today's very dedicated amateurs demand more and more to have custom made instruments."

Neither mass production having moved to another country or the recent economic crisis has posed a substantial threat to Voigts' company.

"You could say that the crisis of the last years, either the economic crisis or Brexit and Grexit, was to our benefit. Interests in the money market are low, and so people started investing in which are durable and have great value," she says.

Musical instruments have been manufactured for more than 350 years in the southern region of Saxony, close to the Bavarian and the Czech border.

Björn Stoll's family has been in the music production industry since 1836. Stoll is now the owner of the family business working alongside his father producing cellos and double basses.

"We deliver worldwide. From the USA, to Japan, Indonesia, Austria, Spain, China. Especially in China they build a lot of cheap instruments but there are also a lot of good musicians searching for high quality instruments. They are coming to us to order customised instruments," says Stoll.

"Most of our clients want that the instrument look used even if they get it new. Because old instruments have the image that they are the best.The old Italians for example. That's because we make new instruments look like old ones. There you can see scratches and hits in the varnish. Wear marks we put on the new instruments which you would see generally not until hundreds of years. The vintage look," he adds.

A tourism industry has evolved to complement the instrument making tradition, with workshops opening their doors to visitors.

Frank Bilz is the manager of Musicon Valley association, an organisation that is promoting tourism in the area.

"Tourism generates revenues of which we had no idea until a few years ago (it was possible)," he says.

For the visitors this is an opportunity to learn something new while visiting a relatively undiscovered region.

"I wanted to see this here because I didn't know about it. I am 55 years old but I was amazed that they make everything by hand at not as you might think by machine," says visitor Ilona Rossberger.

Vogtland instruments are indeed well regarded in the music world.

Frank Meyer, is the co-owner of Ludwig Frank & Frank Meyer music instrument shop in Berlin, which specialises in woodwind instruments.

"The clients which are buying instruments from Vogtland and especially from our company are mostly professionals. They are coming from broadcast orchestras, from opera (orchestras) and from all around the world, Paris, New York, London, Milan, Tokyo and let's not forget Beijing," he says.

Balazs piri Arpad, an oboist of the Slovenian National Opera orchestra has driven from Slovenia to buy an instrument made in Vogtland.

Balazs piri Arpad has driven from Slovenia with his colleague in order to try one these instruments.

"My colleague from philharmonic, he has already got this instrument, and I tried and it is very nice, warm sound, good intonation, flexible tones, so..."

In 2014 UNESCO recognised Vogtland Musical Instrument Construction in Markneukirchen and the Surrounding Area as Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Markneukirchen, Vogtland - December 7, 2016

1. Medium zoom out of man playing the trumpet

2. Various shots of employees producing brass instruments

3. Various of Kirstin Voigt walking and talking with employees

4. SOUNDBITE (Germany) Kerstin Voigt, owner of brass instruments company Jürgen Voigt :

"The cheap products from Asia made the beginners (pupils) music instrument market unreachable to us. It has broken away (from us). They (the clients) were going there (They are all buying Chinese instruments). But professionals, (music university) students and today's very dedicated amateurs demand more and more to have custom made instruments"

5. Various of electronic heavy machinery being operated by an employee

6. SOUNDBITE (Germany) Kerstin Voigt, owner of brass instruments company Jürgen Voigt :

"You could say that the crisis of the last years, either the economic crisis or Brexit and Grexit, was to our benefit. Interests in the money market are low, and so people started investing in things which are durable and have great value"

7. Close up of frame with old advertising poster

8. Various of Björn Stoll's father attaching strings to a cello

9. Various of Björn Stoll carving the wooden top of a cello

10. SOUNDBITE (German) Björn Stoll, luthier and owner of Contrabass workshop :

"We deliver worldwide. From the USA, to Japan, Indonesia, Austria, Spain, China. Especially in China they build a lot of cheap instruments but there are also a lot of good musicians searching for high quality instruments. They are coming to us to order customised instruments"

11. Various of Björn's father tuning a cello

12. SOUNDBITE (German) Björn Stoll, Luthier and owner of Contrabass workshop:

"Most of our clients want that the instrument look used even if they get it new. Because old instruments have the image that they are the best.The old Italians for example. That's because we make new instruments look like old ones. There you can see scratches and hits in the varnish. Wear marks we put on the new instruments which you would see generally not until hundreds of years. The vintage look"

13. Various of employee and father of Björn Stoll working on cellos

Markneukirchen, Vogtland - December 8, 2016

14. Wide of Markneukirchen

Markneukirchen, Vogtland - December 7, 2016

15. Wide exterior of Musicon Valley association building

16. Medium of Tourists arriving at the Musicon Valley and being greeted by Frank Bilz

17. Close up of date on building

18. Medium of Frank Bilz talking to the tourists

19. Medium of frame on the wall with old pictures of music craftsmen working

20. Close up of picture of craftsman working on a bass

21. SOUNDBITE (German) Frank Bilz, Manager of Musicon Valley:

At the end of the day they can say that the added value has arisen here. Tourism generates revenues of which we had no idea until a few years ago (it was possible)"

22. Medium of luthier giving a seminar to tourists

23. Close up of violin handles on the wall

24. SOUNDBITE (German) Ilona Rossberger, Visitor

"I wanted to see this here because I didn't know about it. I am 55 years old but I was amazed that they make everything by hand at not as you might think by machine"

Berlin - December 10, 2016

25. Various exterior of wind instruments shop

26. Various of owner Frank Meyer, co owner of Ludwig Frank music shop, entering room with instruments and arranging instruments on the display

27. SOUNDBITE (German) Frank Meyer, Ludwig Frank music shop:

"The clients which are buying instruments from Vogtland and especially from our company are mostly professionals. They are coming from broadcast orchestras, from opera (orchestras) and from all around the world, Paris, New York, London, Milan, Tokyo and let's not forget Beijing"

28. Various of Oboist Balazs piri Arpad of the Slovenian National Opera playing an oboe

29. SOUNDBITE (English) Balazs piri Arpad, oboist at Slovenian National Opera:

"My colleague from philharmonic, he has already got this instrument, and I tried and it is very nice, warm sound, good intonation, flexible tones, so..."

30. Zoom in of Balazs piri Arpad of the Slovenian National Opera playing an oboe

LEAD IN:

German business confidence rose more than expected last month (December 2016), with sentiment improving in the key manufacturing sector and elsewhere, according to the Ifo (Information and Forschung) Institute for Economic Research.

Germany has kept its manufacturing traditions at the heart of its strong economy... and in one region it is making of instruments that have sustained economic growth.

STORY-LINE:

Skilled musicians demand the best instruments.

In recent decades mass production of orchestral instruments is dominated by factories in China.

But quality production of instruments can still be found in the region of Vogtland in Saxony, where more than 1,300 craftsmen in more than 100 workshops continue the craft of their ancestors.

Many workshops boast 4th or 5th generation artisans and the majority of the companies are family businesses.

Jurgen Voigt is one of the medium size companies in Markneukirchen employing 30 people.

The company has been in the current owner's family for 10 generations, and it produces a variety of brass instruments and spare parts.

Kerstin Voigt says one of the extra advantages of the company is that they are able to offer not only high quality instruments but also custom made instruments.

Musicians can ask for changes on the catalogued instruments or can design new ones.

Despite the company's long tradition in handcrafting instruments, they have also embraced industrial machinery, using machines alongside the craftsmen.

At the beginning of the 20th century, factories with thousands of workers were based in Vogtland.

China has become one of the biggest producers of music instruments in recent years.

But for the manufacturers of Vogtland this does not present a threat.

"The cheap products from the Asia made the beginners (pupils) music instrument market unreachable to us.", says Kerstin Voigt.

"It has broken away (from us). They (the clients) were going there (They are all buying Chinese instruments). But professionals, (music university) students and today's very dedicated amateurs demand more and more to have custom made instruments."

Neither mass production having moved to another country or the recent economic crisis has posed a substantial threat to Voigts' company.

"You could say that the crisis of the last years, either the economic crisis or Brexit and Grexit, was to our benefit. Interests in the money market are low, and so people started investing in which are durable and have great value," she says.

Musical instruments have been manufactured for more than 350 years in the southern region of Saxony, close to the Bavarian and the Czech border.

Björn Stoll's family has been in the music production industry since 1836. Stoll is now the owner of the family business working alongside his father producing cellos and double basses.

"We deliver worldwide. From the USA, to Japan, Indonesia, Austria, Spain, China. Especially in China they build a lot of cheap instruments but there are also a lot of good musicians searching for high quality instruments. They are coming to us to order customised instruments," says Stoll.

"Most of our clients want that the instrument look used even if they get it new. Because old instruments have the image that they are the best.The old Italians for example. That's because we make new instruments look like old ones. There you can see scratches and hits in the varnish. Wear marks we put on the new instruments which you would see generally not until hundreds of years. The vintage look," he adds.

A tourism industry has evolved to complement the instrument making tradition, with workshops opening their doors to visitors.

Frank Bilz is the manager of Musicon Valley association, an organisation that is promoting tourism in the area.

"Tourism generates revenues of which we had no idea until a few years ago (it was possible)," he says.

For the visitors this is an opportunity to learn something new while visiting a relatively undiscovered region.

"I wanted to see this here because I didn't know about it. I am 55 years old but I was amazed that they make everything by hand at not as you might think by machine," says visitor Ilona Rossberger.

Vogtland instruments are indeed well regarded in the music world.

Frank Meyer, is the co-owner of Ludwig Frank & Frank Meyer music instrument shop in Berlin, which specialises in woodwind instruments.

"The clients which are buying instruments from Vogtland and especially from our company are mostly professionals. They are coming from broadcast orchestras, from opera (orchestras) and from all around the world, Paris, New York, London, Milan, Tokyo and let's not forget Beijing," he says.

Balazs piri Arpad, an oboist of the Slovenian National Opera orchestra has driven from Slovenia to buy an instrument made in Vogtland.

Balazs piri Arpad has driven from Slovenia with his colleague in order to try one these instruments.

"My colleague from philharmonic, he has already got this instrument, and I tried and it is very nice, warm sound, good intonation, flexible tones, so..."

In 2014 UNESCO recognised Vogtland Musical Instrument Construction in Markneukirchen and the Surrounding Area as Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Markneukirchen, Vogtland - December 7, 2016

1. Medium zoom out of man playing the trumpet

2. Various shots of employees producing brass instruments

3. Various of Kirstin Voigt walking and talking with employees

4. SOUNDBITE (Germany) Kerstin Voigt, owner of brass instruments company Jürgen Voigt :

"The cheap products from Asia made the beginners (pupils) music instrument market unreachable to us. It has broken away (from us). They (the clients) were going there (They are all buying Chinese instruments). But professionals, (music university) students and today's very dedicated amateurs demand more and more to have custom made instruments"

5. Various of electronic heavy machinery being operated by an employee

6. SOUNDBITE (Germany) Kerstin Voigt, owner of brass instruments company Jürgen Voigt :

"You could say that the crisis of the last years, either the economic crisis or Brexit and Grexit, was to our benefit. Interests in the money market are low, and so people started investing in things which are durable and have great value"

7. Close up of frame with old advertising poster

8. Various of Björn Stoll's father attaching strings to a cello

9. Various of Björn Stoll carving the wooden top of a cello

10. SOUNDBITE (German) Björn Stoll, luthier and owner of Contrabass workshop :

"We deliver worldwide. From the USA, to Japan, Indonesia, Austria, Spain, China. Especially in China they build a lot of cheap instruments but there are also a lot of good musicians searching for high quality instruments. They are coming to us to order customised instruments"

11. Various of Björn's father tuning a cello

12. SOUNDBITE (German) Björn Stoll, Luthier and owner of Contrabass workshop:

"Most of our clients want that the instrument look used even if they get it new. Because old instruments have the image that they are the best.The old Italians for example. That's because we make new instruments look like old ones. There you can see scratches and hits in the varnish. Wear marks we put on the new instruments which you would see generally not until hundreds of years. The vintage look"

13. Various of employee and father of Björn Stoll working on cellos

Markneukirchen, Vogtland - December 8, 2016

14. Wide of Markneukirchen

Markneukirchen, Vogtland - December 7, 2016

15. Wide exterior of Musicon Valley association building

16. Medium of Tourists arriving at the Musicon Valley and being greeted by Frank Bilz

17. Close up of date on building

18. Medium of Frank Bilz talking to the tourists

19. Medium of frame on the wall with old pictures of music craftsmen working

20. Close up of picture of craftsman working on a bass

21. SOUNDBITE (German) Frank Bilz, Manager of Musicon Valley:

At the end of the day they can say that the added value has arisen here. Tourism generates revenues of which we had no idea until a few years ago (it was possible)"

22. Medium of luthier giving a seminar to tourists

23. Close up of violin handles on the wall

24. SOUNDBITE (German) Ilona Rossberger, Visitor

"I wanted to see this here because I didn't know about it. I am 55 years old but I was amazed that they make everything by hand at not as you might think by machine"

Berlin - December 10, 2016

25. Various exterior of wind instruments shop

26. Various of owner Frank Meyer, co owner of Ludwig Frank music shop, entering room with instruments and arranging instruments on the display

27. SOUNDBITE (German) Frank Meyer, Ludwig Frank music shop:

"The clients which are buying instruments from Vogtland and especially from our company are mostly professionals. They are coming from broadcast orchestras, from opera (orchestras) and from all around the world, Paris, New York, London, Milan, Tokyo and let's not forget Beijing"

28. Various of Oboist Balazs piri Arpad of the Slovenian National Opera playing an oboe

29. SOUNDBITE (English) Balazs piri Arpad, oboist at Slovenian National Opera:

"My colleague from philharmonic, he has already got this instrument, and I tried and it is very nice, warm sound, good intonation, flexible tones, so..."

30. Zoom in of Balazs piri Arpad of the Slovenian National Opera playing an oboe

LEAD IN:

Designs inspired by the London Underground and Brexit are now on show in the new-look Design Museum in Kensington.

The new space is in a Grade-II listed piece of 1960s modernist architecture, three times larger than the Museum's previous home.

STORY-LINE:

Meet Mimus the mechanical robot who only wants to be your friend.

This 1,200kg industrial arm has been programmed to respond and interact with passersby.

Mimus is the one of the attractions in the new Design Museum in London.

Art critic Estelle Lovatt is one of the first people to get a look around the museum

"You know what I think of the new building, and I use the word sit as well, I love the fact that as soon as you walk in you can walk up the stairs and you can also sit on them. That struck me that there's so much humour here as well. You know I love the fact that this piece here behind me, I don't know whether to laugh at it or be afraid of it but it's the interactiveness of this museum that will make it steps ahead of, leap years ahead of the other museums that we go into now," she says.

The Design Museum outgrew its previous home on the South Bank of the Thames and has moved into Kensington, a district well-known for its important museums, including the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The new building occupies a Grade-II listed modernist site created in the 1960s for the Commonwealth Institute.

The restoration of the empty building took five years and required an £83 million investment.

Museum director Deyan Sudjic explains the importance of the move.

He says: "The design museum is here in its new home in Kensington, new home? Actually the transformation of a building from the 60s. We've moved from a charming converted banana ripening warehouse next to Tower Bridge here to this great piece of 60s architecture brought back to life. We've moved because we think design is to important to leave to the specialists, to the priesthood, we're trying to do here for contemporary design and architecture what the Tate Modern did for contemporary art. Turning something that was seen as on the margins of the wider conversation into something right at the centre. So we have three times the space, 100,000 square feet, we can offer free admission. We have a chance really to talk to a much wider audience why design is important."

The Design Museum opens with a striking exhibition called Fear and Love, which challenged 11 designers to react to a wide range of issues that affect the modern world.

Dutch designer Christien Meinderstma's installation Fibre Market explores the possibility of recycling our clothes and sorting them into their constituent parts.

The work displays mounds of brightly coloured wools.

A New York architect has created a space that looks at how social networking is affecting our pursuit of sex.

His work explores the phenomenon of the gay networking site Grindr.

One of the most topical works in the exhibition is Pan European Living Room.

In post-Brexit Britain the piece looks at how our interior design is so closely connected across Europe.

It takes a typical living room and furnishes it with furniture, wallpaper and designs from the 28 EU member states.

Justin McGuirk, chief curator at the Design Museum, says: "The average European living room, or our idea of the domestic interior, is really a construct of European cooperation and collaboration, trade agreements, designers from Britain and Holland working with manufacturers in Italy and Sweden and so in some senses the idea that one can pull out of that is an illusion."

The centre-piece of the room is a vertical blind featuring a barcode design of the EU member states' flags.

When the blind opens it reveals a vista of the shattered city of Rotterdam in 1945 at the end of World War II - a stark reminder of what can happen when European countries stop cooperating.

The Design Museum's deputy director Alice Black wants people to feel that they are involved in the evolving story of design.

She created a crowd-sourced feature asking people to nominate items in their everyday lives.

Black explains: "So behind me you will see a crowd-sourced wall, so what we did we asked our audiences what they wanted to see in a design museum, we sort of turned the table on them and said what do you think is good design, what in your every day design objects make a better life or a more beautiful life around you. So they sent us about 850 nominations from about 25 different countries and we selected 250 pieces that are on the wall behind me."

There surely can't be many museums where a Fisher Price talking telephone, a Nintendo Gameboy and the Holy Bible all share the same wall space.

The new Design Museum is expected to attract up to 650,000 visitors in its first year and is free to enter, for the first time.

London, UK - 17 November 2016

1. Wide of robotic arm

2. Close of same

3. Various set up shots of Estelle Lovatt taking selfie with robotic arm

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Estelle Lovatt, independent art critic:

"You know what I think of the new building, and I use the word sit as well, I love the fact that as soon as you walk in you can walk up the stairs and you can also sit on them. That struck me that there's so much humour here as well. You know I love the fact that this piece here behind me, I don't know whether to laugh with it or be afraid of it but it's the interactiveness of this museum that will make it steps ahead, leap years ahead of the other museums that we go into now."

5. Mid of robotic arm

6. Tilt up of entrance to Design Museum with stairs doubling up as seats

7. Wide tilt down from concrete ceiling to museum entrance

8. Various set up shots of walking up stairs and through museum

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Deyan Sudjic, director of Design Museum:

"The design museum is here in its new home in Kensington, new home? Actually the transformation of a building from the 60s. We've moved from a charming converted banana ripening warehouse next to Tower Bridge here to this great piece of 60s architecture brought back to life. We've moved because we think design is to important to leave to the specialists, to the priesthood, we're trying to do here for contemporary design and architecture what the Tate Modern did for contemporary art. Turning something that was seen as on the margins of the wider conversation into something right at the centre. So we have three times the space, 100,000 square feet, we can offer free admission. We have a chance really to talk to a much wider audience about why design is important."

10. Mid of exhibit Room Tone that uses wearable technology to record London city life

11. Various of exhibit Fibre Market that demonstrates how wool clothes can be recycled and sorted by colour

12. Mid of neon panel reading: (English) "Love/Fear"

13. Various of exhibit looking at the Grindr ( gay social network app) phenomenon

14. Various of exhibit by Chinese fashion designer Ma Ke who uses ancient wooden looms to create the fashions

15. Pull focus from Italian Arco lamp to British wallpaper by Nina Campbell

16. Wide of the Pan European Living Room exhibit - a room furnished with designs from each of the 28 member states of the EU

17. Pan left of blinds in the colours of EU member state flags#

18. Mid of Romanian coffee pot by Ero on a coffee table

19. Various set up shots of Justin McGuirk

20. SOUNDBITE (English) Justin McGuirk, chief curator, Design Museum:

"The average European living room, or our idea of the domestic interior, is really a construct of European cooperation and collaboration, trade agreements, designers from Britain and Holland working with manufacturers in Italy and Sweden and so in some senses the idea that one can pull out of that is an illusion."

21. Wide of Pan European Living Room exhibit with photograph of Rotterdam in 1945, destroyed after World War II as a backdrop

22. Various set up shots of Alice Black

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Alice Black, deputy director of the Design Museum:

"So behind me you will see a crowdsourced wall, so what we did we asked our audiences what they wanted to see in a design museum, we sort of turned the table on them and said what do you think is good design, what in your every day design objects make a better life or a more beautiful life around you. So they sent us about 850 nominations from about 25 different countries and we selected 250 pieces that are on the wall behind me."

24. Mid of crowdsourced design wall with Underground sign in centre

25. Close of Fisher Price talking telephone

26. Pan right from violin to Game Boy and Bible

27. Various exterior shots of Design Museum

LEAD IN:

Designs inspired by the London Underground and Brexit are now on show in the new-look Design Museum in Kensington.

The new space is in a Grade-II listed piece of 1960s modernist architecture, three times larger than the Museum's previous home.

STORY-LINE:

Meet Mimus the mechanical robot who only wants to be your friend.

This 1,200kg industrial arm has been programmed to respond and interact with passersby.

Mimus is the one of the attractions in the new Design Museum in London.

Art critic Estelle Lovatt is one of the first people to get a look around the museum

"You know what I think of the new building, and I use the word sit as well, I love the fact that as soon as you walk in you can walk up the stairs and you can also sit on them. That struck me that there's so much humour here as well. You know I love the fact that this piece here behind me, I don't know whether to laugh at it or be afraid of it but it's the interactiveness of this museum that will make it steps ahead of, leap years ahead of the other museums that we go into now," she says.

The Design Museum outgrew its previous home on the South Bank of the Thames and has moved into Kensington, a district well-known for its important museums, including the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The new building occupies a Grade-II listed modernist site created in the 1960s for the Commonwealth Institute.

The restoration of the empty building took five years and required an £83 million investment.

Museum director Deyan Sudjic explains the importance of the move.

He says: "The design museum is here in its new home in Kensington, new home? Actually the transformation of a building from the 60s. We've moved from a charming converted banana ripening warehouse next to Tower Bridge here to this great piece of 60s architecture brought back to life. We've moved because we think design is to important to leave to the specialists, to the priesthood, we're trying to do here for contemporary design and architecture what the Tate Modern did for contemporary art. Turning something that was seen as on the margins of the wider conversation into something right at the centre. So we have three times the space, 100,000 square feet, we can offer free admission. We have a chance really to talk to a much wider audience why design is important."

The Design Museum opens with a striking exhibition called Fear and Love, which challenged 11 designers to react to a wide range of issues that affect the modern world.

Dutch designer Christien Meinderstma's installation Fibre Market explores the possibility of recycling our clothes and sorting them into their constituent parts.

The work displays mounds of brightly coloured wools.

A New York architect has created a space that looks at how social networking is affecting our pursuit of sex.

His work explores the phenomenon of the gay networking site Grindr.

One of the most topical works in the exhibition is Pan European Living Room.

In post-Brexit Britain the piece looks at how our interior design is so closely connected across Europe.

It takes a typical living room and furnishes it with furniture, wallpaper and designs from the 28 EU member states.

Justin McGuirk, chief curator at the Design Museum, says: "The average European living room, or our idea of the domestic interior, is really a construct of European cooperation and collaboration, trade agreements, designers from Britain and Holland working with manufacturers in Italy and Sweden and so in some senses the idea that one can pull out of that is an illusion."

The centre-piece of the room is a vertical blind featuring a barcode design of the EU member states' flags.

When the blind opens it reveals a vista of the shattered city of Rotterdam in 1945 at the end of World War II - a stark reminder of what can happen when European countries stop cooperating.

The Design Museum's deputy director Alice Black wants people to feel that they are involved in the evolving story of design.

She created a crowd-sourced feature asking people to nominate items in their everyday lives.

Black explains: "So behind me you will see a crowd-sourced wall, so what we did we asked our audiences what they wanted to see in a design museum, we sort of turned the table on them and said what do you think is good design, what in your every day design objects make a better life or a more beautiful life around you. So they sent us about 850 nominations from about 25 different countries and we selected 250 pieces that are on the wall behind me."

There surely can't be many museums where a Fisher Price talking telephone, a Nintendo Gameboy and the Holy Bible all share the same wall space.

The new Design Museum is expected to attract up to 650,000 visitors in its first year and is free to enter, for the first time.

London, UK - 17 November 2016

1. Wide of robotic arm

2. Close of same

3. Various set up shots of Estelle Lovatt taking selfie with robotic arm

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Estelle Lovatt, independent art critic:

"You know what I think of the new building, and I use the word sit as well, I love the fact that as soon as you walk in you can walk up the stairs and you can also sit on them. That struck me that there's so much humour here as well. You know I love the fact that this piece here behind me, I don't know whether to laugh with it or be afraid of it but it's the interactiveness of this museum that will make it steps ahead, leap years ahead of the other museums that we go into now."

5. Mid of robotic arm

6. Tilt up of entrance to Design Museum with stairs doubling up as seats

7. Wide tilt down from concrete ceiling to museum entrance

8. Various set up shots of walking up stairs and through museum

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Deyan Sudjic, director of Design Museum:

"The design museum is here in its new home in Kensington, new home? Actually the transformation of a building from the 60s. We've moved from a charming converted banana ripening warehouse next to Tower Bridge here to this great piece of 60s architecture brought back to life. We've moved because we think design is to important to leave to the specialists, to the priesthood, we're trying to do here for contemporary design and architecture what the Tate Modern did for contemporary art. Turning something that was seen as on the margins of the wider conversation into something right at the centre. So we have three times the space, 100,000 square feet, we can offer free admission. We have a chance really to talk to a much wider audience about why design is important."

10. Mid of exhibit Room Tone that uses wearable technology to record London city life

11. Various of exhibit Fibre Market that demonstrates how wool clothes can be recycled and sorted by colour

12. Mid of neon panel reading: (English) "Love/Fear"

13. Various of exhibit looking at the Grindr ( gay social network app) phenomenon

14. Various of exhibit by Chinese fashion designer Ma Ke who uses ancient wooden looms to create the fashions

15. Pull focus from Italian Arco lamp to British wallpaper by Nina Campbell

16. Wide of the Pan European Living Room exhibit - a room furnished with designs from each of the 28 member states of the EU

17. Pan left of blinds in the colours of EU member state flags#

18. Mid of Romanian coffee pot by Ero on a coffee table

19. Various set up shots of Justin McGuirk

20. SOUNDBITE (English) Justin McGuirk, chief curator, Design Museum:

"The average European living room, or our idea of the domestic interior, is really a construct of European cooperation and collaboration, trade agreements, designers from Britain and Holland working with manufacturers in Italy and Sweden and so in some senses the idea that one can pull out of that is an illusion."

21. Wide of Pan European Living Room exhibit with photograph of Rotterdam in 1945, destroyed after World War II as a backdrop

22. Various set up shots of Alice Black

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Alice Black, deputy director of the Design Museum:

"So behind me you will see a crowdsourced wall, so what we did we asked our audiences what they wanted to see in a design museum, we sort of turned the table on them and said what do you think is good design, what in your every day design objects make a better life or a more beautiful life around you. So they sent us about 850 nominations from about 25 different countries and we selected 250 pieces that are on the wall behind me."

24. Mid of crowdsourced design wall with Underground sign in centre

25. Close of Fisher Price talking telephone

26. Pan right from violin to Game Boy and Bible

27. Various exterior shots of Design Museum

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4066587

LEAD IN:

Designs inspired by the London Underground and Brexit are now on show in the new-look Design Museum in Kensington.

The new space is in a Grade-II listed piece of 1960s modernist architecture, three times larger than the Museum's previous home.

STORY-LINE:

Meet Mimus the mechanical robot who only wants to be your friend.

This 1,200kg industrial arm has been programmed to respond and interact with passersby.

Mimus is the one of the attractions in the new Design Museum in London.

Art critic Estelle Lovatt is one of the first people to get a look around the museum

"You know what I think of the new building, and I use the word sit as well, I love the fact that as soon as you walk in you can walk up the stairs and you can also sit on them. That struck me that there's so much humour here as well. You know I love the fact that this piece here behind me, I don't know whether to laugh at it or be afraid of it but it's the interactiveness of this museum that will make it steps ahead of, leap years ahead of the other museums that we go into now," she says.

The Design Museum outgrew its previous home on the South Bank of the Thames and has moved into Kensington, a district well-known for its important museums, including the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The new building occupies a Grade-II listed modernist site created in the 1960s for the Commonwealth Institute.

The restoration of the empty building took five years and required an £83 million investment.

Museum director Deyan Sudjic explains the importance of the move.

He says: "The design museum is here in its new home in Kensington, new home? Actually the transformation of a building from the 60s. We've moved from a charming converted banana ripening warehouse next to Tower Bridge here to this great piece of 60s architecture brought back to life. We've moved because we think design is to important to leave to the specialists, to the priesthood, we're trying to do here for contemporary design and architecture what the Tate Modern did for contemporary art. Turning something that was seen as on the margins of the wider conversation into something right at the centre. So we have three times the space, 100,000 square feet, we can offer free admission. We have a chance really to talk to a much wider audience why design is important."

The Design Museum opens with a striking exhibition called Fear and Love, which challenged 11 designers to react to a wide range of issues that affect the modern world.

Dutch designer Christien Meinderstma's installation Fibre Market explores the possibility of recycling our clothes and sorting them into their constituent parts.

The work displays mounds of brightly coloured wools.

A New York architect has created a space that looks at how social networking is affecting our pursuit of sex.

His work explores the phenomenon of the gay networking site Grindr.

One of the most topical works in the exhibition is Pan European Living Room.

In post-Brexit Britain the piece looks at how our interior design is so closely connected across Europe.

It takes a typical living room and furnishes it with furniture, wallpaper and designs from the 28 EU member states.

Justin McGuirk, chief curator at the Design Museum, says: "The average European living room, or our idea of the domestic interior, is really a construct of European cooperation and collaboration, trade agreements, designers from Britain and Holland working with manufacturers in Italy and Sweden and so in some senses the idea that one can pull out of that is an illusion."

The centre-piece of the room is a vertical blind featuring a barcode design of the EU member states' flags.

When the blind opens it reveals a vista of the shattered city of Rotterdam in 1945 at the end of World War II - a stark reminder of what can happen when European countries stop cooperating.

The Design Museum's deputy director Alice Black wants people to feel that they are involved in the evolving story of design.

She created a crowd-sourced feature asking people to nominate items in their everyday lives.

Black explains: "So behind me you will see a crowd-sourced wall, so what we did we asked our audiences what they wanted to see in a design museum, we sort of turned the table on them and said what do you think is good design, what in your every day design objects make a better life or a more beautiful life around you. So they sent us about 850 nominations from about 25 different countries and we selected 250 pieces that are on the wall behind me."

There surely can't be many museums where a Fisher Price talking telephone, a Nintendo Gameboy and the Holy Bible all share the same wall space.

The new Design Museum is expected to attract up to 650,000 visitors in its first year and is free to enter, for the first time.

London, UK - 17 November 2016

1. Wide of robotic arm

2. Close of same

3. Various set up shots of Estelle Lovatt taking selfie with robotic arm

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Estelle Lovatt, independent art critic:

"You know what I think of the new building, and I use the word sit as well, I love the fact that as soon as you walk in you can walk up the stairs and you can also sit on them. That struck me that there's so much humour here as well. You know I love the fact that this piece here behind me, I don't know whether to laugh with it or be afraid of it but it's the interactiveness of this museum that will make it steps ahead, leap years ahead of the other museums that we go into now."

5. Mid of robotic arm

6. Tilt up of entrance to Design Museum with stairs doubling up as seats

7. Wide tilt down from concrete ceiling to museum entrance

8. Various set up shots of walking up stairs and through museum

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Deyan Sudjic, director of Design Museum:

"The design museum is here in its new home in Kensington, new home? Actually the transformation of a building from the 60s. We've moved from a charming converted banana ripening warehouse next to Tower Bridge here to this great piece of 60s architecture brought back to life. We've moved because we think design is to important to leave to the specialists, to the priesthood, we're trying to do here for contemporary design and architecture what the Tate Modern did for contemporary art. Turning something that was seen as on the margins of the wider conversation into something right at the centre. So we have three times the space, 100,000 square feet, we can offer free admission. We have a chance really to talk to a much wider audience about why design is important."

10. Mid of exhibit Room Tone that uses wearable technology to record London city life

11. Various of exhibit Fibre Market that demonstrates how wool clothes can be recycled and sorted by colour

12. Mid of neon panel reading: (English) "Love/Fear"

13. Various of exhibit looking at the Grindr ( gay social network app) phenomenon

14. Various of exhibit by Chinese fashion designer Ma Ke who uses ancient wooden looms to create the fashions

15. Pull focus from Italian Arco lamp to British wallpaper by Nina Campbell

16. Wide of the Pan European Living Room exhibit - a room furnished with designs from each of the 28 member states of the EU

17. Pan left of blinds in the colours of EU member state flags#

18. Mid of Romanian coffee pot by Ero on a coffee table

19. Various set up shots of Justin McGuirk

20. SOUNDBITE (English) Justin McGuirk, chief curator, Design Museum:

"The average European living room, or our idea of the domestic interior, is really a construct of European cooperation and collaboration, trade agreements, designers from Britain and Holland working with manufacturers in Italy and Sweden and so in some senses the idea that one can pull out of that is an illusion."

21. Wide of Pan European Living Room exhibit with photograph of Rotterdam in 1945, destroyed after World War II as a backdrop

22. Various set up shots of Alice Black

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Alice Black, deputy director of the Design Museum:

"So behind me you will see a crowdsourced wall, so what we did we asked our audiences what they wanted to see in a design museum, we sort of turned the table on them and said what do you think is good design, what in your every day design objects make a better life or a more beautiful life around you. So they sent us about 850 nominations from about 25 different countries and we selected 250 pieces that are on the wall behind me."

24. Mid of crowdsourced design wall with Underground sign in centre

25. Close of Fisher Price talking telephone

26. Pan right from violin to Game Boy and Bible

27. Various exterior shots of Design Museum