The Bar at the Mandarin Hyde Park Hotel was full to the brim by 6.00pm. I had a very enjoyable couple of hours with Tony McHale, the new general manager learning about the exciting new plans for their two new restaurants as well as the three towered apartment block next door that will be managed by the hotel.
I then joined Chiggles Sopher and Joa Studholme who came back to Kensington Park Gardens for a light supper and chats. Chiigles was en route to NYC for a nephew's bar mitzvah at the Pierre Hotel in New York....they certainly know how to do things in style the Sophers...
Sally Prideaux and I met up with a talented designer called Benjamen Ryan with a view to him working with us on some of the designs for Whitefriars Glass. He has some original skill and great ideas.
Tom Dixon's party that night at the Portobello Dock on the Harrow Road was an exciting and stylish affair showcasing some of the latest fashions in furniture and product design. Angel from Vessel was there, full of wit and wisdom and guarding a very beautiful stand. The champagne flowed and the evening worked superbly.
The following day I had the most delicious and jolly lunch with Craig Brown, his wife the writer Frances Welch and son at the Electric. In the evening Liz Hoggard met me at the Flow Gallery's 10th Birthday party. Yvonna had done a splendid job with an eclectic selection and delicious canapes. We again moved in a party to the Wine Factory on Westbourne Grove to enjoy fish soup, several bottles of Pinot Noir and finally Calvados...
Lunch the next day was at the House of St Barnabas in Soho Square with Richard Hodkinson, his oversize skate board and general business wisdom. He had been up all night before playing and happily winning at poker. After lunch, which he treated me to he joined the Club paying his membership on the spot. Nathaniel from Quintessentially showed us around and was truly thrilled about the previous offer of art classes...
I then joined Chiggles Sopher and Joa Studholme who came back to Kensington Park Gardens for a light supper and chats. Chiigles was en route to NYC for a nephew's bar mitzvah at the Pierre Hotel in New York....they certainly know how to do things in style the Sophers...
Sally Prideaux and I met up with a talented designer called Benjamen Ryan with a view to him working with us on some of the designs for Whitefriars Glass. He has some original skill and great ideas.
Tom Dixon's party that night at the Portobello Dock on the Harrow Road was an exciting and stylish affair showcasing some of the latest fashions in furniture and product design. Angel from Vessel was there, full of wit and wisdom and guarding a very beautiful stand. The champagne flowed and the evening worked superbly.
The following day I had the most delicious and jolly lunch with Craig Brown, his wife the writer Frances Welch and son at the Electric. In the evening Liz Hoggard met me at the Flow Gallery's 10th Birthday party. Yvonna had done a splendid job with an eclectic selection and delicious canapes. We again moved in a party to the Wine Factory on Westbourne Grove to enjoy fish soup, several bottles of Pinot Noir and finally Calvados...
Lunch the next day was at the House of St Barnabas in Soho Square with Richard Hodkinson, his oversize skate board and general business wisdom. He had been up all night before playing and happily winning at poker. After lunch, which he treated me to he joined the Club paying his membership on the spot. Nathaniel from Quintessentially showed us around and was truly thrilled about the previous offer of art classes...