Under the glittering gilded ceiling of the spectacular Pompadour Ballroom at the Hotel Café Royal, we gathered together with a selection of our members, partners and supporters to celebrate the arrival of the new edition of the Walpole Book of British Luxury, our annual homage to the high-end brands that make our country a world leader in luxury.
The theme for the issue, as introduced by our Chief Executive Officer Helen Brocklebank in her opening speech, is "Green and Pleasant Land" - something reinforced not just by the wonderfully whimsical cover designed by storied pattern-maker Cole & Son, but also by the canopy of greenery adorning the walls of our event provided by master florist Wild About and the scent of fig drifting through the air courtesy of a few well-placed Diptyque candles.
As the late afternoon turned into early evening, guests took to the dancefloor as ALR hit the decks or made their way to the galleried second-floor terrace straddling Glasshouse Street. Here in the warm breeze, enjoying a glass of Laurent-Perrier or some of the delicious canapés provided by the hotel's chefs, you'd have been hard-pressed not look up the stunning architecture of Sir Reginald Blomfield's Quadrant, illuminated by the setting sun, or the streets of Soho below, once again buzzing with tourists, and thought that this truly is what makes Britian great.
Scroll down to see our gallery of images from the event below.
We would like to thank all our partners and supporters who made both the Walpole Book of British Luxury 22/23 and this launch party possible: Leycol, GF Smith, Nous Partners, Freight Brokers, Moriarty Events, Cole & Son, Wild About, Laurent-Perrier, ALR, Adam Duke Photography, Allied Content, and, of course, Hotel Café Royal.
Images shot by Adam Duke Photography.
Read the digital edition of the Walpole Book of British Luxury 22/23 here.
