Long ago, back in my publishing days, I quickly learned never to ask people their idea of "perfect luxury". Nine times out of ten, people would say ‘time’, and that would end that line of enquiry. And more than being a conversation stopper (rather than a conversation starter) I’ve always thought that time really isn’t the ultimate luxury; that privilege belongs to friendship. The most perfect and precious luxury is the company of interesting, convivial people. It’s being together to break bread and share ideas. It’s the act of empathy that comes with listening to someone else’s story and telling them your own.
And don’t take it from me that friendship is the ultimate luxury - take it from Aristotle: “Without friends, no one would want to live, even if he had all other goods.”
The luxury of friendship was what the 4th Floor Supper Club was all about this past December. Walpole and Sybarite brought together Walpole members for an evening of exceptional seasonal food from Sybarite’s resident chef, Humphrey Fletcher, of delicious and intriguingly unusual wines from Lea and Sandeman, and for inspiring, stimulating conversation amongst people who reconnected with old friends and made new ones.
As you'll see in the gallery below, we had some stellar guests in attendance, including bespoke tailor Kathryn Sargent, Manolo Blahnik Chief Executive Kristina Blahnik, Church's Chief Executive Denni Manzato, designer Oliver Spencer and many more.
As the founders and owners of Sybarite – the number one luxury architecture firm in China (rather nice that Sybarite is immortalising British creativity in the buildings they create in China’s key cities) and an important player on the luxury scene globally (have a look at their work in Harrods at the new Moet & Chandon bar) – Simon Mitchell and Torquil McIntosh effortlessly create physical spaces that allow the user's imagination to roam and for magic to happen.
Of course, this was proven through their generosity and effortless hospitality with this event last month, and I thank them for creating a space where people could connect across industries and build lasting friendships.
Scroll down to see all the picture from the event.
