The Chesterfield Mayfair and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra collaborate on a beautiful supperclub event, to launch a series of exclusive experiences at the hotel and other Red Carnation Hotel properties, as we head into the festive season. OutThere was very lucky to have front-row seats.
Our friends at the Chesterfield Mayfair, the central London hotel that combines old-world, time-travelling charm with impeccable hospitality, kicks off Red Carnation Hotels’ unique series of exclusive experiential activities across the world through a fabulous collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Lanson Champagne.
Designed to create opportunities for OutThere travellers to reconnect and spend quality time together (despite challenging times), the special supperclub was held at the hotel’s ritzy Butler Restaurant, for just 30 VIP guests – primarily to comply with London’s new social distancing rules at time of press – resulting in an elegant, personal and romantic event.
We dressed fancily for dinner (you don’t need to tell us twice) and arrived to a shimmering venue, low-lit in mesmerising candlelight, with tables of two arranged across the versatile space (they were serving up their infamous ‘sweet-shop’ afternoon tea just a few hours before). We were plied with lashings of delicious Lanson champagne and blanc de blanc, as a string quartet from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra came on to play some beautiful music, in between seven magnificent courses.
The tasting-menu was put together by Executive Chef Nathan Hindmarsh and featured fine and worldly ingredients – Scottish Orkney scallops, English Venison and Japanese Wagyu were delicious highlights. It showcased the hotel’s culinary prowess and ability to turn food into an experiential affair. Each course was matched with bottomless wine-pairing from the hotel’s cellar, originating from their sister vineyard Bouchard Finlayson in South Africa.
The quartet bowed a musical journey from Hadyn, to Elgar; and by the sweet course, were getting more upbeat with Cole Porter. There were a number of emotional moments – considering these talented, world-class musicians had not played to a live audience for over seven months – especially during a fitting musical tribute to the hotel, the 1940s classic “A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square,” (the landmark being just up the street) invoking the spirit of community and resilience through adversity.
It is heartwarming to see that through these uncertain times, the Chesterfield Mayfair still managed to create special nuggets of experiential travel and imbue their brand values of luxury hospitality with added access to one of London’s top cultural institutions. It’s no secret that there are sad parallels between the Arts and travel industries during the Covid pandemic, and it was lovely that both can support each other via collaboration like this.
The Chesterfield Mayfair is a unique experience in itself but combined with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, with its global reputation for music-making of the highest quality, the experience was no short of magical. We were very privileged to be part of it.
Through this unique partnership, the hotel and its sister properties across London can also arrange very special, one-off events for OutThere travellers. A private, in-suite recital comes to mind (although we may have to sit and listen from the four poster bed of our Chesterfield Suite to be able to get the quartet in), but when lockdown measures change for the better, visitors to and in London may want to consider special VIP access to performances at Cadogan Hall and the Royal Albert Hall.
But in the meantime, we’re told that Red Carnation Hotels and RPO will continue their unique supperclub series at The Chesterfield Mayfair, future dates are to be set. If you’re looking to plan an effortlessly romantic New Year’s Eve, we propose (yes, we meant to use that word, hint-hint) that you consider the already scheduled, celebratory performance at the Chesterfield Mayfair, or for something fit for a queen (or two), a similar event at The Rubens at the Palace.
Both will be brilliant ways to see off this epic year and wave it a fervent goodbye.
www.chesterfieldmayfair.com | www.redcarnationhotels.com
Photography by Uwern Jong, Providence Doucet and Joel Wyncott
