Summer & Sociability at 12 Hay Hill
There was something wonderfully relaxed about our Summer & Sociability evening at 12 Hay Hill. With some guests already back from summer holidays and others counting down the days until theirs began, conversations quickly turned to favourite destinations, long lunches and plans still to come.
Despite another 33-degree day in London, the beautifully cool surroundings of The Bar at this historic Mayfair private members’ club offered the perfect retreat. Guests arrived to elegant long glasses of Tidal Rum cocktails, crisp, refreshing and unmistakably summery, before the room gradually filled with the warm hum of people meeting for the first time.
Our guests certainly embraced the dress code. Sharp, stylish and impeccably turned out, they looked every bit at home beneath the marble, soft lighting and beautiful interiors. Several guests even commented on how refreshing it was to arrive at an event where everyone had made such an effort.
The canapés, beautifully prepared by the team at 12 Hay Hill, were a real talking point throughout the evening. The Severn & Wye smoked salmon blinis with keta caviar and crème fraiche were a sophisticated twist on a classic, the Devon crab brioche rolls with avocado and pickled fennel were wonderfully fresh, while the truffle and parmesan arancini with black garlic emulsion proved dangerously moreish.
As always, it’s the messages we receive afterwards that tell the real story.
“Thank you for a super evening.”
“Meeting people this way is far nicer than dating apps.”
“A first-class event.”
“Thank you for being such an attentive hostess.”
What particularly delighted us this time was hearing from so many of the gentlemen afterwards. Several took the time to write simply to say thank you, others asked to join us again, and several guests left hoping to see each other again. We took that as a rather good sign that we’d assembled exactly the right crowd.
A huge thank you to Greta and the exceptional team, Botond, Dominic and Taylor, at 12 Hay Hill. From the flawless organisation to the warm hospitality behind the bar, every detail was delivered with effortless professionalism and helped create the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere our guests enjoyed so much.
Judging by the messages we woke up to the following morning, quite a few conversations continued long after the evening had come to an end. Some evenings finish when the bar closes. The best ones carry on long afterwards.