It was a glittering night in the heart of Pall Mall at the Philip Mould Gallery for the Spear’s summer party, writes Olenka Hamilton
The great and the good gathered in Mayfair last night for an evening of champagne, caviar, and sheer good fun. If anyone was brooding about the uncertain political situation, it wasn’t obvious as the evening proceeded in a spirit of post-election party fever.
Spear’s doesn’t need an excuse to gather a fascinating and eclectic crowd for a fabulous party. But the magazine is now in its eleventh year, and is in mid-season form under the stewardship of new editor Alec Marsh: that was reason enough to celebrate with the editor arriving slightly late due to putting the new mag to bed.
And besides, no one does it better. As predicted, the three-storey gallery was packed to the rafters. The summer sunshine saw many spill out onto the streets of Pall Mall to sip on Miraval rosé and grand cru Chablis Valmur 2015 – courtesy of Stephen Burton at Bordeaux Cellars, and sparkling wine thanks to Hattingley Valley – a rare treat.
The evening was headline sponsored by multi-family real estate advisory firm Mount Kendal (partnering with Sandaire), with Imperial Blue Finance – the leading boutique property finance boutique – as associate sponsor. Jamie Ritblat, Dan Dawe and Adnan Ozair were among senior executives from Mount Kendal in attendance, while Tom and Jamie Harries were there from Imperial Blue Finance.
Thanks also to Galvin Weston owner of Charbonnel et Walker for their endless supply of Champagne truffles, as well as Kasperskian for the caviar. Hosts Philip and Catherine Mould mingled as the guests came in past a bronze of Baroness Thatcher, one of ten from her family’s private collection.
This was also a cross-party affair, a night when political differences were put aside. Remainer campaigner and Spear’s contributor Gina Miller rubbed shoulders with former UKIP MP Douglas Carswell and Brexit champion Sir Bill Cash MP.
Gina Miller said: ‘It was lovely to be able to share a glass of fizz with Carswell, Cash and Co. Even though our politics differ, our civility does not.’
The evening had only one minor confusion, when Spear’s editor-in-chief William Cash, noticing a sizeable hole in the outside pavement dug out by a gas company, feared a plot to kill off some of the assembled Brexiteer politicians and economists. Fortunately, these fears proved unfounded.
This is an exciting time for Spear’s, with issue 57 about to hit the shops. It features a major interview with Norman Lamont, as well as the magazine’s latest wealth management index. The launch of the latest edition of the Spear’s 500, the Spear’s Wealth Insight Forum, not to mention the latest Spear’s 500 Travel Guide, will all follow later in the year.
Among other notable revellers were businessman Robin Birley, Damian Collins MP, Lord Magan, Bobby Melville, Anne Mcelvoy, Harry Mount, property mogul Harvey Soning, BBC journalist Stephanie Flanders, crime novelist Philip Kerr, and Spear’s columnists Clive Aslet and John Arlidge. All in all, this was a night to remember for everyone involved.
Olenka Hamilton is staff writer at Spear’s