Mayfair, flamingos and Berlin: London’s retailers and marketers have held the Square Mile’s (and Germany’s) best Christmas parties so far
Last week, The Capitalist delivered the sad news that around a quarter of businesses weren’t even planning a Christmas party, and issued an appeal for the City’s most raucous office do. Well, boy did you guys deliver.
Wednesday was a big one for London’s financial marketers and PRs. Johnny Hornby, founder of WPP-backed communications group The&Partnership, and Jenny Halpern Prince, founder of PR agency Halpern, hosted their annual Christmas party at Mayfair's Mark's Club, bringing together the great and good of media and retail.
Not least among them was Topshop boss Sir Philip Green and former M&S chief Stuart Rose. One recalls an extremely public slagging match between the two over the years.
Years back Green grabbed Rose by the lapels at the retailer’s headquarters, berating him over his decision to take the chief role at M&S over working with Green’s rival retail empire. Luckily, the stormy waters between the two had calmed by this week's festivities.
Halpern and Hornby weren’t the only marketing bosses ‘avin it large this week. Firms Buchanan and Quill united for a colourful affair of their own just off Fleet Street.
The “club tropicana” theme and costume competition made this the Square Mile’s brightest bash so far. Congratulations go to Buchanan partner Henry Harrison Topham, who’s vibrant suit won him the “best dressed male” prize.
As for festive extravagance, hats off to PRs at Lansons, who were flown out to Berlin earlier this month for a Christmas-cum-25th anniversary party at the Ritz. Apparently this was a special case, though. Lansons couldn’t afford a 20th anniversary do in 2010 due to the 2008 crash, and so a source tells us this year they “went a bit mad.” Well, who can blame them?