With the help of White Blackbird, country house parties and the spirit and decadence of the Bright Young Things lives on. At Stoke Place, a 17th Century country house hotel, nestled in deepest darkest Buckinghamshire (it is rather near Slough but don’t let that put you off) you can experience a party in the hedonistic style of the 1920s - too much alcohol, flamboyant attire and a rather eccentric crowd of people all out to enjoy life.
The latest event was entitled ‘Tainted Love’ - and judging from how many guests wore black it felt like a wake of rejected lovers. Every room seemed to buzz with people like never before - these parties are already becoming legendary and are a must if you are growing weary of the usual nightclubs and bars.
Here you can float from room to room, where you might chance upon lovers kissing in the cinema made for two, a fascinating talk on Aphrodisiacs by Head Chef Craig Van der Meer who shares his equally stimulating canapés, or The Robin Collective explaining their secret ‘Love Potion’ which they insist you try at your own risk!
We sampled delicious concoctions from the Apothecary bar before being tempted by vodka guru William Borrell into playing a ridiculously easy game of cards. The aim of the game? To win a shot of his new flavoured Vestal vodka!
Sometime later….a large crowd had gathered to watch an almost naked performance of Adam and Eve by Trixie Malicious and Josh Knowles in the Garden of Eden. This was followed by the Star Crossed Lovers assault course - and by this time there were many volunteers hoping to embarrass their friends!
A large queue was developing for the 24 red roses midnight feast, heavily protected by numerous security guards predicting a stampede - understandable considering that amount of sugar in the various forms of Turkish delight, chocolate and macaroons hadn’t been seen since Marie Antoinette’s boudoir.
At White Blackbird, smiling as one of the many photographers takes your picture, you realise that now you too are one of the beautiful people. You know how to dress, make love and most of all - party. There is only one tragedy, time seems to go at breakneck speed. It is as though you are lost in a maze you try hard not to escape from - you open doors to bedrooms where you might find ladies dressing up in vintage, people participating in ‘Speed Relationships’, or encounter a vision of a veiled woman dancing seductively.
Some fortunate guests are lucky enough to retire to their own rooms for the night. For the less privileged, the coach, which collected the party-goers from Hanover Square at 6.45pm, safely returns them to London at 2.30am. Tickets are £35 inclusive of transport. With themes as varied as The Silver Ball, Childhood and St George’s we eagerly anticipate the next evening of magic and wonderment awaiting us!
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