Annual General Meeting for 200
The brief
To host an evening event for 200 people after an annual general meeting that would bring members of an organisation together to celebrate the year’s achievements. Having traditionally opted for a formal sit down dinner, the client asked the team at 41 Portland Place to create something more dynamic that would allow opportunities for networking as well as a filling evening meal and drinks with a celebratory feel.
The 41 Portland Place solution
The event took on a house party feel with all rooms on the ground and first floors used allowing guests the opportunity to explore the building while catching up with old friends. Food stalls were set up in the Exhibition Area and the John Newsom-Davis suite to encourage guests to explore while sampling a variety of delicious dishes. The Laurie Landeau Room made for a perfect bar area with flowers adorning the marble fireplace. Contemporary styling of glass poseur tables and Louis ghost dining chairs combined beautifully with the Georgian features of this period room. The Wolfson conference suite was transformed into a bistro dining area offering a secluded space for guests to catch up with friends at the candlelit tables. The crowning glory of the evening was the Ann Rylands Terrace Room where the antique dining table was transformed into a cheeseboard so large it almost filled the room.
The food
Best of British food stalls
Butchers stall
Roast rib of Longhorn beef, mustard & honey glazed shallots
Honey glazed Gloucester Old Spot pork belly, griddled apples
Goose fat & thyme potatoes
Yorkshire puddings & gravy
Welsh rarebit Portobello mushroom
Selection of artisan breads & baps
Fishmongers stall
Cured organic salmon
Beetroot cured salmon pastrami, lemon, dill & black pepper
Smoked fish collection: eel, oak smoked trout, hot smoked salmon
Pickled cucumber, Lincolnshire potato pancakes, Hoxton rye & spinach blinis
Horseradish crème fraiche
Cheesemongers stall
Baked Vacherin Mont d’or
Caraway & paprika straws, honey bread sticks & toasted sourdough
British cheeseboard – Montgomery cheddar, Blue Monday, Dorstone goats cheese, Oxford Isis
Quince jelly, pickled cauliflower, English celery & grape chutney
Rosemary wafers & oatcakes
Hot bowl food
Pearl barley risotto, sage roasted pumpkins & broccoli crisps
Shoulder of Welsh lamb, celeriac mash, mint & caper salsa
Soft boiled hens egg with smoked eel soldiers
Dessert
Warm brioche doughnuts, valrhona chocolate, candied cherries
The final verdict
Guests were so happy with the new format that they insisted it be repeated again for next year’s celebrations and a booking is already in the diary at 41 Portland Place.
