Sunday, 17 May 2009 The champagne has been chilled, the red carpets cleaned, marquees erected and invitations lined up on the mantelpieces of Britain’s
better homes: the summer Season is upon us. And despite the global recession, a remarkable number of highly priced, high-profile events will be bigger than ever this year. From tomorrow’s sell-out charity gala preview at the Chelsea Flower Show to the exclusive Cartier party, which marks the end of the tournament at Guards Polo Club in Windsor and the close of the Season, events are flourishing. “It’s our 25th anniversary, so we want to make it even more special,” says Arnaud Bamberger, managing director of Cartier. With just 600 invitation-only tickets available, the Cartier party guest list reads like a Who’s Who of British celebrity, with the actresses Rosamund Pike and Emma Watson among those tucking into food by chef Anton Mosimann last year. The sporting and cultural events that these parties celebrate are also enjoying success against the prevailing financial climate. Wimbledon ticket sales are up 20 per cent on 2008 2,000 extra visitors are expected at the Guards polo tournament this year and Glyndebourne opera ticket sales are on the rise, proving particularly popular with the under-30s. “It is worth remembering that many of today’s Season events are open to all,” says Jo Bryant of Debrett’s, publisher of guides to social etiquette. “Good ticket sales may be as a result of people deciding to spend their money on an event closer to home instead of their holiday.” But not all of the Season’s social events are faring well. Despite the success with its standard tickets, Glyndebourne has been forced to cut prices for its gala concert from £2,000 to £500 due to “the demise of the economy”. Tatler has cancelled its famous summer party, fearing that the social calendar couldn’t sustain it as well as a 25th anniversary bash it has planned for autumn.
Cartier party at the Guards Polo Club, Windsor