THE EVENT: a preview of the Christmas party packages available in London’s largest seasonal marquee
THE VENUE: Bloomsbury Big Top on Coram’s Fields
THE HOST: Awesome Events
THE THEME: ‘Cirque de Noel’
THE MENU: caterer Zest put on a relentless supply of high-quality canapés. (In order) spicy naan with chicken mousse and mango; sashimi salad; quail egg and tomato tapenade on brioche;
crayfish and seaweed on a burger bun; stilton mousse with fig on walnut bread; miniature cheeseburgers; onion soup; potato dauphinoise; mushroom stroganoff tartlet (a real highlight); strawberry
mille feuille; chocolate brownie with raspberry; lemon tart
TO DRINK: prosecco, wine, beer, and fruit juice
SPEAKERS: Awesome Events’ MD Denis McCourt, followed by Zest’s MD Steven Hancock
ENTERTAINMENT: burlesque dancers, a bellowing ringmaster, HM the Queen (well, a look-a-like at least), aerial acrobats, pole dancers, a rodeo bull, amusement stalls and gambling tables
TALKING POINT: ‘The Queen’s rather droll speech
SUPPLIERS: catering from Zest; light, furniture, music, equipment and other hardware from Awesome Events’ sister company Awesome FX; stalls, rodeo bull and gambling tables from Funtime Hire
WE LOVED: that the performers made it feel like a genuine circus event, particularly the acrobat on chains –
amazing