WHAT: Tuesday 22nd November 2011, stars including David Walliams, Zac Goldsmith, Michael Vaughn, Jimmy Anderson, and Olivia Grant were out in force last night to support the Quintessentially Foundation’s inaugural poker evening, held in the beautifully restored Lancaster Ballroom at The Savoy Hotel.
Following a champagne reception, the evening saw glamorous VIPs, movers and shakers, and business luminaries taking their seats alongside poker enthusiasts for a ‘Texas Hold’em’ themed poker tournament. At stake were eight amazing prizes including a mind-blowing luxury safari holiday to Africa, and the ’money-can’t-buy’ culinary experience which will see top Michelin starred chef, Marcus Wareing, preparing a bespoke six course meal for the winner, and seven guests, in their very own home.
The eclectic mix of characters from across the board clearly enjoyed themselves, and the poker evening continued long into the night, with guests knocked out of the tournament, making the most of the delicious Pommery Champagne, a Johnnie Walker Blue Label tasting bar and U’luvka Vodka cocktails, as well as the canapés, live music and the amazing selection of spa treatments on offer. including bespoke blow-driesand massages for all the guests.
David Walliams’ unswerving attempts to disarm his competitors with humour and amusing anecdotes proved effective, and competitive cousins Tom Parker-Bowles and Ben Elliot enjoyed the “table-service massages” offered to all participants, in a bid to ease the mounting tension throughout the night.
U.K cricket connoisseurs and former English Captain Michael Vaughn and Jimmy (James) Anderson also took part in the gambling but their poker playing was not as up to scratch as their cricketing, clearly! Forget cricketers, Alice Rothschild flew the flag for the ladies, by out-smarting all of her male counter-points by reaching the semi-finals.
VIP Attendees:
David Walliams, Tom Parker Bowles, Zac Goldsmith, Ben Elliot, Michael Vaughan, Olivia Grant, Jimmy Anderson, Grace Woodward, Live Boeree, Kelly Hoppen, Alice Rothschild, Emma Crosby, Noelle Reno, Rick Parfit Jr, Kenney Jones from The Who, John McCririck and Ollie Phillips.
The aim of the evening was to raise much needed funds for SOS Children’s Villages, the charity committed to helping orphaned and abandoned children across the globe. We are delighted to announce that, despite the economic climate, clearly individuals are still passionate about their social responsibility, with the event smashing their £80,000 target. This has been added to the £1.6million that the Foundation has raised since its fundraising efforts began in 2009.
This would not have been possible without the kind support and sponsorship of Cramer Pelmont Solicitors.
