An English Summer Garden Party
On a balmy evening towards the end of June 2020, we transformed Swan’s elegant Balcony Room into a quintessential English summer garden.
A theatrical experience
This event for the Skadden Women Attorney Network’s summer party was an elegant and glamorous affair for 80 senior female lawyers from all over Europe. We filled the room with scented roses, honeysuckle, jasmine, and other country garden blooms, and the staircase was decorated with entwined foliage and flowers. Instant, visual impact was guaranteed with a stunning freestanding flower wall and all around the room, urns and table vases overflowed with fragrant blossoms.
A sculpted ice oyster bar
Guests were served summer gin cocktails, mixed to order, English sparkling wine and delicious canapes, including lobster gyoza, juniper cured venison, and heritage beets on a tapioca crisp. They could also choose freshly shucked oysters and seared tuna or salmon tataki from our hand carved ice bar. Small bowls of glazed beef cheeks, roasted red pepper arancini, and smoked chicken Caesar completed the savoury dishes.
A Shakespearean twist
As everyone feasted, actors from the Globe wended they way about the room, interacting with guests and reciting Shakespearean sonnets. Invited speaker, Claire van Kampen, the Globe’s musical director, gave a fascinating insight into female leadership in the arts. Later, the Globe actors performed scenes from Henry VI and Much Ado About Nothing.
After everyone had eaten their fill from our summer dessert table, and as the evening drew to a close, there was a final Shakespearean touch as guests were bid farewell with a speech from The Tempest.
Elizabeth Robertson
The Skaddens event team worked closely with the Swan at the Globe to create an inclusive networking event. From start to finish, the evening was a triumph – without doubt the best Swan event we have ever held!