Despite its 21st-century evolution, there are some ways in which Annabel’s will remain old school – telephones and laptops are barred from all but one floor and there will be a fine cigar room. That being said, the cigar room will offer a cocktail pairing that is far from traditional. Where you once might have enjoyed a cognac or whisky with the best Havana, their master sommelier has paired gin, tequila and rum-based cocktails. There will also be a tequila and mescal bar stocked with over 600 bottles (most of which are unavailable anywhere else in the UK), a cocktail fountain on the ground floor and a range of Annabel’s own blend spirits. When I make the mistake of referencing them as ‘house’ spirits, Luis Simoes, the Birley Group’s beverage director, swiftly reminds me that they Richard are nothing of the sort; they are ‘Annabel’s blends’. Caring and Goldie Simoes tracked down niche distilleries to work Hawn preview the new site with, including a bourbon producer who has been (2016) voted best bourbon distiller two years in a row. ‘I could easily have made a cognac that cost £20,000 a bottle but this was about giving something back to members of value. Our spirits will range somewhere from £30 to £70 a bottle and will allow our members to drink a better quality liquid than they could anywhere else for that sort of money.’ There will also be prebottled cocktails to take home, including a negroni that has been gently heated in a sous vide for three days. ‘It brings out 50 times more flavour,’ says Simoes, ‘it has the same effect as leaving it in the barrel for six months, making it less bitter and more well-rounded.’ Although they will make all their own liqueurs, bitters, syrups and cordials, and use techniques as far-fetched as aging drinks in traditional Spanish leather botas, Simoes insists that the customer should never be preached to. ‘As a member sat at the bar, this is not relevant to you. It’s all about the experience you’re going to have while you are drinking the liquid in the glass. This isn’t about ego, it’s about bringing the best product possible to the table.’ And this perhaps best sums up Annabel’s past and future success. Like a swan, the team madly paddle beneath the water, so high society can glide Lady Gaga (2011) graciously through the evening. ■
Francesca von Thyssen and Jerry Hall, at the Valentino party at Annabel’s (1987) Kid Creole (2014)
to include man’s favourite four-legged friend, offering a dog walking service, a change that Astrid didn’t anticipate would be so popular: ‘It has actually swayed a few people’s memberships.’ The dress code has been relaxed… slightly – Patrick Cox, Eric Clapton and Damian Aspinall have all fallen foul of the previous door policy – and trainers will class as appropriate footwear, although the reception staff will have to be fashion savvy enough to differentiate between Gucci sneakers and gym shoes. But fashion savvy this institution will be, especially with fashion editor Deborah Brett in charge of the uniforms. ‘Annabel’s is very British, so it was very important to us that the designers we worked with had a strong connection to London but we also wanted to promote new talent.’ It was French-Lebanese Racil Chalhoub who got the call up to work with Deborah on the uniforms. Her Notting Hill-based studio is a byword for cool among Tracey London’s It crowd. Carefully Emin (2010) balancing practicality and style, the uniforms will reflect the rich jewel colour palette of the interiors. ‘We have looked to the iconic women who partied at Annabel’s, like Jerry Hall in the 1970s, zipped up in a pant suit,’ says Brett. ‘Covering up is much more alluring and Racil sums up this modern kind of sexy perfectly, so we’ve played with the idea of tuxedos for the women.’
PHOTOS: RICHARD YOUNG; REX FEATURES
Michael and Shakira Caine (1988)
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