A stunning introduction to a tasty and exciting new event by LW Entertainment.
It’s been a little over a month since LW Entertainment, the company that manages all of Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber’s body of work, announced its move into brand and franchise expansion across different entertainment formats. Here in London, the latest of the company’s ventures is the limited-time Phantom of the Opera Afternoon Tea. In partnership with Sofitel London St James, the luxury hotel right next to His Majesty’s Theatre, this new experience opened with an exclusive launch event that showed a glimpse of what the afternoon tea promises to deliver.
The proceedings began, as all great events do, with a friendly welcome and a glass of champagne. The space was filled with roses and chandeliers, and neutral background music. As guests came in, took photos, and enjoyed their drinks, there wasn’t much to indicate that the event was related to one of the best-known musicals across the globe. That is, until Michael Colbourne, a former Phantom, took to one of two platforms and delighted the audience with his rendition of ‘Music of the Night’. With that, the evening began properly. This was not the only performance of the night, as later down the line, Charlotte Kennedy performed ‘Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again’, and the pair performed ‘All I Ask of You’ as their final number. Accompanying them was pianist Thomas Maples, as well as Emcee Jonny Weston. The numbers were intimate in scale and changed the ambience of the event from a regular one to a musical and romantic one. In the hotel’s Rose Lounge, where the afternoon rea is to take place, guests could have their portraits sketched by Cayley Cochrane or get a tarot card reading at the next table. There was a clear intention by the event organisers to create an environment that replicated the ambience of mystery, art, and enjoyment that characterises the show.
All throughout the event, little versions of the afternoon tea’s contents were offered to the guests. The savoury options, which constitute Act I of the menu, consisted mostly of seafood-based bites, alongside some British classics such as a cucumber and an egg sandwich. The sweet bites, which constitute Act III, are inspired by ‘Masquerade’, the opening number of the show’s second act. Lerrick Coelho, Head Pastry Chef, talked about how the sweets were inspired by the characters of Christine, Raoul and the Red Death, and their costumes, specifically a particular green costume that caught his eye. Act II, a beautiful rose and mask, was brought as part of the decoration, and it remains a mystery as regards to taste. The menu as a whole is delicious and well balanced. Mixed with the Rose Lounge’s cosy atmosphere, the Phantom of the Opera props that decorate the space, and the constant stream of instrumental versions of some of Lloyd Webber’s best-known scores, this tiny preview of the meal promises a truly enjoyable experience for any musical theatre fan.
The afternoon tea has been in development for months, with carefully crafted details, including the partnerships it is involved in. (It is very fitting to have a French story with an iconic British adaptation host an iconic British tradition in a French hotel). The opening event was just as meticulously crafted, ensuring that all the people present got a sense of what the afternoon tea will be like, and a reminder of why everyone loves the show that inspired it. Everything was crafted for Phantom of the Opera fans, exuding love and admiration for one of the most iconic shows the West End has ever seen.
The Phantom of the Opera Afternoon Tea runs until Tuesday 31 March at the Sofitel London St James Hotel.
