Held at The Dorchester and hosted by Game Of Thrones’ star Natalie Dormer, this year’s Walpole British Luxury Awards was one of the most decadent nights of 2021. From our seat at the ceremony, it felt like a triumph return to black tie events after such a turbulent two years: the atmosphere was sensational and it felt that there was so much to celebrate after so long. Combining a deep appreciation of luxury with fundraising for the NSPCC - as well as a serious message regarding the 160,000 jobs that the luxury sector creates - it attracted a stellar crowd.
Many Sphere favourites received accolades. Anya Hindmarch received the "Visionary" award for decades of creativity, as well as the not inconsiderable task of creating her own village. Bremont, who this year created the biggest event in British watchmaking for decades with their Oxfordshire HQ, were recognised as "Made In The UK". “Great Creative Britons” were also celebrated in the form of designer Richard Quinn and chef Monica Galetti - Rita Ora also took home the award for British Artistic Icon. Naturally some of the biggest cheers for the night went to Dame Professor Sarah Gilbert for her work in developing a vaccination of Covid-19, as well as for Burberry who helped fund her research.
Guests included director Taika Waitii, drag legend Bimini Bon-Boulash, model Ikram Abdi Omar, the effervescent Richard E Grant, adventurer Jason Fox, Olympian Niclas Baker and the ever-elegant Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath. Walpole’s CEO, Helen Brocklebank said, “As we look beyond the pandemic, tonight’s award winners capture exactly the kind of creativity, ingenuity, entrepreneurship and excellence that will take the country to the next level and move us from recovery to renaissance. I hope we can take inspiration from them all.”
Read the full list of winners at thewalpole.co.uk
