Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating Connaught Village’s 150 anniversary milestone on Thursday 5 July.
We took you on a journey through the ages with food and drink, live music and street entertainment spanning the last 150 years to the current day. The area was transformed into a traffic-free space to enjoy live on-street theatre performances, offers from shops and boutiques and much more. Read on below….
See all the photos from the day here.
What went on:
The streets were transformed with a bandstand, deckchairs, and workshop stations including Flower Crown Making, Flapper Headband Making and Tie Dye Workshops, plus jellymongers Bompas and Parr brought decadent jelly to the village. We saw Mr Searcy open the event with everyone’s favourite dog, Le Corgi on the bandstand to the sound of bugles, whilst re-enactment specialists from the Victorian Times to the 60’s roamed the streets in dress, with a Penny Farthing weaving through the crowds.
The afternoon continued with live performances from family favourite, Horrible Histories, brought straight from the West End, performing live scenes from their latest stage show ‘Barmy Britain’. Charleston Dance Classes flowed down from the bandstand onto Connaught Street on the hot summer day. Meanwhile, Victorian Street Games and Punch & Judy drew excited crowds.
Retailers and restaurants offered exclusive discounts, special menus, al fresco dining and activities, from wine tasting at Connaught Cellars and an embroidery workshop outside The Place to a dog photobooth at Hyde Park Vets and hair braiding through the ages at Fé Hair.
The School Art competition Award ceremony on the Bandstand at 4.30pm was hosted, announcing the brilliant winners, plus art from over 100+ entrants from Connaught House School & Hyde Park School was displayed on Kendal Street for all to see. At 5.30pm, we saw a fanfare procession lead the Prince of Wales in Horse and Carriage up Connaught Street to excited onlookers, followed by a breath-taking ballet performance.
There was loads of in-store promotions and exclusive offers, too…
A vintage stall outside The Dresser
You could enjoy a complimentary glass of Prosecco with your meal at Le Pain
BBQ sampling and demonstrations at Tool Shed @ W2
Fé Hair and Beauty makeup and hair braiding throughout the eras transporting people back in time.
Head to Ritva Westenius to guess the dress age at their mannequin display
A photoshoot with 3 backdrops to choose from at Hyde Park Vets for dogs
10% off at Pardis
Charity cakes and 1960’s cocktails at Kokoro
Wine tasting at Connaught Cellars
Take part in embroidery workshops outside The Place
VIP discounts at Lucy Choi
Taste samples from Assal Patisserie
An in-store presentation at Judy Wu
1920’s flapper dresses in Eliza Jane Howell’s window
Get 20% off bouquets at PM Flowers
Al fresco dining, a food stall and opera singer at Stuzzico
Photobooth at Kay & Co
Mud Australia opened til’ late
Free valuations at Lyon & Turnbull
Vertical Cheese tasting at Buchanans Cheesemonger – profiling different ages of cheese
Face painting and prosthetic make-up by Cluttons
In ME+EM, 10% discount off all store purchases and 15% off their British Heritage tee’s
Ice cream and vintage sweets at Saint Aymes
Candy floss and popcorn at Chesterton Humberts
Pick up a dental goodie bag at Connaught Village Dentistry
Free workshops and masterclasses including beautiful flower crowns
