This autumn, The Pem at Conrad London St. James is setting the table for something more than dinner. Ladies Who Lead is a three-part series of evenings that blend food, conversation and culture, hosted by three extraordinary women who are shaping the way Britain thinks about design, art and wine.
It’s not every day you’re invited to pull up a chair with the names that define the cultural moment. Across October and November, The Pem will pair their stories with bespoke four-course tasting menus, making each evening as delicious as it is inspiring. Think intimate salons of the suffragette era, but reimagined for London in 2025, where the spirit of Emily Wilding Davison – whose family affectionately called her “Pem” – still lingers in the air.
The Line-Up
16 October – Laura Butler-Madden
An award-winning interior designer and founder of fine fragrance house GROVE England, Laura is known for her serene, layered approach to interiors. For her evening, The Pem will turn scent into flavour, with a menu inspired by GROVE’s debut collection Anemone. Expect a dining experience that captures the quiet beauty of changing seasons, each course echoing the perfume of autumn in bloom.
30 October – Nancy Cadogan
One of the most distinctive voices in contemporary painting, Nancy Cadogan creates figurative works steeped in stillness, literature and the unhurried passing of time. Her evening will celebrate her Italian-inspired series Stanza, with a menu that brings Lake Como to London. Guests can expect a journey through Italy on the plate, paired with a Q&A with Nancy herself, and wines that mirror the artistry in her work.
20 November – Helen McGinn
Closing the series is Helen McGinn, award-winning author, international wine judge and presenter. Once a supermarket wine buyer, Helen transformed the way we talk about wine with her blog and book The Knackered Mother’s Wine Club. At The Pem, she will lead a guided tasting across sparkling, rosé, white and red wines, matched with a seasonal four-course menu. For anyone who believes wine should be joyful rather than intimidating, this evening will be unmissable.
A Dining Experience with Purpose
Each evening is designed to be more than dinner. It’s a celebration of women whose voices shape culture in unexpected ways, paired with dishes that mirror their stories. The menus – progressive yet rooted in British dining traditions – embody The Pem’s original spirit: a restaurant created to champion women’s voices on the plate and beyond.
The price of entry is as thoughtful as the programming. Evenings with Laura Butler-Madden and Nancy Cadogan are £80 per person, with wine pairings available (£40 classic or £80 premium). Helen McGinn’s finale, including her specially curated wine pairings, is £120. For true devotees, the full three-part series is £239 per person, a cultural subscription that plays out course by course.
Why It Matters
The Pem has always carried a spirit of purpose. Named for a suffragette, recognised by the Michelin Guide, and known for its elegant art deco interiors, it’s a space where history meets modernity. With Ladies Who Lead, it continues that legacy: creating a platform for women who are changing the way we design, create and taste.
Intimate, intelligent and indulgent, these evenings are designed to spark conversation long after the final course is cleared.
@thepemrestaurant
thepemrestaurant.com
22-28 Broadway, London, SW1H 0BH
