On a crisp November evening in Mayfair, Berkeley Square shimmered with anticipation. Beneath the soft glow of street lamps, a glamorous crowd — members draped in velvet and cashmere and glittering with diamonds emerged from gleaming Rolls-Royce’s to join the admirers gathered in glittering clusters — pressed closer to the storied façade of Annabel’s. Powder-blue and silver cookies, each delicately embossed with the noble head of a porcelain-white lion, were passed through the crowd like treasured charms. London, a city of spectacle, seemed to hold its breath. It was time.
Annabel’s, the world-renowned private Members’ Club whose elegance has shaped decades of London nightlife, unveiled its most spellbinding festive installation yet: “The Wardrobe: A World of Wonder.” In support of The Caring Family Foundation’s (TCFF) “Food From The Heart” campaign, the Club transformed its iconic entrance into a portal of pure enchantment.
Like the opening line of a fairytale book, the ornate wardrobe, carved with exquisite detail, stands proudly on Berkeley Square. As its grand doors swing open, they reveal a hushed winter realm: snow-dusted spruce, crystalline icicles, the faint glisten of frost catching the lamplight. At the centre stands a lion — majestic, ethereal, a guardian carved seemingly from porcelain and starlight. Its presence is a reminder of the fragile world we inhabit, and the courage required to protect it.
Designed by Tatiana Kharchylava, absolute aesthetic genius and Creative Director of The Birley Clubs, the installation draws inspiration from childhood wonder — from the moment one first opens a wardrobe door and dares to imagine what magic might lie beyond.
“For this year’s façade, I wanted to capture the feeling of stepping into a childhood memory — a moment when the world felt full of possibility and light,” Kharchylava reflects. “The lion represents both courage and strength, but also — with its porcelain appearance — fragility. My hope is that the façade offers a quiet moment to pause, reflect and reconnect with the magic of hope that we all knew when we were young.”
A Night of Light, Song & Celebration
As the clock struck 6.30pm, a hush fell upon Berkeley Square. Then — in a burst of luminescence — the wardrobe came alive. Lights danced across the icicles, the lion seemed to glow, iridescent against the velvet midnight blue sky with its smattering of diamonds, and the entire square erupted into applause.
To mark the occasion, the evening unfolded in a symphony of celebration. Alexandra Burke and the Capital Children’s Choir delivered a heart-stirring performance as snowflakes of light drifted across the façade. Inside the Club, the house came alive with guests filling every perfectly decorated room, welcoming the festive season with open arms.
Guests enjoyed festive Johnnie Walker Black Ruby cocktails, such as the Plum Grove with Johnnie Walker Black Ruby, Plum & Bay Leaf Cordial, Lime, Absinthe and Soda Water or Legacy with Johnnie Walker Black Ruby, Antica Formula, Campari, Yellow Chartreuse and Chocolate.
An intimate dinner followed, hosted in partnership with Perrier-Jouët, the storied maison whose floral, intricate champagnes have long embodied the art of French elegance.
Guests in attendance included Richard and Patricia Caring, Arizona Muse, Rahi Chadda, Eva Apio, Freddy Carter, Lydia West, Julia Restoin Roitfeld, Chey Maya, and Amber Le Bon — a constellation of luminaries glowing softly beneath the chandeliers.
A Season of Giving: The Caring Family Foundation
At the heart of Annabel’s festive tradition lies a profound purpose. The Club’s charity partner, The Caring Family Foundation, continues its vital mission to combat child hunger and food insecurity across the UK and Brazil.
Since the launch of Food From The Heart in 2020, the Foundation has provided over 3.5 million meals to children and families in need. In the past year alone, it delivered 1,027,465 meals — a testament to the urgency of its mission and the depth of its impact.
Founded in 2019 by Richard and Patricia Caring, TCFF imagines a world free from hunger, harm and hurt — a world in which women and children can truly thrive. As it marks its sixth year in 2025, the Foundation stands among the UK’s largest donors to Brazilian reforestation, having planted over 3.9 million trees and seedlings, distributed over 3.5 million meals, and delivered more than 31,000 domestic abuse services across the UK and Brazil.
Its work is expansive, courageous and deeply human — much like the lion standing sentinel at Annabel’s doorway.
Annabel’s: A House of Wonder
Annabel’s, founded in 1963 and reborn in 2018 within its Grade I listed Georgian mansion at 46 Berkeley Square, is a world unto itself — 26,000 square feet of imagination, glamour and intimacy. It is an all-day and all-night haven for those who treasure not only exquisite cuisine and exceptional service, but also stories, connection and beautifully curated escapism.
Its festive façades have become a cherished London tradition — but this year, The Wardrobe: A World of Wonder feels truly extraordinary, it feels symbolic. A doorway to generosity. To imagination. To collective light in the winter dark.
On this luminous night in Mayfair, Annabel’s reminded London of something truly precious: that the marvels of childhood — wonder, courage, hope — do not fade with age. Sometimes, all it takes is the opening of a wardrobe door to remember.
