Dear Reader,
There has been an overwhelming sense of peace at the club, with most of our members finding themselves in one of the home counties, flitting between various events this June: Royal Ascot, The Derby, Cartier Queen’s Club, Polo in the Park, etc. (and yes, we very much consider The Hurlingham a home county due to the pilgrimage endured getting there for those sensible enough to live above Earl’s Court). Many other members have decided to simply forgo the city for one of their many homes across multiple counties (same, same), but as for the rest of us, let us turn our sunburned noses towards July, where the best of the summer social season still awaits us. In this issue, we will be serving some outfit inspiration for events such as Wimbledon and Henley Royal Regatta, as well as food and drink ideas for your summer parties and picnics (the latter, of course, for the one hosted out of the back of your car, but more on that later).
Henley Royal Regatta
Time to dust off your boater and dig out your old (and noticeably too small) school blazer for a glorious few days of drinking out of the boot of your car and pretending to watch the rowing. Regatta is an event that prompts a lot of questions: Where’s the best place to watch the races? What do I wear? How many bottles can one hide up a blazer sleeve? Fear not; whether you are a first-timer or a seasoned veteran, The Rhubarb Society is here to tell you how to Regatta in style.
There are numerous clubs and enclosures from which to watch the races, but the only one that should be on your radar is Stewards’ Enclosure. Some misguided individuals may try to convince you that The Remenham Club is far superior, but we all know that the Summer social season survives on the mantra ‘to see and be seen’, and 20/20 vision can be found in Stewards’. The enclosure is situated at the very end of the race, so you can watch all of the boats as they cross the finish line, and, more practically, the enclosure is equipped with numerous bars and very agreeable loos. The dress code is particularly strict and must be followed exactly, and leftover food and drink from your Carboot picnic cannot be smuggled in. So, how does one access The Stewards’ Enclosure? Well, you can attempt to become a member, although the waitlist is a number of years long (possibly rivalling The Hurlingham in terms of wait time), and you would probably have better luck finding all existing members and bumping them off one by one. If you are proposed or seconded by a Steward or a previous Henley winner, you may have *slightly* more luck with your wait time, but don’t hold your breath. The easiest option is to befriend an existing member who may kindly offer you one of their guest tickets, so we have kindly given you a year’s preparation to begin the schmoozing for ’25.
For those with decent parking spaces, it is customary to host a picnic for guests in your space. This parking space malarky is mainly an exercise in saving money as A) it’s cheaper to get pickled on your own booze than the laughable rates they charge in the enclosure and B) walking around the car park wearing an old-school/university blazer or tie guarantees you will be invited to join random picnics by those who recognise their old school/uni colours. Do be wary of stripy blazer-wearing freeloaders if you are hosting and do as we here at the club do, which is to hide the good alcohol in the backseat of the car, reserved for your guests only. For Stewards’, ladies must wear dresses or skirts down to the knee or below or trouser suits/a blazer with trousers. Whilst hats are not a requirement, you will see plenty being worn across various enclosures. In our opinion, it isn’t necessary to wear one, and absolutely do not bring any ascot-looking headwear to regatta because it just looks ridiculous and blocks others’ view. If you must, a small sun hat or appropriate club cap will do. As you will spend a lot of time stomping up and down on grass, we also recommend a wedge or a thicker, low heel. We’ve included two outfits below that are the perfect combination of frivolous and fun that hopefully serve as good inspiration.
Mango Linen Dress – Forgo a stripy blazer for a stripy dress instead. Long enough to pass the dress code but with enough skin on show to top up the tan you claim is natural.
Massimo Dutti Linen Blazer – Easy, versatile, and ready to be adorned with various pins and stolen badges.
Stuart Weitzman Wedges – Suitable for any grass-based event you may find yourself at this Summer.
Bobbies Mini Bag – Event appropriate (put the large bags and the Birkins away PLEASE) but with enough space for the important stuff like cigarettes and pressed powder.
Astrid & Miyu Hoops – Simple and chic!
Vintage Fish Brooch – *insert conversation starter about it being fished from the Thames*.
Celine Sunglasses – Of course.
Reformation Linen Two Piece – A demure yet chic option that has a fitted bodice and an A-line skirt.
Ralph Lauren Striped Blazer – The perfect alternative for those who don’t have their own rowing blazer/have yet to successfully steal one.
Chanel Slingbacks – A wonderful way to flex that you have more money than sense and that grass stains don’t phase you.
Staud Snail Wicker Bag – Keep it playful and fun (this isn’t the Royal Enclosure, you know) with this picnic appropriate bag.
Crab Necklace – See above about Regatta actually being fun. Plus, without the conversation starters, how are you going to secure an invite for next year?
Wimbledon
If you’ve missed the ballot, were unsuccessful for the umpteenth year in a row (not that we’re bitter or anything), or lacking family and friends with debentures, there are still ways to get Wimbledon tickets. Granted, they largely require the time and effort of queuing on the day (or camping out the night before), but it is entirely worth it. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve secured grounds passes or centre court tickets; there’s still plenty to see and do, and the atmosphere is electric throughout. If you have a grounds pass, you can also upgrade your ticket after 3pm by buying a resale ticket, where those who have left for the day donate their tickets to be sold for charity. There are plenty of food and drink options (and it would be rude not to treat yourself to their famous punnet of strawberries and cream). However, you are allowed to bring in your own food and booze (as long as it doesn’t surpass the size limit). As one of the most quintessentially British summer events, there are, of course, many basic etiquette rules to abide by. Silence is expected until the point has been played (unlike other grand slams where the audience is far more vocal/French). No shouting, cheering, or clapping can be done during rallies, so don’t be tempted to show any Pimm’s induced vocal support.
You are also only allowed to leave your seat after the third game of a set, so time your loo breaks accordingly. After that, you can leave and return to your seat when the players change sides every two games.
While players adhere to a strict dress code, spectators can wear as they please (unless in a hospitality or members’ area). Because of this, you will often see an eclectic mix of outfits, which makes for even better people-watching. It’s worth noting that the grounds are a good 15-20 minute walk from the station and that you will do a LOT of walking. Matches can also run late (up until 11 pm), and if you want to make the most of your day, we recommend getting there a good few hours before the matches begin so you can stroll the grounds and figure out the lay of the land. The key to dressing for Wimbledon is in layering and comfy shoes. We’ve provided two options for you that cover the casual and the dressy.
Mango Shirt – A light cotton shirt that can be worn slightly unbuttoned with rolled sleeves during the day and layered up with a jumper when the temperature drops in the evening.
Lacoste Jumper – Keeping things sports appropriate with this pink Lacoste jumper that can be slung over the shoulders or paired with shirts and t-shirts.
Mango Suit Trousers – A chic (and comfy) nod to Wimbledon whites.
Trainers – You’ll thank us once you realise how many steps it takes to get to the Lavazza with the decent iced coffee.
Rolex Watch – If it’s good enough for Roger, it’s good enough for us.
Sunglasses – For covert people watching, outfit judging, hotty spotting, royal box observing, Pimm’s induced cross-eyed blocking, etc.
Alice & Olivia Dress – What better way to show your love of Wimbledon than to dress like a grass court?
Bottega Earrings – Shaped like the tears of those knocked out in the first round where the prize money barely covers the cost of half a team member.
Anya Hindmarch Corn Flake Phone Pouch – A common misconception about British social events is that everything must be quite stuffy and formal. However, nothing is more appropriate for said events than a sense of whimsy because, above all, you never want to look like you’ve tried too hard. Therefore, should you choose to be more ‘formal’, a cornflake phone pouch is the perfect antidote to all that seriousness.
Astrid & Miyu Gold Cuff – To balance out your teardrop earrings.
Gucci Slingbacks – A chic slingback with a heel so small it’s basically a flat shoe.
Henley Festival
If Fortnum’s held a festival on the river, it would be Henley Festival. Where else would you find your favourite Hooray Henry, clad in black tie, tentatively drinking from miniature bottles of Moët (from sippers, of course), dancing badly to Nile Rodgers or Sir Tom Jones? Naturally, this event follows shortly after Regatta, using the same spot on the river and adapting its existing facilities. The main stage literally floats on the water, and you’ll find many enthusiastic boat-owning passersby making the most of the music and the festival without coughing up for a ticket. You also haven’t completed a Henley Festival until you have seen the rather famous giant inflatable duck that floats by every year without fail. So, what on earth does a black-tie festival offer? Well, it takes place over five days, so you have plenty of options to pick from depending on who or what it is you want to see performing. The live music covers everything from pop and disco and classical to jazz (last year, we saw The Ministry of Sound perform an ‘Ibiza Anthems’ set), and various tents are scattered around the festival for you to pick and choose from. Performing troupes roam the grounds, and you may find yourself startled by some human hedges while admiring the bonkers art installations.
If art and people dressed like foliage don’t interest you, you can head to the comedy tent to watch live performances from well-known comedians or even try your luck at the vintage fun fair. Whilst there are plenty of food and drink trucks scattered around the festival, there’s always the option to book a fine dining experience at one of the multiple restaurants. Tickets are split by general admission, lawn, and grandstand (with the last option being the most preferable), or for those with private vessels, you can pay for exclusive allocated mooring with all the food and booze you can fit onboard. And to top it all off? A giant fireworks display by Titanium Fireworks that is sure to be badly filmed by every 50+ toff in sight and sent to their family WhatsApp group with the message ‘Shall we hire for our NYE party? xx’. So, what does one wear to a black tie festival? Well, whatever you’d wear to a normal black tie event that happens to be solely outside with guaranteed grass stains and the need for a very thick alco-jacket.
Cult Gaia Chiffon Dress – A beautiful black tie option with an internal corset to keep you in place up top and a floaty bottom that is sure to billow behind you as you schmooze your way onto one of the moored boats.
Annouska Earrings – Possibly the only festival you could ever wear 18ct white gold diamond earrings to.
Judith Leiber Clutch – Remember what I said above about keeping things fun? Well, what could possibly be more fun than a clutch that looks like a shell and is covered in crystals?
La Maison Couture Yellow-Gold Vermeil Ring – A sleek statement ring that won’t interfere with the mini bottles of Moët you’ll have surgically attached to your hands.
Orchid Heels – So fun. So chic. Shows how much you love the outdoors (you are in the country after all!) and sure to be a hit with every woman there who takes great pride in her garden/has a very dedicated gardener.
Summer Hosting
As most of you already know (or perhaps have now duly noted), a lot of British summertime and its events centre around picnics and eating al fresco in one way or another. So, we’ve gathered a few club recommendations that include recipes, food, and equipment to help elevate your Summer hosting experience.
Limoncello Margarita – For the friends who are still reminiscing about their weeks spent on the Amalfi coast and are delusional enough to convince themselves that drinking one of these in a park in the UK is basically the same thing.
Frozen Cherry Aperol Spritz – See above. But for friends who just came back from the South of France.
F&M Novelty Chocolates – What picnic is complete without a marzipan vegetable patch or chocolate fish and chips??
Outdoor Drinks Refrigerator and Table – A firm favourite here at the club for Regatta. Big enough to hold multiple bottles with ice in the bottom, with a handy tabletop to serve everything from.
Pack & Carry Snowpeak Fireplace – A portable stainless steel firepit that is ideal for those long, outdoorsy lunches that turn into evening events.
Round Ice Cube Mould and Edible Flowers – A very easy way to elevate basic drinks is with a fun ice cube and an edible flower. For a double whammy, freeze the flowers in the ice cube for a beautiful centrepiece to your drink.
F&M Picadilly Summer Picnic – If you don’t love the prep but love the presentation, this Fortnums hamper for two has everything you could need, immaculately presented and inclusive of plates, cutlery, and a corkscrew.
Portable Table Wine Holder – If you’ve ever tried to put wine glasses on grass, you’ll understand why a low-level portable table with glass holders is a necessity.
Kilner Drinks Dispenser – A lifesaver if you are hosting large groups of people and don’t fancy spending all day playing bartender.
Members are also reminded that the membership committee are still accepting applications. If you are looking to apply for Social or Private membership, you are encouraged to do so before all committee members realise they have better things to be doing.
