London, a high-tea type of town, was overdue for a rager. On Tuesday night, the American insurgents delivered it when our only–in–Air Mail crowd—Nicky Haslam and Nikolai von Bismarck, Gene Gallagher and John Lahr, James Fox and J. J. Martin—joined Graydon Carter and Maison Valentino at Upstairs at Langan’s to celebrate the London List, the 25 talented young people who are brightly lighting up the scene here.
For honorees such as Luke Edward Hall, Charlie Porter, Rejina Pyo, Nicola Dinan, Eliza Clark, and Archie Henderson, who towered over them all, it was a homecoming of sorts. The group had previously gathered at Langan’s back in September, when Dafydd Jones and Coco Cottam photographed them for the November 11 issue of Air Mail. Then: new friendships were formed, and 16 bottles of champagne were consumed. Now: they’re all old friends, and we’re afraid to see the bar tab.
Beata Heuman, a protégé and former employee of Nicky Haslam’s, caught up with the design giant and tea-towel impresario over martinis at the bar, while Jeremy King (who came with Zoë Wanamaker) congratulated fellow restaurateur Tomos Parry on Mountain, his new spot in Soho. Contributors to the issue—Aatish Taseer, Dorian Lynskey, Spike Carter, Hilary Rose, Alexandra Shulman, Bay Garnett, and Hannah Betts—mixed and mingled with Tallulah Harlech, David Downton, Martha Ward, Matthew Slotover and Emily King, and Gianluca Longo. Meanwhile, London List–ers Hale Zero summoned a margarita- and Negroni-fueled crowd to the velvety dance floor. (If these guys—with a little help from Luther Vandross—can’t do it, then nobody can.)
There was snogging (two young blondes on the banquette, we saw you) and thievery; whether it was an ashtray, swizzle stick, or matchbook, anything that wasn’t nailed down was stashed away in a waistcoat pocket or, more intriguingly, a Chelsea boot. But it was all in good fun, celebrating the city that always shows its best, even in the worst of times.
Ashley Baker is a Deputy Editor at AIR MAIL and a co-host of the Morning Meeting podcast
