Tea in the 1920s
- Red and Jodie
- Mar 22, 2016
- 5 min read
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Red:
So, Jodie and I love the past. Specifically, the 1920s. So when I saw there was an event for a 1920s afternoon tea party, including entertainment provided by Glasgow's very own and unique Gatsby Club; I knew I had to go.
I had already been with the gang here on this blog to a Gatsby event last year in October, so we had pretty high expectations for the day ahead. We texted back and forth about outfits during the week, and I myself got up early to prep myself for seriously posey photos.
When we arrivied we were greeted by a lovely lady named Sarah, who told us our table number and then directed us to a room where the dancers of BurleX fitness were entertaining with some flapper routines.
They even held a little class during the interval of the caberat show and I managed to pick up a few fun foot steps that I'll be sure to throw down on the floor next time I'm at a club (which is never).
I loved seeing so many dancers in all different shapes and sizes, and it was great to watch while we waited for the room upstairs to be ready. Everyone was dressed so glamorously, with strings of pearls everywhere and swishing skirts and dresses. The feathered, flapper headband was a crowd favourite; nearly everyone was sporting one.
After our treat of authentic charlestons and flapper dancing, we were invited upstairs to the main event room of Sloans Bar to be seated for tea. The tables were laid out with lovely, floral china and a toasted scone was already waiting on the plates for us.
Isn't that just the most stunning little table you have ever seen? The service was fast and attentive as well, within minutes of sitting down our cups were filled with warm tea and a platter of sandwiches and cakes were squeezed onto our already crammed table. There was a lot of manuevering to get the cream and jam!
Despite being occupied by the delicious treats and tea, we had a host that held our attention throughout the afternoon by the name of Rufus. He was funny, adorable, charming and sweet rolled into one, with a fantastic singing voice to match, (yours truly even got serenaded by him at our table). The Gatsby Club performed for us inbetween Rufus's songs, or maybe it was the other way around? It was all so entertaining!
For me the most touching and important part of the day (other than the fact that Jodie and I looked drop dead gorgeous), was the speech made by Audrey Ward from Visibility.
Just to explain why we were even at such a great even in the first place, this whole thing was organised by Visibility, a local charity to help visually impaired and blind people in the West of Scotland. It's been around for a good one-hundred and fifty years, which is a fantastic stretch for a local charity to have achieved. As a big charity shopper and volunteer, I consider myself fairly familiar with most charities, but Visibility was one I hadn't really come across before so it was quite an educational experience. They provide services for those with visual impairment, helping them gain confidence and independance in their own lives. Audrey Ward was the perfect choice for speaker, because not only was she someone who had benefitted from the support provided by Visibility, but she now worked for the charity itself, helping it raise money for it's valuable services. I was very touched by her speech talking about the loss of her vision some nineteen years ago and what she had done with her life since and how she came to work for the charity. It really made me happy to see someone like Audrey talk about her experience. Actually seeing someone who has benefitted from charity organisations really shows you just how important their existence is. I applaud Visibility on organising such a beautiful, fun afternoon and really commend the Gatsby Club who gave their time freely for this cause.
Not only did they have wonderful food and entertainment, they had a cracking raffle with amazing prizes. Again, truly wonderful how many quality prizes were on offer. It's heartwarming to know how generous people can be, espeically as I was a benefactor of that generousity! I won a beautiful Florelli handbag stuffed with makeup, pens, wine and a voucher for afternoon tea for two at the Mariott Hotel. Jodie had left the room when they said my name and I was so shocked that I just wanted her to come back and confirm that I'd heard my name right.
Jodie:
When Red asked me if I wanted to go with her to a 1920’s themed afternoon tea, I jumped at the chance. Fashion from the nineteen-twenties and a good cup of tea are two of my absolute favourite things so I was thrilled to be asked (Thanks again, Red!). Especially as I already knew how brilliant the Gatsby Club entertainers were, I couldn’t wait to get my glad rags on again!
The event was held in one of the oldest building in Glasgow, called Sloan’s, which opened in 1797, and started life as a coffee shop, before becoming a lavish venue in the twentieth century which housed multiple dining rooms, a cocktail bar and even an aquarium at one point. Nowadays the building houses a bar, and a number of function rooms and spaces. However for me, the best part is that the décor has remained unchanged for the most part. The wooden room separators and frosted glass windows, the grand staircases and the gorgeous gold ceilings and chandeliers have stood the test of time, and still look as splendid as they did in a bygone era. The building definitely gave us an incredible backdrop for some self-indulgent and pretentious photos. (can you blame us?)
The entertainment, as we came to discover was provided free of charge by the Gatsby Club, was as amazing as I knew it would be. There was something to please everyone: an amazing burlesque act, jazz singers, swing dancers, and a woman who played “Heart of Glass” on a saw. There was a wide variety of guests from young fans of the era (such as ourselves) to a party of three generations of women from one family, people wearing real vintage dresses to people who’d added 1920’s accessories to modern clothes, men in suits and braces, to one fabulous male dancer who put my own Charleston skills to shame! It was refreshing to see how an event like this could bring so much diversity.
The best bit though, was that the event was all for a good cause. As Red explained before, the whole event was in aid of the incredible charity Visibility. I won’t repeat what she has already said, but the work they do is second to none, and the people who they help are incredible. Hearing Audrey tell us about her struggle when she lost her sight, and in turn losing her job and how her whole world turned upside-down brought a lump to my throat. She never once lost her sense of humour, or her sense of self. She gives meaning to the word inspirational.
(And Red won the raffle! Which I missed. Sorry.)
This post is not sponsored by any of the people of placed mentioned in it. We were just lucky enough to be able to do something we love for a good cause. If you would like more information though, please feel free to check out Visibility, The Gastby Club, BurleX Fitness or Sloan’s by clicking these underlined links or the links throughout.
With love from Red and Jodie from the 1920s.
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