THE HIPPEST HIGH TEA
I’d seen amazing images of Sketch on Instagram. Curious, colourful interiors with food to match were what I had in mind when I booked a table there. I was far from disappointed. It was the hippest high tea.
To walk into Sketch is an explosion of sophistication, creativity and cleverness. Set in London’s toffy Mayfair, the building from the outside looks like any other lovely polite historic building in the street. But the interior is dramatically different to its neighbourhood conservatism.
As you walk into the darkened entrance (thinking you’ve mistakenly walked into a nightclub), a childlike game of hopscotch is painted on the stone floor. My daughter is instantly drawn to this place as she hops and jumps down the hallway. You know that this isn’t going to be a normal high tea.
Then as we walk up to the waiter’s desk, the artistic creativity continues. On the staircase to the left, coloured paint has been spilt down the stairs and a holograph moves around welcoming us. And to the right is the magical place I have wanted to see.
We are warmly invited into The Gallery. It does not disappoint. The room is pink. Everything is cocooned in pink. Pink walls, pink chairs. Pink. But it’s a soothing and sophisticated pink, yet playful. The waiter takes us to our table which is a booth with comfy pink chairs on one side. These chairs too are cocooning and not dissimilar to the marshmallows that are to be served. Designed by India Mahdavi, it is sumptuous for the eyes and stomach – it’s an interior decorator’s paradise.
The hero of the décor is the art by David Shrigley. I’d seen his art at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne and had enjoyed and giggled at his work. His work is fun and colourful and like pictures out of a child’s storybook but with more adult messages. They make you laugh, wonder and just enjoy them while you go through the treats on your plate.
From then on the experience is almost theatre. With a designated wait staff for each element of the high tea, our needs are attentively met. I needed help deciphering all the teas on offer, and my daughter was offered a special drink while we sipped our bubbles. I could go on about the crustless sandwiches and delicate cakes (I’m not a food blogger), but the food was as delicious as the interior.
The experience doesn’t end there. The bathroom is out of this world…Giant eggs? These white oval structures are the toilet cubicles!
The experience doesn’t end there. The bathroom is out of this world. As you go through the door from the restaurant, you enter two rounded staircases, complete with a “maid” cleaning the stairs (in full black and white uniform for effect). The white stairs are illuminated by huge panels of square glass in pinks, reds, greens and blues on the roof. Then the church like grandeur is replaced by a close encounter of the third kind. Space pods? Giant eggs? These white oval structures are the toilet cubicles!
And before we leave, my daughter is given a Sketch teddy bear, wearing a hip pink jumper with “Sketch” embroidered on it. And for the adults, we purchased a cheeky salt and pepper set by David Shrigley (who also designed the ceramic tableware) to remember the experience and also create a talking point at dinner and get-togethers.
For me, these experiences are fun and inspirational. Importantly they ignite the senses and gave us an experience that we will remember for a long time.
That’s what interior design should do – create a response, an experience. For help creating your space, contact me. To receive helpful tips and inspiration direct to your email inbox, please sign-up to receive my “All Things Interiors” newsletter.
