LIVE 24-SEVEN HAMPTON MANOR CREATING A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
Creating a night to remember, Nicki Thandi’s Half-Century - ‘I wanted them to have an evening of amazing food, drink, laughter and music; a real night to remember.’
Do you know Nicki Thandi? Her husband Paul and she have been guests at Peel’s Restaurant at Hampton Manor since its opening almost a decade ago. They’ve supported its growth from inception to its current success as a Michelin-starred, four AA-rosette awarded Restaurant with Rooms.
Away from the dining table Paul is CEO of the NEC group. This is the couple that you ask for restaurant recommendations, and whose guest list you hope you’ll appear on. When it came to throwing Nicki’s 50th birthday party last summer they got straight on the phone to Hampton Manor.
To really get a taste of who Nicki is, leaf or click your way through these photos from her 50th; that’s as good an introduction as any, we think.
The wild, meadow flowers hint at her nostalgia, her elegance and less is more ethos. She knows her gins, loves her food, and has a sweet tooth. Her comedy host reveals her playful side. She adores her family, is life and soul of her friends, and knows how to throw a memorable party.
But to start at the beginning we need to first go to the end: what did Nicki want her guests to take away from her party? “I wanted them to be wowed by the venue and room and to see that a lot of effort had gone into the detail. I wanted the evening to reflect my personality and background - so I hoped they’d pick up on the subtleties of the decor, food, drink etc. I also wanted them to have an evening of amazing food, drink, laughter and music; a real night to remember. Not gimmicky but delivered in a stylish and unique way. Crucially, I wanted my guests to feel at home, with their own bedrooms to head up to at the end of the night, and a chance to reminisce the following morning over a full English and HasBean coffee.”
I’m guessing you’ve noticed the flowers. “Peonies are my favourite flowers - mainly because my mum loved them. I’m also a bit partial to hydrangeas, bluebells (wild in the woods), and tulips in spring.” Ambience-oozing, awe-inspiring, fresh flowers to fit a brief? Nicki’s vision for the Courtyard was relaxed styling with an urban edge, which also played homage to elements from her life. AVA juxtaposed the flowers with hanging glass baubles, clear Victoria Ghost chairs, and a hand-written graffiti table plan and name places.
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