The Diary: Gentleman’s Journal Long Summer Lunch 2023, at Blenheim Palace

Set against the golden-stoned backdrop of the stately build, the Long Summer Lunch lived heartily up to its name – long; summery; and very much a Bacchanalian feast

On Friday 4th August, in defiance of the mercurial British summer weather, Gentleman’s Journal gathered 100 or so of its closest friends on the South Lawn of Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, for its third Long Summer Lunch, which comprised an afternoon of general carousing. Set against the golden-stoned backdrop of the stately palace itself, the Long Summer Lunch lived heartily up to its name – long (many hours, at last count); summery (thanks to the copious yardage of linen on display); and very much a lunch (the delicious grilled lamb chops and salmon skewers made sure of that).

Entertainment came in the form of joyful saxophone licks from the Sax Man himself, but also via The Little Car Company, whose dinky, ingenious replicas of Aston Martin DB5 and Ferrari convertibles zipped around the green undulations of the parkland. Guests – some of who arrived via chauffeur-driven cars, courtesy of Wheely; others in helicopters from Thunder Aviation – included Che Lingo, Thomas Straker, Francis Bourgeois, Andrew Georgiades, Kit Price, Cyrill Ibrahim, William Franklyn-Miller, Harrison Osterfield, Orfeo Tagiuri and Max Chilton, and all were kept thoroughly watered thanks to Rock Angel rosé, G.H Mumm champagne, and MOTH cocktails, meanwhile the good people of Wheely ensured everyone got where they needed to go next in style (namely: Wilderness festival). All in all, a sterling success – and not a spot of rain!

Red Helicopter coming in to land on grass

Thunder Aviation

Kit Price, Hugh Laughton-Scott, Naa-Okailey Adamafio, Thomas Straker sat in a red helicopter

Kit Price, Hugh Laughton-Scott, Naa-Okailey Adamafio and Thomas Straker

Black helicopter on the lawn in front of Blenheim Palace

Thunder Aviation

Ciinderella Balthazar, Francis Bourgeois, Amy Francis, Daniel Thomas Jones and William Franklyn-Miller sat in a helicopter

Ciinderella Balthazar, Francis Bourgeois, Amy Francis, Daniel Thomas Jones and William Franklyn-Miller

Harrison Osterfield leaning against a helicopter

Harrison Osterfield

David Tollemache getting out a car

David Tollemache

Eric Underwood and Harry Briggs

Eric Underwood and Harry Briggs

James D. Kelly and Tara Duross

James D. Kelly and Tara Duross

Small classic cars parked on the lawn from Little Car company with Helicopters from Thunder Aviations

The Little Car Company and Thunder Aviation

Alexander Spencer-Churchill sat in a small classic car

Alexander Spencer-Churchill

Small classic car driving up the driveway with a red helicopter coming in to land

David Tollemache

Harry Gozzett

Harry Gozzett

Ciinderella Balthazar and William Franklyn-Miller

Ciinderella Balthazar and William Franklyn-Miller

Marie Hansen

Marie Hansen

Glass of Mumm champagne being poured

G.H.Mumm

Thomas Straker with a small classic car

Thomas Straker

Che Lingo, Joseph Bullmore and Rachel Geraghty

Che Lingo, Joseph Bullmore and Rachel Geraghty

Francis Bourgeois and Orfeo Tagiuri

Francis Bourgeois and Orfeo Tagiuri

Archie Norman

Archie Norman

Marina Hambro and Max Dodd Noble

Marina Hambro and Max Dodd Noble

Andrew Georgiades, Ben Pawson and Kit Price

Andrew Georgiades, Ben Pawson and Kit Price

Car parked on a field next to a sign saying "Wheely VIP" in front of Blenheim Palace

Wheely

Table full of bottles of Rock Angel Rosé

Rock Angel

Champagne glasses are raised for a toast
David Tollemache and Camilla Blandford

David Tollemache and Camilla Blandford

George Blandford, Jemima Cadbury and Alexander Spencer-Churchill chatting at the dinning table

George Blandford, Jemima Cadbury and Alexander Spencer-Churchill

Francis Bourgeois

Francis Bourgeois

Sax Man

Sax Man

Dennis Okwera and Cyrill Ibrahim

Dennis Okwera and Cyrill Ibrahim

Ice Bucket full of G.H.Mumm Champagne

G.H.Mumm

Kevin Flag, George Blandford and Karl Flag

Kevin Flag, George Blandford and Karl Flag

Archie Rutland

Archie Rutland

Camilla Blandford

Camilla Blandford

Mathias le Fèvre, Harrison Osterfield and Cyrill Ibrahim

Mathias le Fèvre, Harrison Osterfield and Cyrill Ibrahim

Andrew Georgiades and Kit Price

Andrew Georgiades and Kit Price

Max Chilton and Chloe Chilton

Max Chilton and Chloe Chilton

Ali Gordon and Lydia Millen

Ali Gordon and Lydia Millen

Grace Hodge and Harry Gozzett

Grace Hodge and Harry Gozzett

Want more diary features? Read about the Gentleman’s Journal x Polestar event at Goodwood Festival of Speed…

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