If you expected the Sanderson Hotel in London – haunt of the fashion and media glitterati – to be on the bleeding edge with well-trained eyes and ears for predicting the next big thing then you’d be absolutely correct.
This is amply proved by their annual series of summer showcase gigs in their covered garden on Thursday evenings – presented in association with Beefeater Gin and Modular – which aim to highlight the latest and greatest in new and emerging talent. The hit rate so far is admirably high: Little Boots and Marina & The Diamonds were on the roster last summer and have since soared onto the mainstream scene. Back in June, Coco Sumner (Sting’s Daughter) performed an intimate acoustic set with her band I Blame Coco to rave reviews.
The night we attended saw hotly tipped singer-songwriter Rox perform for a packed courtyard. Rox, whose debut album Memoirs has attracted critical praise and strong commercial interest, wooed the room with singles including ‘I Don’t Believe’, ‘My Baby Left Me’ and ‘No Going Back’. It’s refreshing to write the words ‘it’s hard to categorise her style’, but I’d venture to say a cross between old-school Motown pop and something more modern, harder-edged. This songstress is the real deal with all the ingredients to cross that narrow bridge to superstardom: charisma, brio, sass – not to mention that voice!
And as you would expect from the Sanderson, the standard of food and drink on offer was nothing short of excellent. Beefeater was offered in well-priced (£8.50!) cocktail varieties. My eager guest opted for the ginger and pineapple martini, while I happily tucked into a ‘Bee Fest Martini’, a hat trick of mango puree, pink grapefruit juice and passion fruit syrup. The moreish bar snacks included an international medley of tapas size sharing plates including: mini chorizo in quince puree, rib eye steak skewers with peanut and chilli sauce and steamed buns with braised pork belly.
Perfect cocktail in one hand, Rox belting out the next big hit in the middle of this lush, under-lit garden. Just enough LA vibe for a stellar night out in London.
Sanderson Hotel
50 Berners Street
London
W1T 3NG
Tel – +44(0) 207 300 1400
