Last night saw stars including Tom Parker Bowles, Jamie Laing, Ben Elliot & Zac Goldsmith support the Quintessentially Foundation’s annual poker evening held in the beautifully restored Lancaster Ballroom at The Savoy Hotel in association with PokerStars. The aim of the evening was to raise much needed funds for three worthy causes: Greenhouse, Place2be and RightToPlay. We are delighted to announce that over £195,000 was raised from last night’s event, adding to the £4 million which has already been raised by the Foundation since 2008.
Following a lavish champagne reception, the evening saw glamorous VIPs, movers & shakers and business luminaries take their seats alongside poker professionals and enthusiasts in a ‘Texas Hold’em’ poker tournament. At stake were 10 amazing prizes including a trip to the PokerStars and Monte-Carlo Casino (R) European Poker Tour event and a Box for Arsenal vs Newcastle United in addition to a Pre-release Private Screening of a Working Title Film for 35 people.
Highlights of the evening included Jamie Laing repeatedly beating the poker pro at his table and winning all her chips forcing her to buy-in again to stay in the game!
The eclectic mix of characters clearly enjoyed themselves and the poker evening continued long into the night, with guests knocked out of the competition making the most of the cocktails & canapés on offer throughout the evening.
VIP Attendees: Ben Elliot, Tom Parker Bowles, Zac Goldsmith, Alice Rothschild, Jamie Laing, Sophie Michell, Camilla Rutherford, Alistair Guy
Team PokerStars Professionals
Bertrand ‘Elky’ Grospellier
Jake Cody
Leo Margets
Fatima Moreira de Melo
Matthias De Meulder
Christophe De Meulder
What they drank: Dalmore Whiskey, Bellerose beer and Harry Brompton Ice tea
What they ate: canapés and bowl food including beef burger, braised lamb shank and sautéed potato gnocchi