We’ve reached the final third of November, which means the Christmas decorations and festive feelings in the air are speeding up by the hour. The city is truly undergoing its festive transformation, and the same can be said for the people of Claridge’s, who have just unveiled their Christmas tree for 2024.
The Mayfair hotel partners with a designer each year to allow them to run wild with their creativity to deliver a fabulous new tree, and after last year’s work with Louis Vuitton, they’ve brought in Sir Paul Smith to provide this bauble-adorned, birdbox-laden beauty for the festive season. And he’s done just that, with a 20ft stunner now standing tall at Claridge’s for the festive season.
Stood in the black and white marbled hall of the hotel, the tree will greet entrants with Sir Paul Smith’s design featuring a dazzling sea of baubles, festive ribbons, and more than 100 different bespoke birdhouses. Sir Paul collaborated with British artist Nik Ramage to create the birdhouses with a twist of roofs decorated with playing cards, postage stamps, and dice. A birdsong will play from the tree each day as a welcome into the hotel for guests.
Those who head into the lobby will notice that on top of looking good, it also might smell quite divine. That’s because Smith’s holiday Merrymaker fragrance will be sprayed around to make it a delight for all senses.
Speaking on the tree’s arrival at Claridge’s, Sir Paul Smith said: “My wife Pauline and I have been staying and dining at Claridge’s for many years. We have spent so many special moments like Christmas and New Year at the hotel with our grandchildren and so it is often a family affair.
“It’s a great honour to be asked to create this year’s Christmas tree and it’s something I hope people will enjoy and find fascinating and fun. When designing this year’s tree, I automatically thought of a bird house, friendly and optimistic, a symbol of home which reflects the welcoming spirit of Claridge’s.”
The Claridge’s trees of Christmas past
Now, Sir Paul’s effort may be a stunner of a tree, but we should remember that Claridge’s have previous on that front, so let’s refresh your memory on some of their easy-on-the-eye efforts from the last few years.
The Louis Vuitton x Claridge’s linkup was always going to be a sight to behold
2022 shone out across the lobby, with Sandra Choi’s piece being a gleaming beacon of joy
Kally Ellis went full Art Deco and delivered a gorgeous tree
The late Karl Lagerfield’s 2017 tree was an unforgettable journey into the upside-down
Check out the full Claridge’s Christmas tree archive here!