Hip Hip Soirée 7-8:30pm Saturday 8th May

The John King Brain Tumour Foundation are delighted to invite you to our virtual cocktail event: the Hip Hip Soirée! Inspiring conversations, fun auctions, irresistible cocktails, and delicious savoury treats, all for you to experience in the comfort of your
own home! Tickets include cocktails and goodies for 2 people!

The nation’s watering holes may be shuttered for a little while longer, but fear not! – as we all anticipate celebrating their re-opening, we have collaborated with one of the world’s best-known cocktail experts and two stellar chefs to provide you with the perfect aperitivo, alongside the chance to snap up some amazing lots in our online auction.

​Your cocktail for the night is a bespoke creation from Ryan Chetiyawardana, aka Mr Lyan, the brains behind a string of trailblazing cocktail bars around the world. His bars have won numerous awards, and Mr Lyan himself was named Time Out’s “Person of the Decade” last year.

His “Kingroni” is a tribute both to the classic Italian Negroni and to the life and interests of John King, the man who inspired our charity. There is Campari (of course), there is a gentle smokiness from Caol Ila’s malt whisky, made on Islay (John loved an occasional cigar), and flowery and herbal notes both from London Vermouth and from a sprig of lemon thyme, referencing John’s notes both from London Vermouth and from a sprig of lemon thyme, referencing John’s love of gardening; and, as a nod to John the golfer, a dash of kümmel, the aristocratic liqueur so renowned for steadying nerves on the green that it is commonly known as “putting mixture”. Serve it neat on the rocks, or – if you must! – as a long drink with soda or tonic.

The Italian theme continues with our cocktail treats. Giorgio Locatelli, padrone of the Michelin-starred Locanda Locatelli, crafts exquisite grissini – breadsticks – from the finest Italian flour and a generous grating of Parmigiano Reggiano. Normally seen protruding from his restaurant’s legendary bread baskets, Giorgio has made and packed his grissini especially for us.

And Jacob Kenedy, chef/proprietor of Soho’s much-loved Bocca di Lupo, has made caponata for us. A classic Sicilian blend of fried aubergines, celery, capers and olive oil, sharpened with wine vinegar, it is perfect either as an aperitivo, mopped up with crusty bread, or as a side dish with grilled fish.

Other treats in our boxes include savoury biscuits from The Drinks Bakery, awarded “Best Indulgent Snack” at the 2021 World Food Innovation Awards; another brace of bracing cocktails-in-a-can, courtesy of Marks & Spencer; and – as a delicious and suitably Italian finale – a taste of Amedei’s Tuscan Black chocolate, probably the best chocolate in the world.

As you sip and nibble your bespoke cocktails and snacks, you can place bids on some awesome auction prizes: a personalised caviar tasting with Laura King, perhaps, or a unique sculpture by renowned artist Emma Rodgers, or maybe a walk with the Elephants at Woburn: with bespoke tailored shirts on offer, as well as personal beauty treatments, we have something for everyone. We’ll also hear from some of our VIP supporters, and there will be plenty of music to make sure the evening goes with a swing.

We do hope you can join us for what promises to be a fun evening. As you already know, it’s for an amazing cause.

Ticket price: £75 (per hamper which serves 2 persons) | Venue: Your home
Event time: 7:00 – 8:30 pm, Saturday 8th May | Dress code: top half glam, bottom half anything!

For details visit here