A Day At Drummonds

A rare and special treat. November 2012

We (the Hollick Family) were invited to lunch at Drummonds Bank, 49 Charing Cross, London.

Drummonds Bank

The Bank is situated on the corner of Whitehall and Admiralty Arch, Trafalgar Square, London and was originally founded by Andrew Drummond in 1717 (though it was in a slightly different location then) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drummonds_Bank

Admiralty Arch
(with Drummonds on the left hand side)

We reached the old board room where lunches are now served via a special lift that had been installed for Her Majesty the Queen Mother (so I've been in a royal lift!) and I had the dubious pleasure of being seated at the dining table in the place most favoured by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. (Not sure if that is anything to crow about LOL - still, its all a part of history!)

Our host gave us an informative tour of the historical rooms - some of the original ledgers are in the book cases, but most have now been removed to safe keeping in the British Library (I think that's where they've been put.)

Some beautiful paintings and items... the Adam Fireplace, a gorgeous silver statue of a stag, Meissan Porcelain http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meissen_porcelain ... wonderful old furniture. The place echoed with the shadows of the past!

The view from the first floor windows is fabulous. One way - out across Trafalgar Square, another view is of Admiralty Arch. Twice we saw escorted cars come through, don't know who was in the first cavalcade (possibly the Prime Minister old what's'sname himself) The second time it was the Queen - just caught a glimpse of her wearing a cream outfit.

You know when someone important is coming because whistles are blown and the everyday traffic has to move to the side and stop, then a squad of police motorbikes with lights flashing, followed by security cars escorting A Big Black Car sweep past. Loads of people were running to the side of the road when the Queen came past, all waving and cheering.

Lunch, by the way, was scrummy!