London has no shortage of stunning restaurants with seductive interiors, plush furnishings, and gorgeous food. And many of them do boast equally stunning exteriors, with ornate decorations, or hidden, secretive entranceways. But, for our money, no restaurant in London has quite as striking a facade as Annabel’s. And they rarely rest on their laurels, either, giving the building a series of seasonal makeovers throughout the year. And they’ve recently unveiled one of their most magical displays yet, with Annabel’s getting into the Christmas spirit with a gorgeous new façade.
Inspired by C.S. Lewis’ iconic The Chronicles of Narnia series, a vast wintry scene can now be found above the entrance to Annabel’s. Entitled ‘The Wardrobe: A World of Wonder’, the display transforms the side of the building into a wardrobe. The doors have been flung open, revealing “a winter realm of snow-dusted trees and shimmering icicles”.
At the centre of it all is a majestic snowy lion, peering out at the city from its picturesque perch. The display “invites onlookers into the magic of childhood – a reminder that the smallest hearts hold the greatest power”.
Said Tatiana Kharchylava, Creative Director of The Birley Clubs:
“For this year’s façade, I wanted to capture the feeling of stepping into a childhood memory – a moment when the world felt full of possibility and light. The wardrobe felt like the right symbol, opening onto a simple scene of winter and imagination. The lion represents both courage and strength, but also with its porcelain appearance, fragility. My hope is that the façade offers a quiet moment to pause, reflect and reconnect with the magic of hope that we all knew when we were young.”
Annabel’s Christmas charity work
The stunning display is also a charitable sight, as well as being downright gorgeous. The façade has been created in support of The Caring Family Foundation (TCFF) and its “Food From The Heart” campaign. Throughout the festive period, Annabel’s will be hosting several events and fundraising initiatives to support TCCF. In this way, they support the charity’s “continued mission to combat child hunger and food insecurity in the UK and Brazil.”
The Caring Family Foundation first launched the “Food From The Heart” campaign back in 2020. Since then, the charity has provided over 3.5 million meals to families and children in need. In the past year alone, they’ve delivered well over a million meals, working towards alleviating child hunger and food insecurity.
Image: @thecaringfamilyfoundation, via IG
Find out more about The Caring Family Foundation here.
📍 Annabel’s, 46 Berkeley Square, London W1J 5AT. The nearest station is Green Park.
