The last time I popped over to Park Lane was back in 2019 for the Amy Winehouse Foundation Ball, and let me tell you, it was a blast. This Foundation does some really awesome work supporting young folks who might be going through a tough time with drugs or alcohol. There were some seriously moving speakers that night, and they managed to raise a ton of cash.
For as long as I’ve been kicking it in London (since ’91, folks), Park Lane has pretty much stayed the same. The row of fancy five-star hotels (some with slightly different names) are still there, hosting fancy events like charity balls, fashion shows, and industry awards. They’re not just pricey places to crash, but they’ve got these massive ballrooms where all the fancy stuff goes down.
This posh road runs along Mayfair, linking up Marble Arch to Hyde Park Corner on the edge of Hyde Park. And let me tell you, it’s like a car showroom dream with all those flashy rides like Rolls Royces and Aston Martins. No wonder it’s the second most expensive property on the Monopoly board.
Back in the ’90s, I’d hit up a Park Lane hotel at least once a year for those legendary advertising award shindigs. These parties were off the hook, full of glam and glitz with all the big shots in the biz strutting their stuff in fancy outfits.
By the mid-’90s, the Campaign or Marketing Week awards were the hottest tickets in town. Everyone who was anyone showed up, and there I was, a newbie in the ad world, dying to get in on the action. At first, I was too junior to score an invite, but did that stop me? Nah.
Back in those golden days before the internet took over, it was surprisingly easy to sneak in without a ticket. Tickets were like gold dust, but I had my own little system to finesse my way in. I’d throw on my best dress, show up solo (no way this would work with a crew), and stroll in late when they were seating folks for dinner.
And let me tell you, a little bit of smooth talking goes a long way. I’d pull out the ol’ “lost my ticket” line at the door, do a little fake rummaging in my bag, and boom – I was in like Flynn. Then it was all about snagging a name badge, pretending it was mine, and slipping into the party like I owned the place.
The lack of ID checks back then meant I could enjoy all the freebies in the bathroom, snag a glass of bubbly on the sly, and even score a seat at a fancy table. It was all about confidence and a touch of cheekiness.
Fast forward to Thursday night, and I found myself back on Park Lane for the Music Week awards, but this time I had a legit invite. It was a night of celebrating talent in the music industry, with Alex Turner and Ian McAndrew stealing the show.
As I said my goodbyes and headed out, I couldn’t help but wonder if a young whippersnapper could pull off a sneaky entrance like I used to. Who knows, maybe there’s still a way to bend the rules and crash the party, just for old times’ sake.
In the end, there’s nothing like the thrill of taking a risk and seeing where it takes you. And hey, who knows, maybe one day I’ll find myself back on Park Lane, stirring up a little trouble just for fun. Life’s too short to play by the rules all the time, right?
