For our annual ‘Christmas Eve Open House’, we have prepared for our guests a special set of presentations, certain to delight and engage audiences of all ages and interests. We are pleased to offer some Special Presentations and Our Full Schedule. We invite you to join us in the parlour, mingle with our members and let yourself become part of the show!
Special Presentations
Stir-Up Sunday – Sunday, 22 November, 10:30 a.m. – Making a traditional Christmas pudding
Our Full Schedule
10:00 a.m. (Saturdays & Friday after Thanksgiving) ~ Traditional Royal Naval Toasting: Join our Christmas Eve tradition with officers and guests of Her Majesty’s Royal Navy. Propose a topic and the assembled Mess will spontaneously devise a toast to your request.
10:00 a.m. (Sundays) ~ Conversazione at the Athenæum Club: The Athenæum Club is the favorite social gathering spot of London’s elite, including some of the most celebrated people of the Victorian age. Come join us in the parlour to meet our members and participate in some lively discussion!
10:45 a.m. ~ Upstairs & Downstairs: Get an insider’s view of the workings of a London Club; Learn the English way to serve tea, set a table, take part in a formal dinner, or practice your handwriting using a quill pen (programme varies daily).
11:30 a.m. ~ Pre-Raphaelite Artists Salon: Join artists from the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and friends to sketch live models from romanticized medieval and classical themes. Pencils and pads are provided; all ages are welcome!
12:30 p.m. ~ Children’s Christmas Revels: The children get to take over the Athenæum Club and make the rules!
1:00 p.m. ~ British Association for the Advancement of Science: Critical thinking has changed our world and increased our thirst for knowledge. Be amazed by the tactics of prehistoric predation and unique organic defenses. Learn about advancements in electricity and magnetism, machines that think, and new ideas on the evolution of species.
2:00 p.m. ~ Naval Technology and Life at Sea: Learn about life aboard a Royal Navy Vessel, the science of navigation, and the latest discoveries from around the globe.
3:00 p.m. ~ Gothic Stories: Listen to your favourite authors share macabre gothic tales around the hearth at the Athenæum Club. Not suitable for those who are sensitive to horror stories that may inspire nightmares.
4:00 p.m. ~ Salon at the Athenæum Club: Theatre, games, and other amusements for you and your friends to participate in and enjoy.
5:00 p.m. ~ Christmas Carols: Join us as we raise our voices in joyful celebration of the season. Be uplifted by expertly performed traditional Christmas carols, led by famed concert pianist and composer, Madame Clara Schumann!
5:30 p.m. ~ A Toast to the Season: Marvel at the wit and extravagance of a traditional Officers’ Mess toasting ceremony, with an opportunity to propose your own toast! (Hint: Stop first at one of London’s fine pubs, pick up a glass of bubbly, and join in the spirit of the celebration!)
