The Spectator Readers’ Tea Party, in pictures

Last night’s summer party was only the warm-up. Today, we invited some of our subscribers over for a cup of tea in the garden here at 22 Old Queen St. It’s a chance for us to meet the people we work for – the best-read, best-humoured cohort of people in Britain (and beyond). Andrew Neil, Taki, Jeremy Clarke, Hugo Rifkind, ‘Dear’ Mary Killen, Peter ‘Ancient & Modern’ Jones and Rory ‘Wiki Man’ Sutherland were all there – with about 120 of our closest (yet un-met) friends. Spectator subscribers aren’t buyers of a product, they’re members of a club. To join them (and us) for just £1 a week, click here. Anyway, the pictures (all by Lara Prendergast):- The Savoy Hotel kindly brought the tea and nibbles.

Fleet St legend Michael Heath, our cartoons editor, with Danielle Wall, deputy editor of Spectator Life

Our Low Life correspondent, Jeremy Clarke. Typical reader’s question: “How much of it does he make up? I mean, when he starts a column saying ‘I woke up at 4am on the pavement an Leicester Square’ he’s using artistic license, isn’t he?’ I suspected so too until I took this job, and got to know him a little. It’s all true.

Me with our youngest and oldest guests, aged 8 and 90. And below are some more readers…

 

And this is ‘Dear’ Mary Killen. She does exist.