Feasting with family and friends, observing time-honoured traditions, basking in ritual and celebrating unity: Lunar New Year is an opportunity step back, take stock and at the same time embrace the future. That’s something that we feel quite an affinity for here at The Wolseley.
Perhaps fittingly given both the beloved Far Eastern flourishes seen in our interiors and our cosmopolitan mindset, we like to pay homage to this welcome beacon of light during the winter months. The festival, celebrated in China and other East Asian countries, marks the beginning of the new year according to the Chinese lunisolar calendar. Observed for over 3,500 years, it falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice, always between the end of January and mid-February, and traditionally lasts for up to 16 days. A time to feast and visit family, as well as observe ancient rituals, Lunar New Year – also known as Spring Festival – represents renewal, family unity and hope for prosperity.
Of course, London itself is known for its many festivals, celebrations, diverse communities and neighbourhoods – Chinatown being one of the most colourful. Few realise though that its roots began in Limehouse in the eighteenth century, before eventually heading west to avant garde Soho in the 1950s. By the 1980s, Chinatown’s credentials were fully established; some of its streets were pedestrianised, Westminster Council recognised its status and, in 1985, the first organised Chinese New Year celebrations took place.
The Wolseley’s own association with the Far East goes back to our building’s conception as a car showroom, designed in 1921 by architect William Curtis Green. He commissioned a number of decorative flourishes to reflect the cultural zeitgeist at the time, including Japanese lacquered Doric columns and red, black and gold lacquered doors, wall panels and screens, all celebrating Britain’s love affair with Oriental glamour. Many of those details are happily still in situ today. What may come as a surprise though, is that our building also briefly served as a Chinese buffet restaurant before becoming the Grand European café that it is now, synonymous with Oriental-art deco glamour and all-day hospitality.
It’s that sense of welcome that we still prize today as we observe communities near and far ushering in another Lunar New Year. Symbolic elements that feature prominently in London’s celebrations include red lanterns (representing good fortune), firecrackers (to ward off evil spirits), and the lion dance (a performance believed to bring luck). The colour red is deeply meaningful too, representing fire, vitality and positive energy. Its vivid tone is seen widely in Chinatown’s decorations and in the red envelopes, ‘hong bao’, containing money that children receive at this time of year.
In a playful nod to that tradition, over a two-week period, we’ll be entrusting our afternoon tea guests with their own red envelopes this year. A lucky few will find themselves the recipient of a £100 dining voucher hidden inside. Others will receive a Chinese blessing related to the Chinese zodiac, which this year celebrates the Horse. There’s an option of three types of sparkling tea on the menu too – a refreshing yet refined alternative to wine or bubbles – and the addition of a moon cake, which joins our other classics bakes on the afternoon tea menu.
So as the Lunar New Year beckons, we hope that your own year ahead contains all the qualities that the Horse is traditionally associated with: vitality and perseverance, freedom and courage. From our table to yours: 新年快乐 (xin nian kuai le): Happy New Year.
Lunar afternoon tea at The Wolseley, Monday 16 Feb – Sunday 1 March inclusive. £46.50 including a limited-edition bake. Optional glass of Saicho sparkling tea (Jasmine or Darjeeling), £9.75.
