Your Claridge’s awaits

Hannah Betts joins ‘the luckiest clan in the world’ at the grandest of post-lockdown reopenings

This has been a year in which glamour has been thin on the ground. Yet, as I look about me, I see Hollywood legend Leslie Caron dancing with Royal Ballet star Eric Underwood, model and Vogue stalwart Laura Bailey catching up with milliner couturiers Philip Treacy and Stephen Jones. Meanwhile, artist-in-residence

David Downton looks on in delight as his portraits come to life in the form of so many glittering guests.

For this is Claridge’s grand postlockdown reopening and – although we may be socially distanced – here in its Lalique Fumoir, we are not allowing our carousing to be diminished, the place awash with Laurent-Perrier. The hotel reopened its revolving doors for food and drink in mid-August. However, only now, on Monday Sept 7, is it ready for the 30 (largely British) guests, who have booked in for its opening night. Meanwhile, we, the small posse of troupers among its honorary family, are celebrating by (responsibly) letting rip; this being just before the ban on groups over six was announced.

I strive to be insouciant around celebrities, but, confess that – presented with a star of Ms Caron’s luminosity – I lose it rather; An American in Paris (1951) is among my favourite films. Ava Gardner, I discover, would head to the MGM canteen to flirt with all the pretty boys, while Caron made her way over for steak to fuel her routines. I ask about Gene Kelly and am told he drank “like an Irishman”, being a little less nimble of a Monday morning. But, then, of course, this spry 89-year-old has also danced with Nureyev, Baryshnikov and Astaire.