Caroline Hurley
Caroline Hurley, director of award-winning Quintessentially Events production company, has worked on some of the best parties, fashion shows, film premieres and awards ceremonies. Hannah Palmer finds out her perfect party secrets
Above: Caroline Hurley of Quinessentially Events
Grove magazine: Where do you live and why?
Caroline Hurley: On Peel Street, Kensington, W8. It’s a lovely part of the town that feels very villagey and I’m next door to my favourite pub, The Windsor castle, which I use as my extended living room
Grove magazine: What was your childhood like?
Caroline Hurley: Pretty solid really. I grew up in a house in Knightsbridge that my parents still live in today so I had a proper central London experience. I went to school around the corner, went to playgrounds in Hyde Park and Kensington. I don’t think I saw a sheep until I was 17.
Grove magazine: What's your favourite spot for an evening out in Notting Hill?
Caroline Hurley: Taqueria or Crazy Homies for hot Mexican food and margaritas; The Cow for Guinness; The Churchill Arms for Thai.
Grove magazine: How did you make the move from journalist to event producer?
Caroline Hurley: I found myself in Vancouver waiting for a work permit to come through so started to volunteer at music and film festivals there. When my papers came through I took jobs with both and got hooked on the excitement of running live events.
Grove magazine: Describe yourself in three words…
Caroline Hurley: Positive, enthusiastic, creative.
Grove magazine: What makes a great party?
Caroline Hurley: A good space, an imaginative theme and great music all contribute, but the most important factor is having fantastic guests who are up for a good time. Of course, alcohol is quite handy as well.
Grove magazine: Which event was your favourite in 2007?
Caroline Hurley: It has been the Golden age of couture Ball for the V&A. We decorated the gallery with huge prints of original 1940s couture images from the Vogue archives and with really striking white flower arrangements that were associated with each couture house. It had an amazing turnout of famous guests from fashion, music and Hollywood.
Grove magazine: What has been your greatest achievement so far?
Caroline Hurley: My business partner Anabel Fielding and I have conceived, designed and produced a new series of annual charity events. Our first raised more than £250,000 for UNICEF.
Grove magazine: Who has been your most outrageous party guest?
Caroline Hurley: A Hollywood star (who will remain nameless) asked us to get him three bottles of vintage tequila and retired into a private room with five models. They didn’t come out for several hours.
Grove magazine: What's the strangest party request you've had?
Caroline Hurley: Prince Charles asked for a martini at a champagne lunch so we had to scramble around looking for a bottle of gin.
Grove magazine: What is the most extravagant thing you have included in an event?
Caroline Hurley: A troupe of zebras for an African-themed private party in Surrey.
Grove magazine: What's the worst party faux pas?
Caroline Hurley: Running out of drink – that must never be allowed.
Grove magazine: Where do you go to pick up the perfect party outfit in Notting Hill?
Caroline Hurley: Portobello Market for vintage dresses and bags, Matches [Ledbury Road, W11] for shoes and EC One [Westbourne Grove, W11] for jewellery.
Grove magazine: Whar is your life motto?
Caroline Hurley: It is better to regret the things you have done than the things you haven’t.
Grove magazine: Describe your own perfect party...
Caroline Hurley: A fantastic rambling house in the countryside, 40 or so friends and a sprinkling of strangers, delicious food, flowing booze, candles everywhere and an ace DJ or two.
Grove magazine: Whow would be your top five dinner guests (dead or alive)?
Caroline Hurley: Keith Richards, Wallis Simpson, Oscar Wilde, Mae West and Sir Francis Drake.
Grove magazine: How do you relax?
Caroline Hurley: Good friends and good red wine.
Grove magazine: What is the hot party trend of the moment?
Caroline Hurley: Retro cocktails such as Babycham, Sidecar, White Russian; towers of fresh multi-coloured macaroons from Ladurée, using organic seasonal British produce and flowers where possible to cut down on your carbon footprint.
Grove magazine: Champagne or cocktails?
Caroline Hurley: Pink champagne and watermelon martinis.
Grove magazine: What are you working on now?
Caroline Hurley: We have just completed a biker-themed party in aid of UNICEF to welcome back Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman from their long ride from Scotland to South Africa for A Long Way Down. We’re also working on four Christmas parties, a perfume launch for DKNY and a wedding in Stockholm.