I attended my 5th Trafalgar Dinner at the Painted Hall on 18 October. Dress code is Black Tie or uniform with decorations. ladies choose what they like and most opt for a Little Black Dress, plain or with sparkle. I wear a long gown.
The evening began in the Queen Mary Undercroft with cocktails from 7pm. and you are not rationed. As I arrived I was given a seating plan and I calculated there were over 200 guests. We wait until called to dinner and made our way to the Painted Hall to the tune of The Roast Beef of Old England by the Royal Artillery band, who provided the entertainment supported by the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook and Sea Cadets. The guest speaker was Vice Admiral Sir Jeremy Blackmore who trained as a naval officer when the college was the active Royal Naval College.
The courses have vaired from four to three, the fourth being cheese and biscuits. This year we had three courses. The first was a trio of Salmon and the vegetarian was salad of char-grilled jerusalem Archokes with roasted beetroots and wild Rocket. The main course is Baron of English Beef served with Chateau potatoes and roasted root vegetables. The beef is first paraded through the centre of the hall accompanied by drums. The vegetarian main was warm Woodland Mushroom Tart and included the vegetables. Throughout the dinner, we were served plenty of wine and water. A decanter of Port was available for the toasts to The Queen and The Immortal Memory.
The ships of the line, in previous years contained chocolates and were served after desert. This time as well as last year, they contained our desert of Chocolate Rum and Raisin mousse. The Ships of The Line can be eaten and taste very much like Kit Kat covered in rich chocolate. Each table has its own ship and they all brought in with sparklers. Dinner was rounded off with coffee and chocolates.
After dinner, a Baritone solo encouraged us to sing along to Spanish Ladies, Rule Britannia, Heart of Oak (the words are included in the programme). The naval hym which ends with: " for those in peril on the sea" is also sung. The evening ended at midnight with the Queen Mary Undercroft bar opn until 1am.
Tickets cost £120.00 and does include acoomodation. For your money you have a really wonderful venue, cocktails, dinner and entertainment. There are a couple of places to stay in Greenwich within a short walk of the venue. In previous years, I stayed at the Ibis but this time stayed at Devonport House Hotel which cost £109.00 for 1 night and included breakfast. The Ibis is approximately £20 cheaper. There is also a Novohotel which is just outside Greenwich train station. I have never stayed there because it is a longer walk.
I have asked the organisers, The Greenwich Foundation, to let me know when the 2009 dinner is held. Normally it is on the Saturday closest to Trafalgar Day.
I hope this helps anyone who is thinking about attending next year.
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