Now in its 11th edition, Sketch in Bloom has returned with a breathtaking transformation of the iconic Mayfair destination, celebrating the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen with a month-long immersive floral installation.
Throughout its history, sketch has been home to impressive creative pioneers and institutions, from the Royal Institute of British Architects to the London atelier of Christian Dior.
From 1 May to 1 June 2025, every corner of sketch – long known as a haven for experimental art and sensory indulgence – blooms with Regency-inspired elegance, literature, and fragrance.
Photos Credit: ©MarkCocksedge©MarkCocksedge
This year’s theme, A Floral Chapter, is a poetic tribute to Austen’s love of nature and her enduring literary legacy. I was fortunate to be given a private tour of the four restaurants inside the Grade II* listed building by the art curator herself Milly Wright, a passionate and deeply knowledgeable guide. Each room is entirely reimagined, a visual and aromatic feast, with installations that change every year. For me, Sketch in Bloom has become an annual appointment – like revisiting a favourite book, but always with new surprises.
The Installations
The Entrance Hall is a bit magical. Lucy Vail Floristry’s verdant design, filled with seasonal wildflowers and a palette drawn straight from the Regency era, greets visitors with a cascade of roses, foxgloves, and forget-me-nots. A standout moment is the freestanding pergola under which books and pages swirl from the domed ceiling – an evocative metaphor for Austen’s imagination.
Sketch in Bloom 2025 Photo by ©MarkCocksedge
In The Glade, parasols overflow with blossoms above the canopy, a nod to Austen’s genteel world. Rob Van Helden’s ethereal transformation of The Lecture Room and Library centres around a majestic wisteria tree, dripping with lilac blooms and flanked by a Regency writing nook that evokes the world of Mansfield Park or Persuasion. The pods, often the most photographed part of sketch, are now a whimsical Austen dream, designed by Ricky Paul with a mossy topiary figure and preserved floral elements winding up the stairway.
The Culinary Offering
Although I didn’t get the chance to try the Jane Austen-inspired Afternoon Tea (at £115, it remains on my wishlist), I did enjoy a delightful brunch of poached egg with salmon and avocado, served with fig jam and toast—a well-balanced and flavourful choice that felt indulgent but fresh.
I must admit I’d have loved to sample the full Regency afternoon tea experience, especially served in their newly designed ornate silver tea set while actors perform a live scene from Emma and a string trio plays nearby. That kind of theatrical flair is what sketch does best – an experience as much as a meal.
Dreamy loos
I collect dreamy loos – yes, really! I’m the kind of woman who falls in love with a restaurant because of its bathroom. Nothing thrills me more than discovering a place where the loo is not just functional but a full-on vibe.
Sketch is a place where powdering your nose becomes an otherworldly experience. One of their toilets is like stepping inside a human-sized jewellery box – walls glisten, mirrors gleam, and the lighting flatters you into a selfie goddess. It’s luxurious, pink, and dripping in old-school glamour, the kind of place where Marie Antoinette would update her Instagram stories. Then there are the futuristic pod loos – sleek, glossy egg-shaped capsules that look like they’ve landed straight out of a Star Wars film. You half expect a robot attendant to offer you hand cream in five languages.
These aren’t just bathrooms – they’re emotional experiences. For someone like me, who grew up dreaming of glamour and now finds beauty in the little (and loo-related) things, it’s like stumbling into a personal paradise. You laugh, but when life gets overwhelming, finding a perfectly lit, beautifully tiled sanctuary can genuinely reset your soul. I once danced all night and watched the sunrise barefoot on the sand – and yes, I still remember the bathroom at the club because it had golden swan taps and a disco ball above the sink. Bliss.
Call me quirky, but for me, it’s all part of the magic. Toilets tell stories. And I’m here to collect every fabulous flush-worthy moment.
Sketch in Bloom 2025 is not merely an art installation or dining experience -it’s an immersive, multi-sensory journey into the imagination of Jane Austen, with every flower, scent, and space contributing to the narrative. Whether you’re a devoted Austenite or simply a lover of design, this is an unmissable event. While some of the offerings come at a premium price, the attention to detail and theatrical splendour make it worth every penny – or at the very least, a wander through its public rooms and installations is well worth the visit.
In a city full of exhibitions, Sketch in Bloom stands apart: intimate, bold, romantic, and unforgettable.
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