What was the event? The royal world premiere of the latest Bond movie, Quantum of Solace, arguably the UK's biggest premiere of 2008. More than 10,000 people lined the red carpet in Leicester Square to see the stars of the film and around 3,000 VIP guests, including Princes William and Harry, attend the screening before being whisked off to the after-party at Battersea Power Station.
How was the event structured? Leicester Square was transformed with more than 1,500 metres of red carpet, which snaked its way around Leicester Square Gardens up to the entrance of the Odeon cinema. Located towards the end of the carpet was a stage accommodating Bond's traditional vehicle of choice - the Aston Martin - and a 32-metre screen that relayed all the action. Here, National Lottery and GMTV presenter Jenni Falconer interviewed the stars of the movie, and Young Guns' electric string quartet Escala put on a crowd-rousing performance.
Once inside, guests took their seats for the film, which was introduced by the man himself, Daniel Craig. After the screening, coaches transported everyone to the after-party that was held in a rather grand temporary structure in the shadows of Battersea Power Station. The station itself was illuminated in shades of blue and green, and flaming torches lined the approach.
Another Aston Martin, above which a large, ornate chandelier was suspended, graced the entrance to the temporary structure. Inside, the red carpet continued, with colours and themes from the film echoed in the design. Massive sculptural installations were suspended from beams, and walls of burnished chains hung from the bars. A bespoke clear roof enabled guests to see the iconic station towering above them while they enjoyed freshly shaken cocktails from the bar and made the most of the extravagant food stations, serving everything from sushi to candyfloss.
Who was behind the event? Nibbs Events was responsible for organising and producing the event, the third consecutive Bond premiere that the agency has created. It brought in a whole host of suppliers, including Starlight Design, Peppers Marquees, Rhubarb Food Design, DeWintons, Brent Carpets and Dobson Sound.
What were the highlights? Battersea Power Station made a striking venue for the party, which had obviously been well thought-out. The way the marquee had been designed so that guests could see the station from inside was a very clever touch.
SUPPLIER FILE
Nibbs Events
www.nibbsevents.com
(020) 7292 4990
Rhubarb Food Design
www.rhubarb.net
(020) 8812 3200
Starlight Design
www.starlightdesign.co.uk
(020) 8960 6078
Peppers Marquees
www.peppersmarquees.co.uk
(01405) 860249