The BABC 49th Annual Christmas Luncheon was held on Friday December 14 in the spectacular surroundings of The Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill.

750 guests from a wide range of international businesses attended the event, which is a real highlight of the San Francisco holiday scene.

On arrival, attendees were greeted by the sight of two iconic British Aston Martins and the sounds of the bagpipes from The Bushmills Irish Pipers Band fo San Francisco, before being ushered into the Terrace Room through the wonderful gingerbread house by Father Christmas, Mr Pickwick, Charles Dickens, and our very own British Bobby.

In the Terrace Room we had an array of drinks on offer, from the fabulous cocktails mixed by San Francisco Mixology to wine from the Eric Kent and Somerston Wineries, whiskies from Diageo, gin and tonics from No.3 Gin and Fever Tree Tonic, and King’s Ginger and champagne.

Moving into the Grand Ballroom for the Luncheon itself, guests were welcomed by BABC President Colin Brown. The invocation was given by the Very Rev. Dr. Jane Shaw of Grace Cathedral, and the national anthems of the UK and the United States were sung by all, led by Andres Ramirez of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. After loyal toasts from HM Consul General Priya Guha to President Obama, and to Her Majesty the Queen by Colin Brown, guests tucked into a three course traditional British Christmas Lunch, with turkey, roast potatoes, brussels sprouts and all the trimmings.

Our MC, Liam Mayclem, led the Charity Auction and Grand Raffle drawings after the Christmas puddings were piped in
(to find out more about the fabulous prizes and our wonderful sponsors please click here)!

We raised significantly more this year than last year; the final totals are still coming in but we would like to extend our warmest thanks to all of our guests and sponsors for your very kind generosity.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

All photos by Erica Deeman.