This year, the tournament’s seventh, and most glamorous edition, was hosted at Grade-I listed The Ned which was even busier than usual on Thursday 17th May, as London’s sharpest and smartest gathered to enjoy an evening of high entertainment and exciting poker action, all in aid of Rugby Portobello Trust.
The event’s guest list was without doubt one of the most illustrious to date and included the likes of Ben Elliot, Stormzy, Tom Holland, Otis Ferry, Alice Manners, Melissa Hemsley, Carl Froch, DJ Fat Tony, Chris Eubank Jr, Grace Mahary, Harrison Osterfield, Merah Vodianova and Joshua Kane.
The guests mingled at the champagne reception in The Saloon, in preparation for the fundraising poker, and the mood was set by singer Laura Evans, magician Archie Manners and artist Ben Mosley, who delighted everyone with their performances. Ben Mosley’s installation of London’s skyline, which was created before the crowd’s very eyes as the night progressed, only served to highlight how well this Poker Night tournament blends genius and glamour with the spirit of giving.
There was a palpable air of excitement as guests then readied themselves for the poker action in The Tapestry Room. The 16 tables brought together novice and professional players to battle it out in a bid to win one of the coveted prizes up for grabs on the night. These ranged from a driving experience with Aston Martin, a three-night stay at Myconian Villas Collection in Mykonos, a $12,000 Carribbean Poker Party prize package, ten personal training sessions complete with consultation from top expert Matt Roberts, and dinner for two at Gymkhana.
This years’s Poker Night fundraising is close to everyone’s heart and perhaps that’s why the atmosphere was more charged with urgency than ever as the poker action unfolded across the tables. Rugby Portobello Trust works hard to help children, families and individuals in North Kensington to build their community through education, training, art, music and sport. Some of the many groups supported include Grenfell Athletic football club as well as a girls-only youth group, along with the Community Café, a women-only parenting group and the News Homes Team Grenfell support group.
As this article went to press, Quintessentially Foundation in association with partypoker, confirmed that more than £135,000 had been raised so far by this year’s event through ticket sales and donations on the night. This total adds to the £11 million already raised by the Foundation since its launch in 2008. Thank you to everyone who joined us and participated. The evening was a resounding success and underlined how very important it is for our Foundation to continue supporting communities in need close to home and all around the world.
For more information on how you too can help support Rugby Portobello Trust or indeed any of Quintessentially Foundation’s worthy charities worldwide, through a one-off donation or by taking part in a fundraising event, please contact +44 (0) 203 073 6630