What’s On: Sketch London unveils Sketch in Bloom
This month, Sketch London will transform its Grade II*-listed building into a living Jane Austen-inspired garden to mark the 250th anniversary of the author’s birth. The 11th edition of Sketch in Bloom runs from 1 May-1 June and will see the restaurant waltzing into the Regency era with all the fanfare and whimsy of a Jane Austen novel – and the creativity of some of London’s leading florists.
From the moment you arrive, you’re met with a “prettyish kind of a little wilderness”: a tapestry of rose trails, clematis, foxgloves and forget-me-nots adorning the arched doorway. This is Austen’s garden as imagined by Lucy Vail Floristry – and brought to life by a selection of blossoming seasonal flowers.
Step inside and you’ll next be immersed in a meadow dreamscape created by artist Meg Boscawen, with a freestanding pergola planted at the centre. Novel pages are suspended mid-air, swirling around a writing desk and chair on which guests are invited to sit for a photograph – posing as Austen’s contemporary. It is a true sensory experience: fragrant aromas and birdsong fill the air – even the staff uniforms are decorated with floral patterns created by Sketch’s dress designer Sonia Taouhid.
The event extends into The Glade (where Lucy Vail continues her vision with lace parasols blooming with flowers of every colour) and The Lecture Room and Library. Here, you’ll be met by a cascading wisteria tree designed by Rob Van Helden Floral Design. At its trunk is an explosive display of hydrangeas, lupins, irises and delphiniums, offering yet another picturesque photo opportunity for Janeites.
Perhaps Sketch’s most iconic installation is The Pods, designed by founder Mourad Mazouz and architect Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance and given an extra floral touch by award-winning theatrical floral artist Ricky Paul. The floral theme also extends to the staircases, where delicate twisting vines decorated with handmade wisteria, fashioned from preserved rose petals, lead guests up the staircase, flanked with classic topiary trees. Its centrepiece is a quintessential Austen heroine sculpted from moss and imbued with self-assured spirit.
‘Sketch is the dream brief,’ says Paul. ‘They give us total creative freedom to let our imagination run wild – and that’s when the real magic happens. Our floral installations aren’t just pretty; they stop people in their tracks, spark conversation and become part of the brand’s story through the content guests can’t help but share.’
As part of this arresting homage, Sketch is offering a host of activations, including a literary afternoon tea inspired by Jane Austen, served in a brand-new silver ornate tea set. Executive head chef of the Lecture Room and Library, Daniel Stucki, will also be showcasing an exclusive Sketch in Bloom three-Michelin Star lunch during the two-month period, which guests can tuck into for £150 per person.
If that wasn’t enough, Sketch has also collaborated with Penguin on limited editions of Pride & Prejudice and Emma, providing every opportunity for us to “indulge [our] imagination in every possible flight”.Elizabeth Bennet would be proud.
Sketch in Bloom, 1 May-1 June 2025, 9 Conduit Street, London, W1S 2XG