The Leicester jeweller Lumbers underwent a dramatic transformation into an elegant restaurant for three nights of fine dining and performances by X Factor finalist Ruth Lorenzo.
The transformation of the Market Street jeweller was repeated three times on three consecutive nights, with the shop reinstated in the early hours before being made back into a classy restaurant each night. Jewellery display cabinets were moved out and restaurant tables and chairs brought in.
Lumbers managing director Dominic Gomersall said: “We created Leicester’s most exclusive restaurant. With just 240 guests treated to a fantastic dinner and an amazing performance by Ruth Lorenzo, this was simply the hottest ticket in town for a unique Christmas dining experience.”
The food – which included vension carpaccio and wild sea bass – was prepared by the upmarket Leicestershire caterer Stones Events. Wine was provided by Clear Black Wine. Businesses sponsoring the nights were Enderby pension firm Mattioli Woods, Berkeley insurance and St James’ Place Wealth Management. Another supporter of the event was luxury car dealer Bentley Leicester, whose marketing manager Sally Brooks said: “Never mind the ‘X’ factor, this event had the ‘wow’ factor. It was the Leicester social event of the year.”
After chauffeured guests arrived on the red carpet at Market Street, they were greeted with champagne and canapés in Lumbers’ upstairs fine diamond showroom. After dining downstairs in the transformed jewellery shop, they were serenaded by Ruth Lorenzo from the Lumbers balcony. Ruth appeared courtesy of Champions UK in Costock, near Loughborough.
Dominic said he was so bowled over by Ruth’s show that he gave her an early Christmas present: “Ruth was simply sensational, so we presented her with her very own Lumbers diamond necklace.”
One guest, Michael Sheridan, the chief executive of Harborough-based retail design business Sheridan&Co, said: “It was a truly amazing evening. The food was impeccable, and the whole Lumbers experience was second to none. The attention to detail and the thought that had gone into making sure Lumbers’ customers were feeling special was exemplary.”
Dominic paid tribute to the Lumbers staff and Stones Events for making the impossible happen each night: “Everyone played their part magnificently. It was a mammoth job and they did it three times over. Through it all we managed to keep trading each day as a jeweller; a marvellous achievement.”
Stones Events managing director Tom Goodwin said: “Creating the restaurant in Lumbers was an ambitious challenge, but between us we well and truly nailed it. ‘Pop-up’ restaurants are a big thing in London. It was amazing to create such a restaurant in the fantastic setting of Lumbers.”
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