Summer Parties at The Orangery in Kensington Palace
Rocket has been accredited at Kensington Palace for over 10 years. The palace, a historic residence of the English royal family for nearly four centuries, offers stunning Baroque venues for various events, including the exclusive State Apartments and outdoor spaces like the iconic Sunken Garden. Recently, the newly refurbished Orangery reopened, providing an elegant setting for lunch or dinner parties up to 200 guests as well as drinks receptions up to 300.
The most recent restoration involved a ‘spatial reimagination’ of The Orangery by the design studio StudioKKD. They chose finishes that highlighted the building’s historical significance. Meanwhile, The Orangery’s exterior stayed mostly unchanged. Before the recent restoration, the restaurant had its last renovation in the 19th century. During that period, most of the original paneling was replaced, the cornices were cleaned, and the 24 white Corinthian columns received necessary touch-ups.
This summer, Rocket hosted a series of remarkable events, ranging from chic canapé receptions to elegant three-course dinner parties. Here’s a peek at the newly renovated Orangery.
A Stylish Canapé Party for Percy & Reed
Rocket had the pleasure of catering an intimate canapé and drinks reception for the award-winning British haircare brand Percy & Reed. The event celebrated the launch of Percy & Reed’s new fragrance, ‘Royal Blossom,’ in collaboration with Historic Royal Palaces. Held at the newly refurbished Orangery on a warm summer’s day, the venue was adorned with fresh orange and yellow blooms by esteemed London florists Lavender Green, while Velvet Living provided stylish furniture and lighting to match the theme.
The menu
Rocket presented custom-themed canapé trays in the same orange and yellow hues, featuring mojito smoked salmon skewers, tuna nori tacos, hot baked Jersey Royal potatoes with wild rocket aioli, and playful dessert bites like strawberry rose and orange blossom macarons to match the launch’s theme. Guests also enjoyed substantial bowl food from Rocket’s spring-summer menu, including Primavera Salad with Wye Valley asparagus, Yorkshire fettle cheese, orzo, and a warm bowl of Summer Gnocchi with Jerusalem artichokes and pickled romanesco.
An Elegant Summer's Night Dinner
In the striking new Orangery, we had the pleasure of serving a refined dinner showcasing the best of classical British produce. Collaborating with Pinstripes & Peonies for stunning long-table florals, the event demonstrated how indoor summer dinners can be enchanting through tasteful styling and a thoughtful, seasonal menu. The Orangery’s floor-to-ceiling windows allowed sunshine to flood in, enhancing the magical ambiance during sunset.
The menu
The evening began on the terrace overlooking the beautiful Kensington Palace grounds and sunken garden, where guests enjoyed Champagne, cocktails, and canapés featuring English bresaola, local yellow courgettes, and Scottish King scallops.
The three-course dinner started with Wye Valley asparagus with whipped tofu miso, followed by hearty Chalkstream Trout. For dessert, Rocket served delightful Strawberry Arlettes with sweet British strawberries.
