The Chelsea Christmas lights in 2016 came with a proper neighbourhood party. This Roberts London film follows an afternoon and evening around Sloane Square, Peter Jones and Duke of York Square, with market food, live singing and ballet before the decorations light up the trees.
Originally published on 15 November 2016, the video preserves that season’s celebrations. The route begins while there is still daylight and ends with a walk beneath the illuminated trees. Along the way, there is time for a duck confit sandwich, a first mulled wine of the season and a look at the Christmas windows.
Peter Jones and the Christmas windows
I start in Sloane Square, opposite the station, before crossing towards Peter Jones. Its decorations are already on, even though the local switch-on party is still to come. The windows feature the boxer dog and woodland animals from the John Lewis Christmas advert of 2016, bringing a familiar television story onto the pavement.
It is an easy place to linger before heading along King’s Road. Shop windows, buses and people crossing the square provide the everyday background to the seasonal displays. Later, after dark, I return to see how the lights change the view.
Duck confit at the Duke of York Square market
Music is already carrying across Duke of York Square when I arrive. The stage and Christmas tree give the party a centre, while the market offers a good reason to explore its edges. I had wondered whether the food stalls would still be serving, having arrived after the usual afternoon closing time mentioned in the film.
Fortunately, Partridges still has duck confit sandwiches. The filling comes with plum sauce, and the camera gets a close look before I find somewhere to eat. This is one of the pleasures of the visit: a familiar Saturday food stop becomes part of a Christmas evening, with singing from the stage nearby.
The market and surrounding shops keep people moving through the square. Beyond them, the Saatchi Gallery prompts memories of an earlier visit to the Rolling Stones exhibition. On this occasion, however, the action is outside, where the audience is gathering for the festive programme.
Singing, ballet and mulled wine
Live singing fills the space in front of the stage. Families stop to watch, and the crowd grows as daylight fades. Santa’s helpers and reindeer add to the excitement around the square; there is plenty happening away from the stage as well as on it.
I return to Partridges for mulled wine, the first of the season. With a warm cup in hand, I make my way back towards the performances. The ballet has begun, although getting a clear view through the audience is not always easy.
The dancers give the evening a different pace. Pink costumes stand out against the stage, and the film catches parts of the performance from among the crowd. It feels like a local celebration unfolding around the shops, with people joining in as they pass.
The Chelsea Christmas lights switch-on
By the time the lights are on, Duke of York Square looks quite different. Bright decorations hang in the trees, the stage throws colour across the audience and the Christmas tree shines above the gathering. Santa is the guest at the centre of the celebration, arriving with his helpers.
Afterwards, the party continues and a long queue forms for Santa’s grotto. I pause to look back at the evening: reindeer, ballet, duck sandwiches and mulled wine have made a full outing of the switch-on. The tree is worth another look before leaving the square.
Back to Sloane Square after dark
The final part of the walk returns to Sloane Square and Peter Jones. Lights hang among the branches, traffic circles the square and the department store provides a bright backdrop. These closing views show the change from the daylight introduction more clearly than any description could.
This is a record of Chelsea’s 2016 Christmas season; the stalls, displays and event arrangements belong to that visit. For another walk through the neighbourhood, see Chelsea in May 2017. The 2018 Partridges and fine food market film returns to Duke of York Square in a different season.
