Somerset House makes a striking setting for a December evening. On this visit, the courtyard is filled with skaters, a large Christmas tree and coloured light across the surrounding buildings. The ice rink provides the spectacle, but there is plenty to enjoy from the sidelines too.
This Roberts London video was originally published on 9 December 2015, as part of Vlogmas. We head to Somerset House to watch the skating, explore the Fortnum & Mason Christmas Arcade and settle down for food and drinks in the Lodge, before a final stop for mulled wine.
Watch the Somerset House evening
Skating beneath the courtyard lights
The walk begins outside on London’s evening streets before we enter the courtyard. Inside, the atmosphere changes: the architecture glows pink and purple, people gather around the edge of the ice and skaters move across the brightly lit rink.
Watching is part of the pleasure of this visit. The camera follows the scene from beside the rink, taking in the activity on the ice and the people enjoying the evening around it. The grand courtyard gives the whole event a memorable backdrop.
The Somerset House Christmas tree
A tall decorated tree stands beside the skating area. Its lights and oversized decorations give us another reason to stop and look, with Fortnum & Mason details visible among the ornaments. Against the dark sky, it is one of the evening’s most distinctive sights.
Inside the Fortnum & Mason Christmas Arcade
The sign for the Christmas Arcade sums up the invitation: eat, drink, shop and be merry. We leave the rinkside bustle to wander through the indoor rooms and the seasonal pop-up shop.
The browsing takes us past colourful accessories, Christmas decorations, bottles and packaged gifts. It is a different pace from the skating outside, with displays spread through the rooms and festive touches along the route.
A table in the Fortnum & Mason Lodge
The next stop is the Lodge. Tables, upholstered chairs and seasonal decorations make it a comfortable place to pause after exploring the courtyard and shop. Much of the second half of the video is spent here, looking through the menu and chatting over food and drinks.
A Hepple Gin menu appears on the table, followed by bottles, glasses and drinks. The camera stays close to the table for this part of the evening, recording the small details as well as the room around us.
Mulled wine at the Skate Lodge
Before leaving, we make one more stop at the Skate Lodge for mulled wine. Its colourful lights and bar provide a final change of scene before the goodbye outside. From watching the skaters to browsing the Christmas Arcade and lingering over drinks, this is an evening built around enjoying the setting.
Archive visit: 9 December 2015. The Fortnum & Mason partnership, shops, menus and bars shown belong to this visit and are not a guide to current arrangements. All photographs are original stills from the Roberts London video.
