• Largest event yet – Wednesday & Friday sold out with Thursday only 30 guests short of capacity  
• More exhibitors than any other year
• VERTU joined a fabulous sponsorship line-up of Audemars Piguet, Boodles, Chubb Insurance and Pommery Champagne
• 30% overall increase in guest attendance over 2009 (itself 28% higher than 2008)
• Over £150,000 raised for charity across the event
• Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance won by Hugh Taylor’s 1932 Alfa Romeo Monza
• Salon Privé Boodles Ladies’ Day £6,000 Velocity Diamond Pavé Pendant awarded to Tania McNab

After the final count, the Organisers of Salon Privé have confirmed that this year’s event, the 5^th in the series, was the largest, most spectacular and most popular to date.

Ticket sales this year were faster than ever before, with paying guests increasing by 50% over the previous year.

Increased visitor numbers brought increased revenues for the charities supported by Salon Privé with over £150,000 raised across the event, for The Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity, Prostate Cancer Research and The Prince’s Trust.

Said co-founder, David Bagley: “This year’s Salon Privé has been a tremendous success, by any measure, but especially satisfying to us has been the number of returning visitors and exhibitors.  We’ve been determined to grow Salon Privé every year, but without losing the fundamental exclusivity and sense of occasion that makes it so popular, so to be sold out two weeks before the event was incredible.  Salon Privé is now a firmly established event in both the motoring and London summer society calendars.”

Expanded supercar collection

This year, in excess of 40 carefully selected super and luxury cars were openly displayed on the lawns, with several on view for the first time at a London event. Regular attendees Aston Martin, Jaguar, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz and Rolls-Royce were joined for the first time by Audi and Lexus with Bentley, Bugatti and Lamborghini returning following a year’s absence;  cars on display ranged from the superlative luxury of the Rolls Royce Phantom to the ultra-exclusive Bugatti  Veyron Grand Sport and the outrageous Veritas RSIII.

The relaxed surroundings and garden party atmosphere provided brands with a unique environment in which to engage with customers and visitors.  Bentley Motors offered a craftsmanship display, while Rolls-Royce launched its ‘Bespoke Personalisation Programme’ at Salon Privé, including the display of a specially-designed, four-person picnic set finished in polished aluminium, veneer and leather.

UK’s finest Concours d’Elégance

On the other side of the lawns and sponsored once again by CHUBB Insurance, a 58-vehicle, seven-category Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance attracted a range of exceptionally rare, beautiful and very valuable cars from around the world.

Entrants included Simon Kidston’s ultra-rare Panther 6, an exemplary collection of pre-war Bugattis including an ultra rare Type 46 Profilee and a special celebration of 75 years of Jaguar which included the company’s 1954 Le Mans shortnose D-Type. 

The overall ‘Best of Show’ award went to Hugh Taylor’s exceptional 1932 Alfa Romeo Monza and the winner’s plate was presented by Simon Mobey of CHUBB Insurance.

Dressing to impress – The BOODLES Ladies’ Day

Thursday 22^nd July saw the return of the fabulous BOODLES Ladies’ Day with the Best Dressed Lady being awarded a spectacular £6,000 Boodles Velocity diamond pavé pendant. It was a day of glamour, style, beautiful ladies and fabulous hats and after much deliberation, the prize was awarded to Tania McNab and presented by Boodles Managing Director, Michael Wainwright and current Miss Great Britain, Sophie Gradon.

Looking forward

Planning for next year’s event is already underway and the organisers have confirmed that due to the demand for tickets this year, tickets for Salon Privé 2011 will go on sale from the beginning of November 2010, via www.salonprivelondon.com or +44 (0) 808 100 2205.