Fashion Show. Murder Mystery Dinner. Grand Ball.

Margate's iconic Walpole Bay Hotel is to mark its 100th anniversary with the “party extravaganza of the season” on Saturday 11th October.

The evening's entertainment begins at 5pm with a fashion show, organised by the hotel's in-house hair and make up stylist, Jerome Hillion.  The former British Hair Dresser of the Year Award winner will use the event to showcase his latest collection.  Instead of the usual catwalk format, models will be position in various locations within the hotel's 'living museum' through which will be guided through its unique collection of historic artefacts and memorabilia from years gone by.

Models will be dressed by the acclaimed fashion stylist Amy Still, who has styled many top catwalk, with her work photographed for the leading glossy magazines.

“The models will be positioned in different rooms on the 2nd floor museum, like mannequins reminiscing and reflecting the Walpole's glorious past,” said Jerome, adding “My hair dos will be inspired by the Walpole's tales and  pay tribute to its long history, but bringing up to the present day plus some more futuristic creations – reflecting the town's brightening economic and a tilt an the next hundred years.

The fashion show will be followed by a special Murder Mystery Dinner, where professional actors will entertain guest bas the enjoy a special menu of the hotel's favourite dishes.

The evening concludes with a grand ball in the hotel's basement ballroom, featuring its1920's maple sprung dance floor.

“The party will be a night to remember and I'm looking forward to seeing many of our regular guests who have become great friends over the years,” said hotel owner and museum curator, Jane Bishop.

Tickets are £65 per person, with double rooms, including a champagne breakfast, costing £110 per person.

A charity raffle will be held in aid of Pilgrim's Hospices.  Prizes include: a hair and make up make-over from Jerome, a 5-course taster menu at Jason Freedman's  new Taste of The Med tapas restaurant upstairs at The Minnis n Birchington, a gourmet meal for two with wine at one of Dev Biswal's Ambrette restaurants in Margate, Rye or Canterbury and a meal for 4 with wine at the award winning Indian Summer restaurant in Brighton.

Editors' Notes

Built just before the First World War extended in 1927, The Walpole Bay Hotel is being lovingly restored to its former glory by the Bishop family. It was built by Louisa Budge and stayed in her family until 1995, before being acquired by the Bishops.  The caged 1927 Otis Trellis lift, serving all 5 floors, is the centre-piece of reception.

A “living museum” the hotel offers ambience of a bygone era with its uniformed maids, spacious lounges, flower decked veranda, Edwardian restaurant, snooker room and 1920s ballroom with its original sprung maple dance floor.  The entire building features memorabilia and educational displays.

Cream teas are served daily priced from £5.75. The range of accommodation includes doubles, four posters and family suites ranging from £75 to £135 per night including buffet breakfast. 

The hotel's dining rooms is home to a renowned 'napery' featuring original works of leading international artists, including local girl Tracey Emin.  Emin's works, painted on original bed sheets with embroidered Walpole Bay Hotel logo were displayed in the London Hayward Gallery. The hotel hosted Tracey's birthday parties for 10 years, was used for launch of her book, 'Strangelands', and was the location for her film  'Top Spot' whose premier was televised by the BBC .

Jerome Hillion, a former British Avant Garde category winner in the prestigious British Hairdressing Awards, has opened a luxury hair and beauty salon in Margate's iconic Walpole Bay Hotel.

The bijou style salon, complimenting with the Walpole's quirky persona, is located in the old sewing room on the hotel's top floor. Jerome began his career over 20 years ago in France where he studied hair and make up in a prestigious private academy.  He then moved to Jersey in the Channel Islands where he ran his own salon and worked as a freelance hair and make up artist on photo shoots in London and Paris. After seven years in the Channel Islands, Jerome moved to London to train for the British Avant Garde category in the British Hairdressing awards, which he won in 2005. Jerome then opened his own salon 'Hair', which he rebranded 'Moderne London' in 2012, in the fashionably Spitalfields area in London, where he established an international clientele and became a guest artist at the Schwarzkopf and RedKen Academies. Jerome's session career continues with regular trips to London, Paris, Stockholm, Berlin, Hamburg and Portofino, working for fashion designers, artists and private clients.

Tourist information: www.visitthanet.co.uk

Press Contact:

Accommodation with complimentary dining at local restaurants can be arranged for commissioned journalists.  For details and photographs contact George Shaw at Avocado Media.

T: 01892 750851  E: geo@avocadomedia.co.uk 

W: www.avocadomedia.co.uk Tw: @AvocadoPR

Jerome Hillion Hair & Makeup

T: 07971324347 W: www.jeromehillionhairandmakeup.co.uk E: jeromehillion@yahoo.co.uk  Tw: @JHillionH

Walpole Bay Hotel, Fifth Avenue, Cliftonville, Margate, Kent CT9 2JJ

T: 01843 221703 E: info@walpolebayhotel.co.uk 

W: www.walpolebayhotel.co.uk TW: @wpbhsanctuary