Opera Holland Park, founded in 1996 before the ruins of Holland House, held its one black tie evening of 2025 at Drapers' Hall, with its principals singing over dinner.
Opera Holland Park, the Kensington summer opera company, held its only black tie evening of 2025 at Drapers’ Hall, City of London, on Tuesday 11 November 2025.
Sir Walter Cope built Holland House in 1605. Under the 3rd Lord Holland it became a social, literary and political centre whose visitors included Byron and Dickens.
A ten-hour incendiary raid in September 1940 left it badly damaged. The London County Council bought the park and the ruins in 1952, and in 1987 Kensington and Chelsea put a canopy over the performance space. Opera Holland Park was founded there in 1996.
It is now an independent charity that plays to more than 30,000 people across a three-month festival. Its Inspire programme takes opera into care homes, hospices, shelters and schools.
The gala raised money for Inspire and for the 2026 season. Guests sat with the company’s artists and staff, the principals sang between courses, and a silent auction of more than 30 prizes ran alongside dinner.
The company takes no public subsidy, so an evening like this helps pay for its work.