Sir Paul Smith has Unveiled the Claridge's Christmas Tree 2024

LONDON WEDNESDAY 20th NOVEMBER - Claridge’s, London’s legendary Mayfair hotel, has this morning unveiled the annual Claridge’s Christmas Tree 2024, this year created by long-time friend of the hotel, Sir Paul Smith. The Claridge’s Christmas Tree 2024 by Sir Paul Smith brings together two illustrious British names to reveal a traditional 20ft Christmas tree sitting in a Signature Striped barrel and decorated with Paul Smith colourful baubles, ribbon and over 100 bespoke birdhouses.

Sir Paul has collaborated with two friends of the house on the decorations, British artist Nik Ramage, who has made a series of mechanical birdhouses, all with a playful Paul Smith twist, with roofs decorated in playing cards, postage stamps and dice. In Paul’s office, a miniature cable cart hovers overhead and Ramage took inspiration from this and engineered a flying bird to frame Claridge’s reception. Design studio Studiomama, have created a series of their whimsical ‘Off Cut Creatures’ to sit around the base of the tree.

When designing the tree, Sir Paul automatically thought of a birdhouse. It felt like the most charming of ideas, friendly, optimistic and he wanted to use an everyday object such as a birdhouse in a repetitive way. In the same vein as designing his shops, Sir Paul likes to take everyday objects and repurpose them, giving them a new lease of life. He commented, “you can find inspiration in everything, and if you can't, look again.”

Adding to the festive design, Paul Smith’s holiday Merrymaker fragrance will scent the lobby, and a chorus of birdsong is projected from the tree throughout the day to welcome guests into the lobby of the hotel. Sir Paul has even transformed the hotel lobby into his living room, with a geometric Paul Smith stripe Rug Company Rug, reupholstered Maharam by Paul Smith fabric pieces surround the fireplace to offer guests a warming retreat during the winter months.

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without an element of festive fun and adding to the playfulness, Sir Paul has revealed ‘Paul’s Pick n Mix’ trolley, which will be available for guests to enjoy. With a selection of Sir Paul’s confectionary favourites, the trolley will be wheeled into the lobby daily to surprise and delight hotel visitors.