This singular social event on Saturday, 2nd August, has been some nine months in the planning and the Master had all but given up on it, when he received a confirmatory phone call this morning. (Tuesday, the 22nd – somewhat short notice!)

The world-famous annual round of concerts known as “The Proms” is a great British summer institution, and made all the more so by the fascinating building in which they are held. Built by private subscription from 1867 to 1871, The Royal Albert Hall is an amazing, circular, covered amphitheatre, overlooking Kensington Gardens, just along from Knightsbridge. Today, the Proms apart, it hosts many of the most amazing public shows, circuses, concerts and spectacles (Tennis, anyone?) in London’s annual calendar.

The Master has managed to bag three things which make a visit there truly memorable, namely:

1   11am tickets to a top concerts in this year’s Proms programme – called Viennese Whirl;

2.  A 1.15pm table for lunch in “Verdi”, the Albert Hall’s famous Italian restaurant on the first floor; and

3.  A 3pm tour of the Hall itself.

Sadly, there are only eight places on this amazing day out, and two of them have already gone, so the remaining six are available on a first-come-first-served basis. In the interests of fairness, you can only bring one guest.

The concert will showcase the world’s most famous Viennese Waltzes, the lunch should be delicious (We’ll do some bistro mathematics for the bill!), and the backstage tour is fascinating.

So come and enjoy a real ‘bucket list” outing on Saturday, 2nd August. Dress is smart casual.