AERL at play
London’s economic attachés gathered for their high-spirited Post-New Year’s party at the Holiday Inn Bloomsbury. This year, the evening was also a chance to thank the outgoing AERL chair, Tony McGrath from the Embassy of Ireland for his excellent stewardship of the organisation, and to welcome the incoming chair Shmuel Ben Tovim of the Israeli Embassy.

Attachés were then offered a tour of the hotel – and were impressed to discover that the rooms feature a ‘pillow menu’ with no less than seven choices.

Then it was on to the main business of the evening: the famous AERL prize draw, in which guests donate a bottle of their local tipple and, when their number is called, get to select an unusual bottle of wine from around the world – from Estonian Apple Wine to Israeli Yogev Sauvignon Blanc.

Douglas Bieber (Canada) selects his prize

Robert Flinter of the Holiday Inn Bloomsbury welcomes guests