Election Luncheon – Wednesday 15 April

Election Luncheon

Grocers’ Hall

Wednesday 15 April 2026

Election Luncheon will be held on Wednesday 15 April 2026 at Grocers' Hall. This immediately follows Election Court where the future Junior Warden and new Court Assistants are formally elected with the results being announced by the Master during the luncheon.

Our Prinicpal Guest is Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation. As the de facto political leader of the City of London Corporation, Chris acts as a principal spokesperson and advocate for London as a global financial and professional services capital. Financial and professional services drive the UK economy, generating over £85bn in economic output annually, contributing 12% in total tax revenue to the UK government.

Chris also steers the development and delivery of the City Corporation’s priorities through the work of the Policy and Resources Committee which oversees the provision of local government services for our 8,600 residents and over 600,000 workers based in the Square Mile. Beyond our remit for financial and professional services, the City Corporation is the UK’s fourth biggest funder of culture, is the primary sponsor of the renowned Guildhall School of Music & Drama, is principal supporter of the Barbican Centre, Europe’s largest cultural space, and is leading the £397m redevelopment of the London Museum.

In a career spanning more than four decades, Chris has founded, led, and expanded companies across the UK and globally in a range of industries – including aviation, publishing, B2B business development and construction. He has balanced his professional responsibilities with a commitment to public service, engaging in British politics at both the local and national level since early adulthood. He is a former Deputy Leader of Hertfordshire and Dorset County Councils and was first elected to Common Council of the City of London Corporation in March 2013. He has previously served as Chairman of the City Corporation’s Planning & Transportation Committee and as Sheriff of the City of London from 2019-2021.

He continues to serve as a Non-Executive Director working with companies focused on property, infrastructure, civil-engineering, and planning.

PLEASE NOTE: Chris has kindly replaced Nick Maybey OBE as our Principal Speaker as Nick is now unable to attend.

The Worshipful Company of Grocers is one of the Great Twelve Livery Companies and ranks second in the order of precedence. The Company originated as the ‘Pepperers’, which was first officially recorded as a Guild in the Pipe Roll of 1180. In 1345, the Pepperers formed a Fraternity with St Antonin as their patron saint.

The Fraternity was entrusted with the duty of preventing the adulteration of spices and drugs, as well as with the charge of the King's Beam, which weighed the bulk merchandise in which they dealt.

This Fraternity came to be known in the 1370s as the ‘Grosseurs’ which reflected their expansion into a wide range of mercantile activity, operating primarily ‘in gross’. This was subsequently anglicised to ‘Grocers’.

In 1425, the Grocers acquired the land upon which to build their first Hall, which is where their current Hall resides today. The roof and woodwork of that Hall were destroyed in the 1666 Great Fire with a new roof being erected afterwards on the old walls.

A new Hall was built on the same site between 1798 and 1802 when part of the garden was sold to the Bank of England for the expansion of nearby Prince's Street. However, frequent and extensive repairs were required due to its defective foundations, and it was replaced by a fourth Hall, which was completed in 1893 on Prince's Street. This Hall survived the Blitz with only minor damage to its north wing, but was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1965, apparently caused by a lightbulb left on in the grand staircase beneath an oak lintel which smouldered and eventually ignited. The current Hall was constructed nearby in 1970, also on Prince's Street, and remains the Grocers' home today.

The magnigicent Grocers’ Gates which you will pass through when entering the Livery Hall for Election Luncheon

TIMINGS

• 1215        Reception
• 1245        Election Luncheon
• 1445        Carriages

BOOK NOW
Tickets cost £135 and you can book places for yourself and your guests on the Company website.
You are advised to book early and please note that Pour Memoires are no longer sent out.

Liverymen are able to claim Tallage, which is now £50 for one formal event per livery year [voucher TG1].
Any Freemen interested in becoming a Liveryman should contact the Clerk.

DRESS CODE
Lounge suits, Livery Badges.

BOOKING DEADLINE
Please book your places by Friday 3 April.

CANCELLATION & REFUND POLICY
Full refunds are only available for cancellations made more than five working days before the event. Cancellations made within five working days will not be refunded as final numbers will already have been given to the venue and caterers.

LOCATION
Grocers’ Hall, Princes Street, London EC2R 8AD
View location

CEREMONIAL COURT
There will be a Ceremonial Court immediately before the Reception to formally admit new Freemen and enrobe new Liverymen.
Ceremonial Court follows Election Court and will start promptly at 1145.  All members and their guests wishing to support our new Freemen and Liverymen are welcome to attend.
If you are expecting to be admited as a Freeman or enrobed as a Liveryman please contact the Clerk to ensure that you are included.