Election Court General & Dinner 2026
2026-04-21 17:00 - 22:30 UTC | Armourers’ Hall, 81 Coleman Street, London, EC2R 5BJ, United Kingdom
Our Election Court General falls on Tuesday 21st April 2026 and will be held in the stunning surroundings of Armourers’ Hall, 81 Coleman Street, London EC2R 5BJ.
All Liverymen and Freemen are strongly encouraged to attend our Election Court General commencing at 5.00 pm. It is an extremely important event in our calendar when Officers are elected for the ensuing year. Our Officers in line are Senior Warden Kevin Fenlon, Junior Warden Steve Durdant-Hollamby, Keeper of the Roll Julian Milligan and Court Assistant Rav Singh Sumal.
During the Court General, those qualified Freemen (being those that have received their Freedom of the City at Guildhall) who wish to be “clothed” in the Livery will also be admitted as new Liverymen of the Company. Our newly admitted Liverymen, family and guests are also most welcome. The Chairs of all our Committees will also provide a short overview to Liverymen and Freemen on the activities of their respective Committee.
A short Tour of the Hall for our Guests will commence at 5.30 pm.
The Election Court General is followed by a Reception at 6.30pm and sumptuous three-course Dinner at 7:15 pm.
This year we are privileged to welcome the Commanding Officer of the 3rd Battalion of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment PWRR, Lieutenant Colonel Jon Bowman as our Guest Speaker. 3 PWRR is one of our valued military affiliations.
Please book your tickets by Tuesday 7th April at the latest. You will need to first log into the Members area to do so.
Cost of the Reception and Dinner is £150 per person including VAT.
Dress code: Lounge suits and ties / Dress / Suits for ladies.
Refunds: In the event that you are unable to attend the Dinner, you can only do so by emailing the Clerk by Monday 13th April. No refunds will be granted beyond that date.
Please note, this year we will not be holding our Annual Divine Service at the Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula within HM Tower of London.
The Master sees this event as a priority event in our Livery calendar for two important reasons: the Election of our new Officers and the Installation of new Liverymen. She therefore very much hopes that members will support this important occasion and encourages you all to attend to connect with fellow members and to share an evening of fellowship, camaraderie and celebration. Family and guests are most welcome.
A Short History of the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers
The Armourers and Brasiers’ Company first emerged in 1322 when a group of twenty-six Armourers and Helmet makers was granted the right to oversee standards in the making of armour and helmets in and around the City of London. From these humble beginnings it grew in coherence and standing, and in the middle of the Wars of the Roses in 1453 was granted its first charter of incorporation by King Henry VI. In 1515 the Company absorbed the Blade makers. Its reputation was further enhanced in Henry VIII’s reign by an increase in skills which emulated those of the Greenwich armourers imported by Henry from Germany and Italy. By Elizabeth I’s reign, the Company was accepted as equal to the foreign armour makers.
In times of peace the Company had diversified into brass making and, when armour went out of use after the Restoration, it turned over to this secondary craft. In recognition of this change of direction Queen Anne granted what is now the Company’s operative charter to the Armourers and Brasiers’ Company in 1708. Unlike many City Livery Companies, it continued its oversight of the trade until the industrial revolution taking apprentices from all over England and from all walks of society, with special arrangements for charity children.
In the 19th Century, the brass trade moved to Birmingham and the Company lost some of its close associations but, encouraged by the City Livery Companies Commission of 1878, it held on to its association with the trade by subsidising education about and within metallurgy.
In the 20th Century the Company continued and extended this association by forming the Gauntlet Trust which encourages and funds research into Materials Science. The membership of the Company reflects this interest, and its finances have been organised to maximise the Company’s support.
The Hall
The first hall was bought in 1428, 25 years before the first Charter regularised it legally, and it had to be owned by trustees. It is described in the first deed as “the Dragon and five shops”. The money was raised among the membership who also paid for the glazing of the windows. By 1454 it consisted of “the Dragon and two shops”, three of the shops having been used in the conversion of the building. The Hall narrowly escaped the Great Fire and in late 1666 had a counting house, a parlour, a buttery, a larder, a kitchen with three chimneys, a hall, a beer cellar, a lumber room, a posting room, a court room, a withdrawing room, an armoury and a place of easement.
In the 18th Century the Hall was constantly repaired and refurbished. By 1835 however, the building was costing more to maintain than it was thought to be worth and the Court decided to rebuild. The New Hall, first occupied in 1841, was designed by Joseph Henry Good, the Company’s surveyor, who was also surveyor of St Andrew’s Holborn and a pupil of Sir John Soane. The Livery Hall was Gothicised in 1871-3.

Lunch for New Liverymen & Freemen
2026-06-02 12:30 - 15:00 | Watermen’s Hall, 16-18 St Mary at Hill, London, EC3R 8EF, United Kingdom
The Master is delighted to invite new Liverymen and Freemen to join her along with the Wardens and fellow Livery members for a Reception followed by an informal Lunch within the historic and elegant surroundings of Watermen’s Hall.
Details:
Date: 2nd June 2026. Time: Reception at 12.30pm for Lunch at 1pm.
Venue: Watermen’s Hall, 16 – 18 St. Mary at Hill, London EC3R 8EF
Cost: £110 per person (inclusive of VAT) which includes Reception Drink, 3 course Lunch and wine.
Dress Code: Business Attire (with Company tie)
Please book your tickets by 22nd May.
The event is specially designed for new Liverymen and Freemen to meet and get to know other members of the Company; it offers an excellent opportunity to learn more about the Worshipful Company of Builders’ Merchants and the Livery movement in general. You will also be able to ask any questions and engage in meaningful discussions about the Company.
Over Lunch, the Master and some of our more established Liverymen will be available to discuss events – both within our Company and within the City – and explain ways to get more involved. Our Company serves as a valuable networking platform for industry members with varied events organised throughout the year.
We are pleased to welcome new members to our Company, and the Master and Wardens very much hope you will be able to attend this special lunch.
More on the history of Watermen’s Hall:
The Company of Watermen and Lightermen of the River Thames was founded in 1514, when King Henry VIII gave Royal Assent to an Act of Parliament regulating watermen, wherrymen and bargemen. In 1700, under a new Act of Parliament, the Company of Watermen was granted authority to regulate Lightermen as well.
Watermen were responsible for ferrying people across and along the Thames, often in small rowing boats known as wherries. Lightermen handled cargo, transporting goods to and from ships moored in the river aboard flat-bottomed barges known as lighters. Together, these skilled professionals have formed the backbone of river life and trade in London for centuries.
This Hall was not the first Hall that the Company occupied, but it is the first one to be owned and purpose-built for the Company. It was constructed on a site previously occupied by a tavern, a coffee house, and a domestic building, reflecting the vibrant social and commercial history of the area.
William Blackburn (1750–1790), a silver medallist of the Royal Academy, was commissioned to design a small and modest Hall, and created what is now a wonderful example of Georgian architecture, complete with the Parlour, Court Room and a magnificent staircase. If you look at the ceiling of the Court Room, you can see stylistic similarities to the work of Josiah Wedgwood, who is believed to have been a friend of Blackburn and may have influenced the design.
The Hall opened for business in 1780, and it remains one of the few surviving examples of Blackburn’s work. In two and half centuries, the Hall has seen many changes, including restoration work following World War II completed in 1950, a new decorated ceiling for the Parlour Room in 1961, and a major extension opened by HRH Princess Alexandra in 1984 that doubled the size of the Hall.
Today, the Hall continues to serve as a gathering place for the Company’s Freemen and apprentices, who come together here in the spirit of fellowship and tradition. We welcome visitors to enjoy this beautiful and historic space through tours, events, lunches, and afternoon teas, and the Hall serves as a vibrant base for many heritage events that keep our rich river legacy alive.

Master's Lunch for Liverymen & Freemen Retired from the Industry
2026-06-16 12:30 - 15:30 | Worshipful Company of Innholders, 30 College Street, London, EC4R 2RH, United Kingdom
As a valued Liveryman or Freeman retired from the Industry, you are warmly invited to join the Master and Wardens for a Reception followed by Lunch in the Old Court Room and engaging conversation at the Worshipful Company of Innholders.
Details
Date: Tuesday 16th June 2026
Time: Reception at 12.30pm for Lunch at 1pm
Venue: Worshipful Company of Innholders, 30 College Road, London EC4R 2 RH
Cost: £75.00 per person inclusive of VAT.
This event is specially designed for our more senior members who have retired from the industry. One of our Liverymen active in the industry usually provides an overview on latest Industry news and developments. This year, the Master’s Consort and Liveryman Mike Tattam (Commercial Director of our industry body the BMF) will give a short talk. However, the primary focus of the event is to provide members with a relaxed setting to converse, reconnect with old friends, and enjoy convivial company over a wonderful meal in the company of the Master, Wardens, and other Court members.
We look forward to welcoming you there!
Please book your tickets by Tuesday 9th June at the latest.
Please note that no refunds can be granted in the event of cancellation from 9th June 2026.

Election of the Sheriffs at Guildhall
2026-06-24 11:45 - 17:00 | Guildhall, 71 Basinghall Street, London, EC2V 7HH, United Kingdom
Liverymen are summoned to appear at Guildhall on Wednesday, 24th June 2026 by 11.45 a.m. for the Election of Sheriffs. Tickets are required. The Election is open to Liverymen ONLY. Please email the Clerk at jane.hilliard@wcobm.co.uk if you wish to attend the Election no later than Wednesday 3rd June. There is no cost for attending the Election at Guildhall. As far as securing a good seat in Guildhall, you are advised that the earlier you arrive, the better.

Please note that only Liverymen admitted before 31st May 2025 are eligible to vote.

The City of London Corporation supports Alderman Prem Goyal CBE and Alderman Tim Levene – our very own Sponsoring Alderman, as the candidates for the Office of Sheriff. They are expected to take office in September 2026 to support the Lord Mayor and HM’s Old Bailey Judges. Their Election addresses will be sent to you as soon as they are available.

LUNCHEON AT PAINTERS’ HALL following the Election
After the Election the Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers are holding a Luncheon at Painters’ Hall, 9 Little Trinity Lane, London. EC4V 2AD to which a number of Livery Companies are again invited. Numbers are strictly limited.
Costs: Liverymen from the Worshipful Company of Builders’ Merchants may apply for places at an all-in price of £85 per person including VAT for a 3-course meal and unlimited wine!
Please reserved your seat by Monday 8th June 2026.
Dress Code: Business Attire with ties (and Livery Badges).

Festa D’ Estate, Thursday 2nd July 2026
2026-07-02 19:30 - 23:30 | RAF Club, 128 Picadilly, London W1J 7PY
Liverymen and Freemen are warmly invited to the Master’s Italian themed and fun-filled Summer Party – Festa D’ Estate.
Join us in the presence of The Rt Hon the Lady Mayor of London and her Consort at the RAF Club in Piccadilly on Thursday 2nd July for a Champagne Reception and delicious 3-course meal. This is a relaxed and lively event, featuring entertainment and music – perfect for unwinding and celebrating in fellowship.
Venue: RAF Club, 128 Picadilly, London W1J 7PY
Cost: £155 including VAT per person
Dress Code:

For Men: Suit or Jacket with tie and tailored trousers (no denim)

For Women: Summer Dress, tailored trousers or equivalent smartness

Time:

Champagne Reception 6.45 p.m.

Dinner 7.30 p.m.

Carriages 11.00 p.m.

The Master and Consort plan for a lively summer soirée filled with good vibes, delicious food and wine and convivial company. Get ready to have some fun!
Please note: Because of limited spaces, we will only allow 2 tickets per booking i.e. member + guest in the first instance.
(Should availability remain, we will open out to guests and additional bookings).
About the RAF Club
The Royal Air Force Club is a private member’s Club located on London’s historic Piccadilly. Valued by Members as a distinguished landmark where traditions and camaraderie reign, the Club holds timeless elegance and atmosphere. The Royal Flying Corps Club, the forerunner of the Royal Air Force Club, opened at 13 Bruton Street in 1917. It became the Royal Air Force Club in 1918 shortly after the first Lord Cowdray donated funds to obtain a permanent building which would house the Club. The buildings were acquired by the middle of 1919. Between 1919 and 1921 extensive reconstruction took place supervised by architect Maurice Webb and largely financed by Lord Cowdray. On 2 January 1922 the Club was fully opened to Members although it was not officially opened by the Duke of York until 24 February 1922. On 14 March 1922 the Club was visited by King George V and Queen Mary. This association with the Royal Family continues to this day.

Court Consort & Guests' Luncheon 2026
2026-09-14 12:15 - 16:30 | Furniture Makers’ Company, 12 Austin Friars, London, EC2N 2HE, United Kingdom
Furniture Makers’ Company
12 Austin Friars
London
EC2N 2HE
The Company is pleased to host an annual luncheon in recognition of the hard work of the Court Consorts.
The event will take place on Monday 14th September, beginning at 12.15pm, with dinner being served from 1pm.
Dress code: Lounge suits.
More details will be made available in due course.

Installation Court General and Dinner 2026
2026-10-23 05:00 - 23:00 | Fishmongers’ Hall, 109 Upper Thames Street, London, EC4R 3TJ, United Kingdom
Fishmongers’ Hall
109 Upper Thames Street
London
EC4R 3TJ
The Installation Court General and Dinner on Friday 23rd October will see our next Master installed for the upcoming year.
The event will be held at Fishmongers’ Hall.
The Installation Court General will take place at 5pm.
The drinks reception will take place at 6.30pm, followed by the Annual Dinner at 7.15pm.
Liverymen, Freemen and Guests are all welcome.
Dress Code: Dinner Jackets/ Black tie.
More details and tickets will be made available in due course.

Carol Service & Christmas Dinner 2026
2026-12-11 18:00 - 23:00 | St Peter ad Vincula, 35 Tower Hill, London, EC3N 4DR, United Kingdom
The Annual Carol Service & Christmas Dinner will take place on Friday 11th December, 2026.
The Carol Service begins at 6pm at St Peter ad Vincula, HM Tower of London, EC3N 4AB.
The Christmas Dinner will follow at 7:15pm at Trinity House, Trinity Square, London EC3N 4DH.
Dress Code: Lounge suits.
More details and tickets will be made available in due course.
