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A Banquet to Remember: The Rolling Stones’ Wild Night at the Gore Hotel

*By Marcelo Sonaglioni

The Gore Hotel in Kensington, London, was the site of the real “beggars banquet” held in celebration of the release of the Beggars Banquet album on December 5, 1968. The bash cost over £1,000 and ended with the Stones throwing custard pies in the faces of Decca Record executives (who had caused the LP’s late release), and in other guests.

What was meant to be a refined celebration of Beggars Banquet turned into one of the most infamous parties in rock history. The original plan had been to host the album launch at the Tower of London—an appropriately grand setting for the Rolling Stones’ latest creation. But when the venue fell through, the band pivoted in true Stones fashion, relocating the event to the Elizabethan Room at the Gore Hotel.

There, the Stones embraced theatrical decadence, dressed as beggars dripping in glam—ragged in name only. Surrounded by candlelight and elite media guests, they were served a lavish seven-course meal by voluptuous “serving wenches” in corsets. But the night took an unforgettable turn during dessert: Mick Jagger, in high spirits, playfully smashed a custard pie into Brian Jones’s face, igniting an all-out food fight. Far from royal etiquette, but pure Rolling Stones—chaotic, cheeky, and unforgettable.

When Rock Royalty Crashed the Gore: The Rolling Stones’ Banquet Bash

Once again… Ah, the Beggars Banquet party—because when you’re the Rolling Stones in 1968, you don’t just release an album… you throw a debauched Elizabethan-themed feast at London’s Gore Hotel. The original plan? A swanky do at the Tower of London. But when that fell through (turns out even rock stars have to follow royal protocols), the band settled for the Gore’s Elizabethan Room. Spoiler: it did not disappoint.

Pie Fights, Fancy Rags, and One Legendary Night in 1968

And then one more time… Decked out like stylish vagrants—think torn velvet and more eyeliner than Shakespeare’s ghost—the Stones welcomed a room full of media VIPs and corset-clad “serving wenches” who dished out a full seven-course meal under flickering candlelight. But things didn’t stay classy for long. During dessert, a mischievous Mick Jagger launched a custard pie squarely at Brian Jones, igniting an epic food fight. Even the Decca Records execs—who’d delayed the album release—got splattered. Revenge never tasted so sweet.

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