The Cutlers - Heritage

The Feasts

One of the most important functions to be held in the Cutlers' Hall is the annual Cutlers' Feast.  This has been held every year, with only a few exceptions, since 1625 when it was simply a dinner after the annual account taking.

By the late eighteenth century, the celebrations lasted for three days - the Feast on the first day was for the gentlemen, on the second ladies came to the Hall, and the third day was for employees and servants. All work stopped in the town during the three days and tents and stalls were erected on the land separating the Hall and the Parish Church (now the Cathedral) for the sale of food and drink.

Today, the Feast is the premier social event in the Master Cutler's year and gives him the opportunity to entertain representatives of both national and foreign governments, leaders of business and industry and members of the Armed Forces. Over the years, many famous people have been invited to speak at this Feast - William Wilberforce, Lord Kitchener, Winston Churchill, Edward Heath, Margaret Thatcher, H R H the Princess Royal and H R H the Duke of Edinburgh.

A second feast each year is the Forfeit Feast - so called because it was originally financed by the "forfeits" or fines that Members incurred when they failed to attend Company meetings. Less formal than the Cutlers' Feast, it has been held annually since its inception in 1814. Speeches are kept to minimum and the dinner has sometimes been followed by dancing. For many years, the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of the City London has been the principal guest at this Feast.