Rishi Sunak to open to public No10 garden, scene of the Covid rule-busting 'bring-your-own-booze' party
Rishi Sunak is to open to the public the No10 garden - the scene of the famous Covid rule-busting “bring-your-own-booze” party.
People will be able to visit the Downing Street garden, where David Cameron once flipped burgers with Barack Obama, in June.
London Open Gardens announced that the garden will be open to a small number of individuals through a public ballot during London Open Gardens 2024.
Two tours will be put on for Saturday 8 June at 11.30am and 1.30pm.
Each tour will have 24 places and will be open to visitors aged 12 and over.
“Due to high demand, this event can only be applied for by ballot,” the organisers stressed.
Laid out in 1736, the garden has an open lawn, where official functions and receptions often take place, with rose beds commissioned by former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
In 2010, Mr Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg unveiled the formation of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition in the Rose Garden.
A bronze sculpture by Barbara Hepworth also stands in the garden.
It was the venue for one of the series of Covid rule-busting gatherings in Downing Street during the pandemic, with staff invited to the outdoor event on 20 May 2020 told in an email to “bring your own booze”.
One No10 special adviser Whatsapped Boris Johnson’s then principal private secretary Martin Reynolds: “Drinks this eve is a lovely idea...
“Just to flag that the press conference will probably be finishing around that time, so helpful if people can be mindful of that as speakers and cameras are leaving, not walking around waving bottles of wine etc...”
The scathing Sue Gray report into the partygate scandal revealed how No10 staff sought to hide booze-fuelled parties with one saying: “We seem to have got away with” it.
During the public tours, gardeners will offer more details about the walled, half acre site, its wildlife and sustainability.
But the organisers also stressed that the tours could be cancelled at the last minute, including if a General Election is called.
They laid out a string of conditions:
Entrants must be over 12 years old.
Only one entry per person via this website, but each entry may request one or two tickets.
If selected, you will be offered a place for the tour time you have selected. You will not be able to change your slot.
The places chosen will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
People selected for a place on the tour will have their details submitted for a basic security check.
If selected for a place on the tour, you must take photographic ID with you (either a Passport or Driving Licence).
Places can only be used by the person(s) named in the ballot entry. You may not pass your place on to anyone else or change the names after the form has been submitted.
They also emphasised that tours are subject to last-minute cancellation and/or changes in timing, including if a General Election is called.
