After Hours at Merchant House: the GLASS Family in Full Celebration

THE true spirit of GLASS Magazine came fully alive in the late hours of the evening, as its nearest and dearest gathered in the intimate rooms of Merchant House to celebrate privately, joyfully and entirely among their own. This was the moment envisioned from the outset. Not a spectacle, not a scene, but a room filled with the people who have stood beside GLASS through its growth, its risks and its reinventions.

As the night softened into something warmer and more personal, friendship took precedence over formality and the celebration became exactly what it was meant to be: a shared expression of loyalty, partnership and enduring support.

Merchant House proved more than a venue. Its atmosphere carries conversation with ease, its candlelit corners invite closeness and its sense of lived history mirrors GLASS’s own journey. It was the ideal setting to bring together collaborators, contributors, partners and friends who have helped shape the title into an international luxury voice over eighteen years. Many greetings were reunions rather than introductions, and that familiarity defined the room. The evening unfolded with an immediacy that only long-standing creative kinship can create.

Drinks partners were not peripheral but central to the character of the night. The refined craftsmanship of D1 London Spirits set an elegant tone, each pour feeling like a toast to shared milestones. Alongside, Dropbox Distillery offered depth and character that guests returned to repeatedly, conversations naturally orbiting the bar with enthusiasm.

The presence of NEOM Beer added a relaxed, contemporary counterpoint that suited the intimacy of the space, offering moments of ease between dancing and conversation. Together, these partners did more than supply drinks. They shaped the rhythm of the evening and reflected the care, quality and loyalty that define GLASS relationships.

Music from one of the industry’s most sought-after stylists, Jess Gerardi carried the gathering with instinctive sensitivity to its mood – with thanks to Westway Sound who helped us kit out the space. The dancefloor felt like a natural extension of conversation rather than a separate focus, drawing guests in and releasing them back into the room with effortless flow. There were spontaneous dances, shared songs, and the kind of collective joy that emerges when everyone present feels genuinely connected. That ease spoke to the trust built across years of collaboration and friendship.

What distinguished the night most was its sincerity. In an industry often drawn toward performance, this remained grounded in genuine affection and mutual respect. Many present have worked with GLASS across years, some since its earliest chapters, returning repeatedly out of belief in its voice and values. Their presence at this milestone afterparty was loyalty made visible, and support made tangible.

The gathering marked the announcement of a new editorship, the release of the 65th issue and the 18th anniversary of GLASS. Yet beneath these milestones was something simpler and more enduring: community. The evening held pride in what has been built, excitement for what lies ahead and gratitude for the people who continue to shape it.

Above all, it was joyous. Laughter lingered, conversations refused to end and the unmistakable sense of belonging filled every room. As glasses lifted from D1, Dropworks and NEOM and Merchant House glowed late into the night, the GLASS family celebrated not only achievements but the friendships and partnerships that have always been its true foundation.