The HMS President’s history dates back to the First World War. In January of 1918, the ship, then known as the HMS Saxifrage, was launched. A Flower-class ship, the HMS Saxifrage was designed as an anti-submarine Q-ship. By the end of the year, the war was over, and the relatively new HMS Saxifrage had seen very little military action. A few years later in 1922, the HMS Saxifrage was renamed, acquiring its modern name the HMS President, and was moored permanently along the Thames as a reserve ship.
It is in this exact spot where the HMS President remained, changing little until in 1982, when it was sold to private owners. After changing owners twice since then, the HMS President settled into its current role as an exceptional location for private interests such as conferences and even parties. Today, the HMS President bears the distinction of being only one of three surviving Royal Navy warships dating back to the First World War.
A Fantastic Location
Sitting on the serene elegance of the Thames River in the exquisitely beautiful heart of London, the HMS President is a stunning piece of living history framed on all sides by amazing landmarks, majestic architecture, and the rich history of London.
Besides the top-notch surroundings, the ship itself is actually quite comfortable and spacious. A far cry from its days as a no-nonsense warship, the HMS President now boasts a stately bar, well furnished lounges, a world-class dining area, and much more. The ship can be decorated in just about any fashion desired and is routinely made over for specific events, weddings, seasonal holidays, and other occasions.
Plan Your Ideal Event
The staff behind the HMS President includes a team of expert event planners who are well versed in how to turn the HMS President into the stunning stage for your ideal event. A fantastic place to bring in the New Year, with the right touches the HMS President can be transfigured into the most desirable New Year party venue in all of London.
Awed By The Dazzle
In addition to the makeover the HMS President’s interior has undergone, its exterior has also been modified. Painted in a very visually interesting dazzle camouflage by German artist Tobias Rehberger, the outside of the ship is in itself a work of art, and one with an interesting bit of history attached to it, which harkens back to the HMS President’s origins back in the First World War.
Dazzle camouflage came about as an effort to make the movements of ships less visible during World War I. Using series of stripes and disrupted lines with highly contrasting colours, dazzle camouflage didn’t make the ships themselves less visible, but it did make it extremely difficult for distant observers to determine a ship’s direction, speed, and course. This tactic managed to produce worthwhile results, and it helped craft painted in dazzle camouflage to evade enemies, especially submarines.
A Piece of History
Enjoy your New Years on this floating piece of history. With the help of the HMS President, you’ll be sure to kick off this next year with an event to remember.