It was double top for the Kings Cross Eye Clinic at the Optician Awards with the newly opened London practice scooping two of the 10 trophies on offer.
Nearly 600 of the great and good from around optometry, dispensing and the optical industry flocked to the Hilton Birmingham Metropole for the James Bond-themed bash last Saturday night (April 21).
The evening started with a champagne reception sponsored by Rupp+Hubrach. Guests were welcomed to the event by Optician editor, Chris Bennett. He reminded them that the evening was a celebration of optics and thanked the entrants, sponsors and judges for their commitment to the Optician Awards process.
A four-course dinner was then served accompanied by a James Bond scene which saw Brian Bowles of Grafton Optical and Andy Hepworth of Essilor 'held hostage' much to the delight of the audience. The day was saved by a James Bond look-alike amid much shooting and play fighting.
The main event, the awards presentation, was preceded with a comedy set from comedian and author Tony Hawks who was later joined by Sandi Toksvig to complete the hosting double act.
Once the awards had been presented the guests were invited to dance the night away, play the charity casino or try the fantasy imaging booth sponsored by GfK.
? See next week's issue for pictures of all the award winners
The charity casino raised £2,000, this will be divided up among those shortlisted in the Charity Campiagn of the Year Award which was sponsored by The Outside Clinic.