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RESERVERINGEN
Voor reserveringen bel naar: 06-
Of bel naar de Salon van Weleer: 030-
Minimale leeftijd: 16 jaar
BEZOEKADRES
Oudegracht 290 OND (werfkelder) 3511 NX Utrecht
Openingstijden: vrijdag t/m zondag van 11.00 uur tot 19.00 uur. En op verzoek!
Oudegracht 290, werfkelder, 3511 NX Utrecht
Join an old-
BACK IN TIME
Une invitation
On a day and at a time of your choosing, we will open the doors of our salon for a gathering dedicated to the fine arts and intellectual conversation.
We invite you to take part in an exchange of ideas, to hear stories that make the heart beat faster, and to test your own wit during our traditional salon games. To refresh the inner self, a refined Nectar of the Muse will be served, along with classic canapés.
Dress code: A touch of elegance from bygone eras is highly appreciated (a bow tie, a fan, or a piece of jewellery with a story). Costumes are also available in the salon for suitable sizes.
We look forward to your favourable reply with great interest.
Yours sincerely, Belle de Fleurdelis, Salonnière
Entertainment from a bygone era
In the 19th century, attending a salon was the social activity par excellence for strengthening friendships and meeting new acquaintances. It was a strictly organised gathering, where guests were allowed to let their hair down a little behind closed doors, naturally within the bounds of the prevailing rules of etiquette. No improprieties were tolerated, although the limits were sometimes tested in conversation.
A Victorian drawing room consisted of a number of standard features:
- The arrival. An informal opportunity to get to know one another.
- The pairing. The host or hostess discreetly pairs guests together to proceed to the dining room.
- The procession to the dining room. The guests make their way to the dining room and take their seats at the assigned tables.
- Dinner. A lavish meal comprising 10 to 13 courses, ranging from soups to fish and meat dishes, ending with sweet desserts. The conversation at the table was expected to be light-
hearted and cheerful. - The parting. After dinner, the ladies retire to the drawing room for coffee or tea. The gentlemen remain in the dining room for a glass of port with a cigar and political discussions.
- The reunion and entertainment. The gentlemen join the ladies in the drawing room for various forms of parlour entertainment, such as listening to poetry, playing word games, solving mysteries and examining an object from the cabinet of curiosities.
- The departure. Every pleasant gathering must come to an end. The guests leave the drawing room without much fuss and in complete tranquillity.
Bonnbons for the Soul
The Victorian Salon of Yesteryear begins with ‘The Reunion and Entertainment’. Guests are warmly welcomed on arrival and are given the opportunity to dress in period costume (this is permitted, but not compulsory). Guests are then escorted into the salon and welcomed by the host.
As was customary in a 19th-
- Words and gestures: word, poetry and acting games.
- Poetic tea: recited poems whilst drinking coffee or tea with sweets.
- The Bard’s Words: the performance of a theatrical scene.
- Curiosities and oddities: viewing and discussing a curiosity.
- Detective mysteries: solving a murder mystery like a detective.
- Salon games: entertaining games for fun and merriment.
- The Vice Salon: Naughty poems and story excerpts, whilst enjoying coffee, tea and English sandwiches.
What is a Bonnbon for the Soul?
It’s a metaphor for small, meaningful moments or activities that give your mental wellbeing a boost and nourish your soul. It’s all about self-
What are the faux pas at a Victorian parlour?
Here are the absolute faux pas (social blunders) to avoid at a salon:
- The three taboo subjects. At a salon, you must never discuss:
- Money: Asking about someone’s income or the cost of their interior décor is the height of vulgarity.
- Illness and bodily functions: Details about your ailments or those of others are considered distasteful. The salon is for the mind, not the body.
- Religious dogma: Whilst philosophy is permitted, imposing strict religious doctrines is a real mood-
killer.
- The Watch-
Checker. It is highly inappropriate to look at your watch or ask what time it is. This gives the host the impression that you are bored. In a good salon, time stands still. - The Monologue Monster. Someone who talks non-
stop without giving others a chance to offer a witty response will not be invited back. The salon is about the ping- pong of words, not a lecture. - Direct Criticism. If someone recites a dreadful poem, you never say: ‘That was bad.’ You say: ‘What an interesting choice of metre; it certainly gives us food for thought.’ Irony is your best friend when it comes to remaining polite.
- Gossip about those absent. Although salons are hotbeds of gossip and backbiting, it is a faux pas to badmouth someone who is not present to defend themselves (unless it is done in such a witty way that everyone has to laugh).
Finally, the golden rule: L'air de rien. Pretend that everything comes naturally to you. Trying too hard to be funny or clever is seen as tacky.
The pastimes of your great-
Experience the atmosphere of days gone by, presented with a modern twist, featuring parlour games dating back to the 19th century. Although they may seem innocent, these parlour games were once considered risqué and daring. It’s an opportunity to step back in time, without all the modern conveniences, and have some fun together.
‘Bonbons for the Soul’ lasts 130 minutes and can be enjoyed by 6 to 18 of your friends, colleagues or family members. The cost is €119.95 per salon, including coffee, tea, bonnbons and sandwiches.
You can make a booking by clicking here! Or call: 06-
The Victorian Salon can also be held in Dutch; click here for more information!