1989 maybe, could have been 1990.
At the tail end of the ostentatious 80s, my first proper job. The boss, who was (still is) a well known figure in the world of football and liked to show off a bit, stumped up for a private room with lavish fodder at the Hilton in park lane for about 20 of us.

Much pissedness later, the staff were getting fed up with our apparent reluctance to leave, and offered to sneak us into a larger party which was going on in the main ballroom.

Having agreed we'd have some of that, we all formed a conga and wound our way through the kitchens into EMI's christmas party.

Now, to be fair to the boss, he had stuck his hand deeply into his pocket, and could be forgiven for being a little miffed when the next day the only subject of conversation was the party we'd gatecrashed, and how many famous people we'd seen.

One of our traders tried unsuccessfully to get off with Natalie Cole. He declared himself to be gay about 2 years later, so maybe his technique was unpolished.
(username failed moderation, Mon 22 Dec 2014, 9:18, 5 replies)

Natalie Cole?
Daughter of Nat King Cole? How festive!
( Ghoti Fingers, Mon 22 Dec 2014, 9:55, closed)

That's her,
although she was quite famous in her own right at the time.

There were quite a few other musicians there, but she's the only one I remember.
(username failed moderation, Mon 22 Dec 2014, 12:01, closed)

Chris Rea would be still drivin' home.

( edjogs Collared doves are shit., Mon 22 Dec 2014, 14:10, closed)

Going to any parties likely to be attended by Norah Jones?
Just asking *cough*
( .Yeti., Mon 22 Dec 2014, 14:37, closed)

Unfortunately not.
And I'm with you there.
(username failed moderation, Mon 22 Dec 2014, 15:15, closed)