Criterion Connects: Festive Celebration

We are delighted to invite you to our Criterion Connects: Festive Celebration – an evening of reflection and connection, as we mark the end of 2025 and look ahead to the opportunities of 2026. This year, Criterion Capital, Criterion Hospitality and The Aziz Foundation are proud to host our community at the beautiful and historic St James’s Piccadilly on Friday 12th December 2025. Together, we’ll celebrate our shared achievements while supporting a landmark project at the heart of London’s West End.

Guests will enjoy inclusive readings from community members, including Councillor Louise Hyams (The Lord Mayor of Westminster Locum Tenens), The Reverend Lucy Winkett (Rector at St James's Piccadilly), Adam Wiles (Chairman at Heart of London Business Alliance), Jace Tyrrell (CEO at Opportunity London), Candice Sammeroff (Chair at The PROPS Awards and Board Member at Variety, The Children's Charity) and other special guests, alongside uplifting performances by Jermyn Street Theatre and the talented St James’s Music Scholars. Singer-songwriter Amy Allard will also perform a world-exclusive live debut of her new festive single, 'Meet Me On Oxford Street'. Following the readings, we invite you to stay for canapés, drinks, and live music, kicking off the festive season with warmth and cheer.

This year’s gathering will also shine a light on The Wren Project – the landmark £20 million restoration of Sir Christopher Wren’s only church outside the City of London. Led by architect Ptolemy Dean, this visionary project will rejuvenate the building, create fully accessible and sustainable public spaces, and amplify St James’s vital outreach work with marginalised communities and people experiencing homelessness. It will ensure this inspiring space continues to serve visitors for generations to come.

As a multigenerational family-run business, Criterion Capital remains dedicated to building vibrant, thriving communities across the West End and beyond. Through Criterion Connects, our dedicated stakeholder engagement programme, we bring people together to strengthen relationships and drive positive impact.

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of our in-house charity, The Aziz Foundation, whose work spans postgraduate scholarships for British Muslims, cultural initiatives such as Ramadan and Eid Lights in the West End, and projects that champion social justice and community cohesion.

EVENT INFORMATION:

Date: Friday 12th December 2025

Time: 5:45pm - 10:00pm (Please be seated by 6:15pm. Latecomers will not be admitted once the service begins)

Location: St James's Piccadilly, 197 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9LL

After the performances, please join us for an evening of drinks, canapés, and live music to celebrate the start of the festive season.

Please note: Photographers and videographers will be present at the event, and there may also be media coverage. If you do not wish to be photographed or recorded, kindly let our team know.

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RSVP essential. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please RSVP early to avoid disappointment.

If you have any questions regarding this event or our Criterion Connects programme, please email our Group Head of Communications and Engagement, Saskia: saskia.jiggens@criterioncapital.co.uk

ABOUT CRITERION CONNECTS

Launched on 26th September 2024, Criterion Connects is Criterion Capital's dedicated engagement programme aimed at cultivating strong community relationships, fostering stakeholder collaboration and driving meaningful impact through dynamic events and meaningful interactions.

If you are one of our partners or stakeholders, or if you operate within the same regions as our businesses, we welcome you to connect with us and become part of our growing community.

ABOUT ST JAMES'S PICCADILLY

St James’s Piccadilly is a vibrant, inclusive Church of England parish church known for its beauty, creativity, and commitment to social and environmental justice. Located in the heart of London, it offers space for prayer, reflection, community and action, with daily services and a rich cultural programme of music, art and events. People from all walks of life find belonging here - whether seeking connection, exploring faith, or engaging with the big questions of our time. At the heart of its future is The Wren Project: a £20 million restoration of the historic Christopher Wren church - the only one outside the City of London - and its surroundings, creating fully accessible, sustainable, and welcoming spaces for all to gather, grow and imagine a more compassionate world.

For enquiries, please contact Parish Administrator, David Hamilton-Peters, at administrator@sjp.org.uk