Claire’s sister Dana is often mistaken for her twin, but she’s more than that—she’s Claire’s best friend. They have always been each other’s biggest supporters, navigating life’s successes and challenges side by side. Claire and Dana share a deep bond, strengthened during the time they lived together in Manhattan until Claire moved in with James. Though Claire is the older sister, she looks up to Dana for her intelligence, hardworking nature, and, of course, her quick-witted roasts of both her and James.

Maria and Claire have been best friends since kindergarten, attending Notre Dame Academy from elementary school through high school together. Teachers nicknamed them “magnets” because they were inseparable, always choosing each other as partners for any activity or group project. After school, they would call each other on their home landlines to recap the day they’d just spent together. Though the landline has been replaced by texts, calls, and outings, one thing remains constant—they’ve been best friends for over two decades and counting.

In high school, Maria and Claire found the missing piece of their group, completing “The Three Musketeers” with Alex. Alex is the life of every party, always making sure everyone feels included, welcomed, and loved. The trio formed an unbreakable bond during their time at an all-girls high school, becoming each other’s original soulmates before any of them began dating. From watching Sex and the City in the basement of Alex’s parents’ house to girls’ trips, long talks, and dancing the night away, Alex has always been there, celebrating life’s biggest and smallest achievements with love and enthusiasm.

James and Jeff met while working together at Goldman Sachs. When James moved to the US, Jeff became the welcome party and ambassador to the city—not just for James, but for all the other Brits who moved around the same time. Jeff introduced James to American football (the food part—James still doesn't understand the game but will eat chicken wings), tennis, and the priceless, unique, and never-to-be-repeated experience of owning a bar in New York.

Dave and James met at university and shared a flat when they first moved to London. They lived together for so long that their friends gave up on sending them individual Christmas cards and settled on a shared one addressed to both of them. Dave is a computer expert and runs his own advertising business. He introduced James to snooker, and they have played together for years. Dave is such a fanatic that he built his own table from scratch during Covid. A warning for our guests: please don't play Dave at snooker or pool for money.

Chris is the first person James met at university and one of his oldest friends. Chris and James bonded over cooking (Chris will tell you that he cooked for James once and could never shake him after that), music, movies, and, of course, computers. James and Chris have traveled extensively, visiting Europe, the US, and Asia. Chris used to manage the bar at their university, and his interests include experimental cocktails and dancing on pool tables.