Parties: From Soho with love

The key ingredients of any memorable Bond film are sacrosanct: exotic location, glamorous girls and a nasty villain. Bond parties are no different. So could the "Story of James Bond" gala and after-party, held in the ornate London Palladium, deliver?

The immaculately turned-out crowd – more than one or two of the gentlemen in very 007-like tuxes – had been invited by the Fleming clan to sip vintage Dom Pérignon (not Bond's favourite '46, but a passable 2000) and celebrate the author's centenary year.

Former Bond girls including The Living Daylights' Maryam D'Abo, Goldfinger's Shirley Eaton and Joanna Lumley from On Her Majesty's Secret Service – ab fab in a dress and trouser combo – milled around, gamely exchanging pleasantries with star-struck middle-aged men.

Meanwhile, an appearance from Gemma Arterton, in a stunning body-hugging dress, caused heads to turn, though the latest Bond girl seemed unaware of the stir she had created as she gaily chatted with Die Another Day dame Rosamund Pike. (Her recipe for the perfect Bond girl? "Someone who's attractive yet unobtainable.")

Villains, though, were sadly in short supply; even Die Another Day hardman Toby Stephens made a sneaky getaway straight after the gala tribute. And while 007 stalwart Roger Moore was on hand to up the Bond quotient, where was Daniel Craig? Spotted at the gala, with his arm cradled in a black sling, he was nowhere to be seen at the after-party either. "He was worried about getting it bashed", explained the evening's host, Lucy Fleming, Ian's niece. Would Bond have let that get in the way of a martini and a room full of beautiful women?