It has become one of the defining images of the “partygate” saga – a suitcase full of wine being wheeled towards Number 10 the night before Prince Philip’s funeral.

But alcohol-filled luggage was not just a feature of Boris Johnson’s Downing Street, The Telegraph can reveal. It was also seen in the days of both David Cameron and Theresa May.

Former Downing Street figures who worked under both Tory prime ministers have recalled how a suitcase was used to get alcohol for drinking on Friday nights. Their descriptions are largely consistent – a black suitcase with wheels and a handle, which could carry around half a dozen wine bottles.

Ex-officials described how there would be a whip round, with people putting in three or four pounds each, although senior figures were urged to contribute more.

The suitcase was usually stored in a cupboard in the press officers’ area of Downing Street, the sources recalled. Someone – often a new joiner – would be dispatched to take the cash to a nearby supermarket and fill the case with bottles to be drunk after work.

Using a wheelie suitcase was both more comfortable than carrying heavy shopping bags and more conspicuous when walking up Downing Street, two ex-Number 10 officials said.

The use of the case across the eras of multiple Tory leaders reflects how drinks on Friday evening became an ingrained feature of Downing Street life. It may help to explain why Number 10 staff continued at times to have Friday drinks during the Covid pandemic, appearing not to fully comprehend the change when strict Covid rules came into place.