I really like the big venue selection in London. I rarely visited a venue twice, except few exceptions, and had the opportunity to attend events in venues which are top tourist attraction during the day, before the space is transformed to welcome event guests. There are countless openings and renovations, and unique venues are opening their spaces for corporate events and offering something new and exclusive.
This year I had five venue discoveries in London and are worth sharing.
The Royal Exchange
Located just outside Bank DLR Station and in the heart of the financial centre, The Royal Exchange contains offices, shops and restaurants, and is where I attended the EWL Club breakfast event about “Closing the gap between event education and experience”. Our session took place in the Sauterelle room, overlooking the Grand Café and light breakfast was provided by D & D London.
EEF Venues Broadway House
Broadway House is part of EEF Group and is a conference venue just walking distance from the Westminster and Victoria tube stations and is where I held #EventPlannesTalk LIVE event about “the perfect pitch – what clients are looking for”. They have in-house catering and for the evening offered us an antipasti buffet with wide selection of healthy options. Walking from and to Westminster station attendees will have spectacular views over Big Ben and House of Parliament which is also not to be underestimated and adds to the whole experience.
Victory Services Club
Another very central venue but a hidden gem is the Victory Services Club, a private members club exclusive for retired and serving members of the armed forces. It’s very high end and bespoke establishment and just recently they did £1.5 million refurbishment of two rooms, El Alamein and Trafalgar Suite and held the “VSC Vineyard Event” to showcase the renovation. They have their own in-house catering and during the event we were treated for a wide selection of canapés, finger food, cone food, fork buffet, bowl food and desserts to pair with selected wines.
Victoria and Albert Museum
V & A Museum is one of London’s top tourist attractions in South Kensington and a must visit, and I’ve been there several times before as a tourist during the day. But this year I attended the International Corporate Event Awards (ICE Awards), recognising in-house event planners, and the museum was privately hired for us. The evening started at 7pm with drinks reception at John Madejski Garden, continued with dinner and awards ceremony at the Raphael Gallery and desserts buffet and bar were offered at the Dome. I was really impressed by this venue and if I have to pick one from this list of venues this will be my favourite. It was absolutely unique and exclusive to have this venue privately hired just for us.
The London Marriott Hotel, County Hall
The Westminster Suite – the presidential suite at the The London Marriott Hotel, County Hall was the venue of #EventPlannersTalk LIVE event about “The role of airlines, added value and the decision making process in MICE travel”. The hotel is located just walking distance from Westminster tube station and is overlooking the Big Ben and House of Parliament. If you want to host a formal event but still give it an informal, relaxed and exclusive ambiance and encourage networking opportunities between attendees this can be the right choice for you. For catering we had a selection of starters from their buffet menu.
What are your favourite venues or latest discoveries in London and around the world this year?
