BEST CATERING AT A LONDON VENUE
BEST CATERING AT A LONDON VENUE
Barge East
Barge East are delighted to have been shortlisted for the London Venue Awards 2021, Best Catering at a London Venue award. Since mooring in Hackney Wick two and a half years ago our business has grown and developed into a fine dining restaurant with thanks to our Head Chef, Stefano Camplone, and one of the largest outdoor venues in East London adjacent. In the short space of time since opening, we have developed 5+ food offerings between our restaurant and garden venues, while offering a plethora of unique, bookable spaces that are upcoming and fresh in the London scene. Our staff embody the Barge East ethos and our barge’s history, which in turn helps to offer a consistently high standard of customer service. This is reflected through online reviews and awards won such as London’s #1 Restaurant 2019 – 2020 and the 2020 and 2021 Traveller’s choice awards from Tripadvisor, as well as our recent Best Newcomer Award at the 2021 Catey Awards, which are the equivalent to the restaurant worlds Oscars.
CCT Venues
With a strong emphasis on quality, sustainability and exceeding clients’ expectations, we consider our food offering to be one of our USPs in comparison to our competitors in the industry. We have an extremely talented Executive Head Chef, whose creativity and passion for food enables us to consistently deliver outstanding catering for our clients, no matter what challenges come our way.
We saw the pandemic as an opportunity to completely revolutionise the way we operate our food services, implementing a vast array of safety measures and protocols, many of which will remain in place even after the pandemic has come to an end.
We developed a range of Covid-Safe catering options for our clients to choose from, to cater for differing needs. As a result, we’re still able to offer clients the same quality and flexibility that they are used to and have managed to achieve highly positive feedback and praise about our food offering from clients.
If this wasn’t enough, we have also evolved our offering and expanded into providing external catering for private outdoor events.
Searcys at HAC
Few venues in the heart of London can claim to have as much versatility and history as The HAC (Honourable Artillery Company), a spectacular manor house within a five-acre estate in the heart of London. Searcys caters for a vast array of events here, from daily members’ lunches, intimate dinners and meetings to grand banquets and weddings to plentiful pitch-side barbecues for prestigious rugby and cricket matches played within the grounds. Searcys, one of the UK’s oldest hospitality companies dating back to 1847, and The HAC is a perfect match: both companies draw on heritage whilst offering world-class modern facilities and catering. As restrictions eased earlier this summer, Searcys proved their versatility and adaptability for a quick reopening with the hugely successful London Concours car show. Across all manner of events, Searcys reimagines and reinvents the modern British dishes we all know and love, with a focus on seasonal and high-quality ingredients throughout. This focus on sustainably sourced British ingredients has earned Searcys a host of accolades, including a prestigious Three Star Sustainable Restaurant Association rating in 2020.
Swan at the Globe
A great plate of food starts with great ingredients, and Swan at the Globe applies this philosophy to everything they serve. Located at the Globe Theatre on London’s Bankside, the Swan team has overseen the theatre’s bar, restaurant, cafes, and event spaces since 2007 and are known for delivering restaurant-quality catering to their events, be it an intimate dinner for 12 or a red-carpet gala for 350.
They champion the best seasonal British ingredients from their discerningly selected local London and UK suppliers, and relish exploring the local food scene to bring a taste of the city to their menus. Meanwhile, their diverse wine portfolio features rare and sought-after wines from small vineyards and suppliers, offering a truly unique wine experience that is unlike anything else you can find in London.
This restaurant-worthy food sets Swan at the Globe apart and whether they are delivering a working lunch or creating a bespoke and tantalising eating experience, it does all come back to their love of great food and great ingredients.
The Ritz Hotel, London
The Ritz London has been home to thousands of discerning guests since 1906. The hotel offers an exquisite collection of six lavishly decorated private dining rooms, five of which are located in William Kent House, the stunning Grade II listed building that adjoins the hotel.
All rooms retain their original Italian Renaissance style and provide a varied selection of venue space for elegant dining, bespoke meetings, weddings and gala occasions.
In 2002, The Ritz London was awarded a Royal Warrant by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales for Banqueting and Catering Services, becoming the first hotel in the world to receive such an honour.
Our Executive Chef presents menus to suit every occasion using the finest of British ingredients cooked using Escoffier-inspired classical recipes.
Tobacco Dock
Tobacco Dock Food is the in-house catering team at Tobacco Dock. They are experts in creating delicious and memorable menus for everything from formal dinners for 2,000 to informal ‘street food’ standing receptions and everything in between.
The experienced team work alongside clients to produce outstanding dishes. With an extensive portfolio of suggested dishes, they also create bespoke menus to meet clients’ requirements. The team have a purpose-built on-site kitchen and tasting rooms and work closely alongside the rest of the Tobacco Dock team to make it as easy as possible for the client to create memorable and delicious menus.
Focusing on locally sourced and seasonal produce, Tobacco Dock Food have also made great strides in terms of sustainability, with totally compostable packaging and the avoidance of single-use plastics. They have also partnered with OLIO, the food saving app, to ensure no food waste at conferences.
BEST CATERING TEAM
BEST CATERING TEAM
Bovingdons Catering
Bovingdons was founded in 1987 from a love of good food with a small team of passionate people at a kitchen table in Victoria. A vision of not just creating delicious, simple food, but of giving London something that was a real experience. This vision remains true today. Bovingdons delivers over 300 events a year and runs 7 cafes ranging from small grab and go kiosks to full service restaurants.
During the first lock down Bovingdons partnered with Mealforce charity and Marshall Wace to cook and distribute over 200,000 meals to staff at St Barts Hospital Trust. Bovingdons then went on to transform one of its venues Nonsuch Mansion into a vaccination hub becoming the 6th to open in the country.
This allowed to us to retain. train and even promote staff while providing a very meaningful impact to our community.
Satkeer Catering
We are a Multi Award Winning Catering Company based in Ilford, Essex, Specialising in North and South Indian Cuisine, offering an extensive variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian traditional Indian dishes, which can be cooked to your specific requirements.
We am very passionate about our food. My team of chefs, who are headed up by the world-renowned Master Chef “Sunil Soni”, pay every attention to detail, from selecting only the finest Grade A ingredients, to food preparation and final presentation, ensuring our Clients experience is an enjoyable and memorable one.
Quality, Innovation, Professionalism and Customer Satisfaction are the four main values which drives everyone at Satkeer Catering. These values shape the way we operate and how we work with our clients, to ensure their event is an experience to be remembered.
Our goal is to exceed our client’s expectations in every way. The journey begins from the moment we take their enquiry, with in-depth discussion of the event, focusing on ideas, objectives and menu selection for the event and agreeing the best way to deliver them.
Searcys at the Gherkin
The ability to handle challenging situations and adapt their practices to the challenges of 2020/21 is a key hurdle which the wider Gherkin team have overcome this year.
GM John Short comments: “It’s been very challenging due to all the lockdowns and COVID constraints, but I’ve been overwhelmed by the willingness of the team to chip in and get the venue afloat again We are constantly evolving the business, and the support from the Searcys team has been simply fantastic!“
A high level of systematic organisation, agility and proactivity are key when it comes to operating across the top three floors, the Gherkin is a hugely versatile event space. Since the introduction of the roadmap, this has led to a distinct boost in bookings, with Searcys event enquires up 70% from March 2021.
Searcys at the Gherkin serves as a prime example for finding innovative answers that allowed us to continue trading since past summer. Developing a bespoke range of shared dining packages pre-sold through our online ticketing platform saw 7,000 guests for shared events in May-July this year. The customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive: 561 5* and 140* reviews received from the guests in 2021 alone.
Smart Group
Moving Venue are the original London event caterer, celebrating our 37th birthday this year. We are always on the move, just like our name suggests. From historic palaces, to museums, blank canvasses and everywhere in between, we can cater for clients just about anywhere, bringing our vast experience and operational knowledge along for the ride.
Moving Venue’s legacy is one of an experienced and dedicated team, we are all foodies who passionately believe in our product and delivering well-chosen dishes at phenomenal events.
Our people are the heart of what makes Moving Venue great and a fun place to be – let‘s face it – it is where we spend most of our time. Moving Venue staff can expect fantastic training, open communication channels, incentives as well as regular social activities. Our ethos very much centres around awarding staff for their hard work and loyalty. This is an incredibly tough industry and although we expect a lot from staff, we also give back in return. The loyalty and dedication shown by our staff since the start of the pandemic is testament to the community feel within Moving Venue. Therefore, we believe we are the Best Catering Team in London.
Venues by CH&CO
Venues by CH&CO and eve work in partnership to deliver exceptional food, service, and sales and marketing expertise to our portfolio of London venues. Venues by CH&CO is our client-facing operation, delivering foodservice into our venues, supported by eve, our full-service event sales platform, and central team.
Our top priority continues to be reassuring our bookers and venue clients of their safety, whilst maintaining the highest service standards and quality of fresh British produce from our range of local suppliers and our London Larder.
BEST CATERING COMPANY COVID-19 RESPONSE
BEST CATERING COMPANY COVID-19 RESPONSE
Bovingdons Catering
Bovingdons was founded in 1987 from a love of good food with a small team of passionate people at a kitchen table in Victoria. A vision of not just creating delicious, simple food, but of giving London something that was a real experience. This vision remains true today. Bovingdons delivers over 300 events a year and runs 7 cafes ranging from small grab and go kiosks to full service restaurants.
During the first lock down Bovingdons partnered with Mealforce charity and Marshall Wace to cook and distribute over 200,000 meals to staff at St Barts Hospital Trust. Bovingdons then went on to transform one of its venues Nonsuch Mansion into a vaccination hub becoming the 6th to open in the country.
This allowed to us to retain. train and even promote staff while providing a very meaningful impact to our community.
Caiger & Co Catering
Caiger & Co is a female led and run company that specialises in bespoke catering for a variety of events; from lunch and dinner parties, to large events and wedding catering. Our menus have an emphasis on carefully sourced, seasonal ingredients, which are chosen from artisan producers and local suppliers.
Last year, as the reality of Covid hit, we lost six months of work in the space of two weeks. We adapted our business plan accordingly, and would continue this adaptation multiple times over to meet the ever-evolving needs of the market. From fresh produce delivery boxes, to freezer meals, to dine in date boxes to intimate events, through to virtual event catering, there was a constant evolution.
From training ourselves in the world of virtual events, cooking on fire, and coordinating huge numbers of deliveries across the country; the pandemic made us a more malleable as a company, it exemplified the importance of team work and supporting other small businesses.
eve/Venues by CH&CO
In response to the Covid-19 restrictions, we’ve been adamant that we don’t just embrace change, we own it!
eve has maintained a consistent, fun, and engaging presence across social media through a wide range of topics, including live yoga, Chef cook-a-longs, and cocktail making All this while communicating what updates on restrictions mean for venues and events eve’s cheeky approach, underpinned by her expert narrative, is what gives her the edge and has instilled confidence and loyalty amongst bookers and venue clients alike.
In preparing to re-open, a top priority was to reassure our bookers and venue clients of their safety. Our venue re-opening guide was produced in August 2020 to demonstrate our commitment to a safe run operation, carefully considered menus, and our expert approach to re-opening our venues The quality of our food and drink was assured through innovative solutions; we had fun with Bento boxes and plant based options now lead our menus
Our team worked tirelessly to ensure the safe working of all employees without compromising the guest experience. Everything we have achieved would have been possible without our people The key initiatives have been a result of our venues teams coming together as one.
Moving Venue Caterers
With a history of over 30 years as one of London’s most renowned event caterers, when the pandemic hit, we at Moving Venue knew we had to adapt quickly. Initially delivering meals to NHS workers with COOK-19, Moving Venue then diversified in creating virtual catering packages called the Moving Menu to service the desire for virtual events. As time went on, we further enhanced our product and created an immersive Christmas Party experience called ‘Party in a Box’ offering entertainment and event management whilst maintaining high quality catering at the core of the business. Though live events have been missed, the effectiveness and efficiency at which Moving Venue diversified to respond to the pandemic showcases our willingness to remain at the forefront of the Event’s Industry and will remain the leading event catering in London long after the pandemic.
Rocket Food
During lockdown, the Rocket team volunteered their time, working together and keeping the kitchens busy by providing over 25,000 meals to NHS front line staff at The Royal Marsden Hospital, albeit 2 metres apart and behind masks In addition, we were eager be proactive and entrepreneurial to keep the Rocket name alive, and our most successful endeavour was the launch of A Cook’s Tour: bi-monthly virtual cook-alongs celebrating culinary hotspots from around the world For each event we created recipe boxes highlighting the finest locally-sourced ingredients, carefully selected from our little black book of British suppliers, and delivering them to households in time for a virtual event A Cook’s Tour was born out of a desire to bring some of our exceptional food into people’s homes, but with an educational, interactive twist We wanted it to be more than just a meal delivery or standard cooking class – it needed our signature luxurious feel and exclusivity Since its launch in mid-2020, we’ve hosted over 20 cook-alongs across over 20 different destinations and we will continue to run A Cook’s Tour alongside our events business, with a brand redesign and new roster of destinations for January 2022.
Satkeer Catering
We are a Multi Award Winning Catering Company based in Ilford, Essex, Specialising in North and South Indian Cuisine, offering an extensive variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian traditional Indian dishes, which can be cooked to your specific requirements.
We am very passionate about our food. My team of chefs, who are headed up by the world-renowned Master Chef “Sunil Soni”, pay every attention to detail, from selecting only the finest Grade A ingredients, to food preparation and final presentation, ensuring our Clients experience is an enjoyable and memorable one.
Quality, Innovation, Professionalism and Customer Satisfaction are the four main values which drives everyone at Satkeer Catering. These values shape the way we operate and how we work with our clients, to ensure their event is an experience to be remembered.
Our goal is to exceed our client’s expectations in every way. The journey begins from the moment we take their enquiry, with in-depth discussion of the event, focusing on ideas, objectives and menu selection for the event and agreeing the best way to deliver them.
MOST VERSATILE LONDON VENUE
MOST VERSATILE LONDON VENUE
Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace was opened in 1873 as the ‘People’s Palace’ to offer the population of London a place of leisure and entertainment that was accessible to all. These principles continue to this day with the venue offering a diverse programme of live music, world class sports events, theatre, comedy, festivals, corporate events and a creative learning programme that supports families, children and vulnerable people.
Our venue is particularly attractive for clients because of the variety of space and experiences we offer. The venue offers a total of 9 interlinking indoor spaces as well as 196 acres of parkland for our clients to create some really special events.
This variety is supported by the technical expertise of our experienced team who on any given day could be welcoming 50,000 people to the site for a fireworks festival, delivering live music events with capacities ranging from 1,000 to 10,000, running exhibitions, fashion shows or corporate events for up to 7,000 people.
Copper Box Arena
The Copper Box Arena is based in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, home to the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
In 2013 the venue opened its doors to the public having gone through a period of transformation and is now the third largest arena in London, with a 7,500 total capacity.
The Copper Box Arena is managed by GLL, a Charitable Social Enterprise on behalf of the London Legacy Development Corporation. As the UK’s largest charitable social enterprise, GLL’s mission to make services and spaces better for everyone aligned well with the legacy objectives of the venue.
The venue has worked with a variety of organisations, agencies and promoters helping to successfully develop and deliver a diverse calendar of events ranging from International sporting events, conferences, exhibitions, product launches and entertainment shows helping to make the Copper Box Arena one of the most popular Arenas in London.
It’s the unique versatility and flexibility of the 2,712m2 of pillar-free floor area that really appeals to clients whilst back of house there is a host of production and ancillary areas to facilitate the most complex of event requirements.
ILEC Conference Centre
Amongst London’s top largest and most versatile event hall, fitted with state of the art equipment, stunning design and one of the best secret to keep budget in line. Our stunning London Suite is fitted with stylish contemporary décor and built-in LED lighting system, perfect to suit the ambience of any event. Designed with flexibility in mind; a clever partition system enables to part the suite into nine modules of various sizes, creating multiple configurations for up to 1200 guests. The venue is also well fitted with state of the art technologies such as 1GB fibre optic Wi-Fi. Besides featuring one of London’s most flexible event space, the venue is also the only one to host on-site 3* hotel. This means we can provide event planner with stunning facilities and competitive packages. Both venue and hotel benefit from a brilliant location in the heart of West London, with excellent travel links to major airports, train stations, city landmarks and business districts. We @ ILEC breathe and live customer satisfaction. Working with large a large numbers of clients and customers we are very proud of the outstanding feedback that we get from our customers. #WELOVEEVENTS
Ministry Venues – 103 Gaunt Street
Located in bustling Elephant and Castle, a collective of six adjoining warehouse spaces with world class production. The versatility of the iconic 103 Gaunt Street puts your events on a global stage.
Ministry Venues has expanded into four state of the art spaces, all within walking distance of our original building, 103 Gaunt Street.
We work with the world’s leading brands, creative businesses and event production companies to produce events across all our spaces. Attention to detail and a focus on excellence ensures we are an award winning team.
QEII Centre
The QEII Centre is a highly-versatile venue, both in the space and in the service it offers to its clients. Each year it hosts 450 national and international events, which range widely in style and size – from fashion shows and TV shoots to business conferences and government summits.
Its 32 spaces over seven floors are flexible and innovative in themselves. Moveable walls exist throughout the venue, allowing the centre to create unique spaces within a space and it adapts its footprint to suit its clients’ exacting needs. Clients are also given the opportunity to hire part of its forecourt and/or its lawn, if outside space is required.
The venue’s high client retention rate of 70% is testament to its team’s flexible and innovative approach to every event and high levels of customer service.
Together with in-house award-winning AV and catering teams QEII Live and QEII Taste, QEII delivers bespoke offerings and its team goes out of its way to prove that it is more than a conference venue, they are an ‘events’ space and will find ways to ensure each client booking is an experience.
RIBA at 66 Portland Place
The RIBA’s headquarters – 66 Portland Place – is a grade II listed Art Deco building with a long history of hosting events to entertain, celebrate and network.
Befitting its role as a global architectural professional body, 66 Portland Place offers some of the finest facilities for conferences, meetings, product launches, awards ceremonies, private/ corporate dinners, fashion shows and filming.
66 Portland Place successfully blends its historic and architectural roots and stunning Art Deco design with technical innovation and exceptional service, attracting clients from industries including charities, business, film and media. Repeat business stands at 30%, with longstanding client Footprint Media hosting its annual awards at RIBA since 2013.
With three outside terraces, daylight flooded rooms, contemporary and traditional styles and stunning views over London, the venue regularly and successfully hosts a variety of different events. From fashion shows for Jasper Conran and Victoria Beckham, regular meetings, conferences and awards ceremonies for repeat clients to corporate and private dinners, photoshoots and high profile filming, 66 Portland Place’s versatility really does speak for itself.
RSA House
RSA House is an amalgamation of five Georgian Townhouses with history dating back to 1774. The venue has undergone vast refurbishment, remodelling the interior to make it more customer focused, with the introduction of a Coffeehouse, new banqueting kitchens and a refurbishment of seven event spaces, featuring sustainable carpet made from fishing net and dimmable LED lights controlled via an app.
Throughout the pandemic the venue heavily invested in advanced digital technology and hybrid capabilities, to enhance the event experience and to ensure the venue has market leading facilities for the return to live events.
Catering by CH&CO is not short of creativity, from signature masterpieces including a showstopper interactive dessert table that is built by chefs in front of your eyes, adding a theatrical and dramatic twist to any event, to themed market stalls and innovative, healthy and energising daytime menus to suit all budgets.
Service is warm, relaxed and always personalised meaning high client retention and consistent positive feedback.
The venue boasts three styles of venue under one roof with 11 versatile spaces across three floors of event space, including the subterranean Vaults, exposed brick Auditorium, the beautiful Great Room with surrounding painting and seven contemporary meeting rooms.
The Steel Yard
The Steel Yard brings London’s Victorian industrial revolution to today’s digital revolution, providing versatility, high spec AV, Lighting and high speed internet.
Ideally located in the City of London, underneath Cannon Street railway, we have major tube and rail stations just a stone through away.
This venue comprises of two beautifully restored Victorian railway arches, has stunning exposed brick work with a ceiling height of 7m. The VIP mezzanine overlooking the reception area is the perfect multifunctional breakout space with an impressive antique wooden back bar.
With over 3,000 square feet of raw blank canvas space, next to no restrictions, ultimate flexibility in all areas, and managed by event and production experts, this is the perfect venue for those clients looking for a versatile, innovative venue where the possibilities are endless.
BEST HISTORIC VENUE OR LIVERY HALL
BEST HISTORIC VENUE OR LIVERY HALL
113 Chancery Lane (The Law Society)
113 Chancery Lane, within easy reach of the City and West End, is home to the Law Society and is at the centre of the legal world since 1832. Behind the magnificent pillared portico of this fully accessible Grade II* listed building lies a treasure trove of striking rooms, perfect for weddings, dinners, celebrations, meetings and parties for up to 300 guests.
Clients choose us for many reasons – the prestige and elegance of the venue, the welcome of the dedicated reception team; the soundproofed rooms and the links with our long serving team We undertake a constant programme of renovations to always present a pristine venue.
A critical success factor is the creativity of the chefs and the skill of our sales team in bringing the clients vision to life.
Although 180 years old, 113 Chancery Lane has the latest event technology and facilities. We have undergone further refurbishments (2020-21) with some rooms being equipped with the latest video conferencing facilities.
We attracted 45% first time clients for the upcoming year using partnerships with marketing agents; a well optimised website and an effective key account strategy.
Our testimonials and value of repeat business shows we know how to deliver.
Banqueting House
Banqueting House is a magnificent survivor of the lost royal Palace of Whitehall. After the previous banqueting house burned down, King James I was looking for an elegant replacement. His spectacular Banqueting House building was completed in 1622, to the King’s great delight and the astonishment of all who surveyed it.
The palace has been a place of great celebration for kings, queens and courtiers since 17th century and the beauty and scale of this historic palace continues to inspire. The original ‘party palace’ lends itself perfectly to intimate dinners, weddings, lavish receptions and large-scale events and is available all day, every day.
The Banqueting House can marry the creative with the curatorial for any and all events, embracing innovation through technology, design and excellent client and supplier relationships, to bring the venue and its events to life.
Offering the perfect dramatic backdrop for entertaining, it’s a venue with a legacy in hosting world-class occasions. History, rich interiors, a magnificent Rubens’ ceiling, and the scene for the execution of Charles I, Banqueting House’s history and importance in London and Britain cannot be replicated anywhere in the world.
Grocers’ Hall
Grocers’ Hall is in a prime position opposite the Bank of England and a 1-minute walk from Bank underground. Externally, the hustle of the City is left behind as you enter an oasis of calm in our private courtyard. Inside, our Exclusive Hire policy is a huge advantage to clients presenting sensitive information whilst providing separate catering space to encourage vital networking opportunities.
We have a small but very experienced and passionate team aiming to exceeding expectations in every aspect of customer service, who we believe are amongst the best in the industry. Emphasis is on quality – not quantity of events – with our philosophy combining a commitment to excellence and meticulous attention to detail, leaving guests to experience not only one of the finest events venues in the heart of the City of London but also the highest standards of food and service. The proof of this are our longstanding clients who come back to us time and again.
Grocers’ Hall’s extensive 600-year history, combined with modern facilities and our friendly yet professional approach and strive for perfection, makes Grocers’ Hall stand out from the crowd.
Ironmongers’ Hall
Ironmongers’ Hall is a country house in the heart of London, nestled in the heart of Barbican and discreetly tucked away through an archway onto Shaftesbury Place. This hidden gem is rich with history and full of charm; home to a warm atmosphere, historic grandeur, the largest William Morris Tapestry in the country, heraldic wood panelling, crystal chandeliers and fine stained-glass windows.
The Hall has evolved through the pandemic by adapting its offering through the introduction of on-site hybrid AV equipment to keep Livery Companies and other businesses connected whilst everyone can not be in the same room. In wanting to provide a COVID secure environment, we have upgraded our air filtration and conditioning units to provide a constant flow of fresh air throughout the spaces – keeping our guests safety at the forefront of our events, along with providing a well-rounded experience for clients with award winning catering.
Our one team synergy between venue client and catering team is one of the overarching factors that makes our venue unique. We have open and transparent communication which effectively allows us to provide an unforgettable experience to all of our clients, no matter the size of their event.
Lambeth Palace
Lambeth Palace has been the home of the Archbishops of Canterbury for 800 years. The venue has 12 unique event spaces available to hire from 2 person meetings all the way up to 2000-person garden parties. We have a truly unique site in central London that can offer events in the main Blore building built in 1830, the Great Hall built in 1663, the Lambeth Palace gardens that have been continually cultivated since Medieval times and our new state of the art Library with views across London. We are a not-for-profit venue that allows us to be able to host a mix of events from FTSE 100 companies and industry leaders as well as leading and emerging charities and Community events. All our clients are ethically checked to ensure that only clients with the highest ethical standards can host events. All our catering is provided in-house, and we try to use as much in season from the garden as we can. This includes cooking and garnishing with our homemade honey, quinces, citrus fruits, berries, herbs, flower and fruit from our 400-year-old fig tree.
Museum of London Docklands
Located over five floors within a late Georgian Warehouse, the Museum of London Docklands is Canary Wharf’s only Grade I listed building based on the waterfront and traces the 2,000-year history of London’s river, port and people.
The museum’s unique collections which are focussed on the maritime history of London are a significant draw for clients. With the building itself a listed venue and an artefact in its own right, guests are always in awe of the historical significance of the museum and relish the opportunity to explore the collections after hours.
With an impressive collection of galleries and blank canvas spaces, as well as an outside terrace overlooking the Quayside, organisers are spoilt for choice when it comes to which spaces to use. With the option of dining within the galleries themselves, bespoke tours, and the addition of actors to really set the scene, the Museum of London creates a truly unique and memorable event experience for guests.
Plaisterers’ Hall
Plaisterers Hall is London’s largest Livery Hall, a breath-taking and sophisticated venue boasting one of the best locations in the City, ideal for both corporate and private events. The venue, backs on to the remains of the original London Wall, and is positioned at the edge of the city and the West End, minutes from St. Pauls, Barbican and Moorgate stations, the Hall is an exclusive hire events space for up to 550 guests for a standing reception and 360 for a seated dinner. Boasting a sophisticated and beautifully finished neoclassical decor designed by Robert Adam in the 18th Century throughout, Plaisterers Hall reflects the grandeur of a bygone era in an ultra-modern setting, creating a luxurious atmosphere for entertaining.
Plaisterers Hall is a unique, hidden gem of a venue in the city with a versatility and flexibility to rival others, shown through the huge variety of events we can accommodate. No other Livery Hall in London is larger and has the capacity to achieve the scale and diversity of events Plaisterers Hall can. Known for the three stunning centre piece chandeliers in the Great Hall, their wow factor attracts a whole variety of clients.
The Ritz Hotel, London
In 2005, The Ritz bought William Kent House, a spectacular historic mansion designed in the 1740’s that adjoins the hotel.
In November the following year it was opened to Ritz guests, following an extensive refurbishment project which saw the exquisite collection of lavishly decorated private dining rooms and suites restored to their original Renaissance style decor.
Today, this stunning 18th century house, designed by famous architect William Kent, is an integral part of The Ritz, proving guests with a range of magnificent rooms to enjoy.
Now, more than a century after first opening its doors, we continue to offer our guests the same exceptionally high standards and exquisitely luxurious experience that was the keystone in the creation of our world-class hotel.
MOST UNUSUAL OR UNIQUE VENUE
MOST UNUSUAL OR UNIQUE VENUE
Copper Box Arena
The Copper Box Arena is based in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, home to the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
In 2013 the venue opened its doors to the public having gone through a period of transformation and is now the third largest arena in London, with a 7,500 total capacity.
The Copper Box Arena is managed by GLL, a Charitable Social Enterprise on behalf of the London Legacy Development Corporation. As the UK’s largest charitable social enterprise, GLL’s mission to make services and spaces better for everyone aligned well with the legacy objectives of the venue.
The venue has worked with a variety of organisations, agencies and promoters helping to successfully develop and deliver a diverse calendar of events ranging from International sporting events, conferences, exhibitions, product launches and entertainment shows helping to make the Copper Box Arena one of the most popular Arenas in London.
It’s the unique versatility and flexibility of the 2,712m2 of pillar-free floor area that really appeals to clients whilst back of house there is a host of production and ancillary areas to facilitate the most complex of event requirements.
Lambeth Palace
Lambeth Palace has been the home of the Archbishops of Canterbury for 800 years. The venue has 12 unique event spaces available to hire from 2 person meetings all the way up to 2000-person garden parties. We have a truly unique site in central London that can offer events in the main Blore building built in 1830, the Great Hall built in 1663, the Lambeth Palace gardens that have been continually cultivated since Medieval times and our new state of the art Library with views across London. We are a not-for-profit venue that allows us to be able to host a mix of events from FTSE 100 companies and industry leaders as well as leading and emerging charities and Community events. All our clients are ethically checked to ensure that only clients with the highest ethical standards can host events. All our catering is provided in-house, and we try to use as much in season from the garden as we can. This includes cooking and garnishing with our homemade honey, quinces, citrus fruits, berries, herbs, flower and fruit from our 400-year-old fig tree.
Ministry Venues – 103 Gaunt Street
Located in bustling Elephant and Castle, a collective of six adjoining warehouse spaces with world class production. The versatility of the iconic 103 Gaunt Street puts your events on a global stage.
Ministry Venues has expanded into four state of the art spaces, all within walking distance of our original building, 103 Gaunt Street.
We work with the world’s leading brands, creative businesses and event production companies to produce events across all our spaces. Attention to detail and a focus on excellence ensures we are an award winning team.
Tower of London
When William the Conqueror built a mighty stone tower at the centre of his London fortress in the 1070s, Londoners must have looked on in awe. Now nearly 1,000 years later, the Tower of London still has the capacity to fascinate, wow and inspire. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, not only attracts over 3 million visitors a year, but hosts over 430 spectacular events annually, from meetings and conferences, dinners and receptions, private tours and experiences to magnificent weddings, it really is an iconic and unique venue .
The storied history that surrounds the Tower is truly exceptional and creates an atmosphere that cannot be replicated anywhere else, offering an array of iconic spaces which can be transformed to create bespoke and personalised events.
The Tower of London is about as a unique venue as they come. Playing host to all kinds of incredible events, it is firmly rooted in the history of not only our capital, but the country as a whole. The ancient surroundings and stunning backdrop of this riverside fortress are perfect for any event, the Tower of London can offer tradition with a twist, right in the heart of London – what’s more unique than that?
Underwood Lofts (Lumiere London)
It is always rather refreshing to see how each studio in Underwood Loft can change depending on the client. Be it an old fashion brand, a new techie startup, or a very last-minute meeting, our spaces always look different but the feeling is the same and unanimous: “We are so glad we found this place!”.
THE SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
THE SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
Barbican
The Barbican is a world leading conference and international arts venues. Located in the City of London, it is capable of holding meetings from 10-2,000 delegates in its fully equipped concert hall, theatres, conference suites and boardrooms.
The Barbican recognises the impact that our operations and activities can have on not just the environment but also people and we are committed to reducing these impacts by setting and achieving clearly defined objectives and targets to achieve continual improvement.
Due to the nature and scale of the Barbican we recognise that we have a leadership role to play in both the meetings and arts sectors and are therefore develop our systems with the ambition of being recognised as exemplars of best practice in CSR.
The Barbican has an opportunity to demonstrate best practice to millions visiting the centre every year, whether it is for the arts or conferences. We see it as our duty to demonstrate best practice when it comes to sustainability and the environment. Our work is ongoing and all encompassing, allowing us to continually demonstrate success.
Events@No6
Events@No6 is the home of, and was purpose built by the Royal College of Pathologist. The building itself was designed by Bennetts Associates, the first and only architectural practice in the world to have approved science-based targets and can be carbon neutral via the United Nations Climate Neutral Now framework.
Day to day, and with the support of our in-house caterers, Vacherin, we also focus on reducing negative effects on the planet, ethical provenance and a positive impact on people, both internally and externally to the immediate business. We are guided by provenance, people and the planet.
ExCel London
How ExCeL London strives to create a meaningful and inspiring legacy through upholding the values of our community, our industry and by tackling the climate crisis in meaningful and goal-driven ways. In this award submission, we’ll outline the four key areas of our CSR strategy – reducing waste, increasing energy efficiency, delivering more sustainable food choices, and supporting our local community – and how we have continued our efforts to have a positive impact on the community we live in and the wider world.
This award submission also touches on our initiatives around minimising single-use plastic waste and reducing our carbon emissions through switching to renewable energy, building a living wall at our venue, and actively addressing food and venue waste. Furthermore, we will outline our charity partners and how we continued to support them throughout their most challenging year.
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is over 500 years old and currently in its fifth home since 1965. This iconic grade 1 listed modern building overlooking Regent’s Park houses an award-winning conference and events centre and offers highly versatile facilities, including tiered auditoriums, conference, meeting, exhibition and dining spaces as well as a medicinal garden and a museum.
The challenges of operating in a grade 1 listed building within a 500 year old organisation will resonate with similar venues. Yet we are the first and only royal college to achieve the Carbon Trust Standard and we also hold ISO 14001 standard certification for environmental best practice.
Sustainability is a key part of the RCP’s everyday operations across all areas of the business including catering, waste management, energy and with the suppliers and service partners we work with. We are really proud to have reduced our total carbon footprint by 30% over the past three years, which is a testament to our commitment. Over the past two years, we have saved 122 trees and 16 tonnes of CO2, and recycled 3,525kg of paper, 400kg of glass and 2,000kg of junk removal.
The Kia Oval
Sustainability is at the heart of every aspect of The Kia Oval – a venue with a strong ethos of environmental consciousness and responsibility.
In every decision made, from the bottom up, the ground is proud to be playing its part in reducing the capital’s carbon footprint, helping to educate event attendees and highlighting the behaviours needed to help reduce the ground’s environmental impact.
BEST SUMMER PARTY VENUE
BEST SUMMER PARTY VENUE
Dartmouth House
Dartmouth House has a rich history, and the building has evolved over the decades. Dartmouth House is the most exceptional venue for summer parties, boasting one of London’s rarest and endearing features, an enclosed courtyard for hosting open-air reception. The fountain, architectural style and wrought iron tables and chairs transports you to a French Châteaux providing a unique al fresco setting. You won’t find outside space like this anywhere else in London. A stunning oasis in the heart of Mayfair, perfect for canapé and drinks receptions, summer parties and post meeting summer receptions. Live music is wonderful addition to the courtyard, creating a magical space for guests to soak up the atmosphere and relax.
Regent’s Conferences & Events
The extensive versatility of Regents’ outdoor space for summer parties is undeniably unique in the centre of London, just seconds away from the bustle of the city, balancing convenience with gratefully received seclusion.
From initial brief to seamless delivery, the vast outdoor space with four acres of landscaped lawns, together with the Secret Garden, gives the events team the best, most authentic marketing tool they could need, which paired with exceptional customer service and work ethic, ensures our top clients keep coming back. Giant inflatable assault courses, petting zoos and eclectic entertainment options keep innovation at the top of our summer party agenda.
Skylight
One of London’s most imaginative bars, Skylight is an outstanding location for a summer party. With beautiful 360° views of the distinctive financial district’s skyline, which are handily at just the right angle for jaw-dropping sunset gazing, and stylish, colourful design, this is a venue with a major impact.
Our croquet lawns and pétanque courts offer guests a fun way to socialise and to get competitive, while award-winning cocktails and vibrant street food oil the party wheels. There are plenty of options to create a bespoke experience, such as DJs, photo booths, Brazilian barbecues and silent discos.
With a full capacity of 600, we offer both full and shared hire to fit all sizes of party. We offer competitive party packages and our team will work with clients to make the event their own. There are plenty of covered seating areas and heaters, should the weather be unkind. We have a pergola on our level 10, which can accommodate 200 people. Meanwhile, our garden booths on the top, mezzanine level provide relaxed and comfortable seating. Our large level 9 is completely covered and also boasts its own indoor croquet lawns so rain won’t stop play!
The Garden Room at Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, widely known and referred to as Middle Temple, is a heritage venue, displaying one of the finest examples of an Elizabethan Hall in the country. It is also the home of one of the newest event spaces in London, The Garden Room.
This beautiful new venue is available for exclusive hire at weekends and during the evening (at specific times of the year). The space can host receptions for up to 240 guests and dinners for up to 120 and has a built-in dancefloor. The Garden Room has been designed with smaller meetings in mind too, with four sound-proof booths and a large board room.
The Garden Room also boasts an outdoor terrace, which overlooks the beautifully manicured lawns that lead down to the Thames. Here, you will find seating for up to 50 guests. The venue is perfect for cocktail receptions and BBQs for 300+ guests.
Income from the hire of Middle Temple’s event spaces supports the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple scholarship programme. In 2021 £1.25 million was awarded in scholarships. Middle Temple believes that everyone should have the chance to pursue a career in law, regardless of their background.
The Kia Oval
Our new stand is one of the most significant and exciting developments in the history of Surrey County Cricket Club and The Kia Oval. The new development has increased the ground’s capacity to 28,000 and, more significantly, increased our conference and events facilities by a staggering 4,000sqm with 600 seated dinner capacity or 750 theatre style in just one room.
The two large purpose-built event spaces have double height ceilings of 6m with rigging points as well as a wall of windows with amazing views over the pitch, bathing the rooms in natural daylight. In addition to this the two spaces also have private access on two private covered terraces.
After holding its first dinner in June 2021, this brand-new event space has already hosted a variety of events from conferences to wedding receptions and will continue to host fabulous events moving forward.
BEST NEW OR REFURBISHED VENUE
BEST NEW OR REFURBISHED VENUE
Lambeth Town Hall
Lambeth Town Hall is an impressive Grade II listed Edwardian building, opened in 1908 by King George V and Queen Mary In 2016, driven by Lambeth Council’s ambition to provide a modern, energy-efficient workspace, a major refurbishment to the Town Hall began to beautifully restore the building and showcase the history within, while also introducing modern facilities to welcome a varied new audience which would contribute to establishing a creative and culturally diverse hub of activity and events.
In the heart of vibrant Brixton, the venue has a range of event spaces for 2-300 people and boasts historic and picturesque features, from the photogenic stained-glass windows and Sicilian marble of The Circular Hall to the impressive grand chandelier in The Council Chamber, while all are bright, welcoming and can be adapted and decorated to meet the individual requirements of our clients.
The beauty of Lambeth Town Hall lies in the unexpected, when customers experience the venue for the first time are amazed at the beauty within, of the labyrinth of spaces beyond the famous clock tower that overlooks Brixton town centre.
New Yorker Gallery (Lumiere London)
Located in Blackfriars right behind the Tate Modern, and in walking distance to Waterloo and London Bridge Station, this venue combines the avant-garde look of Lumiere’s former Gallery and the cosiness of their Tropical Library. Ever wondered what it might feel like to be in a creative New York Loft? Well, wait no longer, and come and experience it right behind the world’s most popular modern art museum.
Pan Pacific London
Opening 1st September 2021 as a brand-new venue, Pan Pacific London takes innovation and understated luxury to new heights. In the heart of the City of London, the hotel is the city’s new landmark tower and a 2min walk from Liverpool Street Station.
With a seamless blend of Asian hospitality and contemporary British elegance, our 237-bedroomed hotel of which 43 are suites, will be home to a signature restaurant, two destination bars, a serene lounge serving afternoon tea, patisserie, two private dining rooms and a dedicated wellbeing floor.
Featuring 10 fully accessible event spaces totalling 1,213 sqm, the hotel offers 3 distinctive floors appealing and catering to client’s varying needs.
Each of our elegant meeting rooms comes with cutting-edge audio and visual technology as standard, while seasonal menus ranging from lunch plates to canapés and a la carté dining, make world-class catering a matter of course.
Our Event Connoisseurs will be on hand to help every step of the way, making sure that meetings and events at Pan Pacific London are nothing short of extraordinary
Swan at the Globe
Swan at the Globe has spent the last year developing and reacting to the world-wide changes that the global pandemic brought. Unsure of when things were going to return to normal, they came together as a team to develop their business, refurbishing their spaces to make them suitable for new opportunities.
An elegant remodelling of their top floor ‘Balcony Room’ was just the start. This already beautiful space has been transformed from a blank canvas to an elegant and characterful space that reflects their love for art and performance. What is more, the space is now suitable for experiences and opportunities that hadn’t previously been explored, including exciting date night and proposal packages, and theatrical afternoon tea experiences.
These changes have allowed Swan at the Globe to focus on life’s key moments of love and happiness, and celebrate every day treats and much needed indulgences.
The Garden Room at Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, widely known and referred to as Middle Temple, is a heritage venue, displaying one of the finest examples of an Elizabethan Hall in the country. It is also the home of one of the newest event spaces in London, The Garden Room.
This beautiful new venue is available for exclusive hire at weekends and during the evening (at specific times of the year). The space can host receptions for up to 240 guests and dinners for up to 120 and has a built-in dancefloor. The Garden Room has been designed with smaller meetings in mind too, with four sound-proof booths and a large board room.
The Garden Room also boasts an outdoor terrace, which overlooks the beautifully manicured lawns that lead down to the Thames. Here, you will find seating for up to 50 guests. The venue is perfect for cocktail receptions and BBQs for 300+ guests.
Income from the hire of Middle Temple’s event spaces supports the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple scholarship programme. In 2021 £1.25 million was awarded in scholarships. Middle Temple believes that everyone should have the chance to pursue a career in law, regardless of their background.
The Kia Oval
Our new stand is one of the most significant and exciting developments in the history of Surrey County Cricket Club and The Kia Oval. The new development has increased the ground’s capacity to 28,000 and, more significantly, increased our conference and events facilities by a staggering 4,000sqm with 600 seated dinner capacity or 750 theatre style in just one room.
The two large purpose-built event spaces have double height ceilings of 6m with rigging points as well as a wall of windows with amazing views over the pitch, bathing the rooms in natural daylight. In addition to this the two spaces also have private access on two private covered terraces.
After holding its first dinner in June 2021, this brand-new event space has already hosted a variety of events from conferences to wedding receptions and will continue to host fabulous events moving forward.
The Londoner
From one of the UK’s largest family-owned hotel groups, Edwardian Hotels London, The Londoner is a first-of-its-kind super luxury boutique hotel which is set to astound both Londoners and International guests with a staggering 350 guest rooms spread across 16 storeys and a subterranean series of spaces, creating one of the deepest habitable basements in the world Designed in collaboration with world-renowned architectural designers Yabu Pushelberg, The Londoner marks a pivotal moment in the return and scale of global hospitality, and an exciting re-birth for Leicester Square Known as the luxury urban resort, The Londoner features a range of rooms, suites, penthouses, two private screening rooms, an exclusive 24-hour members club, an entire floor dedicated to wellness, expansive ballroom, private art gallery, wealth of meeting places, and a mix of several concept eateries This includes their signature Mediterranean restaurant, Whitcomb’s, plus a contemporary Japanese lounge bar with a rooftop terrace and fire pit named 8, and their neighbourhood bar, Joshua’s Tavern Whilst super in scale, their boutique approach and commitment to hospitality offers the highest levels of luxury with an experience designed to make every guest feel at home Whilst super in scale, their boutique approach and commitment to hospitality
Underwood Lofts (Lumiere London)
At Lumiere London, we work actively to maintain a strong ethical core within our business, our community and what is essentially our family. We continue our aspirations to be sustainable and support local charities and young and aspiring artists.
Our team is made up of a wide range of creative people, brought together by their ability, energy and passion.
