Random Act of Kindness Week

Westminster Venue Collection is joining the week-long international celebration of kindness.

Event planners will have the chance to win a host of exclusive prizes simply by engaging with us on Twitter during Random Act of Kindness Week (February 11-17, 2018).
Prizes will be randomly allocated during the week ranging from a luxury afternoon tea for four in the Apse at St Martin-in-the-Fields, John Lewis Vouchers from Church House, a tapas dinner and bottle of wine for two in the Wine Bar at 116 Pall Mall to a 30% off venue hire at Sixty-One Whitehall.

Event professionals can help spread a little kindness and be in with a chance of winning a prize during RAK Week by following @Venues_Wminster on twitter and tweeting us what kind thing you have done today.

One Great George Street makes catered events easy

One Great George Street has put together an entirely new format menu for 2018 with easy-to-pick packages and crowd pleaser food options, to make things even easier for catered event bookers.

The menu features One Great George Street’s top best-sellers and a whole host of new items, based on current food trends.

View the exciting new menu here.

London Film Museum extends Bond in Motion exhibition

With the new Bond film due out in 2019, The London Film Museum has extended its Bond in Motion exhibition, meaning bookings can be made for 2019.

The available space within the museum has recently been increased to span over 12,000sqft, with the largest official collection of original James Bond memorabilia.

Events can be held in the space amongst the spectacular film props, or alternatively, the versatile space can be transformed according to your own theme, requirements and styling demands.

What’s more, London Film Museum is offering all corporate event bookers, agents and their teams complimentary VIP Champagne tours of the museum in Covent Garden, before the 31 March 2018.

For more information, contact the team on 0207 202 7042 or [email protected]

Feed the brain at 8 Northumberland Avenue

8 Northumberland Avenue has been exploring how brain foods keep delegates engaged.

The venue reports many event spaces are now forgoing regular hors d’oeuvres and plated dinners in favour of healthy and organic whole foods, packed with nutrients, to improve delegate’s brain function.

Brain foods can be used to create incredibly tasty menus that will keep delegates engaged all day. 8 Northumberland Avenue’s favourite foods to feed the brain include:

Blueberries
Studies show that blueberries have antioxidant levels that improve memory and concentration for up to five hours. They also contain an ‘antioxidant cocktail’ that enhances focus ability and protects against illnesses such as dementia, heart disease and cancer.

Avocados
Avocado is another hugely popular super food that enhances blood flow, especially to the heart and brain. It’s also loaded with fibre, which prevents overeating by keeping hunger in check.

Leafy Green Vegetables
Leafy greens are packed with carotenoids, which heighten brainpower, and B-vitamins that improve memory, focus, and mental clarity.

Salmon
Salmon contains omega-3 fatty acids that improve memory and mental performance. It has also been shown to improve your mood and enhance concentration.

For more information on creating the perfect event menus, contact the team at 8 Northumberland Avenue on 0203 263 1011 or [email protected]

{10-11} Carlton House Terrace adds to its successful events team

{10-11} Carlton House Terrace, the home of the British Academy, welcomes three new faces to the business development and hospitality department with the appointment of Catherine Owen, Amie Murphy and Tinique Hay.

Catherine joins as head of venue sales & marketing, Amie as venue business development and marketing manager and Tinique as venue sales coordinator of the well-established, successful events team responsible for over 300 events a year and worth over £2 million in gross income.

Catherine Owen, head of venue sales and marketing says: “I am so excited to join the {10-11} team. It is such a beautiful building and the British Academy is such an important organisation. I am excited to see what the new and established members of the team can bring to 2019.”

{10-11} Carlton House Terrace, designed by renowned architect John Nash and built in the late 1820’s, comprises of 11 versatile rooms available for private hire. With capacity up to 500 guests, the two terraced townhouses have the perfect central London location with desirable views over St James’s Park and The Mall.

Available for daytime and evening hire both during the week and at weekends, {10-11} Carlton House Terrace is an unrivalled setting for meetings, private dining, receptions and product launches.

The venue is also licensed for civil wedding ceremonies, with the ability to take over the entire residence for a day of celebration.

For more information about venue hire, please contact the team on [email protected] or visit www.10-11cht.co.uk

Enjoy a dining experience like no other at the House of Commons

The House of Commons is pleased to offer the opportunity to dine in the magnificent surroundings of one of its grandest dining rooms – The Strangers’ Dining Room.

Guests will enjoy seasonal ingredients from across the United Kingdom paired with sublime presentation and elegance.

Book your table at London’s most unique pop-up restaurant today at www.parliament.uk/dining

Emmeline’s Lounge opens for private events at Conrad London St James

Conrad London St James’s elegant and stylish Emmeline’s Lounge is now available for private hire for meetings and events.

With natural day light and a beautiful fireplace, Emmeline’s Lounge is the perfect venue for pre- or post-meeting drinks or  theatre-style presentations for up to 100 people.

The hotel, in the heart of London, effortlessly blends historical 19th century design with locally-inspired style providing a fantastic backdrop to any meeting or event.

To book or discover the possibilities, please contact [email protected]

Institute of Contemporary Arts welcomes Margot Henderson to head up Rochelle Canteen

One of London’s most influential chefs Margot Henderson, together with Melanie Arnold, has recently brought Rochelle Canteen to the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), creating a brand new restaurant and bar.

Margot and Melanie, synonymous for feeding the art and fashion pack, also cater for all private events at the Nash and Brandon Rooms. The two Grade I listed rooms on the first floor of the Institute, accessed via a grand staircase, are available to hire for weddings, corporate events and private parties.

Margot says: “When I first moved to London the ICA was one the places I was desperate to visit. It was exciting, it made a statement, it was a precursor to practically all of the best art spaces around the world. The Canteen here will be a place for people to meet for dinner, share a drink and stay into the evening once the exhibitions close and cinemas dim.”

Institute of Contemporary Arts director, Stefan Kalmár, says: “I could not be happier to have Margot and Melanie joining me at the Institute of Contemporary Arts. For me the ICA is an organisation, a social body, and this social body needs to be fed – and it needs to be fed well, fed by the same passion and integrity that you will find in our programmes.’’

For event or restaurant enquires, please contact the ICA events team at [email protected]

Broadway House strikes gold!

Broadway House, Westminster has been awarded Gold in BDRC’s VenueVerdict Accreditation Scheme 2017, for the fifth year in a row.

Gold is only given to properties recording a Net Promoter Score of +70 or higher, obtained from 40 or more responses over a 12-month period.

Amanda Sutton, venue manager at Broadway House, says: “We are extremely proud of our customer service record and it’s lovely to have the work of the team recognised by our customers. Our entire team at Broadway House takes a proactive approach to customer service and actively seeks out and acts on feedback we get from our clients and delegates to improve the service we provide.”

She adds: “We always feel that there is year-on-year improvements we can make to meet the changing needs of our clients, in order to maintain our reputation in the events market.”

WVC chair takes helm of ICCA UK & Ireland

We are pleased to announce that the Westminster Venue Collection chair, Diane Waldron, is now the acting-chair of ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) UK and Ireland board.

Diane, who also holds the position of sales & marketing director at London’s leading conference venue – the QEII Centre, is a well-connected and respected industry figure with vast amounts of experience within the sector. Diane will initially manage the chapter’s annual debate in Belfast, on 8 and 9 March.

Diane says of her new appointment: “I am excited by the opportunities ahead, I take on the role at a time when the chapter is stronger than ever before and look forward to seeing it develop further over the coming years.”