Category: Blog

The collection will once again exhibit at The Meetings Show this year and can be found at Stand J503.

We look forward to spreading the word about the developments of the consortium to over 2,000 event professionals and giving each of our iconic venues an opportunity to engage with new buyers face-to-face.

Keep your eyes peeled for an exciting announcement before the show and be sure to look out for further details at the event…

Westminster Venue Collection is delighted to welcome One Birdcage Walk to its consortium, joining the 35-strong collection of iconic venues, bringing its member total to 36.

Regarded as one of the finest examples of traditional architecture in Westminster, the grand Victorian home of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers overlooks St James’ Park. One Birdcage Walk provides contemporary facilities in a unique building in a prestigious central London location.

The 16 event spaces throughout the venue celebrate the lives of well-known and recognised mechanical engineers, and their achievements. With creative flexibility, the venue can host events for up to 210 guests, from lectures and conferences to drinks receptions and fine-dining experiences.

The jewel in the crown at One Birdcage Walk is the Library. Built in the Elizabethan Style, clad in marble and warm oak with stunning views over the park, the Library is open to the public during the week and can hold evening receptions and dinners.

Christine Milburn-Philpott, commercial venue manager at One Birdcage Walk, said: “We are so thrilled to be joining the Westminster Venue Collection and to be included among this collective of prestigious and beautiful venues. We have been focused on building our venue profile within the events industry and joining WVC goes a long way to assist us in that goal. We are very much looking forward to getting involved with the collection and collaborating with our neighboring venues on exciting showcases and other projects.”

The Chair of Westminster Venue Collection, Rachel Azzopardi, said: “We are extremely excited to welcome such an iconic venue to our collection. One Birdcage Walk will make a strong addition to our collection, bringing together modern and traditional exhibition spaces, museums, auditoria, conference rooms and banqueting halls in the City of Westminster.”

Do you know which room in Church House Westminster played host to the House of Commons during the Second World War?

If so, you could win a pair of Beating Retreat tickets on 6 June at Horse Guards Parade.

A must-see event, this impressive programme of rousing military and contemporary music will be performed by the finest musicians of the Massed Bands of the Guards. They will be joined this year by The Mounted Band of the Household Cavalry, The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, the Royal Choral Society and guest performers The Band and Pipes of the Royal Guard of Oman and The Pipes & Drums of the Argyll and The Band & Pipes of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Email your answer to [email protected].

Prize includes one pair of Beating Retreat tickets on 6 June at Horse Guards Parade.

Competition closes on 4 June at 4.30pm. Winner to be notified via email.

On Saturday 8 June, London’s Horse Guards Parade will play host to a spectacular display of pageantry to mark the Queen’s official birthday.

Carried out by Her Majesty’s personal troops, over 1,000 officers and men, together with 200 horses on parade, are accompanied by several musicians for the annual event. Following the parade, the Royal Family will gather on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch an RAF flypast.

To coincide with the event, Westminster Venue Collection puts the spotlight on its venues with military links cemented in their history.

10-11 Carlton House Terrace

The British Academy moved to 10 Carlton House Terrace in 1998 but for the first 90 years of its life the house was the London home of the Ridley family – a wealthy coal mining family based in Northumberland. When war broke out in 1914, Lady Ridley decided to open up her London home as a Hospital for Officers. She started with just 25 beds in the ballroom and drawing room but, as the war progressed, Lady Ridley made more room available by moving out a lot of her furniture and pictures and opening up further wards on the ground and first floor. By 1917 there were 60 beds, and huts had been built on the terrace to cater for soldiers suffering from poison gas, with a resident doctor and volunteer nurses (VADs).

116 Pall Mall

With a view over Waterloo Place and Arthur Wellesley’s mounting steps outside the front door, 116 Pall Mall was home to one of London’s original military clubs.  In 1815, as Napoleon contemplated his final years on the Island of St Helena, his conquerors led by Lord Lyndoch formed a club where they could relax and meet with colleagues and the United Service Club was born. In 1828, George IV donated the stunning 15ft Regency chandelier to commemorate victory in the Battle of Waterloo. The club purchased a marble bust of Lord Admiral Nelson for 100 guineas. It is said to be the only bust of Nelson created from life and still resides at 116 Pall Mall on a plinth made from part of HMS Victory.

116 was also home to important World War II strategy planning as exiled Norwegian monarch, King Haakon regularly met his officers in the Smoking Room for just that. Following the war, Haakon began the annual tradition of sending a Christmas tree to be displayed in Trafalgar Square as a thank-you gift to the UK from Norway.

The United Services Club closed its doors in 1977 and The Institute of Directors took over the premises at 116 Pall Mall. The lease ensures that they have retained all the original paintings and ornaments from the United Service Club, barring the odd misplaced ceremonial sword.

Churchill War Rooms

Hidden beneath the iconic buildings of Westminster, Churchill War Rooms homes the very site where Prime Minister Winston Churchill and his Cabinet led Britain to victory during the Second World War.Winston Churchill is recognised as one of the greatest individuals to ever walk the course of British history, and nowhere is the scene of his finest hour better illustrated than at Churchill War Rooms.Each room has been preserved and restored to look just as it did during the Second World War. Guests are now invited to walk the same corridors as Churchill, peer into the room where his War Cabinet made their momentous decisions, and marvel at the complexity of the abandoned Map Rooms, frozen in time since 1945.

The Rag: Army & Navy Club

The Army & Navy Club has an impressive 180-year history, founded in 1837 as a response to the popularity of other Service clubs in the area. Originally it was to be called the Army Club but the Duke of Wellington, Commander in Chief, who became the Club’s first patron declined to have any involvement unless it was also open to officers of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. Upon agreeing this, the Club was established with Lieutenant General Sir Edward Barnes, Admiral Sir Philip Durham and Lieutenant Colonel Henry Charles Russell elected as Trustees. The Club now welcomes professional men and women from both military and civilian backgrounds who like to enjoy all the benefits that club membership offers. Today, Her Majesty the Queen is the club’s royal patron.

St Martin-in-the-Fields

St Martin-in-the-Fields has a deep-rooted connection with the military as the venue’s patron Saint Martin of Tours was a soldier who decided to dedicate his life to the sick and neglected. The annual celebration of his sainthood takes place on Remembrance Sunday. During the First World War, vicar Dick Sheppard came to St Martin’s having served as an army chaplain in the trenches. Reverend Sheppard ensured that St Martin’s church and crypt remained open around the clock as a refuge for those seeking shelter and food day or night.  St Martin’s became and remains ‘the church of the ever-open door’ and work with homeless and vulnerable people continues through the homeless charity, The Connection at St Martin’s.

Located on Trafalgar Square, St Martin’s is ideally located for its role as the church of the Admiralty. This relationship is marked with an annual carol service. Special services are also held for the Far East Prisoners of War Association including the 70^thanniversary of VJ Day – Victory over Japan. This service took place in 2016 and was attended by HM the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the Royal Family.  A permanent Memorial to the Fareast Prisoners of War can be found in the church.

Church House Westminster

The building of Church House Westminster suffered a direct hit in the early part of WWII but due to its exceptional construction, only minimal damage was done. The Prime Minister of the day, Winston Churchill, was so impressed by this that the building was refurbished for use by the two Houses of Parliament for the remainder of the war. Many historic speeches and events took place within the building during this time, in particular the announcement by Churchill of the sinking of the battleship Bismarck.

During one weekend in June, London’s hidden green spaces give rare access to the public and host a range of activities for the Open Garden Squares Weekend.

The initiative, held on 8-9 June, is designed to highlight some of the capital’s best gardens and green spaces and raise vital funds for the London Parks and Gardens Trust so it can continue its work to protect them.

To coincide with the event, Westminster Venue Collection puts the spotlight on its venues with glorious gardens to help you pick the perfect spot for your next event, whether it’s a summer soiree, an alfresco dining affair or post-event drinks.

The National Gallery Garden
Spaces don’t come more hidden than The National Gallery Garden. The gallery’s newest ‘secret garden’ space is a secluded sunken courtyard surrounded by fragrant jasmine bushes and accessed by a hidden door on neighbouring Trafalgar Square with capacity for up to 60 guests. The gallery – home to world-famous nature-themed paintings like Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and Monet’s The Water Lily Pond, has also created the Jubilee Walk – a covered outdoor space surrounded by limestone and glass features which can host up to 420 guests at a drinks reception and 315 guests at a sit-down dinner.

College Garden at Westminster Abbey
History buffs and horticultural enthusiasts will delight in hosting an event in Westminster Abbey’s College Garden. The private, 900-year-old walled garden is thought to be the oldest garden in England and offers views of the Abbey and Victoria Tower, part of the Palace of Westminster. In June and July, a stylish glass marquee with a decked porch area is erected, making College Garden an idyllic venue for a relaxed reception, formal gala dinner or corporate conference and lunch.

The York Lawns, Regent’s Conferences and Events
Event planners have four acres of garden space in which to host an event for up to 1,200 people at Regent’s venue within one of London’s most famous outdoor spaces. Set within private grounds in Regent’s Park, The York Lawns feature landscaped lawns, trees, mature shrubs and seasonal blooms. During the summer months, the space boasts a hard-floored marquee which can accommodate 450 guests.

The Courtyard at Dartmouth House
The courtyard garden at Georgian townhouse Dartmouth House will make guests feel like they’ve stepped onto the terrace of an elegant French chateau. The stunning oasis in the heart of Mayfair, which can host up to 150 guests, features manicured potted plants, a fountain, and wrought iron tables and chairs to create the atmosphere of a garden at a French stately home.

116 Pall Mall
Tall trees and lush greenery envelope The Garden and Terrace at the prestigious 116 Pall Mall. This tranquil, hidden gem can be easily accessed from the Carlton Room and will whisk guests away from the hustle and bustle of central London when they enter it. Perfect for summer parties, drinks receptions, film shoots, pop-up events, launches, parties and networking events.

Her Majesty The Queen and The Duchess of Cambridge recently visited King’s College London to officially re-open Bush House.

On 29 March, the royal party arrived to meet with staff and academics and to have a tour of the recently renovated Bush House (previously the home of the BBC World Service), which now features an auditorium, various tiered lecture theatres, meeting rooms and the stunning eighth floor event space with rooftop terraces. The Queen and the Duchess both remarked on the “impressive” view across London.

The visit ended in the new auditorium where the Queen, who is patron of the university, unveiled a plaque to formally open Bush House.

For more information on hosting your event at Bush House, contact [email protected] or call 0207 848 1700.

A full house of 650 guests travelled to Church House Westminster from France on 29 March in support of Britain’s exit from the EU.

Yes, that’s right, Frexit! The day Britain was set to leave the EU saw 650 guests attending a party to celebrate independence and international relationships. The fact that Brexit didn’t take place on the planned date did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the energetic, partisan audience.

French guests were given headphones to receive live translations of speeches delivered in English, all of which helped create a loud, colourful, good-natured atmosphere within the venue’s largest room, The Assembly Hall.

The next challenge was to feed 650 very hungry French nationals within the allotted 45-minute break. In keeping with the theme of the evening, a bowl food menu was created including classics like bangers and mash, and fish and chips alongside French wine to celebrate the best of both countries.

Re-fuelled and raring to go, the speeches continued through to midnight when the evening was concluded with a rousing rendition of God Save the Queen and “La Marseillaise”. As guests departed the Assembly Hall, they were handed a glass of Brexit-branded Champagne, imported especially to toast the event that never happened!

The National Gallery presents a brand-new space for 2019, the National Gallery Garden.

Responding to an increased demand for outdoor entertaining options in Central London, the garden offers a peaceful escape from neighbouring Trafalgar Square. Accessed by a secret door, this hidden courtyard is surrounded by fragrant jasmine bushes and is ideal for private drinks receptions for up to 60 guests.

For larger parties of up to 250 people, the Portico Terrace and Foyer boasts unrivalled views overlooking the iconic Trafalgar Square. This is one of the Gallery’s most impressive outdoor event spaces. Ideal for a summer drinks receptions and alfresco dinner parties with an exquisite black and white mosaic floor, this venue never fails to make an impression.

The Royal Society is already reporting 80% occupancy for meetings and conferences in October and November this year.

With a limited number of remaining dates for this period, event planners must act fast to secure one of 12 iconic rooms in this central London location, just off Pall Mall.

From elegant and opulent meeting rooms to modern spaces boasting natural daylight and modern AV equipment, its unsurprising that the venue is in high demand both this season and the next.

To ensure you can get availability for your autumn event, make sure you contact the conferencing team as soon as possible to discuss your event and check availability. Please call 0207 451 2612 or email [email protected].

IET London: Savoy Place will be exhibiting at IMEX Frankfurt and The Meetings Show in 2019.

At IMEX Frankfurt, 21-23 May, the team from Savoy Place will be located on the England Pavilion stand F340. Delivering three presentations throughout the exhibition, attendees can discover the tech hacks all event organisers should know about, from top tips on what microphones make all the difference, to the questions they should be asking about Wi-Fi, and many more ways they can use the venue’s tech to brand their next event.

The expert staff, who together host 10,000 events a year, will also showcase the venue’s state of the art technology, AV capabilities and stunning roof terrace (with panoramic views over the River Thames), at The Meetings Show, Olympia London, 26-27 June.

Buyers interested in finding out more can contact Tom Bennett on 07738 713864, [email protected].