Category: Entertainment

New interactive installation at London Transport Museum will take families on a ‘Green Journey’ this summer

Posted on by engineroom

This summer London Transport Museum is welcoming families to explore a new interactive ‘Green Journey’ installation that will get visitors thinking about climate change, the role of transport in creating a sustainable city, and how we can all do our bit to ensure a greener future. A green themed trail around the Museum galleries and creative workshops will also run throughout the holidays, helping young visitors to learn about these big concepts in a fun and family-friendly way.

Visitors to The Green Journey installation will be able to explore four themed, hands-on areas to learn about topics such as global warming and its effects on London, the solutions from big businesses that are already underway to help tackle it – such as Transport for London’s hydrogen buses – as well as new green jobs and the people behind them. The space will also help families discover the small changes we can make at home to be more eco-friendly.

Family workshops inspired by the themes of the Green Journey space will also take place on selected dates throughout the holidays. Five workshops will run per day, suitable for children 8-14 years old:

  • Climate Calling: selected dates between 23 July – 4 August (23, 26, 28, 30 July and 2, 4 Aug). Learn about the ways climate change affects our city and the role of transport in providing the solution – from TfL’s new hydrogen buses that are helping make London’s air cleaner, to the active travel choices we can all make when getting from A to B. Create your own Climate Calling board game inspired by what you’ve learnt.
  • Future Innovators: selected dates between 6 – 18 August (6, 9, 11, 13, 16, 19 August). What will life in our city look like in the future? What jobs will exist and what skills will we need? Hear about real-life climate change innovators and explore the skills we are going to need to help tackle climate change in the future. Then create your very own climate change super-hero. Let your imagination lead the way.
  • Activate: selected dates between 20 August – 1 September (20, 23, 25, 27, 30 Aug and 1 September). We all have a role to play in tackling climate change. Discover the small ways you can do your bit to make London greener and create your own set of Family Action Cards to get inspired.

Sustainable installation

These summer activities are part of London Transport Museum’s 18-month Climate Crossroads programme supported by Mastercard, Mott MacDonald, Cubic Transportation Systems and Sopra Steria. The programme aims to create experiences that get people thinking about what the future of our city could look like and inspired by the great engineering ingenuity of London’s past and also explores what innovations, skills and jobs we need to build this sustainable future.

On Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 August, London Transport Museum will also be hosting Mastercard’s Girls4Tech STEM workshops in the main Museum gallery. Children can drop-into sessions on Cryptology and Big Data, learning about these topics through fun, problem-solving games. The Girls4Tech workshops will be run by Mastercard staff, looking to inspire the next generation to pursue a STEM career.

While at the Museum, families can also see real buses, trams and Tube trains from 200 years of the capital’s transport history. They can learn how to drive a modern-day Elizabeth line train in the Future Engineers gallery and climb aboard a fleet of mini vehicles in the All Aboard play zone.

Between 11:00 and 15:00, visitors can head to Canteen, the Museum’s café by popular eatery Benugo, for a bite to eat, and choose from exclusive transport inspired toys, gifts, homeware, poster artwork and games in the Museum’s shop.

Timed tickets to visit London Transport Museum can be booked online in advance. Adult tickets are £21 and allow free return day-time entry for a whole year. Plus, kids go free!

BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE

You’re invited to the spookiest showcase in town!

Posted on by engineroom

Things are set to get pretty spooky this October when all our member venues come together at One Great George Street for our annual showcase – and you’re invited to attend… if you dare!

Creep along on Tuesday, 24 October at 6.30pm and meet with our selection of scarily good venues – all based in London’s iconic borough of Westminster. On your way, you may even bump into the phantom monk said to walk the tracks at Westminster Tube Station.

In true Halloween tradition, not only will you have the chance to meet and chat with representatives from our 34 venues, but you’ll also be invited to take part in a ‘Trick or Treat’ lucky dip where you could win some spooktacular prizes and experiences.

With fashionable townhouses and private members’ clubs to luxury hotels, celebrated attractions, historic institutes and societies, we can help you find the perfect venue for your next event quickly and efficiently, no matter what you’re planning.

Pre-register for your place by contacting [email protected] before the witching hour on Friday, 20 October.

Places are strictly limited and Westminster Venue Collection reserves the right to qualify your event planning credentials in order to confirm your place.  

Huishan Zhang showcases RTW Fall collection at Church House Westminster

Posted on by engineroom

Church House Westminster hosted up-and-coming fashion designer Huishan Zhang’s Ready To Wear Fall 2017 collection as part of London Fashion Week (LFW).

The show on Monday, 20 February, which was broadcast around the world via a live stream on the LFW website, took advantage of the venue’s spacious Assembly Hall, with models taking to a catwalk which circulated the entire room.

Huishan has been a regular feature on the LFW Schedule, with celebrity supporters such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Keira Knightley, Helen Mirren, Amelia Dornan, Naomi Campbell and Samantha Cameron wearing his collections. 

Huishan Zhang said: “Being an international fashion house based in London, Church House felt like the perfect location to synergise the brands ethos of bridging cultures. The venue is a huge part of London’s culture and is a historical land mark full of history and culture – a melting pot for what inspires our collections.”

Robin Parker, general manager at Church House Westminster, said: “London Fashion Week is one of the city’s most vibrant and creative events and our flexible event spaces provide designers with a range of creative options. The Assembly Hall offers a stylish setting for catwalk shows, and we are delighted that a number of designers are now utilising the venue to showcase their latest collections.”

For more information about Church House Westminster please contact [email protected].

Fashion-forward RIBA Venues hosts Wales Bonner

Posted on by engineroom

RIBA Venues, the conference and events arm of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), based at 66 Portland Place in London, recently played host to the Wales Bonner fashion show on 8 January 2017.

The event, which took place during London Fashion Week, showcased Wales Bonner’s 2017 winter/ autumn collection to 150 guests in the venue’s RIBA Gallery. 

Acclaimed fashion designer Grace Wales Bonner won the L’Oréal Professional Talent Award for her graduate collection and Emerging Menswear Designer at the British Fashion Awards in 2015. Her work explores representations of black male sexuality and identity which is informed by research that encompasses critical theory, composition, literature and historical sources.

 Grace Wales Bonner said: “The Florence Hall was a very impressive space which allowed me to be ambitious with the show concept. The venue and location are beautiful and inspiring, it was a pleasure to work with the RIBA team.”

RIBA Venues head of venues, Moya Maxwell, said: “We were delighted to welcome such an acclaimed fashion designer to RIBA Venues. This further consolidates our offering as a great venue for high-profile fashion events, as well as conferences and meetings.”

To find out more about RIBA Venues click here.

Get in the festive spirit at The Clubhouse

Posted on by vlondon-admin

Looking for gift inspiration? Perhaps something for your partner, boss, client or PA? Visit The Clubhouse’s Christmas Market on Wednesday, 7 December between 12pm and 5pm, where a number of their members and other local businesses will be showing off their wares, including Snow Leopard Vodka, Broadbent Gallery, London Road Jewellery and Sweet Reason.

For more information please contact Elizabeth Faichney on [email protected].

8 Northumberland Avenue’s guide to London Christmas markets

Posted on by vlondon-admin

To get you all in the spirit for Christmas, the team at 8 Northumberland Avenue have compiled a list of the best festive market locations in London for 2016.

Selfridges Foodhall:

Although not specifically a market, Selfridges Foodhall holds endless delight for foodies. Find gifts to wow everyone from your mother-in-law to your pooch at this treasure trove department store.

Southbank:

The highlight of the Southbank has to be the wonderful scenic views of London’s great landmarks. A short walk over the bridge is Boyds Grill & Wine Bar where you can come in out of the cold for a bottle of wine and a free cured meat plate.

Winter wonderland:

This iconic Christmas market is a great place to go with family during the day, especially if you have little ones. There is so much to do and see including fairground rides, beautiful markets and ice-skating.

To find out more about 8 Northumberland Avenue click here.

When 10 – 11 Carlton House Terrace became the Esquire Townhouse

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Britain’s most stylish men’s magazine, Esquire, came to life in the grand setting of 10 – 11 Carlton House Terrace in central London – where four days of exclusive one off events, live interviews, screenings and master classes took place last month. Guests enjoyed drinks by Fullers, Laurent Perrier and Errazuriz Wines while enjoying a personal cover shoot thanks to Huawei.

The opening night set proceedings off with a bang thanks to an exclusive DJ set by Mark Ronson playing late into the night as celebrities including Jeremy Renner, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Sam Smith, Tom Daley, Victoria Pendleton and Mollie King joined team Esquire and their sponsors Dior on the dance floor.

It was the perfect start to kick things off in which Esquire was brought to life as guests talked food with Heston Blumental, met Supersonic director Mat Whitecross, listened to Felicity Jones discuss her latest film and learnt how to dress well with Oliver Spencer and Charlie Casely-Hayford.

St Martin-in-the-field choir hits the high note

Posted on by vlondon-admin

Renowned music venue St Martin-in-the-Fields’ incredible choir, St Martin’s Voices, is now available to book for concerts and events.

The venue has a rich musical legacy from performances by Handel and Mozart to current day concerts and the venue has been at the forefront of music-making in London for centuries.

Formed in 2014, St Martin’s Voices now perform regularly in concerts and events both in the UK and internationally, including a recent tour to the southern US states, and represent the next step in St Martin’s musical journey.

For further information on booking St Martin’s Voices to sing for a Christmas dinner or reception at St Martin’s email [email protected]

Church House Westminster hosts its first Fashion Show

Posted on by vlondon-admin

One of Britain’s up and coming fashion brands showcased its latest collection during the first catwalk event to take place at Church House Westminster.

OSMAN, a designer favoured by the likes of Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and British actress Emma Watson, held its London Fashion Week show for its Spring/Summer ‘17 collection at the venue.

Amelia O’Mahoney at OSMAN, said: “Church House Westminster provided the ideal location for the showing of our latest collection. The show was a great success and has been well received by all those who attended. We’d like to thank all the partners who contributed to this, including the support provided by Church House and its staff.”

Church House Westminster’s General Manager Robin Parker said: “It’s great to be part of London Fashion Week, one of the city’s most creative events. The Osman fashion show is just the type of event we have been looking to attract since Church House Westminster’s rebrand earlier this year, and we are delighted they chose to showcase their Spring/Summer ’17 collection to the fashion world against the backdrop of the Assembly Hall.”

BAFTA plays host to ‘A Night to Remember’

Posted on by engineroom

During this year’s London Fashion Week, The Green Carpet Challenge (GCC) united with BAFTA and the British Fashion Council to present ‘A Night to Remember’ hosted by Colin Firth, Keira Knightley, Anna Wintour, Natalie Massenet, Livia Firth, Amanda Berry, William Vintage and the Metropolitan Museum of New York Fashion Institute curator Andrew Bolton with Andrea & Guido Bonaveri.

‘A Night to Remember’ celebrated fashion from the world’s iconic red carpets – from the movies to the Met Ball and unveiled a unique exhibition of iconic vintage couture gowns discovered by William Vintage. Undeniable red carpet icons, they exemplify the values of artisanal skills and handcrafting from the 20th and 21st centuries with work by Hubert de Givenchy to John Galliano and Alexander McQueen. The event also saw an eco-world first: the unveiling of Bonaveri’s eco-mannequins. Bonaveri is world-famous for creating mannequins for the fashion industry and now launches the first biodegradable mannequin.

Guests including Victoria Beckham, Helena Bonham Carter, Joely Richardson, Luke Evans, Arizone Muse, Amanda & Tallulah Harlech, will.i.am, Caroline Rush, Mario Testino, Sabine Getty, Erin O’Connor, Daisy Lowe, Caroline Sieber, Christopher Bailey, Henry Holland, Stephen Jones, Erdem, Matthew Williamson, Hannah Weiland, Molly Goddard, Portia Freeman, Pixie Lott, Justin O’Shea, Laura Bailey, Lauren Santa Domingo, Nicole Farhi and Bianca Jagger attended.

Following the presentation, was the premiere of ‘The First Monday in May’, Andrew Rossi’s feature capturing the collision of high fashion and celebrity at one of the globe’s biggest fashion events: the Met Gala, famously chaired every year by Anna Wintour, artistic director, Conde Nast.

Amanda Berry, CEO BAFTA said: “The creative industries must take responsibility for their impact, seizing every opportunity to ensure the creation of art has a positive environmental legacy. Since 2011, BAFTA has chaired the BAFTA Albert Consortium, helping the film and television industries to act on their impact together. With over 400 organisations involved, the consortium provides the tools, guidance and opportunities to all those who recognise the urgent need for action on climate change. Five years of collaboration has seen the roll-out of environmental management tools, bespoke industry training and, most recently, the costume directory – a guide to ethical sourcing. The Green Carpet Challenge highlights important progress made in fashion and BAFTA is excited to be working with GCC and hopes that the collaboration will allow us to drive further sustainable progress.”

To find out more about BAFTA or to make a booking click here.

Photography supplied by Dave Bennett from Getty.