Category: Food

Central Hall Westminster hosts ‘The Superpowers of Free School Meals’ conference

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Central Hall Westminster, part of Central Hall Venues group, played host to The Superpowers of Free School Meals conference, a joint initiative to showcase the benefits of England’s Free School Meals policy, on Tuesday 8th November.

Hosted by Leyla Kazim, BBC Radio 4’s presenter of the Food Programme, the event highlighted the positive effect of the policy from academic attainment to school attendance. The event was held during National School Meals Week by the ‘Feed the Future’ campaign coalition including The Food Foundation, Chefs in Schools, Sustain, Child Poverty Action Group, School Food Matters, National Education Union, Bite Back 2030 and Impact on Urban Health. The campaign is run in partnership with the Independent and in association with the Evening Standard.

Held in the Aldersgate Room and attended by over 150 people, it began with a ‘school lunch’ served up by top chefs Tom Kerridge and Melissa Hemsley. Attendees were given a chance to meet people who have benefited from Free School Meals and young campaigners advocating the advantages of a healthy diet on their long-term well-being and development.

Following lunch, a panel session chaired by Laura Sandys, CBE, Founder of the Food Foundation, discussed how good school food can become a priority for all political parties. A second session chaired by Xand van Tulleken, Doctor and TV presenter, debated the many benefits of Free School Meals. There was also a spoken word performance carried out by youth campaigners and a closing session on the emerging vision and future priorities for a better school food system.

Sarah Ainsworth, CEO of Central Hall Venues, commented: “We were delighted to host The Superpowers of Free School Meals conference at our venue during National School Meals Week and see the wide range of discussions on this important topic. As an organisation which exists purely to maintain our historic buildings such as Central Hall Westminster and donate to charitable causes, we love to host events that align with our values.”

Find out more about the wonderful Central Hall Westminster here.

Discover Westminster; Showcase Success!

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We have long been known for our fantastic Westminster Venue Showcase events and this year was no exception!! The 26th of May 2022 marked the occasion of our Discover Westminster; Around Westminster Venues in 80 minutes, showcase event and how special for us all to be back together and what a fantastic evening it was!

Located at the Royal Society, one of our fabulous member venues, it was great to be back hosting a face-to-face event – You could feel the excitement amongst all. This elegant setting really set the scene and created the perfect backdrop for the occasion.

The showcase was attended by event professionals from London and beyond for the opportunity to celebrate and explore our unique consortium of Westminster’s finest venues. It was amazing to see them all showing off their venues and event packages to new and potential clients. Our venue collection includes a wide variety of venue types and styles, all with their own fascinating backstory and many with historic significance.

Originally home to the United Services Club, Georgian venue 116 Pall Mall was designed by John Nash, and this Grade I listed venue still contains many of the club’s original treasures. Then we move to The Honourable Society of Lincolns Inn. Their Great Hall was opened by Queen Victoria, and not to mention, Edwardian venue One Great George Street, 18th Century RSA House, and the world-famous Houses of Parliament.

The recent Platinum Jubilee celebrations taking place throughout the city have seen these spectacular venues celebrated in all their glory, which has led to more enquiries, but let’s not forget the incredible modern venues within the collection. The QEII Centre got the chance to boast their cutting-edge AV facilities, essential for delivering live and engaging hybrid and studio events. The Westminster London, Curio Collection by Hilton, showcased their stylish conference spaces and luxurious rooms for overnight stays. And if you’re looking for big screen events, Vue West End have got you covered!

We were also joined by key industry suppliers, including Frew & Co rolled ice cream. Their fun and refreshing treats are perfect for outdoor summer events. The talented chefs at the Royal Society also made an appearance to showcase some sweet offerings. Dan and the team plated up a feast for the eyes, demonstrating some impressive techniques, including dry ice!

Thank you to all who attended, and especially to Barbara Wutte and her team at the Royal Society for helping our board and the Paje team to organise the event, it wouldn’t have been a success without all those involved. The drinks were flowing and the delicious canapes went down a treat, and it was fantastic to see members sharing their images across social media.

“We are so excited about the future, we have new members joining our collection, new initiatives planned by the enthusiastic board and Paje Team and our venues are back to business at 2019 levels again!  We look forward to working with you over the coming months and celebrating just how amazing London and our wonderful Westminster Collection are!”  –  Rachel Azzopardi, Chair of Westminster Venue Collection.

Our experienced sales marketing and PR partners are here to support with enquiries and help you find the best space for your events. If you’re looking to book last minute summer parties, our venues have some stunning, private outdoor spaces available for hire, right in the heart of the Capital. Contact us today and we’ll help you find the perfect fit for your occasion.

Dining at The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn

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It takes a team of brilliant staff to execute a successful event, and the team at The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn are exactly that!

Their dedicated event planners and front of house staff will look after your event from start to finish, making sure that every guest has a fantastic evening.

The venues kitchen of talented and experienced chefs use seasonal and quality produce to cook up a feast you’ll never forget. Their balanced and varied menus offer a selection of delicious canapes and beautiful bowl food for your guests to enjoy, including vegetarian and vegan options.

 

 

SPACES AVAILABLE FOR HIRE

Great Hall

As you enter the Great Hall (pictured above) your eyes are drawn to the painted fresco and beautifully detailed ceilings. This stunning setting makes a fantastic backdrop for your next dining event.

Old Court Room

This characterful room, once lively with legal activity, is now a charming event space ideal for private dinners for up to 44 guests and receptions up to 80.

Events Venue Westminster

Old Hall

This remarkable, traditional space has been used to entertain for over 500 years, witnessing many events in its long history. Hire this space for your next reception lunch or dinner, and it will be sure to leave your guests suitably impressed.

Banquet Venue Westminster

The MCR

The unique vaulted ceilings of the MCR provides a spectacular backdrop for intimate receptions and dinners. It even has its own private terrace for pre-dinner drinks!

Reception Venue Westminster

 

Find out more

116 Pall Mall opens it’s doors for Valentine’s Weekend

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116 Pall Mall opens it’s doors for Valentine’s Weekend

116 Pall Mall and Searcys are pulling out all the stops this Valentine’s Day by opening up for a special three-course Valentine’s dinner, and a Rosé Champagne afternoon tea, with four dates for you to choose from across the weekend. Enjoy the romantic setting of 116 Pall Mall, with their glittering chandeliers as your backdrop, stunning views of Central London and plenty of rosé bubbles flowing to get you feeling loved up.

Valentine’s Dinner: 11 & 14 February | From 6.30pm

Make this Valentine’s Day one to remember, with a glass of Ruinart Brut Rosé Champagne and oysters on arrival, followed by a candle-lit three-course menu in their beautiful Morning Room. Enjoy the views of the glittering 15ft chandelier hanging above the grand staircase as you head down for a post-dinner cocktail in their secret-cellar Champagne Bar.

£75 per person

Valentine’s Afternoon Tea: 12 & 13 February | 2pm – 3.30pm

Treat your loved one to a special Rosé Champagne afternoon tea at 116 Pall Mall. Indulge in a selection of love-themed sweet and savoury treats accompanied by Rosé Champagne in the beautiful surrounds of 116 Pall Mall.

£35 per person | £49 with a glass of champagne

Still need to make Valentine’s plans? Click here to book your romantic treat today!

Creative Christmas returns to RIBA at 66 Portland Place with ‘Build Your Own’ celebrations

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With the Christmas party season paused last year due to the pandemic, 2021 is set to see festive celebrations return bigger and better than ever before! Countless ideas and plans had to be put on hold, including ours, so this year we’re once again giving you the opportunity to build your perfect party package by selecting the individual elements that match your taste, budget and requirements.

In anticipation of the return of Christmas parties this year, we’ve re-launched our ‘Build Your Own’ experience – a subtle nod to our architectural roots – starting from £60 + VAT per person. This package is flexible with multiple F&B options at different price points, that can be selected as a standalone package or in conjunction with another to suit budget and preference. If we can ease the burden of organising Covid-secure F&B, it gives you more time to be creative with theming and entertainment.

We have three architecturally stunning spaces for Christmas parties at 66 Portland Place – the Florence Hall, RIBA Gallery or Aston Webb Room, or the option to combine rooms if you are going all out for a big celebration to make up for the lack of Christmas party last year! As the venue’s principal entertaining space, the Florence Hall features stunning floor to ceiling windows, which fills the room with an abundance of light, glass doors and carved pillars to provide a chic, mid-century backdrop. The expansive space can accommodate all manner of set-ups, from round tables, casual seating, or the inclusion of a dancefloor, and opens onto a leafy roof terrace.

Available to hire on its own or in conjunction with the Florence Hall, the RIBA Gallery features etched floor to ceiling windows and Art Deco detailing, as well as access to the adjacent landing, a triple height atrium space arranged around a grand sweeping staircase. For more intimate Christmas dinners or lunches, the Aston Webb room, which is located on the second floor, is steeped in history and features large windows which fill the room with light and allow for a grand view of the tree-lined Portland Place.

Our festive menus by CH&Co feature a range of flavoursome dishes, made using fresh, seasonal ingredients – from classic roast turkey to exciting alternatives like wild boar or artichoke velouté, followed by decadent chocolate ganache.

Whether you want a bespoke celebration planned down to the smallest detail, or a smooth solution for your office Christmas party, we work with you to come up with the perfect event package – and your event manager will be there on the day to ensure everything runs smoothly.

RIBA 3509 RIBA L 2722 Rosie Charlie 82

QEII Centre launches chef’s table tasting room

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London’s QEII Centre is giving event planners a taste of life in the kitchen with the launch of a brand-new chef’s table tasting room.

QEII’s new tasting room looks directly into the centre’s busy kitchen, which caters for up to 2,500 delegates a day under the guidance of head chef Jean Michel Viala.

Event organisers will now be able to arrange a private menu tasting as part of their event booking at the QEII Centre, with a personal welcome from Jean Michel and an introduction to all the dishes being sampled.

New summer menus launched at Bateaux London

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Bateaux London is celebrating the very best of British cuisine in its new summer menus for its fine-dining Thames cruises.

The four-course dinner menu available on both its Harmony and Symphony vessels, which take in the sights of some of the capital’s most iconic landmarks, begins with a summer pea velouté and a choice of starters including free range chicken and Pimms jelly pressé, Scottish smoked salmon with yuzu pearls, asparagus and caviar or marinated heritage tomato salad.

Main courses of Cornish hake, South Downs’ lamb or crisp basil gnocchi are followed by sumptuous desserts including dark chocolate and Kentish raspberry delice, poached summer berries and artisan English cheese.

Lunchtime diners will be served roasted feta and pickled summer vegetable salad, roast Suffolk chicken or burrata and summer pea stuffed courgette flower, with strawberry cheesecake for dessert.

While those planning to spend Sunday on the river will enjoy a starter of pickled heritage beetroot, a main course of roast highland beef starter or traditional nut roast and a dessert of rhubarb and vanilla cream.

Or, for an alternative to the four-course menu, guests can enjoy a quintessentially British afternoon tea featuring smoked salmon and cucumber, egg and cress and coronation chicken sandwiches, a variety of cakes and scones, with strawberry preserve and Cornish clotted cream.

Gareth Brown, marketing manager for Bateaux London, said: “This summer we are celebrating the best of British produce with some classic, traditional dishes and where better to enjoy them than on the Thames, with a backdrop of world famous buildings such as Tower Bridge and the Palace of Westminster?”

Bateaux London’s vessels are available for exclusive hire for a range of corporate and leisure events.

For information, or to enquire about booking an event with Bateaux London, call 020 7695 1800 or email [email protected].

Three reasons to book a Christmas lunch at 8 Northumberland Avenue

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Looking for the perfect venue to host a Christmas lunch party? 8 Northumberland Avenue have rounded up their top three reasons for booking a midday Christmas feast with them:

  1. Value

Your guests deserve only the best Christmas celebrations and you don’t want to be held back by your budget and at 8 Northumberland Avenue you will save around £40 per head just by booking during the day instead of the evening.

2. Dates

Finding a perfect date that suits everyone during the festive season is a difficult task but booking a Christmas lunch party at our central London venue, means you have a better selection of days to ensure you don’t have to compromise on your preferred date.

3. Themes

We take great pride in choosing our themes (this year we have The Lost Palace of Atlantis and Winter Glitz & Glamour) and bringing them to life. Guests at our Christmas lunches will have the same amazing experience as our Christmas dinner party guests meaning they won’t miss out on the immersive theming for their Christmas party.

Festive lunches at 8 Northumberland Avenue start from £95 per person ex VAT*. Contact our team for more information [email protected].

*T&Cs:  price dependent on numbers.

Christmas comes early to QEII

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Christmas celebrations were in full swing at the QEII Centre last month, when guests were welcomed to a showcase of the Westminster venue’s ‘Snow Ball’ Christmas party theme.

Taking over the centre’s recently refurbished Mountbatten room, QEII underwent a festive transformation with a frosted glass, blue, crystal and gold colour scheme elegantly matched with floor-to-ceiling windows, offering views of the London city skyline at dusk.

Spirits were kept high with a soundtrack of jazzy Christmas classics and exquisite festive dishes served by head chef Jean Michel Viala on the evening, transporting guests from a sunny spring day to a glorious winter setting.  

QEII’s Snow Ball Christmas party packages, including seated dinners and standing receptions, are available to book now, with full theming options from QEII’s event team and a choice of canapé, bowl food and banqueting menus from QEII Taste.

For more information email [email protected] or call 020 7798 4025.

Shepherd’s of Westminster announces weekend closures to focus on events

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Shepherd’s of Westminster has announced  its bar and restaurant will no longer be opening at weekends or on bank holidays .to concentrate on functions such as milestone birthdays, engagement parties and significant wedding anniversaries.

An application has also been submitted for a licence to perform civil marriages and civil partnerships on the premises which, if granted, would mean ceremonies could take place in the larger private dining room, whilst the main bar and restaurant would be set up for receptions and wedding breakfasts.

Proprietor Lionel Zetter said: “Many Westminster residents spend their weekends outside of London, and Saturdays and Sundays have always been quiet for us. By switching the emphasis to events over the weekend we hope to fill a gap caused by a shortage of elegant but affordable events venues in central London. We very much hope that our neighbours in the Westminster and Pimlico areas will consider using our facilities when celebrating landmark occasions.”

To find out more about booking Shepherd’s of Westminster for your next event, please contact [email protected].