Westminster Venue Collection Announces Showcase Event Theme ‘History on Every Corner’

The Westminster Venue Collection is thrilled to unveil the theme for its highly anticipated annual showcase event: ‘History on Every Corner.’ 

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich history and timeless elegance of our magnificent Westminster venues. Join us as we explore the captivating stories that weave through the streets, squares, and buildings of Westminster, London’s historic heart.

Embrace the Past to Inspire Your Future Events in Westminster

At Westminster Venue Collection, we understand the power of history in creating unforgettable experiences. Our curated selection of prestigious venues boasts a remarkable heritage, with each location holding the key to countless captivating tales. From Thames water-front venues to Georgian townhouses with outstanding views. By choosing ‘History on Every Corner’ as our showcase event theme, we aim to inspire event planners like you to tap into the allure of the past when crafting extraordinary corporate events.

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Step into Timeless Venues and Experience Living History

Imagine hosting your next corporate event in a venue that has witnessed centuries of impactful moments. From iconic landmarks like the Houses of Parliament to hidden gems like One Birdcage Walk, our collection of venues offers you the opportunity to provide a unique event experience like no other. Whether it’s the opulence of a grand ballroom or the intimacy of a historic townhouse, each space tells its own unique story, adding depth and character to your event.

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Uncover Hidden Gems and Exclusive Westminster Venues

With ‘History on Every Corner,’ we invite you to discover the hidden gems nestled within the tapestry of Westminster. Explore remarkable venues tucked away from the tourist trail, offering an exclusive experience for your guests. These hidden treasures hold the potential to elevate your events to new heights, providing an intimate atmosphere and an air of exclusivity that will leave a lasting impression on event attendees.

Tailor Your Event to Reflect the Venue’s Legacy

One of the greatest advantages of hosting an event within historical venues is the ability to infuse your theme with its rich legacy. From incorporating period-specific decor and detailing to designing activities that pay homage to the venue’s history, you have countless opportunities to create an immersive experience for your attendees. By far the greatest surprise to clients who choose a Westminster venue is just how much they can tailor the venue to suit the brief and theme.

Whether you’re looking for conference and meeting venues in Westminster, exquisite and unique venues for a party or celebration, or modern spaces for team-building events. Host your next event in the iconic Westminster, London.

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We look forward to welcoming many of you to the annual Westminster Venue Showcase event, ‘History on Every Corner’.

Tuesday 12th September 2023, at London Transport Museum.

Complete your request for attendance here.

IET London: Savoy Place crowned with Best Venue Customer Service accolade at the London Venue and Catering Awards 2022

IET London: Savoy Place has seen success in consecutive years at the London Venue Awards, this year winning Best Venue Customer Service.

In addition, the venue received recognition with a bronze award in the Best Venue for Hybrid Events category, competing against highly respected powerhouses in supplying seamless hybrid meeting spaces.

Hosted at the, now regular, Kia Oval in London on Friday 11 November, the awards and their respective judges acknowledged Savoy Place for its approach to developing a strong culture through its quality customer service and adapting to significant change.

Savoy Place has continued to welcome many high-profile visitors and events in London with the team securing strong relationships built through accessibility, consistent staff training as well as a genuine interest in the STEM clients.

Savoy Place is a venue promoting the constant development of a strong culture and innovative solutions to all event needs. With a 626-guest capacity across two lecture theatres, 14 further event spaces comprising of three floors and a roof terrace overlooking panoramic London views, customers are catered for, via various means.

Celebrating with the team on the day, Sean Spencer, Head of IET Venues and Facilities said: “It’s very rewarding to be recognised for a second year running for both the venue facilities and the outstanding team behind them. During a period of such significant change, it’s no easy feat to deliver so consistently with exceptional customer service across all manner of events, industries and capacities.

“We have such a tenacious and well-structured team, always going above and beyond for each client, which plays a significant role in securing our repeat business. Our best in class service is hard-earned through comprehensive staff training and the strong focus we place on wellbeing, so we’re very proud to receive this prestigious award recognising what we can achieve for our clients when we invest in our people.

“The day was an excellent chance to be amongst some illustrious talents throughout the industry and we congratulate all worthy winners and finalists.”

Explore Savoy Place’s facilities to find out more about hosting your next event at this award-winning London venue.

Regent’s celebrates success at London Venue Awards

Regent’s Conferences & Events has been recognised for its unique outdoor space and flexibility, winning the Bronze Award for Best Venue with Outside Space in the London Venue Awards 2022.

The awards, which were presented at The Kia Oval, London on Friday 11 November, aimed to recognise and reward outstanding achievement in London-based venues and catering companies.

The accolade comes after a record-breaking summer of success at Regent’s, as the team evolves its outdoor events offering year-on-year. The past 12 months has been no different. Due to the increasing demand for excess space, the lawns have proven to be incredibly sought after. The venue was virtually booked out by April 2022, but even after inevitable COVID dropouts, rail strikes and cancellations, it still saw 90% occupancy – 30% above target.

The outdoor space is unique in its versatility for events.  Perfectly positioned for balancing convenience with secluded privacy in the heart of London, the four acres of gardens are just a few steps away from the city’s hustle and bustle. The expanse of landscaped lawns, paired with a hidden, gated Secret Garden offers a fairy-tale-like setting with wildflowers, lush greenery, and excellent views of the city’s horizon. Concealed by foliage, the hidden space is accessed via a walkway covered by a beautiful pergola.  

Responding to the award success, Rafael Azzopardi, Interim Head of Catering and Events said: “To pick up another prestigious award for our summer party offering is testament to the consistency in service and facilities over the past few years. It’s brilliant to have the team’s extraordinary effort over the past 12 months recognised, as they continue to produce outstanding events in our outdoor space, despite all sorts of challenges thrown their way. We are quite fortunate to have such a large, private outdoor area in such a convenient location in London, and visitors are frequently astounded by the venue’s rural setting despite being only a short distance from the bustle of the city.

“It’s undoubtedly a fantastic motivation for the team to deliver another season of memorable outdoor events in 2023, as demand for the summer has already picked up.”

Find out more about Regent’s event space.

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

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.

Groundbreaking re-design of {10-11} Carlton House Terrace begins

Works have begun at {10-11} Carlton House Terrace to bring to fruition a major re-design of the venue – home to The British Academy for humanities and social sciences.

Led by leading architectural firm Wright & Wright, the lower ground floor will be transformed into an exciting new event space. The firm was chosen for its expertise in the design of educational and cultural institutions. The scheme will centre on the addition of the latest hybrid event technology, allowing for worldwide & agile hosts and audiences to experience the grandeur & quality of events at {10-11} Carlton House Terrace.

The major building works are the biggest changes to the venue since its opening 120 years ago in 1902. This £9.6 million development is aided by a lead gift of £5 million from the Wolfson Foundation – part of a major grant of £10 million to support the humanities and social sciences. The project will transform the corridors and rooms on the lower floors into three, double-height event spaces that are technologically equipped for all manner of events, such as conferences, lectures, workshops, festivals, and performances. This follows the significant demand in increase for online and hybrid events the industry has experienced post-pandemic.

As specialists in reconciling historic buildings for the future age, Wright & Wright architects have designed an innovative plan that will provide contemporary spaces that complement the historic details of the beautiful Grade I listed building. Furthermore, with awards in sustainability and eco-conscious design, the firm has ensured that Carlton House Terrace’s commitment to sustainability is evident throughout the re-design.

{10-11} Carlton House Terrace will be the first Grade I listed property in Westminster to be granted permission to install double glazing, allowing for better climate control, in addition to the entirety of the heating systems being carbon-free through the use of air source heat pumps.

The new configuration of the lower floors of Carlton House Terrace will create vibrant event space that will attract an array of new national and international hosts and guests, who will get to enjoy the historical significance of the building; as well as the first-class technology embedded in the new event space.

The British Academy President, Julia Black, comments:

“Today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for The British Academy. The transformation of our building signals a new opening up of our physical spaces, and in turn, brings the remarkable knowledge, perspectives and creativity from across our varying disciplines to audiences in the UK and internationally. The humanities and social sciences have so much to contribute to society; and it is the Academy’s role to provide the best possible platform for them, connecting the best insights from our disciplines with policymakers, leading thinkers and curious minds.”

Stephen Smith, Partner at Wright & Wright Architects also comments:

“The design will unlock existing, underused spaces, transforming the historic building for the future and enabling Carlton House Terrace to serve growing audiences. Our low-energy solution is based on an innovative approach that exemplifies our firm’s core tenets of building new into old sustainably, with a low carbon footprint and environmentally conscious designs that will last well into the future. Reacting to post-Covid realities, this transformation will create flexible rooms for new ways of meeting and sharing in digital, hybrid and in-person formats. We are honoured to help shape the evolution of the rich architectural and social history of {10-11} Carlton House Terrace.”

To keep up to date with the venues key milestones and for a sneak preview of the exciting renovations, click here.

QEII supports WrapUp London campaign in critical year

London’s QEII Centre is calling on event professionals and the public to donate their unwanted coats and help warm up the capital’s most vulnerable people this winter once again.

The events venue has partnered again with charity HandsOn London to serve as a collection point for its WrapUp London campaign which provides a coat to anyone who needs one, including the homeless, vulnerable families and refugees.

With two thirds of adults in Britain reporting their cost of living increasing in the past month, WrapUp London’s campaign will be more important than ever this year. In London, where nearly half the country’s rough sleepers are, donated coats will be distributed via homeless shelters, refugee centres, organisations supporting the elderly, women’s refuges, children’s centres, and other charities helping people in crisis.

QEII has supported the WrapUp London campaign for five years, serving as Westminster’s dedicated collection point and collecting 3,825 coats for those in need.

In total, HandsOn London has distributed 197,000 coats to the capital’s most vulnerable since it started the campaign 11 years ago.

This year’s campaign starts on the 7th of November and QEII is calling event organisers to spread the word to their delegates so they can get involved and maximise donations.

Mark Taylor, chief executive of the QEII Centre said: “In the past we have been overwhelmed by the donations we have received – playing a consistent key role in this cause is a great honour for our centre. WrapUp London really demonstrates the collective community that is central to the spirit of London, and I hope that our work can be an important lifeline for all vulnerable people during this difficult and cold winter.”

Jon Meech, CEO of HandsOn London said: “We are delighted that the QEII Centre will be able to support WrapUp London for another year. Their generosity enables a collection point to be available in the heart of Westminster and has collected several thousand warm coats for the campaign. Every year the demand for warm coats increases and this year is sadly no exception. As a largely volunteer-led campaign we can only hope to meet this demand with the help of partners like the QEII Centre.”

Explore the hireable events spaces available at the centre.

Westminster Venue Collection appoint a new Chair of the Board of Directors

Westminster Venue Collection are pleased to announce they have appointed a new Chair of the Board of Directors, Barbara Wutte.

Following the start of Westminster Venue Collection’s new membership year, the Board of Directors and members came together for their Annual General Meeting at the beautiful Inner Temple last month.

Kindly hosted by Stacey Barber and her team on 20th September 2022, the meeting provided a great opportunity to give members an update on the recent news and exciting initiatives planned for the organisation’s coming membership year.

It was announced that Barbara Wutte, Head of Conferences at The Royal Society, will take over from Rachel Azzopardi who has been Chair of Westminster Venue Collection for the past four years.

Rachel was warmly thanked for her hard work and dedication, especially through the pandemic, and the Collection wish her well for her next ventures.

During her time on the Board, Barbara Wutte has been a key figure in the membership’s vision and growth, so her appointment came as a natural transition following Rachel Azzopardi’s resignation as Chair.

This year, the Board have decided to appoint a new position of Vice Chair for the organisation. To allow contingency planning, it was also agreed that the role of Vice Chair will then become Chair after a year of tenure.

The new position of Vice Chair will be held by Paul Martins, New Business Development Manager at Make Venues Broadway House, who has championed the collective using successful case studies. The next Vice Chair will then be elected in turn at the next AGM.

Progressively, WVC has launched a new Member Engagement and Events Committee, consisting of Kay Davies of the Houses of Parliament, Marina Papadopoulou of Church House Westminster and Jonathan Chohan of One Great George Street.

Rhiannon Thomas of Central Hall Westminster will head up plans for The Meetings Show and Thomas Mauch of the QEII Centre will continue to direct IT and website development.

Barbara Wutte, Chair of the Board of Directors for the Westminster Venue Collection says: “Member engagement is our top priority. The new WVC vision must be to increase the number of members and to strengthen our brand. This will allow us to market all our member venues with further activity nationally and then beyond”.

The WVC Board encourages venues in the Westminster region who would like to be represented to join this prestigious collection and help shape an exciting new chapter into 2023.

IET London: Savoy Place shortlisted for double London Venue Awards accolade

IET London: Savoy Place has been shortlisted for both Best Venue Customer Service and Best Venue for Hybrid Events in the London Venue Awards 2022.

Amid recognition of outstanding customer service, the venue has been celebrating the loyalty of its staff, with four of the senior team having dedicated over a decade of service to the IET and its clients. Due to the consistency and expertise offered at Savoy Place, the venue has had over 60% repeat bookers for events over the past 12 months.

Savoy Place’s modern conference facilities with robust IT infrastructure have allowed it to facilitate filming and streaming to multiple rooms. Additional hybrid filming and streaming services supplied to commercial clients by in-house AV specialists, IET.tv, are on track to grow in value by 300% for 2022, compared to 2021.

As the IET’s central London event venue, the building is well used by science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) businesses as well as clients from broader industries championing CSR because of its sustainability credentials, including its most recent Greengage Platinum ECOsmart accreditation. With many high-profile visitors and events, Savoy Place is proficient in client privacy, NDA content and full-service packages to provide security. The venue’s Operations Manager also has House of Commons security experience.

On being shortlisted, Sean Spencer, Head of IET Venues and Facilities said: “It’s brilliant recognition of the hard work the team has put in over the past 12 months to constantly adapt our client offering while continuing to deliver above and beyond when it comes to customer service. We’ve worked hard to develop a strong culture and thorough training scheme, educating staff on the importance of exceptional operational standards.

“Congratulations to the entire Savoy Place team for being recognised in two categories that highlight both technical prowess and outstanding delivery.”

Explore Savoy Place’s hybrid facilities to find out more about hosting your next event here.

Central Hall Westminster awarded ECOsmart Platinum Award for outstanding green standards

Central Hall Westminster, (CHW) part of Central Hall Venues group, recently announced it has been awarded the ECOsmart Platinum Venue Award for outstanding green credentials. CHW joins a select group of just 12 venues in the country, seven of which are in London, to receive the accolade.

The industry-standard accreditation programme is run by Greengage Travel and Event Solutions which recognises and supports eco-friendly hotels and conference venues throughout the UK that demonstrate an environmentally conscious approach and the adoption of eco-friendly measures. Awards range from entry-level Bronze to Platinum, the highest possible standard.

Central Hall Westminster has long been a sustainable venue, having previously won the Eco-Smart Gold Award and several other environmental accreditations over the last seven years. However, having gone the extra mile to reach the highest possible standards of environmental sustainability, the venue underwent a rigorous audit from Greengage Solutions to reach Platinum, an award which recognises leaders in hospitality who have considered sustainability in all aspects of their business.

Alongside the existing measures carried out over the last five years including reducing water waste, ensuring zero waste goes to landfill, introducing catering sustainable practices and installing ECO LED lights in all rooms, CHW undertook several additional measures to achieve Platinum including:

  • Providing LED lighting in all event rooms
  • Monitoring energy usage on a daily basis
  • Actively encouraging recycling in all meeting rooms
  • Donating furniture and equipment to local charities
  • Encouraging green meeting practices by providing conference organisers with a list of eco recommendations
  • In conjunction with on-site catering partner, Green & Fortune, – giving preference to local and seasonal produce with vegetarian and vegan options; providing Fair Trade coffee, tea and sugar; offering organic wine as an option; and giving excess food to those who need it
  • Filtering and bottling water on site
  • Achieving the Platinum Award for its eco approach by Westminster Council
  • Vetting suppliers to ensure they operate in line with the principles of the organisation

The venue’s dedicated green team of sustainable champions from across all staff areas helped drive these initiatives forward and implement over the last two years.

In addition, CHV’s Head of Communications, Anna Glazebrook, has been invited by Greengage to join its Platinum Inner Circle who meet regularly to discuss ideas and make recommendations to the events industry on sustainability measures.

Andrew Perolls, CEO of Greengage Travel and Event Solutions, comments: “We are delighted that Central Hall Westminster has worked so hard to take further measures on sustainability since they won the Gold Award and have now gone on to achieve Platinum. It is incredibly difficult to reach this outstanding top level and we were impressed with their long-term commitment to introduce green initiatives in all areas.”

Sarah Ainsworth, CEO of Central Hall Venues which runs Central Hall Westminster, adds: “As an organisation which exists to provide funds to maintain this beautiful historic building and donate to charitable works across the world, running a sustainable venue is incredibly important to us. Our Green Team and on-site partners have worked tirelessly to ensure sustainability is included in all areas of our operation and we are very proud to have achieved Platinum.”

Find out more about this sustainable venue here.

Discover Westminster; Showcase Success!

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.