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To celebrate opening their doors to the public on the weekend for the first time, 116 Pall Mall is teaming up with Searcys to launch a brand new Confectioner’s afternoon tea from Saturday 11 September 2021.

Inspired by the founder of Searcys, John Searcy, who started as a head confectioner to the Duke of Northumberland and went on to establish Searcys in 1847, guests can enjoy a prestigious afternoon tea in the heart of the West-End, set under the ornate ceilings on the ground floor of 116 – overlooking Pall Mall and Waterloo Place.

Start with a tour of the building, including the sweeping staircase located below the glittering 15ft chandelier – a gift to commemorate the battle of Waterloo – before settling down for a selection of savouries including Smoked salmon rillette, horseradish, pickled fennel, and keta; and a salt beef Reuben brioche bun, alongside freshly baked scones and pastries of Chocolate, cherry and pistachio delice; Passionfruit éclair; and Searcys signature Victoria. For little ones, there will also be a Children’s Tea with a Galia melon, orange and blueberry salad, rolls, scones, and special sweet treats.

Kate Dean, Marketing Manager at 116 Pall Mall said “Opening our doors to the public on the weekend is extremely exciting and something we’ve never done before. We can’t wait to welcome more guests into our magnificent building on a regular basis. Launching an afternoon tea felt like the perfect way to introduce people into 116 Pall Mall and teaming up with Searcys is going to kick off the beginning of a new and exciting catering partnership.

“Being in the heart of the West End and a stone’s throw from the iconic shopping districts of Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street and Oxford Circus, there is a huge amount of weekend footfall in the area that’s beginning to return to normal after the pandemic. Joining us for an afternoon tea is the perfect Saturday afternoon activity, whether it’s for a special occasion, before seeing a West End show, or just a premium pit-stop from shopping!”

The Confectioner’s Afternoon Tea launches on Saturday 11 September 2021 and continues every Saturday onwards. More details will be announced soon and you can book a table here.

In July 2021 Church House Westminster achieved the Platinum ECOsmart venue accreditation for sustainability, awarded by Greengage Travel and Events.

Grade II listed multi-purpose events venue, Church House Westminster, is committed to minimising and controlling the environmental impact of the venue’s operations. As such, sustainability is aligned with their business strategy in their goal to achieve net-zero carbon status by 2030.

Greengage Travel & Event Solutions’ ECOsmart is an industry-standard accreditation awarded to hotels, venues, and agencies that can demonstrate an environmentally conscious approach and adoption of eco-friendly measures.

New projects, for example, included the installation of waterless urinals last year, which subsequently saves the venue equivalent of three Olympic-sized swimming pools of water each year.

The venue has also updated its sustainability policy last year to include its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon status by 2030 and the steps to support this goal. Making great strides already, the venue has replaced all gas equipment with green energy appliances, donates all leftover food to the local community, and has adopted a zero waste to landfill process.

The events team promotes a 12-step action plan for sustainable events at Church House Westminster with organisers in the lead-up to events to keep the carbon footprint to a minimum.

It’s never too early to start planning a Christmas party, especially this year. With most parties cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, RIBA is ready for this festive season to be bigger and better than ever!

The venue’s popular ‘Build your Own’ Christmas party package is back for 2021 and fully customisable to match clients’ taste, budget, and requirements.

In the last few years, the venue has observed a growing reluctance to opt for fully themed packages in favour of a more bespoke celebration, however they know how daunting starting from scratch can be, especially when time is of the essence, and with COVID-19 protocols to be mindful of. The premise of the ‘Build Your Own’ experience – a subtle nod to the venue’s architectural roots – is to offer multiple F&B options at different price points, as well as a choice of three architecturally stunning event spaces to suit parties of all sizes. With this taken care of, it gives planners more time to be creative with bespoke theming and entertainment!

If you are ready to get the annual Christmas party back in the diary, get in touch at [email protected] to find out more and secure your preferred date.

Lincoln’s Inn has received a license for civil ceremonies in its event spaces. Within an eleven-acre enclave of beautifully maintained gardens in the heart of central London, set amongst the tranquil surroundings of ‘old legal London’ architecture, Lincoln’s Inn provides a beautiful backdrop for weddings.

Epitomising British elegance, the Great Hall emanates the architectural beauty of the Tudor Revival style. Opened in 1845 by Queen Victoria, it provides the perfect setting for weddings on a grand scale with its stunning elevated ceiling, stained glass windows and vast fresco by the renowned G.F. Watts. The Old Hall, considered one of the finest Tudor buildings in London, provides an intimate but no less magnificent setting for your ceremony. Amongst its many notable features are the wooden screen designed by Inigo Jones and Hogarth’s painting of “Paul Before Felix”.

Modest civil ceremonies are more well suited to the atmospheric vaulted ceiling of The MCR or the book-lined walls of the Old Court Room, whilst the modern Ashworth Centre provides a charming juxtaposition of old and new with its contemporary feel.

This leading London venue is also available for wedding receptions and celebrations offering first-class service and delectable in-house catering.

For further information on the licenced rooms and wedding packages available, please email [email protected].

Central Hall Westminster has teamed up with AV production partner, White Light to launch new packages for hybrid events and meetings. The comprehensive packages are designed to help organisers negotiate the maze of post-pandemic events in 2021 and beyond.

The new dedicated packages combine three key components for a successful event; the technical equipment needed for both the live and hybrid elements alongside an online distribution platform. The versatility of the spaces at CHW, which differ enormously in size, scale and layout, give planners the flexibility needed for a true hybrid event.

The streamlined packages include options for small to large-scale live audience capacities up to 2,000; silver, gold or platinum packages based on the event organiser’s preferred range of camera perspectives and level of audience interactivity; and platforms which range from simple embed solutions to a custom-built dedicated microsite.

Central Hall Westminster already has a long history of providing the setting for live streamed events and those with a hybrid audience including NATO Engages: Innovating the Alliance Conference in December 2019. The launched packages are designed to provide the event organiser with everything needed to put on a successful hybrid event at the venue.

For hybrid meetings, which bring together participants in the room and at remote locations, packages are designed for Central Hall Westminster’s smaller spaces for any number up to a total of 20 people. Meanwhile, hybrid event packages which are delivered to two sets of audiences simultaneously, those present in the room and those watching online, have been designed for up to 120 people in the venue’s smaller rooms, 400 in the medium-sized spaces and up to 2,000 in the venue’s iconic Great Hall.

Further information about Central Hall Westminster’s hybrid packages can be found at: https://www.c-h-w.com/hybrid-events-chw/

IET London: Savoy Place has shared a new speaker wellness guide that highlights key considerations for addressing the wellbeing of public speakers, stipulating the differences between virtual, hybrid and in-person events.

Speakers play an integral role in the success of an event. Engaging the audience with an interesting topic and captivating delivery will keep delegates coming back time and time again, and a successful speaker programme can be the make or break of an entire event.

Public speaking can be daunting – even for those who do it regularly.  While we perceive speakers as experts in their chosen topic, recent research conducted by IET Venues highlighted that the vast majority of speakers do not do that role as their main job. While they’re likely to be well-versed in the content of their talk, delivering it to an audience doesn’t necessarily come with training or a wealth of experience. Considerations are increasingly being made at venues for the wellbeing of staff, planners and delegates – but what about the wellness of the speaker?

There is very little material regarding looking after speakers at events, but IET Venues has been pioneering research into what venues can do to maximise the comfort of their speakers in these testing times. To put this into practice, they  have produced a guide to give to speakers, aimed at supporting their wellbeing to make their experience easier.

The research conducted suggests that more than half of speakers find it less nerve-wracking to speak virtually and in the comfort of familiar surroundings. On the flip side, many revealed that although the prospect of a live audience is more overwhelming, it’s easier to engage when able to determine audience reactions.

Matters of speaker wellness are, therefore, completely different depending on whether they are attending physical or virtual events, and even more challenging if the event is hybrid. This new guide aims to eliminate the problems that speakers face, such as technological difficulties, confidence, and preparation time. In doing so, IET Venues are pioneering a new wave of wellbeing measures for speakers at events who have often been overlooked in the past.

Additionally, they have created templates for event planners to provide to speakers, designed to be filled in with key information such as times, access and technology types to reduce speaker stress and ensure that they have been given all the necessary information beforehand. The smallest things like the type of microphone they are going to use, have a huge impact on the way speakers prepare for an event. If it’s hand-held, will they also have a presentation clicker, and therefore not be able to hold any notes? There’s so much to consider.

IET Venues provide a number of resources to streamline procedures for speakers, including green rooms where they can relax, collect themselves, run through their notes, and have something to eat or drink before beginning their presentation on stage.

View the guide and top tips here: https://savoyplace.theiet.org/media/3574/iet-speaker-wellness-guide.pdf.

As many of the COVID-19 restrictions have now been lifted, it is time to catch up on the social occasions that we have missed over lockdown.

Whether it is a celebration for an engagement, birthday, graduation, or just an excuse to get together, our Westminster venues will provide the perfect location for your long-awaited party.

RIBA

The RIBA team has created a ‘Build Your Own’ celebration package so you can party in style! The premise behind the ‘Build Your Own’ experience – a subtle nod to 66 Portland Place’s architectural roots – is to offer multiple F&B options at different price points, as well as a choice of three architecturally stunning event spaces, to suit your taste, budget and requirements. With this taken care of, it gives you more time to be creative with bespoke theming and entertainment.

RIBA at 66 Portland Place is guaranteed to get your guests talking ahead of your celebration, with the venue located on an avenue known for its decadent Georgian architecture. With floor to ceiling windows, a triple height atrium, Art Deco detailing and three terraces, the building really sets the tone for a post-lockdown party to remember!

Get in touch with the team by emailing [email protected] or calling 020 7307 3888 to get your celebration started!

RSA House

RSA House can provide both relaxed and more formal surroundings for an extraordinary celebration. The venue can accommodate between 10 to 220 guests and can tailor any package to suit your needs. For a completely unique space, consider hosting your party in the underground Vaults, with soaring arches and exposed brick walls for an atmospheric and stylish setting.

To make an enquiry about your social occasion, speak to the team here: https://www.thersa.org/rsa-house/contact-us.

Regent’s Conferences & Events

The venue for your next celebration or private party awaits at Regent’s Conferences & Events! Whether looking for indoor or outdoor party venue hire, Regent’s provides a canvas that can be dressed to impress for as little as two, or as many as 1,200 guests.

Host a sophisticated dinner party in one of the venue’s characterful Edwardian feature rooms, or a starlit marquee birthday party on the stunning lawns. The Regent’s team is always on hand to provide any and all requirements to make your celebration one to remember.

To discuss your upcoming celebration, contact the Regent’s team by emailing [email protected].

116 Pall Mall

116 Pall Mall hosts hundreds of spectacular events every year, including parties, anniversaries, birthdays, fashion shows, engagement parties, awards ceremonies and everything in-between. With bespoke packages designed around your day, you can choose to hire one room for a few hours or the whole building at weekends, and their dedicated team of event coordinators will see to every stage of the planning, allowing you to sit back, enjoy the day and let everything unfold according to your vision.

With glittering chandeliers in most of the rooms and first-class catering included with all packages, 116 Pall Mall is the ultimate event venue in the heart of the West End.

Find out more and view packages.

Lincoln’s Inn

For a memorable celebration or social occasion, Lincoln’s Inn provides a number of historic rooms to act as the perfect backdrop to your event. From the enchanting Old Hall featuring Tudor panelling and exposed wooden beams, to the Members’ Common Room which combines original vaulted ceiling with contemporary and stylish features, the venue can offer a room to suit any event.  For a more extravagant banqueting experience, the Great Hall emanates the architectural beauty of the Tudor Revival style and epitomises British elegance. Opened in 1845 by Queen Victoria, it provides the perfect setting for  grand occasions with its stunning elevated ceiling, stained glass windows and vast fresco by the renowned G.F. Watts.

To find out more, contact [email protected]

The QEII Centre has created a humorous cartoon series to help ease the business meetings and events sector back into live events and celebrate the joy of meeting face-to-face once again.

The leading conference and events venue commissioned cartoonist Will Kevans to create the exclusive comic strip, which takes a light-hearted view of re-integration to ‘normal life’ within the industry when all Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

During the last 18 months, much of the conference, meetings and events industry has skilfully transitioned live events to the virtual space.

However, after several months of conducting life through screens, many of us are suffering with ‘virtual fatigue’ and are keen to see the return of in-person events.

Nevertheless, returning to live events after conducting meetings from our desks and living under restrictions such as social distancing for so long, could understandably be a challenge for many of us.

Diane Waldron, director of sales and marketing at The QEII Centre, said: “The business meetings and events industry has done a phenomenal job over the last 18 months despite most face-to-face events not being able to go ahead.

“Now, with restrictions set to lift I think we are all excited to be able to set plans in motion for in-person meetings and events, but after such a long time living under restrictions there will undoubtedly be some trepidation about re-integrating ourselves back into the normal world and meeting face-to-face again.

“As we began to discuss our re-opening plans for The QEII Centre, we started thinking about the questions event professionals might have about in-person meetings this side of the pandemic: How should we greet one-another, what should we wear, would we remember how to hold a conversation without having access to a mute button?

“Many of the answers to these questions threw up some scenarios with amusing consequences so we decided to translate them into cartoons for the industry to enjoy.

“The QEII team is excited to host meetings and events and is ready to welcome delegates back in a safe and secure way. We want to allay any concerns clients and delegates might be having about returning and will always take these seriously, but we hope these humorous cartoons will help us face them with a smile.”

The cartoon series will be posted on The QEII’s Twitter (@QEIICentre) LinkedIn (and Instagram (@qeiicentre) feeds over the next week.

Venues and engaged couples alike are welcoming the latest news on the lifting of restrictions on weddings just in time to celebrate the glorious summer wedding spaces on offer.

As of the 21 June, the guest limit of 30 people has been relaxed, and wedding attendee numbers can now reflect the safe capacity of the venue. To celebrate this exciting change in the wedding sector, we have compiled a round-up of the very best summer wedding venues that Westminster has to offer.

Regent’s Conferences & Events

A summer wedding at Regent’s Conferences & Events is everything you’d expect and more. The ivy-covered Edwardian venue becomes embellished in an iconic wisteria in the early summer months with a spectacular splash of purple against the vibrant greenery. The longer, lighter days mean guests are able to make more use of the versatile grounds into early evening. From Aperitivo style dining to buffets, BBQs or more traditional fine dining, the summer catering options at Regent’s are endless. The requirements for social distancing are made much easier with the expansive outside space available on four acres of landscaped gardens. Optional marquee use for large outdoor weddings on the lawns mean the benefits of summer onsite are unaffected if the weather doesn’t entirely play ball.

116 Pall Mall

116 Pall Mall is a popular wedding venue in the heart of St James’s and with the added bonus of the beautiful, secluded Waterloo Gardens and Terrace that leads directly from the Carlton Room, it makes the ideal summer wedding venue. 116 has hosted a number of micro weddings over the last year due to the restrictions, but this hasn’t made the day any less special. This was a testimonial from a recent couple:

‘The staff were absolutely brilliant and provided such calm to the whole planning process, especially during a pandemic & while living in a different country. It truly felt like we had a partner through the whole process who wanted us to have the most wonderful wedding. Our wedding was simply stunning & absolutely magical. The venue is breath-taking, so stunning (as is the surrounding London area!) and the staff were professional & extremely helpful.’ Jack & Erica Foley

 View the wedding packages here

Church House Westminster

The beautiful architecture of Church House Westminster creates the perfect setting for any dream wedding and guarantees an unforgettably captivating celebration.

For a unique twist, Church House suggests a 1920s themed wedding, incorporating stylish elements of the Roaring Twenties such as the stylish black, white and gold colour scheme of the Art Deco craze. There are so many sources of inspiration for dressing your venue when planning a 1920s themed wedding: why not have a cocktail bar for your pre-dinner drinks? Classic cocktails of the era include the sidecar, the Tom Collins, and of course, the gin fizz. When it comes to music, there’s simply nothing like a live jazz band if you’re looking to recreate the authentic style of those great New York parties. Church House works with happy couples to provide bespoke details including menu and decoration to create a beautiful, distinctive wedding.

Find out more about weddings at Church House here: https://churchhouseconf.co.uk/contact-us/

Lincoln’s Inn

Set within an eleven-acre estate; a tranquil enclave through the ages, Lincoln’s Inn provides a delightful backdrop for summer weddings, and it was with great anticipation we welcomed back our first intimate wedding in June.

“We honestly had the best day and can’t thank the staff enough for all the effort put into making it such a special occasion. We were saying recently that the wedding day we ended up having due to the restrictions was actually better than the one we had originally planned. To be able to have the blessing ceremony outside and make use of the Members Common Room was better than anything we could have imagined, so thank you again for making it possible.” Camilla, Bride.

With a variety of internal and external spaces now licensed for civil ceremonies, we look forward to turning those long-awaited dreams of the perfect celebration into reality.

Please contact the Events Team on [email protected] to discuss your 2021 or 2022 wedding.

For a full list of Westminster wedding venues: https://www.venues-london.co.uk/venue-collection/weddings/

The sweeping gardens at Regent’s Conferences & Events are an oasis of tranquillity in the bustling city, and offers four acres of landscaped lawns for summer events of up to 1,200 guests, with a stunning marquee available from May to September.

This magical outdoor event space nestled in beautiful Regent’s Park, filled with lush foliage, shrubs, flowers, and trees, is the perfect venue to hire for any kind of summer party.

Regent’s are flexible and accommodating for any and all requirements to create the perfect summer party from entertainment to catering. Innovative and modern menus include a range of street food stalls with choices ranging from a New York Dirty Mac Bar and a slider bun bar to a Traditional Hog Roast, and even an ice-cream trike.

Meanwhile, the sheer amount of outdoor space at York Lawns means event organisers can make the most of entertainment and games for their summer garden party when they hire the outdoor venue. From croquet and giant inflatables, to live music and archery, they have a huge range of options that will guarantee guests an event to remember for years to come.

For more information, contact Regent’s here: https://regentsevents.co.uk/contact-us/