Tag: Entertainment

Immerse yourself in contagious creativity at new London events space St James Theatre

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Come and explore the characterful St James Theatre, newly available to the London corporate and private events venue market, at an exclusive, private tour hosted by event manager Adam and his team. The coffee morning takes place on Wednesday 25 February at 8:30am. If you’d like to be there, please email [email protected] to request a place.

St James Theatre is the first newly-built theatre complex in Central London in 30 years. Located just around the corner from Buckingham Palace, it plays host to cabaret, comedy, music and theatre with current shows including the critically acclaimed Bad Jews.

The theatre is a perfect venue for product launches, private screenings and for more intimate creative workshops. It’s only a few minutes from Victoria station and boasts an intimate 312-seat theatre available for daytime events and a flexible 100-seat studio, a wonderful live entertainment space that lends itself to becoming a flexible and self-contained corporate events venue. The St. James Bar and Brasserie and the Carrara Restaurant offer a range of stylish, informal dining options.

Explore more here and to request a place on the private coffee morning tour, please email [email protected].

The name’s Bond. Bond in Motion.

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By Susan Heaton-Wright, managing director at Viva Live Music

Recently I was fortunate enough to be invited to an event hosted by The Westminster Collection at the wonderful London Film Museum in Covent Garden. The museum was hosting an exhibition of James Bond film artefacts, well mainly cars! The space had a number of iconic cars from the James Bond series of films. We weren’t allowed to sit on the bonnets for photos but the way they were lit up meant that you could really appreciate the design of the cars. What made it even more exciting was that there were short clips of the cars in the films behind each exhibit, so you were able to have a visual reminder of where the car appears in each film.

A background sound loop of the main James Bond theme played throughout the museum, but it wasn’t too loud. It just provided the visitors with an audio reminder.

The gentlemen at the event were SO excited about the cars. A number of them had their own Matchbox models (yes really!) but to see the full sized cars was very exciting. The exhibition also had some smaller props, such as a James Bond watch and his British Passport. There was also a gift shop where James Bond gifts were available to purchase. I had to drag my husband away from this!

The space was great. The area is a blank canvas and the curator had used the space so effectively. The event included some great drinks and canapés by KAI Catering and these were served in a bar area, although the waiters could serve it thoughout the space.

So, as we are an entertainment company who provides theming, what would we do to enhance the event? Well, with the theming in the museum, you need to do little more! However, the waiters could be dressed in formal wear and there could be “meet and greet” Bond Girls, Villains (Jaws is always good) and a James Bond. Everyone has a phone now, so to have photo opportunities is always great! If you wanted a featured entertainment spot, you could have a Bond Girl singing a couple of Bond themes or a 5-minute Octopussy Dance with Bond Girls. In my opinion, I would have a short featured entertainment spot as the venue does a lot of the work!

Michael Jackson hologram tech available at 8 Northumberland Ave

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A hologram of Michael Jackson graced the stage of the 2014 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday 18 May, when the late King of Pop ghost-walked the moon walk in a performance of newly released single ‘Slave to the Rhythm’ from his posthumous album ‘Xscape’. It’s an album made up of unreleased material remixed by artists such as Timbaland.

The digital projection mirrored many of the pop icon’s signature moves and was accompanied on stage by a troupe of real-life dancers. It was an act that captivated viewers around the world, using technology previously seen in the ‘resurrection’ of rapper Tupac Shakur at Coachella 2012 and deceased rappers Ol’ Dirty Bastard and Eazy-E in 2013. The Westminster Collection also used it to bring tourism expert Tracy Halliwell to the stage at Destination Westminster 2013 venue showcase.

Event bookers can replicate similarly mind-boggling marvels at central London event venue 8 Northumberland Avenue, where the very same holographic technology is available for hire. 8 Northumberland Avenue was the first venue in the UK to partner with Musion, the world leader in 3D holographic technology.

Options for entertainment include an all-singing Frank Sinatra plus a number of other modern day and retro acts. To explore the Ballroom as a setting for your next event, or for information on booking holographic entertainment and performances at your next product launch, party or conference, click here.

Edible Cinema teams with BOMBAY SAPPHIRE for Romeo & Juliet at BAFTA

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This Sunday 3 May, BAFTA 195 Piccadilly will play host to Edible Cinema and BOMBAY SAPPHIRE as the iconic venue stages a special screening of Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo & Juliet. It moves from the Electric Cinema on Portobello Road to the home of British film following the phenomenal success of previous screenings.

Guests will be treated to an edible adventure through the film, where experiences will range from a ‘tongue sandwich’ as Romeo and Juliet share their first kiss, to a mini vial of ‘poison’ as the film reaches its epic climax. As guests take their seats, the divided room will become apparent with one side Capulets and other Montagues. Each side will receive different cocktails, inspired by the two families.

The first of its kind, Edible Cinema is a collaboration between Soho House chef Jake Rigby Wilson, Soho House events manager Zoe Paterson, renowned experience organiser Polly Betton, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE mixologist Sean Ware and BAFTA 195 Piccadilly head chef Anton Manganaro. The concept truly enhances the film using taste, aroma and texture to heighten the viewers’ sensory experience of the film’s most famous scenes.

The screening will kick start Edible Cinema’s 2014 programme of events, with new films scheduled for the summer, Halloween and Christmas. All film titles and dates will be announced via the Edible Cinema website.

Concerts, exhibitions, botanical art: 5 things to do in Westminster this April

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The City of Westminster will play host to some of the capital’s most exciting events this April, from restaurant openings to concerts and exhibitions. Here are five top picks to explore:

1) 12 ‘Bach to Bach’ hours of music to celebrate the composer

What: Bach Marathon – Monteverdi Choir

Where: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AP

When: 1st April 2014

Revered conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner features 12 inspiring and elevating hours of back to back music celebrating the baroque composer Bach. Join an array of distinguished guests including Sir John’s Monteverdi Choir and the English Baroque Soloists for a day paying homage to the man Mozart described as the “original father of harmony”.

2) 11-day graphic art fair showcasing innovative design

What: ‘Pick Me Up’ Contemporary Graphic Art Fair

Where: Somerset House, Strand, London London, WC2R 1LA

When: 24th April – 5th May 2014

This is the fourth year in the fair’s history. The 11 day fair will display innovative graphic artists, collectives and galleries from the UK and across the world offering an exuberant mix of artworks for sale to the public. A lively series of events and activities accompanies the fair including Portfolio Surgeries. The spectacular Somerset House once again hosts this excellent opportunity to discover the latest talents in the graphic art scene and purchase prints from as little as £10.

3) Two Michelin starred Simon Rogan expands his rapidly growing empire

What: Simon Rogan at Claridges

Where: Claridge’s Brook Street, Mayfair, London W1K 4HR

When: April/May 2014

Simon Rogan, one of the most creative and exciting chefs in the UK today, will soon be opening the doors to his new restaurant at Claridge’s (opens to public on 6 May). Rogan’s belief in using local British produce, all sourced from his own farm in Cumbria, creativity and inventive techniques will be a defining element for the new restaurant. Rogan currently holds two Michelin stars at his flagship restaurant L’Enclume, in Cartmel, Cumbria.

4) Specialist orchids and botanical art at the Royal Horticultural Halls

What: RHS London Orchid Show and Botanical Art Show

Where: Royal Horticultural Halls and Conference Centre, 80 Vincent Square, Westminster, London, SW1P 2PE

When: 11th – 12th April 2014

The world’s finest specialist orchid growers are putting their best work on display alongside beautiful botanical art. Discover remarkable displays of tropical and hardy orchids from all around the world, hear from a selection of esteemed orchid experts and shop from a wide variety of species and hybrids. The event also doubles as the largest botanical art show of the year, making it a not-to-be-missed event for the green fingered.

5) Discover the wonderful world of Renaissance woodcuts at the Royal Academy

What: Renaissance Impressions: Chiaroscuro woodcuts from the Collections of Georg Baselitz and the Albertina, Vienna

When: 15th March – 8th June 2014

Where: Royal Academy of Art, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BD

Running throughout April, the Royal Academy of Art is staging a special exhibition of Chiaroscuro woodcuts, based on the designs of the great Renaissance artists. A pioneering printing technique, this collection gives a fascinating insight into the craftsmanship and intricacies behind this method. Focusing on the leading proponents of the medium, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands, this exhibition concentrates on how the art form successfully captured shadow and light to create masterpieces.

RIBA’s 66@80 exhibition celebrates 80 years

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The 80-year anniversary celebrations have begun for the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and its conference and events arm, RIBA Venues in London, with the launch of a free ‘66@80’ photography exhibition showcasing the construction and history of RIBA’s headquarters – a light-flooded building that opened in 1934.

RIBA was formed in 1834 in a pub, St James Tavern and it was in 1928 that RIBA decided to build its own headquarters. Architect Grey Wornum submitted the winning design, which facilitated easy flow around the structure with its no corridor style. Many of the decorative features of this masterpiece tell the story of the construction and the people who worked on it.

Today, RIBA boasts a number of event spaces equipped for a variety of events, from conferences, meetings, dinners and receptions to weddings and creative events. It also features three terraces which offer rare outside space, with panoramic views of London from the top floors.

RIBA Venues can host up to 400 delegates in its tiered auditorium. All of its meeting spaces have large, bright windows and offer modern technology. Its art deco interiors add a touch of period romance to special occasions held at the venue – a popular feature captured as the backdrop to many films, fashion shows and TV productions.

Burns Night whisky experience at The Athenaeum

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Burns Supper at The Athenaeum Hotel is set to be brimming with tradition and twists. On Saturday 25th January this Mayfair hotel’s monthly whisky social will pay homage to the great Scottish poet with a sumptuous four-course meal created by Martine Nouet.

Robert Burns may have seen Scotch whisky as holding a special symbolic significance for Scotland but that has not stopped France-born Martine Nouet from becoming one of the world’s most famous whisky tasters and commentators in the world. Martine will revisit the traditional Burns Night supper and pair each course with specially selected drams of Balvenie whisky, a mouth-watering single malt sourced in Speyside.

The evening begins at 6.30pm with canapés and cocktails, followed by a four course meal at 7pm – each course paired with a different dram of Balvenie. Adding her own special stamp to the proceedings, Martine will guide guests through the menu and share stories from her world of whisky. Also joining her is Balvenie ambassador Alwynne Gwilt, a.k.a. Miss Whisky, together with The Athenaeum’s very own whisky sommelier, Ivo Silva.

The Athenaeum hosts a whisky social every month, but if you can’t wait that long why not visit their famous Whisky Bar? With over 300 whiskies and counting, they get their hands on every new expression they can, so you can enjoy the widest possible choice. Try the whisky and cheese pairing experience from £15 per course.

Tickets for the Burns Supper are £75 per person and spaces are very limited. To reserve a place please call 0207 640 3311 or email The Athenaeum on [email protected].

Three Wine Men national roadshow finale this weekend at Church House

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Church House Conference Centre will welcome Three Wine Men this weekend (7-8th December) for the closing event of their national tour. Three Wine Men are TV personalities and wine experts Olly Smith, Oz Clarke and Tim Atkin. The trio regularly appear on television programmes including BBC’s Food & Drink and Saturday Kitchen, Channel 4’s The Secret Supper Club and Food Network’s Grape Expectations.

Alongside a variety of exhibitors from the wine world, the road show will also include a number of master classes with food and wine experts.

For more information about Three Wine Men at Church House Conference Centre or to secure last-minute tickets, visit www.threewinemen.co.uk

London Transport Museum dinner celebrates 150 years of tube

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Corporate event organisers celebrated 150 years of London’s Underground tube network at a special dinner at London Transport Museum, prepared by caterer Searcys, on 8th October. Guests enjoyed a champagne and canapé reception on arrival, before moving through to the museum galleries, where a Victorian flower market girl, a 1920s housewife and a 19th century fireman were amongst the actors who brought the venue tour to life.

Searcy’s served cured salmon with capers and quails egg and parsnip soup with hazelnut crisps, followed by sirloin of beef and with a museum high tea for dessert.

To round off the evening, guests competed to win a wine presentation box and a whisky decanter before having the chance to let their hair down on the bouncy bus. They also played a game of ‘guess the tube stations’ as part of the CBS Look for Longer exhibition.

For more information on hiring London Transport Museum for your event please email [email protected] or call 020 7565 7292/3.

TWC uncovers the future of events at Destination Westminster showcase

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Event planners learnt what events of the future will look like at Destination Westminster on Friday 13th September, with talk of 3D holograms, mood altering lighting, ‘unconference’ techniques and social media collaboration amongst tips shared and demonstrated during The Westminster Collection’s 10th anniversary venue showcase.

Held in the ornate surrounds of The Ballroom at central London venue 8 Northumberland Avenue, the breakfast showcase event, which was free to attend, was an opportunity for event buyers and planners to spend a morning with the sales and marketing teams at 50 of central London’s most iconic venues – all of which are available to hire for meetings, conferences, parties, dinners and events.

The Unleash Your Creativity forum saw speakers including Katie McPhee, senior community manager for Eventbrite, Sam Michel, founder of Chinwag and Jez Paxman, creative strategy director for Live Union, stretch delegates’ imaginations about what a conference could deliver if you’re brave enough to invite audience collaboration before or during an event to help shape content. Social media was cited as changing the whole nature of the buying process and Katie McPhee emphasised how important promotion is in making events successful – it takes four Facebook shares to sell one event ticket, she said.

Katy Hadcroft, general manager of RSA House, run by events caterer Harbour & Jones, also showed how food can become visual theatre and underpin interactive experiences for guests, if you apply a little imagination to presentation, serving techniques and taste.

8 Northumberland Avenue’s own catering team Alchemy demonstrated exactly how that is done with a brilliant breakfast menu that included mini Full English breakfasts served on slate squares, mini egg benedict, ‘posh porridge’ in mini bowls and three varieties of flavoured milk served from the crate in mini glass milk bottles, with straws.

TWC later took guests by surprise as Tracy Halliwell, London & Partners’ director of business tourism and major events, was ‘invited’ onto stage to deliver a special message of encouragement to buyers considering London as a business destination. Guests were none-the-wiser that she had magic powers as she spoke inspiringly about TWC’s role in delivering London’s future 2020 vision for business tourism, until she exploded into a bluster of feathers before re-emerging as a chiming, twirling 3D hologram of Big Ben. She had never really been on stage at all – it was all a holographic illusion created by Musion (and filmed in advance of the event).

Destination Westminster marked 8 Northumberland Avenue’s debut of this Musion technology and a dynamic presentation then followed incorporating true-to-life musical performances, animated presenting techniques and interactive graphics led by Musion director Ian O’Connell.

Robin Parker, TWC’s marketing director, said: “This year’s showcase delivered a thought provoking experience for both our event buying guests and member venues. It was great to see several new members exhibiting for the first time this year and many venues relished the opportunity to tell events organisers about the developments they have made to their meetings and events facilities in the last 12 months. The feedback from both members and guests has been very positive.

“The aim of the Showcase has always been to sell the destination first, highlighting Westminster as an area with the whole package. It’s not just for events, but for lifestyle, culture and entertainment and we hope that our Destination Westminster guests enjoyed the opportunity to meet and network with 50 of the borough’s finest.”

For news and updates from TWC, follow @Venues_Wminster on twitter and use #DestinationWestminster to join the showcase conversation.