When you’re planning an event, sometimes you want more than a great meeting room, good food and comfortable bedrooms – you want somewhere your delegates will remember.
We’re lucky to work with venues and suppliers across the UK, from hotels and conference centres to sports grounds, museums and visitor attractions. But there is also a whole world of less conventional event spaces out there.
From meeting on the walkways of an iconic bridge or inside a former power station, to taking over a country pub or dining aboard a historic ship, choosing something a little different can turn a meeting or event into a real experience.
Here are just a few of the more unusual spaces you might not have considered…
Pubs, Restaurants and Bars
So many pubs, restaurants and bars are now opening themselves up as alternative meeting venues for corporate clients. There are themed bars that offer activities alongside dining and, in some cases, meeting space. Boom Battle Bars, for example, are expanding across the UK and offer activities including darts, karaoke and axe throwing.
Many restaurants, especially in London, have private dining spaces that can also be used for meetings, while country pubs with rooms are increasingly offering private dining and meeting spaces. Fuller’s are a good example, with a growing number of their properties offering spaces suitable for corporate meetings and events.
For smaller groups, these can provide a more relaxed alternative to the traditional meeting room and give you the opportunity to combine the business part of the day with dinner, drinks or an activity afterwards.
Bridges, Power Stations and Warehouses
Britain’s industrial and engineering heritage has given us some fantastic event spaces.
Did you know, for example, that you can hold an event on the Walkways of Tower Bridge in London? One of the original Control Rooms at Battersea Power Station is also available for private hire, while the Harmsworth Room at the Churchill War Rooms, complete with its old generator, is another quirky space steeped in history.
Outside London, Victoria Warehouse in Manchester and The Biscuit Factory in Newcastle are just a couple of examples of venues that have evolved from Britain’s industrial past, offering something very different from a traditional hotel or conference centre.
Museums, Galleries and Historic Landmarks
Museums and galleries have long been popular for evening receptions and dinners, but many also have spaces suitable for daytime meetings and conferences.
Imagine hosting a reception surrounded by art at Tate Modern or the National Gallery, or holding an event within one of Britain’s best-known historic landmarks, such as the Tower of London.
These venues give delegates the opportunity to experience somewhere they might normally visit as a tourist in a completely different way, and can provide an impressive backdrop for everything from client entertaining and awards dinners to conferences and team events.
Boats, Castles and Stately Homes
More and more visitor attractions are also taking private event bookings. Some are really only suitable for parties and dinners, while others have rooms that can be used for daytime meetings and conferences too.
There are iconic ships including Cutty Sark, Golden Hinde, HMS Belfast, HMS Victory and Royal Yacht Britannia – all offering event spaces that can provide a real wow for your delegates.
You can also hire event spaces in some of Britain’s best-known castles and historic homes, including Hever Castle, Belvoir Castle, Leeds Castle and Kensington Palace.
Hiring venues like these can often be at the higher end of event budgets, but if you are celebrating something special, entertaining clients or simply want somewhere that your delegates will remember, sometimes the venue itself can become part of the experience.
Finding Something a Little Different
Of course, an unusual venue isn’t right for every event. As well as the wow factor, it still needs to work practically for your group, your budget and what you want to achieve.
That’s where we can help. We work with a huge range of venues across the UK and sometimes the perfect space may be somewhere you hadn’t even thought of.
So, if you’re planning an event and fancy trying something a little different, give us a challenge – we love finding those slightly less obvious options!
