Features

Making connections

17 Oct 2007 by Mark Caswell

ST PANCRAS INTERNATIONAL

THE BRITISH LIBRARY
96 Euston Road, London NW1; tel +44 (0)20 7412 5526/7; bl.uk/leiths

Sitting right next to St Pancras Station, the British Library is set in expansive grounds and includes a state-of-the-art conference centre. Catering for up to 500 delegates, the centre’s facilities are suitable for conferences, meetings, product launches, lectures, screenings and media events. The venue’s centrepiece is a large auditorium for up to 255 people, which features technology for simultaneous translation, film, sound and video presentations.

There are also five additional meeting rooms, which can hold between eight and 80 delegates each. All rooms provide plenty of natural light, electronic blackout blinds, climate control and sound proofing. A foyer and bar area is available for use as a breakout facility if required.

THE BRITISH MUSEUM
Great Russell Street, London WC1; tel +44 (0)20 7323 8136; thebritishmuseum.ac.uk

Just a 10-minute walk from St Pancras, the British Museum is one of Britain’s great architectural landmarks. Originally founded on the collections of physician Sir Hans Sloane, who bequeathed around 71,000 items to the nation after his death in 1753, it now contains more than 13 million objects from all corners of the globe, spanning two million years of human history.

The museum’s conference facilities include world-famous galleries and a dedicated conference centre, set around the spectacular glass-roofed Great Court. The largest conference space, the BP Lecture Theatre, provides fixed-tiered seating for up to 323 delegates, a raised stage, a lectern, four translation booths, an AV control room with state-of-the-art projection equipment, and a large screen.

Alternatively, the Hugh and Catherine Stevenson Lecture Theatre provides tiered seating for up to 142 delegates in a well-equipped auditorium, kitted out with a screen, lectern, two translation booths and audio-visual equipment.

Included in the hire of each theatre is access to either the East or West Foyer, each of which covers 248 sqm and can be used for refreshments, exhibition stands or as a breakout area. Simply decorated and built in limestone, the foyers mirror the cream design of the impressive Great Court, providing a blank canvas in which to display products or entertain guests. Each curved foyer accommodates 329 delegates for a standing lunch or reception, and seats 120 for lunch or dinner. The spaces can be hired out individually for smaller meetings.

Other meeting areas include the Claus Moser Room (seats 35 theatre-style), the two Sackler Rooms (each hold 45 if set up in theatre style), and the Studio (seats 35 theatre style). These spaces are useful for seminars, presentations, brainstorming sessions or even as breakout areas.

To make the most of the venue and its facilities, corporate clients can arrange tailormade packages, including tours of the Museum, exhibition tickets and corporate gifts.

THE MAGIC CIRCLE HEADQUARTERS
12 Stephenson Way, London NW1; tel +44 (0)845 006 2500; magiccirclevenue.co.uk

As you’d expect, this is one of London’s best-kept secrets. Just around the corner from Euston station, or 10 minutes’ walk from St Pancras, the Magic Circle Headquarters was established in 1998 as the base of the Magic Circle, an exclusive club of magicians who meet regularly to invent and share magic tricks. Prior to opening, the building was designed and refurbished at a cost of £2.1 million, and contains a number of genuine magical artefacts (such as Houdini’s straitjacket), a video room where members can view pre-recorded magic shows, and the largest collection of magic books in Europe.

The venue houses a theatre, museums, libraries, a dining room, club room and bar, as well as meeting rooms and conference facilities. Located at the top of the building
– accessible by an eye-watering helical staircase (or a lift if you’re lazy) – is the Magic Circle Theatre, which seats 162. Scores of magicians have wowed audiences here, and – equipped with full sound and lighting systems, internet access and blackouts – it provides an unusual venue for conferences and product launches.

Also connected by the spiral staircase are the Devant Room (seats 80 theatre-style) and Club Room (seats 50). Both feature lighting controls, a sound system and blackouts. The Devant Room is a versatile space, adorned with magical paraphernalia and a life-sized bronze bust of David Devant, the Magic Circle’s first president. The Club Room, situated on the ground floor, is ideal for registration, pre-dinner drinks, catering or as a breakout facility.

THE AMBASSADORS
12 Upper Woburn Place, London WC1; tel +44 (0)20 7693 5400; ambassadors.co.uk

This hotel has a long history, but as a result of a recently completed renovation, it is very 21st-century. Now a four-star deluxe hotel with a fashionable bar, lots of elegant design features and an excellent fine-dining Italian restaurant, the meetings facilities are particularly impressive for a small (100 rooms) hotel.

There are eight conference and banqueting rooms with capacities ranging from 10 to 260 people for board meetings, training days or corporate events, and up to 180 people for parties and dinner dances. The ballroom is large (204 sqm) and, as a result of the renovation, all rooms are smart, colourful and have state-of-the-art technical specifications, including individual lighting, air-conditioning controls and AV facilities. There is free
wifi throughout the hotel.

WELLCOME COLLECTION
183 Euston Road, London NW1; tel +44 (0)20 7611 2200; wellcomecollection.org

Founded in 1936 under the will of Sir Henry Wellcome, the Wellcome Trust – a biomedical research charity – now has a brand new meeting and exhibition venue, located next to its headquarters on Euston Road. The collection, which contains over 1,500 exhibits displayed across three galleries, aims to teach the public about the development of medicine through the ages.

As well as its public galleries, the building includes a purpose-built conference centre, which covers two floors and consists of a tiered auditorium (seating 154), a spacious lounge and four meeting rooms. The Henry Wellcome Auditorium is set up with fully-updated AV equipment, and includes a separate breakout area – the Williams Lounge – as well as cloakroom facilities. Alternatively, the Williams Lounge can be hired separately, accommodating up to 160 for a standing reception or 60 for a sit-down dinner. Two small glass offices are located within the space, which can be used as a speakers’ room, office or cloakroom.

The venue’s meeting rooms – all named after members of the Wellcome Trust – seat between 64 and 100 theatre-style, and can be set up in different formations, including classroom, U-shape and boardroom. All except the Burrough’s Room have built-in AV equipment, including a PA system, screen and video/DVD. The Franks Room and Steel Room can be combined to create a much larger meeting space, accommodating up to 130 delegates. Décor in the rooms is simple, although the plain cream walls are brightened up with unique art works based on the venue’s collections.

For standing receptions, the Medicine Now and Medicine Man galleries can be hired out, accommodating up to 200 guests. Along with several hundred items from Sir Henry Wellcome’s original collection, the galleries feature Napoleon’s toothbrush and a slice of a 70-year-old woman’s anatomy, which – although not for the faint-hearted – create an unusual backdrop to corporate events. Wifi is available for free throughout the building and three personal computer terminals are available in the Williams Lounge.

NOVOTEL LONDON ST PANCRAS
100-110 Euston Road, London NW1; tel +44 (0)20 7666 9000; novotel.com

Just five minutes’ walk along Euston Road from St Pancras station, this Novotel (formerly the Novotel London Euston) has 312 guest rooms.

Of its 17 meeting spaces, the largest is the Shaw Theatre, which was already on the site when the hotel was built. It still has its own separate entrance and box office, and hosts musical performances throughout the year, but can be hired out for conferences and presentations, seating up to 446 delegates.

Also on the ground floor is the Nobel Suite, which can hold 360 theatre-style or 250 for a dinner-dance. The space can be divided into two or three sections and has its own foyer, which can be used for registration or a drinks reception.

The hotel’s other meeting rooms include the Skyline Suite (seats up to 30), which is situated on the 15th floor and provides plenty of natural light, as well as panoramic views of the central London skyline. The foyer leading to the suite has glass walls and looks down over the grounds of the British Library.

The remaining meeting rooms – which are situated on the first or lower ground floor of the hotel – have varying capacities of between 11 and 30 delegates. Each room provides cloakroom space, air-conditioning, flipcharts, screens and an LCD projector.

JURY'S GREAT RUSSEL STREET HOTEL
16-22 Great Russell Street, London WC1; tel +44 (0)207 347 1000; jurysdoyle.com

Designed by one of the most celebrated English architects of the 20th century, Sir Edwin Lutyens, this four-star hotel is located in the heart of Bloomsbury, just a few minutes from St Pancras. Based in a refurbished Grade II listed building, the hotel was originally built as the headquarters of the Young Women’s Christian Association and still bears the YWCA monogram on its railings.

Conference facilities at the hotel consist of 12 versatile spaces, the largest of which – the George V Hall – caters for up to 300 theatre-style. Wireless internet access is available and a dedicated conference team is on hand to assist clients. The George V Hall and Queen Mary Hall (holds up to 250 theatre-style) both have soaring high ceilings, no pillars and natural daylight, while the Tavistock has a more modern décor and caters for up to 200 theatre-style.

The first floor of the hotel houses a library and chapel, which can be hired out as separate venues, holding up to 50 and 18 delegates respectively. Both spaces have been carefully maintained since the hotel’s opening in 1932. The venue also features a dedicated Meetings Centre, which includes seven state-of-the-art air-conditioned suites, with capacities ranging from 10 to 60 people.

EBBSFLEET INTERNATIONAL

Due to open on November 19, Ebbsfleet International station is located close to the A2 – which links London with Dover – and a short drive from the M25/A2 junction at Dartford.

Nearly half of all Eurostar services will call at the station when it opens, with trains stopping at six platforms, two for international and four for domestic services. From this month onwards, the station will be served by up to four trains per hour travelling to Paris and Brussels, with a journey time of just over 15 minutes to St Pancras. The station will have a “park and ride” facility with 6,000 parking spaces when it comes into service, and eventual parking space for 9,000 vehicles.

The area directly around Ebbsfleet International is currently under development, with very little in the way of hotels and meeting facilities. However, this is all set to change, with Ebbsfleet Valley – a development featuring offices, apartments, hotels, shops and restaurants – currently in the planning stages. When completed, this will provide residents and visitors with business and leisure facilities.

The following meeting facilities are located a short drive from Ebbsfleet International station:

HILTON DARTFORD BRIDGE
Masthead Close, Crossways Business Park, Dartford; tel +44 (0)1322 284 444; hilton.co.uk

Located less than two miles from Ebbsfleet International, the Hilton offers a choice of 17 meeting and conference rooms. The largest – the Swanley Suite – can accommodate up to 240 people, and has exhibition space, lighting controls and a removable dance floor. All rooms are fully air-conditioned, with natural light.

THISTLE BRANDS HATCH
Brands Hatch, Dartford; tel +44 (0)870 333 9128; thistlehotels.com

The Thistle Brands Hatch has 18 meeting rooms and a purpose-built training floor. The De Havilland suite seats 270 theatre-style, while other spaces include nine self-contained meeting rooms on the second floor and three further rooms which can accommodate between 16 and 20 delegates in a U-shape formation. The hotel is located within walking distance of the motor-racing circuit, andless than 30 minutes’ drive from Ebbsfleet International station, with easy access to the M20 and M25.

BEST WESTERN MANOR HOTEL
Hever Court Road, Singlewell, Gravesend; tel +44 (0)1474 353 100; bw-manorhotel.co.uk

The Best Western Manor Hotel has five meeting rooms, the largest being the Manor Suite, which accommodates up to 60 delegates and can be divided into one, two or three sections. Located in Gravesend, it is around a 15-minute drive from Ebbsfleet International station.

Loading comments...

Search Flight

See a whole year of Reward Seat Availability on one page at SeatSpy.com

Business Traveller March 2024 edition
Business Traveller March 2024 edition
Be up-to-date
Magazine Subscription
To see our latest subscription offers for Business Traveller editions worldwide, click on the Subscribe & Save link below
Polls