For an event fit for a king (or queen), try one of London’s royal venues. Maggie Squires reports
Royal Courts of Justice
With shining marble floors, looming gothic archways and glowing stained-glass windows, the Royal Courts of Justice offer an elite Victorian setting for a dinner or drinks reception. Dating back to the late 1800s, the building was designed by George Edmund Street, who won the right to construct it in a parliamentary architectural competition. Unfortunately, he died of stress before Queen Victoria officially opened it in 1882, and he is now buried in Westminster Abbey.
For larger events, the Great hall, lined with old portraits, has space for 650 delegates to enjoy dinner. Guests won’t feel too enclosed thanks to arches soaring 25 metres high, and different lighting options allow you to set the tone of your function.
A pre-dinner reception can be held upstairs in the Costume Display gallery, the long corridors of which lead to an exhibition of judicial and legal robes. Up to 600 people can be accommodated for drinks here or 350 for dinner. A balcony overlooking the Great hall can hold about 30 people and also acts as an area for entertainment or a bar.
For smaller events, the Painted room and Bear Garden are also options, holding about 60 guests each. Both venues have lush red carpeting and ornate interiors and can be used together, with drinks in the former and dinner in the latter.
A guide can give delegates a little history on the rooms, or provide a tour of the Lord Chief of Justice’s courtroom, where BBC1’s Judge John Deed show is filmed. The events team can offer recommendations on lighting and styling, while clients can choose from a list of accredited caterers. The venue can be hired from 7pm during the week, and throughout the weekend.
Strand; tel +44 (0)20 7947 7726; royalcourtsofjustice-events.co.uk
Royal Festival Hall
Located on the South Bank of the Thames, the Royal Festival Hall symbolised hope when it was unveiled in 1951 as part of the Festival of Britain. The first major building constructed in post-war Britain, it represented the country’s ability to move forward despite the depression in the years following the Second World War.
Today, this Grade I Listed building provides rooms with a view for business meetings and conferences – it was refurbished in 2007. The 150-capacity Weston Roof Pavilion looks out on the River Thames, London Eye, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben through floor-to-ceiling windows, and has a modern, minimalist feel. St Paul’s Roof Pavilion mirrors the Weston on the other side of the building, with a vista taking in St Paul’s Cathedral.
The Level Five function room has the most amount of floor space – it can comfortably hold 160-250 people and offers the same striking view of the Thames as the Weston. The Sunley Pavilion and Level Three room, meanwhile, both act as good venues for breakout sessions, holding 20 to 60 people.
The Royal Festival Hall Auditorium is the grandest space in the building and seats 2,500 inside its wood-panelled and crimson velvet walls. The stage is 21 metres wide and 11 metres deep and has 13 moving parts, allowing it to be adjusted as necessary. New technology, more legroom and an improved climate control system were added during the 2007 refurbishment.
Teambuilding opportunities are also available. Groups can make music together using the gamelan, an ancient Indonesian instrument composed of bells and percussion pieces, or do a spiritual dance workshop with an Indian choreographer before a meeting to get workers energised. Alternatively, an artist can add a twist to brainstorming sessions by creating a giant mural from people’s ideas.
The events team can also co-ordinate with other attractions in the South Bank area – for example, a flight on the London Eye could be arranged, or a night at the National Theatre.
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road; tel +44 (0)20 7921 0702; southbankcentre.co.uk
Royal Albert Hall
Opened by Queen Victoria in 1871 to fulfil the vision of her consort Prince Albert, who died a decade beforehand, the Royal Albert Hall will create a sense of grandeur for any event.
The lofty main auditorium, which has staged everything from concerts by the Beatles to speeches by Sir Winston Churchill, can be transformed into a dining room for 2,000. An optional floor can be built across the lower portion of the room for tables to be set up, or for dinner combined with a show, every other row of seats can be removed and replaced with a horseshoe table.
Two arena foyers are tucked away beneath the auditorium. Generally, these are open to the public for pre-show drinks, but they can also be hired out as VIP lounges, holding 180 delegates in each.
If you’re looking to truly spoil a small group, try one of the private 12-seat boxes that line the upper wall of the auditorium. They are divided into two parts – one for dinner and one for the show. Or for larger numbers, hire the 24-seat Queen’s box – Victoria bought it at a cost of £100 per seat to help finance the Hall’s construction, and it is still used by the Queen today.
Similarly regal is the Royal Retiring room, where the Royal family can relax after a show. Portraits of all the monarchs since the Hall’s opening adorn the walls and it can accommodate 40 people for a buffet.
The Elgar room, formerly a restaurant, reopened as a multi-use space last October. With audio-visual capabilities, it can be used for events ranging from conferences to intimate concerts, holding 350 standing and 110 for a banquet.
Kensington Gore; tel +44 (0)20 7589 3203; royalalberthall.com
National Maritime Museum
Escape the bustle of central London and hold your function in the heart of Greenwich at the National Maritime Museum, one of the capital’s most visited attractions.
The complex has a number of venues available – the oldest is the Queen’s House, which was commissioned by Anne of Denmark, the wife of James I, in 1616. The house has beautiful views of Greenwich Royal Park, along with an outside porch that’s great for receptions of up to 150 people.
Inside, the Great hall can house up to 120 guests for dinner. Spiral staircases and royal portraits create an elegant atmosphere, and tours of the house and the artwork can be provided. After the meal, guests can have a private telescope viewing with an astronomer.
Just up the hill is Flamsteed House at the Royal Observatory. Inside is the Octagon room, the interior of which was designed by Sir Christopher Wren. It can hold 60 people for a banquet or 150 for a reception. Guests can enjoy a cocktail while standing on the meridian line, and avail of telescope viewings and tours of the Time galleries. Also in the Observatory is the Endeavour room, which holds 12 delegates and has free internet access.
The Peter Harrison Planetarium is the most modern venue on-site, with streamlined architecture and a plasma screen for presentations. It’s often used for product launches, particularly those relating to space. Treat guests to a planetarium show or tours of the Astronomy galleries. Pre-dinner drinks or receptions can be held within the galleries or outside in two courtyard areas. The planetarium holds 110 for a banquet or 150 for a reception.
In the museum itself, the main venue, Neptune Court, can hold 500 for dinner or 1,000 for a reception. Drinks are often served on the Lower Deck within the exhibits, with a meal following on the Upper Deck.
Greenwich; tel +44 (0)20 8312 8517; nmm.ac.uk
Kensington Palace
Take guests back in time to Kensington Palace, the childhood residence of Queen Victoria and the former home of the late Diana Princess of Wales. The State Apartments offer a wide variety of venues but they must be rented as a whole and only in the evening.
Enjoy dinner in the Romanesque Cupola room, which can seat 80 delegates. The King’s Gallery, for up to 170 people, creates a truly regal atmosphere with some of the Royal Collection’s finest art, while the King’s Drawing room can seat 80 for a banquet. Be aware when hiring the State Apartments that Kensington Palace has its Enchanted Palace exhibit on here until 2012. This means most of the rooms have exhibits relating to the history of the rooms, while some of the palace is shut down for renovation.
Explainers, who outline the history of the palace, and detectors – actors who “detect” the changes going on in the building and act out some of the history – can be hired for your event.
Another venue is Apartment 1A, the former private residence of Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon. The Garden room affords beautiful views, while the Drawing room seats 40 for a lunch or dinner and also looks out on the greenery. A terrace is available, weather permitting.
Queen Anne commissioned the Orangery in 1704 so she could have a “summer supper house”. It now acts as a restaurant that can be hired for dinners, seating about 150. The building is situated in its own beautiful private gardens, which can also be used for functions.
Reservations should be made well in advance – the State Apartments and Apartment 1A can be hired only 15 times a year each, while the Orangery can be hired 50 times.
Kensington Gardens; tel +44 (0)20 3166 6115; hrp.org.uk
Hampton Court Palace
Meet in a setting that is truly fit for a king at Hampton Court Palace. Part of the building was commissioned by Henry VIII in the 1520s and is Tudor in style, while the other sections were built by William and Mary at the end of the 17th century and are baroque.
The Great hall features intricate tapestries and towering ceilings and was where Henry VIII’s court dined twice a day. Back then, 600 people were crammed in for meals but now guests can enjoy a bit more breathing space, with 270 accommodated for dinner or 400 for a reception.
King William’s Guard Chamber has walls lined with almost 3,000 swords, bayonets, muskets and pistols, and holds 200 people for a reception. Other popular options include the Garden room, which was built in the 1920s and can accommodate 300 for a reception. The Tudor Kitchens work well for a drinks party of about 150, and displays show how they would have looked when they were in use. The Undercroft room, which opened in March last year, has a capacity of 200, and its brick floor and foundation means it’s the one place in the palace where dances can be held.
The building is, of course, steeped in sinister history so ghost tours can be arranged – look out for the phantom of Catherine Howard, who was under house arrest here until her execution in 1542 after Henry accused her of adultery.
A lawn near the Garden room works well for teambuilding activities, and treasure hunts can also be organised. Plus don’t miss the outdoor maze. Hampton Court Palace is south-west of London and about a 35-minute train ride from Waterloo station. Note that many rooms can be hired in the evening only.
Hampton Court Palace; tel +44 (0)20 3166 6507; hrp.org.uk
