To start off the year 2021, 110 Rochester Row is offering a 30% discount on all delegate packages for events taking place in January and February 2021.
Delegates are welcomed for in-person events to enjoy socially distanced menus in secure and comfortable surroundings.
The offer is subject to availability and applies to new bookings only.
To find out more or to book an event using this discount, contact the team on 020 7828 2888 or email [email protected].
Church House Westminster hosted one of the biggest domestic boxing bouts of 2020 as Hall-Of-Fame Promoter Frank Warren celebrates forty years in professional boxing.
On Saturday 28 November, Dubois vs Joyce took place at historic Church House behind closed doors. The fight was broadcast live on BT Sport and saw Joe ‘Juggernaut’ Joyce claim the British, European and Commonwealth heavyweight championship.
In an incredible reversal, the domestic heavyweight clash was not pay-per-view. Frank Warren, said: “This is about keeping boxing alive and relevant at a tough time and doing something for the fans.” Warren was keen to point out that the Covid outbreak and its negative effect on UK jobs and livelihoods were on his mind as he decided to scrap plans to make the fight pay per view. The blockbuster November event, branded with the apt tagline ‘At Last’, represented the final chapter in a saga that has seen April, July and October dates cancelled because of the Coronavirus pandemic.
On Saturday 5 December, boxing fans anticipated another exciting evening of live boxing on BT Sport with Yarde vs Arthur facing off behind closed doors at Church House.
Warren added: “I’m delighted to be able to confirm such a spectacular venue to host two weeks of fantastic big-time boxing. It’ll be a more than fitting way to celebrate my forty years in professional boxing. Both these bouts are battles for the history books, so it makes sense they’d take place in a venue so rich in history. Winston Churchill announced the sinking of the Bismarck inside this venue, and soon we’ll know who out of these boxers will sink or swim.”
The Westminster venue’s largest event space, the Assembly Hall, took centre stage as the main studio. The Hoare Memorial Hall functioned as an interview and media room, whilst post-fight conferences took place in the Bishop Partridge Hall. A number of other rooms, also located on the first floor of the venue were utilised as flexible changing rooms, storage and staff quarters.
Inside the Assembly Hall, BT Sport presenters were joined by two-weight world champion Carl Frampton and former WBA heavyweight champ David Haye. Commentator boxes inside the Assembly Hall for live coverage featured radio sport pundit Steve Bunce.
The evening started at 6pm when the first of eight matches started off with the undercards which included Hamzah Sheeraz, David Adeleye and Jack Catterall.
From 8-15 October 2020, London’s QEII Centre seamlessly delivered X3DMedia’s NXT BLD (Next Build) conference virtually, extending its reach to 1,400 people. The conference, which explores emerging technologies and how they will impact the future of architecture and construction, had intended to run as a live event on one day in June 2020 but, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was postponed before the decision was taken to run it online in October.
Objective
X3DMedia had planned to run its NXT BLD conference – a conference that brings to life how emerging technologies will impact the future of architecture and construction – as a one-day live event at QEII with a web broadcast in June. However, as restrictions were in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 the Centre was closed to events at this time and the conference was unable to go ahead as planned.
When it became clear the live event would not be able to happen, QEII’s sales team worked in partnership with X3DMedia and its organiser, AEC Magazine, to adapt and still deliver its successful fourth event covering the innovations in digital fabrication, robots, 3D printing, IoT, generative design, virtual and augmented reality, real time design visualisation and lots more.
The resulting online event took place over six days in October.
Execution
The team at QEII worked in unison with X3DMedia on a plan to run the NXT BLD conference online, using QEII as its main base.
The event’s extensive line up of 26 expert speakers are located around the world and were unable to visit the UK, but it was important to the success of the virtual conference that some level of consistency was maintained through its delivery. Therefore, X3DMedia decided to record all linking pieces from the stage in the Mountbatten Suite at The QEII Centre. London-based speakers were also welcomed to record their sessions at the venue. Delegates were also able to submit their burning questions and participate in a live Q&A with the speakers, following their presentations.
Members of QEII Live’s expert team were on hand to help with the technical aspects of the event, including the audio and the stage set. QEII also provided the necessary bandwidth through its 2Gbps building-wide supply to enable X3DMedia to stream the event to its online delegates. Instead of taking place over one day, X3DMedia decided to hold the event over six days for 1.5 hours a day, broadcasting three, 20-minute speeches with links.
Results
X3DMedia had aimed to reach 1,000 people through its virtual NXT BLD conference. With the virtual format executed by QEII, however, it was able to surpass that goal and reached 1,400.
Martyn Day of X3DMedia praised QEII’s flexible and professional approach to putting on the postponed event and ensuring it could reach its audience. He said: “QEII went above and beyond to stay open for us to film, just as everything in the UK looked like it was taking a turn for the worse and pricing the event within my original payment schedule. We had a great experience from our past event there and were pleased with the outcome of this new innovative format.”
Thanks to the continued positive relationship, X3DMedia has confirmed that NXT BLD 2021, which will be a physical conference and exhibition, will be held at the QEII Centre London on 16 June 2021.
Westminster is home to some of London’s most versatile and eclectic venues, offering blank canvases or ready-made stage productions for all manner of filming locations. From beautifully adorned backdrops to set the scene for period dramas, to vast private outdoor spaces to host mock festivals, consider our collection of venues for your next filming project.
Lincoln’s Inn
Dating back to 1422, the 11-acre estate of Lincoln’s Inn, located in the heart of Holborn, offers a wonderful array of historic halls, traditional rooms, beautiful gardens and spacious squares. The diversity of the exterior and interior listed buildings provide a range of choice for your upcoming filming project. The estate is the ideal backdrop for blockbuster films, TV productions and documentaries in need of period surroundings and the Halls and Library are particularly suited to a traditional themed setting. By contrast, the brand-new conference centre offers an interior space for a crowd base or ancillary services as well as a modern day set. Previous productions filmed at Lincoln’s Inn include DC Universe’s 2015 blockbuster ‘Wonder Woman’, the highly acclaimed ‘The Theory of Everything’ and Guy Ritchie’s ‘Sherlock Holmes’.
If you are interested in filming at Lincoln’s Inn, contact the team at [email protected].
One Great George Street
One Great George Street recently scooped the coveted title of ‘Best Film Location Venue’ at the Prestigious Star Awards. The venue provides an ideal internal setting for feature filming, period dramas and television series. Film and drama-makers love its many features when looking for an impressive historic setting. A variety of spectacular backdrops are ideal for stately film locations and historic television filming areas available. A dedicated event co-ordinator will collaborate with location managers, film production crews, film directors and photographers to suggest the most suitable space in line with the theme and budget. Previous films have included Fast and Furious 6, Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason and many BBC television productions.
For more information or to make an enquiry call 020 7665 2323 (option 1), or email [email protected].
The QEII Centre
Based in the heart of Westminster, The QEII Centre is the largest dedicated conference and events space in Central London. Large spaces include The Churchill and Mountbatten suites, holding up to 1,300 people, while the centre also boasts medium and small spaces to host smaller meetings and events. The venue’s sixth floor has floor to ceiling windows offering stunning views of Westminster and Big Ben and is often used for drinks receptions. QEII is regularly used by film crews looking for flexible space. It featured as one location for the BBC series The Capture in 2019 and has more recently served as one location for political thriller Roadkill starring Hugh Laurie.
For more information, contact the team at +44 20 8078 5752.
IET London: Savoy Place
IET London: Savoy Place carries a timeless grandeur and commanding presence, visible from London’s South Bank as you cross Waterloo Bridge and offers panoramic views over the River Thames from its roof terrace. Extensive space for filming spans four floors with additional outside space in a location easily accessible by rail, tube and river. From Made in Chelsea’s rooftop parties, to the Prime Minister’s political briefings, the venue and its experienced team are well versed in delivering excellence for your filming needs. Its flagship spaces include a dominating lecture theatre hosting up to 450 people and the Riverside Room for 330 people, with vast natural light, London views and optional use of the roof terrace. For more intimate scenes, Savoy Place boasts a characterful Library and a series of smaller meeting rooms.
For more information, get in touch on +44 20 7344 5479.
RIBA
RIBA at 66 Portland Place represents the best of British architecture and is, in places, almost untouched since 1934. The versatile grade II listed building I set across six floors and complemented by unique features, such as its double height entrance hall, showstopping marble staircase, Art Deco detailing and triple height atrium. Florence Hall is an expansive space with etched glass doors, carved stone and patterned flooring, while the RIBA gallery is a modern, blank canvas. RIBA’s stunning Art Deco building has featured in many high-profile films, including Goodbye Christopher Robin, Guerilla, Woman in Gold and The Man from Uncle, as well as TV drama Silent Witness and an advert for luxury vehicle brand Jaguar. The unique architectural detailing is perfect for mid-century modern and contemporary film and photoshoots with ample space to accommodate cast and crew, and as the building is not currently open to the public or staff, it can be very flexible with bookings.
If you’d like to know more, email [email protected].
Regent’s Conferences & Events
Presenting an outdoor space unlike any other in London, Regent’s‘ grounds are encased in landscaped tranquillity, offering four acres of private space where the countryside meets the city. Comprising of pristine lawns and lush foliage, Regent’s creates a magical setting for filming festival scenes, weddings, summer garden parties and period dramas. Inside, Herringham Hall offers high ceilings and tall, arched windows – an impressive space which lends itself brilliantly to dynamic events including launches and parties. The Tuke Common Room is another signature space with original art deco features, wood panelling and views over the lawns. Well-equipped on-site kitchens could also be made available for cooking shows. The campus benefits from the rare advantage of on-site parking in central London, offering plenty of space for filming crew and their vehicles to access.
For more information, get in touch with [email protected] or call +44 20 7487 7540.
116 Pall Mall
116 Pall Mall is a spectacular film and TV location with magnificent Georgian architecture. A Grade I building just moments from iconic London locations, such as Downing Street, Mayfair and Covent Garden, 116 has featured in a wide range of historic moments, TV programmes and films, including Downton Abbey, Gandhi, The Dark Knight, Foyle’s War, Margaret Thatcher’s eulogy for President Reagan, Made in Chelsea, Parks and Recreation and Strike. The building’s luxurious interiors include handsome period features and a wide range of versatile and flexible spaces across five floors.
To make an enquiry, get in touch here.
Church House Westminster
Church House Westminster is located within leafy Dean’s Yard and offers a peaceful setting for filming along with stunning views of Westminster Abbey. The venue offers stylish backdrops which include both intimate rooms as well as large airy spaces. Polished English oak panelling, Art Deco chandeliers, and classically inspired architectural details can be seen throughout the building. Curved corridors and modern staircases accommodate both live-action shoots and still photography. The extensive and versatile film location venue provides 19 event spaces that can easily accommodate wardrobe changes and catering areas. Stunning 360-degree rooftop views across central London from the 7th floor of the film location venue is ideal for news reporting, shooting pieces to camera for interviews and documentaries or photography shoots with iconic London landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and the London Eye as a backdrop.
For more information, call the team on +44 20 7390 1590.
While our venue collection may not be celebrating Christmas in true office party style this year, we wanted to bring some festive cheer to our colleagues and clients and ask you to join us for walking in a #WestminsterWonderland.
In a year where things have been far from normal, many of us have taken to the great outdoors for leisure and the benefits of such has been a regular feature of the news since the first lockdown in March. Taking care of one’s physical and mental health is so important, now more so than ever, and we think it’s the perfect excuse to don some winter wear and explore London with a takeaway hot beverage and to revel in the festive lights of the West End.
Along the way, you will pass many venues in our collection and we encourage you to share your pictures by using #WestminsterWonderland.
There is no right or wrong journey to take, that is the beauty of it! So, if you find yourself in one of the below areas in the City of Westminster, take note of the venues you’ll be passing as you take in the magical light displays!
Venues in Marylebone:
Cavendish Conference Centre – Cavendish Venues
Royal Institute of British Architects
Regents Conference & Events
Lights to see near Marylebone:
Marylebone Village
Oxford Street
New Bond Street
Carnaby Street
Venues in Mayfair:
BAFTA Piccadilly
The Lansdowne Club
Lights to see near Mayfair:
Claridge’s
Burlington Arcade
Fortnum & Mason
Regent’s Street
Venues in Covent Garden:
The Honourable Society of Lincolns Inn
London Transport Museum
IET: Savoy Place
RSA House
Vue Cinema London – West End (Leicester Square)
Lights to see near Covent Garden:
Trafalgar Square
Seven Dials
The Strand
Embankment towards Southbank
St James’s:
London Library
116 Pall Mall
The Royal Society
{10-11} Carlton House Terrace
Lights to see near St James’s:
Jermyn Street
Waterloo Place
St James’s Market Pavilion
Westminster:
One Great George Street
QEII Centre
Central Hall Westminster
Broadway House
Church House Westminster
Houses of Parliament
110 Rochester Row
Doubletree by Hilton London Westminster
Lights to see near Westminster:
Parliament Square
We’ll be sharing our #WestminsterWonderland on Instagram Stories, so visit our profile to see the latest!
London events venue, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, has launched a campaign to promote event suppliers who offer products and services suitable as Christmas gifts. After many were required to pivot to B2C earlier in the year, the campaign is designed to give those who wish to support the industry a practical and unique way to do so.
A dedicated webpage will host a collection of 10-11’s own core suppliers, whilst all other suppliers can get involved by sharing their gift offering on social media with the hashtag #SupportEventSuppliers. Live social feeds following the hashtag will sit onsite and allow all suppliers to be featured in one place.
Catherine Owen, Head of Venue Sales and Marketing at 10-11 Carlton House Terrace said: “Throughout all the year’s disruptions, we haven’t been able to support any of our supplier friends the way we would have liked to. In a bid to try and lift some spirits and do our bit, we started racking our brains for a way to help some of the hardest hit in our industry.”
“I think we can all agree events would be nothing without the supply chain behind it and the incredible talent and passion they bring to an event. We’ve been so impressed how, in true solution-focused, eventprof style, our supplier partners and suppliers across the industry have pivoted their business to capture some direct consumer business. Be it floristry, cakes, photography or catering; many of our wonderful suppliers have done so and it is a true testament to the creativity and versatility of our industry.”
“Inspired by this, we wanted to create a Festive Gift List that would highlight these products, support our suppliers and make it easy for anyone to support the event industry this Christmas.”
The campaign has been well-received by suppliers. Anna Fenten, Head of Brand & Marketing at Searcys said: “Although Christmas might be a bit different this year, it is not cancelled! We are hoping that our clients, customers and their loved ones will enjoy the gift of Searcys hospitality. They can choose from 30+ gift vouchers from an afternoon tea to a private party in one of London’s stunning venues including of course the beautiful {10-11} Carlton House Terrace, and new for 2020 – Searcys own Cuvee delivered to your door. We are incredibly grateful to the CHT team for their support of our new festive initiative in such uncertain times for hospitality and events.”
Ruth Davies, Artistic Director at All For Love commented: “2020 has been a year of heartbreaks and disappointments but we are still here, fighting, and more determined than ever to come out the other side. The support of the Love List from 10-11 is genuinely wonderful and demonstrates to us once again how amazingly supportive the event industry as whole is. It’s through this kind of support that makes the industry what it is and why we love being a part of it.”
The core list of suppliers who have joined the campaign includes:
Any suppliers interested in getting involved can share their festive offering on social platforms, add the hashtag #SupportEventSuppliers and tag 10-11 Carlton House Terrace at @10_11CHT. There’s no limit to how often this can be done, however the 10-11 team encourages people to be mindful and avoid ‘spamming’.
Those looking to support the event industry this Christmas can find the full supplier gift list at http://10-11cht.com/christmas/lovelist or search the hashtag #SupportEventSuppliers on social platforms and start gifting.
The Lansdowne Club has adapted its technology to offer a series of new hybrid meetings.
Despite the difficulties faced when it comes to events this year, many venues including the Lansdowne Club are committed to providing the highest standards of safety to everyone coming through the door.
As it isn’t always possible for people to attend business meetings in person (particularly at the moment), the Lansdowne Club is delighted to launch hybrid meeting packages. The current travel limitations and ongoing meeting restrictions don’t have to be a barrier, and the Club can provide a safe, easy solution to ‘business as usual’.
The venue’s three hybrid meeting rooms blend the best of in-person meetings and virtual participation, providing the latest wireless AV communication and broadcasting technology alongside seamless meeting hospitality – including a dedicated team member to set up Zoom meetings and assist on the day so the delegates can concentrate on the business at hand.
A range of equipment is available to facilitate hybrid meetings, including the Club Zoom account, a television, screen and projector, a PC with the Lansdowne email and MS Office for business and presentation purposes, a PA system and high-resolution camera and microphone.
Lansdowne Club was the only social club to have accepted men and women on an equal footing from its first day. It has always prided itself on being a venue of social standing and equality – a vibrant place open to all. The perfect site for discussing ideas and making progress, the Lansdowne has a range of meeting facilities to offer.
For more information, contact the team at [email protected] or phone on 0207 318 6125.
116 Pall Mall has just launched a brand new permanent Virtual Studio in its Trafalgar Room, allowing clients to seamlessly deliver a high-quality experience and effortlessly engage stakeholders, colleagues or delegates in the room and beyond.
Equipped with the latest technology and safety measures, the venue’s event solutions enable you to connect professionally while complying with government safety regulations at all times. 116 offers a wealth of virtual and hybrid solutions, including entertainment and hamper packages.
Jeremy Warrillow, Head of Hospitality said “With government restrictions meaning social events or business events above 30 can no longer run, our virtual and hybrid event offering provides the perfect solution for clients who don’t want to postpone or cancel their event due to the pandemic.
“It’s an incredibly frustrating time for the events industry and we want to do everything we can to provide an alternative to cancelling events which is of course having huge financial knock-on effects throughout the event supply chain.
“For bigger companies, there is also the issue of maintaining employee wellbeing. whether it’s an all-staff meeting, an awards ceremony or a Christmas party, engaging with your employees is vital in a time where staff morale is at an all-time low and our Virtual Studio allows clients to maintain that level of communication that is imperative during this period.”
For meetings or corporate events, the hybrid option allows for up to 30 people in the room as well as live streaming to thousands.
116 Pall Mall is still open for business meetings for up to 30 people during Lockdown 2, as well as filming and photoshoots. The team are still working and taking enquiries so get in touch for any more information.
With traditional events and celebrations currently on hold and the quintessential Christmas party under threat, BAFTA Piccadilly is offering a range of bespoke virtual events and experiences created within the home of BAFTA for colleagues, friends and family.
BAFTA Piccadilly is offering the opportunity to hold live and interactive virtual masterclasses, imaginatively curated screenings and full scale events with entertainment and DJs broadcast directly from BAFTA’s headquarters in Piccadilly straight to screens at homes or offices.
Designed for groups of 25 to 300+, this is a truly unique way to create both high engagement and lasting memories in a fun and entertaining manner.
Hosted by the expert team who each year devise and prepare the food and drinks for the EE British Academy Film Awards and deliver a multitude of gold standards events, these exciting experiences will bring you a taste of BAFTA and a little of that red carpet magic.
If you would like to find out more or have other event requirements, contact either Tissem Lansac or Julian Shaw at:[email protected], [email protected], 020 7292 5849
The term ‘hybrid events’, combining elements of a live event with a virtual audience, is one we’re hearing more frequently than ever right now. As with anything new and largely unfamiliar, many event organisers will likely have some reservations about running a hybrid event for the first time, but tech-oriented venue IET London: Savoy Place has responded to these potential concerns with some reassuring insights and top tips.
What if technology lets me down?
We’ve all been accustomed to failed Zoom calls and frozen computer screens mid conversation this year, but working with a venue that offers the very best technology for events, selected by experienced AV professionals, can help alleviate this concern. Investing in proper production means not having to worry about sound or technical difficulties.
To settle nerves further, there are ways of minimising risk even more, for example using a combination of pre-recorded footage and live Q&As. With the right team of professionals behind the camera, this can be a seamless production, giving the illusion of a fully live event, but taking huge amounts of pressure off both the speakers and the organiser, having a large amount of the event content prepared in advance. This also allows time for editing and smartening up the footage or adding relevant holding screens between sessions.
I have no experience in running hybrid events
That’s why you work with people who have! The advantage of working with a venue that can offer its own AV and filming crew is that it isn’t just a sporadic group of experienced individuals that come together to run your event, but an integrated team of experts familiar with every inch and angle of the venue.
Working with a venue gives a hybrid event a lot more credibility, with an impressive backdrop and lighting that can’t easily be replaced by using a basic online platform. You’d be surprised by how much of an event organiser’s previous experience in running live events is transferable in terms of strategy, organisation and attention to detail, therefore joining forces with an AV team and in-house coordinator means that all bases will be covered for a seamless delivery.
It all sounds quite expensive to operate
The cost of a hybrid event covers the expertise and experience of a team of venue professionals, as well as all the technical equipment for a quality production and streaming platform. There are, however, ways of saving money and keeping costs down. Where the majority of a budget for larger events might have had to go towards sourcing a venue that could hold 500 people, for example, a much smaller event space could now be hired with most delegates joining virtually, hugely reducing the hire fee. Similarly, reducing catering is probably the biggest money-saver and frees up additional budget to cover the cost of technology, AV and broadcasting solutions.
Depending on the size and type of event, it should be very plausible to spend less on a hybrid event than a fully live event.
Technology isn’t my strong point
It doesn’t need to be. An organiser does, however, need to choose a platform that suits the objectives of their event. For example, is it a key priority to have integrated online branding for sponsors, or for easy cross-audience engagement during seminars? There are so many free demos to trial online, and organisers should experiment with joining online events themselves to see different platforms in action.
A lot of the ownership of understanding technology is transferred to the venue and once again alleviates the pressure on an organiser. A venue’s events team should be well-versed in breaking down the technical terminology into digestible chunks of information that gives an organiser enough detail without overwhelming them with unnecessary jargon.
How do I keep delegates engaged?
Arguably, there are even more opportunities for engagement during hybrid events than live events, especially for those lacking confidence to speak up in person. Certain platforms are built specifically to encourage interaction and offer chatboxes for networking and Q&As. Others like Slido and online poll features allow data and opinions to be captured in real time. This technology has often been seen utilised at fully live conferences and trade show educational sessions and is as effective for virtual attendees.
A great deal of engagement at live events has turned virtual already. People might Tweet throughout a conference or share opinions online to start a virtual conversation while physically at an event, and we’d advise organisers to encourage delegates to do the same during hybrid events.
Five top tips for running a successful hybrid event:
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