London’s Calling

Despite the turbulence of Brexit, Engalnd’s capital still remains one of the most popular destinations for meetings, conferences and incentives. And, why wouldn’t it be? With iconic landmarks; an eclectic culture; historical architecture, paired with modern skyscrapers shaping the city’s skyline; museums; galleries; theatres; world-class restaurants and being home to one of the most famous Royal families in the world, London has got it going on.

With high demand for venues in London town, our Venue Services Manager, Katherine West and Business Development Manager, Steve Wallbridge spent the day checking out a variety of hotel venues on offer, and here’s their roundup.

Venue Name: Sea Containers London

Location: Southbank

Nearby Landmarks:

  • OXO Tower

  • National Theatre

  • Tate Modern

  • The Globe Theatre

  • London Eye

Closest Tube Stations: Blackfriars, Waterloo or Southwark

Venue Roundup:

Situated on the South Bank, Sea Containers London has just undergone a fresh refurbishment and re-brand.  The property is now managed by Lore group, an international hospitality company operating in the US and Europe. They have also re-branded their infamous Dandelyan bar to Lyaness, a stunning bar space, created by the award-winning Mr Lyan and his team – there’s certainly plenty of delicious cocktails on the menu to try.

The venue offers modern and beautifully furnished meeting facilities, referred to internally as studios, which can cater for up to 275 guests and comes with a foyer area perfect for breakouts, networking and for catering. The screening room is authentically styled to reflect its cinematic purpose, and with a 4k resolution screen, is great for private screenings; with a seating capacity of 56 pax, this fabulous space would be ideal for presentations and product launches.  

Moving up and out, The Sea Containers most unique space is their elegant rooftop playground, the 12th Knot, fab for hosting receptions and parties for up to 300 guests.

Venue Name: InterContinental London – The O2

Location: Greenwich Peninusla

Nearby Landmarks:

  • The O2

  • Canary Wharf

  • London In The Sky

  • National Maritime Museum

  • Cutty Sark

  • Royal Observatory

  • Greenwich Market

Closest Tube Stations: North Greenwich Station

Venue Roundup:

Offering the largest purpose-built conference space in the UK, The InterContinental London – The O2 is truly unique and is a venue that offers a total of 19 meeting spaces. This includes a 3000sqm ballroom that is highly adaptable in terms of room configuration, due to being unimpeded by pillars; this design allows the room to be used as a multi-purpose and large-scale event space.  Any AV requirements can also be managed by their in-house audio-visual team.

As well as offering an abundance of flexible meeting spaces, the hotel has fantastic options for dining and drinks receptions within their Michelin starred restaurant, Peninsula; their maritime themed bar Clipper Bar, which can host private events for up to 250 guests and the Meridian Lounge, great for an informal reception.

Add into the mix that the InterContinental is located next to one of the most iconic London landmarks (the O2 Dome), has 453 bedrooms and spa facilities all under one roof, this is certainly a venue option that offers fantastic scope for larger meetings, conferences and exhibitions.

Venue Name: London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square

Location: Grosvenor Square, Mayfair

Nearby Landmarks:

  • Hyde Park

  • Oxford Street

  • Covent Garden

  • Marble Arch

  • Buckingham Palace

Closest Tube Stations: Bond Street

Venue Roundup:

This venue really immerses you in the London landscape; the buzz of the city is tangible outside, but inside, this hotel provides a sophisticated sanctuary. Located on the edge of Grosvenor Square, this 5-star hotel was the first Marriott Hotel in London. With stunning views of Grosvenor Square and elegant rooms, this really is a deluxe hotel, steeped in history.

For clients looking for event space in the heart of the capital, the London Marriott may be the perfect fit. The hotel offers 10 versatile meeting rooms, including their stunning ballroom which can hold up to 900 people in theatre style. Of course, the hotel also provides high-speed internet, videoconferencing and audio-visual services, which all combine to result in a venue that has great potential for meetings and events of varying sizes and purposes.

We couldn’t not mention that the London Marriott also houses Maze, a Gordon Ramsey restaurant, which offers French and Asian cuisine. We also loved that there’s a 1920s speakeasy onsite, The Luggage Room Bar.

Venue Name: The Biltmore (new hotel opening)

Location: Grosvenor Square, Mayfair

Nearby Landmarks:

  • Hyde Park

  • Oxford Street

  • Covent Garden

  • Marble Arch

  • Buckingham Palace

Closest Tube Stations: Bond Street

Venue Roundup:

An exciting way to bring our whistle-stop tour to an end: our last and final stop was the Biltmore, also located at Grosvenor Square, just a hop over from the Marriott. Previously the Millennium Hotel London, this venue was the very reason we travelled up to London – so we were very keen to get inside and to be one of the first to step into the new Biltmore Mayfair Hotel, the first LXR UK property. 

Upon arriving at the venue, we were greeted by Samuel Wilcox, MICE Sales Manager and Antonio Silvestro, Head of Meetings and Events. As the hotel was still undergoing building work, it was safety first and we were provided with glamorous hi-vis jackets and hard hats…perfect for a cheeky In2Events selfie. 

Once we were all grouped together, we stepped into the nearly completed hotel. It was incredible to see and walk through a project that’s taking shape and coming to life around you. It was definitely a hub of activity, with what felt like a workforce of hundreds, busily finishing the luxurious product we were within and exploring.

Not to be outdone by neighbouring hotels, the Biltmore will also play host to a ballroom, which will be able to take up to 380 guests for a seated dinner; brilliant for our clients who have big events in mind.

We also had an opportunity to view a handful of the 300 bedrooms that will be available to book, and from what we saw, they were very impressive. In order to cater for diverse requirements, the hotel will also offer a huge selection of 25-bedroom categories, helping guests to find a room that best suits their needs.

We were not permitted to take photos, so we’ll have to wait until the end of June 2019 – which is when the hotel is due to open – to be able to showcase this ornate hotel in all its glory. We can’t wait to see the finished result.