Little book of secrets

Little book of secrets

Conference & Incentive Travel

Capital choices for creative events

C&IT’s Little Book of Secrets unveils a bijou selection of the capital’s hidden venues, suitable for the most creative of events. We asked our readers to tell us their London secrets, and thanks are due to the hundreds of you who shared your favourite secret event solutions with us. And from an old pharmaceutical building to a former Victorian Turkish bathhouse, the venues cited in this tiny book are just a sample of the thousands of jewels across the capital waiting to be hired for corporate events. Yasmin Arrigo, Editor [email protected] Visit London’s Event Solutions team can help uncover London’s hidden treasures. Find out more at www.visitlondon.com/business

C&IT’s Little Book of Secrets is published as a supplement to C&IT, Haymarket Brand Media, 174 Hammersmith Road, London W6 7JP Editor Yasmin Arrigo Acting Editor Mike Fletcher Special Projects Editor Abigail Wills Production Editor Rob McKinlay Art Editor Susana De Dios Account Director Ian Porter Senior Production Controller Kevin Conroy Head of Production Gary Charlton Publishing Director Rachael Stilwell

Contents The House of Magic 5 Lost Society 7 Great Eastern Quay 9 Shunt Lounge 11 The Geffrye Museum 13 The Great Room at 1508 London 15 Herne Hill Velodrome 17 Collins’ Music Hall 19 Berry Bros 21 The Old Vic Tunnels 23 The Bathhouse 25 The Covent Garden Academy of Flowers 27

The House of Magic “The House of Magic is a real gem of a venue. The address is a well-kept secret, known by only a handful of event planners. Parties can incorporate a tour of the haunted cellar, soak up the atmosphere in the Enchanted Garden and watch a spectacular magic show.” Bonnie May, operations director, Upbeat Event Design

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Lost Society “Lost Society in Clapham is a really unusual venue with a great atmosphere, good food and memorable staff. It is just as good for a unique themed event as it is for a meeting where you want to give your delegates something totally different.” Robert Enefer, managing director, The Conference People

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“On Great Eastern Quay is a pharmaceutical building – part office, part warehouse – that was recently used for the English National Opera and Punchdrunk’s performance of The Duchess of Malfi. The place crackles with dramatic atmosphere.” Richard Foulkes, director, The Imagination Group

stephen cummiskey

Great Eastern Quay

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Shunt Lounge “After moving out from the London Bridge Vaults, Shunt now occupies an old tobacco warehouse where an abandoned relic of Victorian technology sits: a three-story building known as the ‘machine’. The Bermondsey Street venue can be hired for photo shoots, filming and parties.” Nadia Broccardo, executive director, Team London Bridge

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The Geffrye Museum “The Geffrye Museum has beautiful areas for small gatherings. The whole space feels relaxed and intimate and the restaurant produces lovely food. It is the perfect place for corporate events with overseas visitors, as they can experience elegant period rooms and a beautiful garden with a very English slant.” Anne Tozer, IT consultant, UKOZ

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The Great Room at 1508 London

“Design house 1508 London’s grand salon, The Great Room, is a provocative goad to creativity. As someone working with food, architecture and design, visiting 1508’s space makes the mind effervesce with ideas. On entering you step unexpectedly into a great white cavern. We want to flood their space and create a gondola banquet underneath a glowing starscape. What would you do with it?” Sam Bompas, director, Bompas & Parr

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Herne Hill Velodrome “The Herne Hill Velodrome would never be known to the passing pedestrian, motorist or cyclist. It hosted cycling for the 1948 Olympics and also Crystal Palace FC when bombed out in WWII. It is beautiful and also my secret Saturday morning hangout with my five-year-old son.” Richard McHardy, business development director, Innovision

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Collins’ Music Hall

“Collins’ Music Hall in the heart of Islington Green is an underground theatre space for 600 people that descends three levels. It is only a concrete shell at the moment but has great potential. It is on the site of a Victorian Music Hall and plans are afoot to bring it to life once more.” Valerie Brooks, Group events and marketing manager, The Bourne Collection

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Berry Bros

“Berry Bros & Rudd on St James’s Street is a fabulous venue and the events team provide a great history of the company and the building, which is a brilliant ice breaker, especially for corporate guests. The food is fantastic and the ambience is very special.” Fiona Plumpton, event solutions manager, Visit London

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The Old Vic Tunnels “Special event planners always look for new and exciting venues to add a ‘wow’ factor to their events. The Old Vic Tunnels provides just that. It is flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of almost any creative event format. I particularly like the Graffiti Walls on the approach to the entrance.” Jonathan Byrne, president elect, ISES UK

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The Bathhouse “The Bathhouse is an undiscovered beauty nestled in the shadows of the City and sits within Bishopsgate Churchyard. One of the last surviving Victorian Turkish Bathhouses, it offers a quirky mix of stunning original Victorian architecture and modern facilities. Wind your way down the staircase where the cavernous space opens before you.” Steven Moffat, founder, SML Events

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The Covent Garden Academy of Flowers

“Located in the brand new St Martin’s Courtyard is the stunning Covent Garden Academy of Flowers. The splitlevel venue offers floral design courses that go way beyond flower arranging to really intricate, unusual and detailed designs. It’s a true delight and ready to ‘bloom’ in 2011.” Zanine Adams, head of event solutions and UK sales, VisitLondon

For more information about these venues or for more hidden treasures speak to Visit London’s event solutions team on 020 7234 5833

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