Located on the lower ground floor, the Livery Hall is quiet and tranquil. It is perfect for meetings, dining and receptions. It is the largest and most modern room at Founders' Hall and features large pothole windows that flood the room with natural light and provide views of the gardens of St Bartholomew the Great. The DDR includes meeting room hire, tea and pastries, mid-morning tea & coffee, fork buffet lunch, afternoon tea, staffing and cutlery, cloak room, basic AV and flip chart.
Bethnal Hall can be adapted to fit virtually any specifications you may have in mind for a beautifully executed event, such as a gala Christmas gathering, a fun birthday celebration, or a productive corporate event. The large space offers 190 square metres of space, plenty of room for up to 200 guests or delegates. The walls very discreetly recess into the ceiling to divide the room into four smaller areas. The original 1930s decor, gleaming wooden flooring, and warm lighting will make you and your guests feel comfortable and welcome.
Light, ornate and elegant, with fine bow windows at each end and a west facing terrace overlooking Hyde Park with an ante room if needed. One of the finest spaces in London. With a variety of seating arrangements available, it is perfect for a range of corporate or private events including weddings, conferences, charity events and more.
Set in the heart of Knightsbridge, Searcys at 30 Pavilion Road has long been a famous address for memorable private and corporate events. Original features such as the marble fire places, stone floor and antique wood panelled Library room were reclaimed from historic locations to create a luxuriously traditional setting. This country style Georgian townhouse is available for exclusive hire 365 days a year. Searcys Knightsbridge is available for exclusive hire for private dinners, drinks receptions and events.
Surrounded by vines, climbing plants and other foliage, the Gin Terrace and bar, on the balcony overhanging the Lighthouse Course, is a great place to host your next event and Christmas Party.
Oval Space offers 4,000 sq ft of blank canvas space, panoramic windows and striking views of the Bethnal Green gasworks. Two open air terraces frame the space and the venue is provided fully staffed (security, cloakroom, bar, technicians etc). Catering is either in-house or via preferred suppliers; all your production needs can also be looked after by our team. Our space is available for a wide range of corporate and private events including meetings, product launches, screenings and receptions.
With its spacious and modern interior, rooftop terrace, outside space, generous bar and mezzanine floor, the Terrace is the perfect party venue for larger guest numbers. Summer parties start the night with drinks within our unique animal house Penguin Beach whereas Christmas parties begin the evening within the world's first Aquarium! The Terrace is based within the heart of ZSL London Zoo overlooking our famous carousel - the perfect special touch for any event! This venue is perfect for those who would like to dance the night away whilst being spoilt with award winning food and drink!
The Ivory Vaults are perfectly situated for private parties, as well as exclusive or shared corporate events. Our in-house catering team can offer your own bespoke menu produced in our large on-site kitchen. Our style of food can be drawn from anywhere in the world - modern British to rustic Italian; spicy Moroccan to authentic Indian. Catering options include formal dining, buffet, canapés, shared platters, bowl and finger food. We offer bespoke packages for corporate events or larger productions and venue finders who are looking for a unique historic venue situated in central London.
Working out where to start with the planning process, what sort of venue to choose and how to make your Christmas Party a rip-roaring success can be a bit daunting. But we’re here to help. Christmas is a wonderful time of year and a fantastic opportunity to celebrate everything you and your colleagues have achieved that year or raise a glass with customers and clients.
Knowing what to tackle first can be the most difficult part of planning the office Christmas party, and the temptation to get carried away with the fun aspects can be very distracting. So, here are a few pointers to get you on the right track.
This is so, so important. For starters, you need to know what sort of budget you're working to, how many people you need to cater for and ideally a rough idea of where you want the day to take place. This will help frame your search for a venue later on.
Most Christmas party prices work on a package basis, that will likely be based on a 'per head' basis so it's worthwhile working out how much you have to spend per person. Most venues will offer levels of packages too, that range from just food plus wine on the table to unlimited drinks, so it's simple to work with differing budgets.
Talking about Christmas any time before October (at the earliest) can seem pre-emptive but booking your Christmas party should definitely be an exception. If you are booking for a large company, you have very specific dates, an ideal venue in mind or even a limited budget, it's important to get your enquiries in early.
The largest bookings are made as early as January, with most coming in over the summer months and being finalised by the end of September. Smaller groups can still be accommodated after that but it's likely you'll need to be more flexible the closer you get to Christmas, check out our guide here for more last minute Xmas party ideas.
If you're on a strict budget, look at less popular days such as Monday or Tuesday or pick early November or even January to hold your party. You'll get more for your money than on more in-demand days in December, particularly Thursdays and Fridays.
Central and South London are consistently the most popular locations for parties, but demand is also increasing in East London. London has brilliant venues in every corner so don't limit to yourself to what is popular, in fact it might make your life easier if you broaden your horizons. The most important part of choosing a location is the ease of getting there and back for your guests.
Big, high-production events are fantastic but they're not for everyone. You might want a venue that more closely reflects your brand, is a bit more intimate or perhaps more unusual.
Pubs are a great option for smaller groups, especially if you're looking for a great Christmas lunch, they also provide that wonderful warm, fuzzy, festive feeling - think roaring fires, Xmas jumpers and mulled wine.
If unusual is your thing, there are so many options, from museums to warehouses and beautiful bars to Victorian arches. Perhaps you could give karaoke a go or hire a cinema screen to watch Elf, there really is something for everyone.
Many large venues offer ‘shared parties’ during the festive season. This works particularly well if you’ve got a smaller group but still want to have the vibe of a grand affair. These shared parties often have the capacity for up to 1000 guests and have a high production level. From acrobats to dodgems, theming, lighting and more, these parties really do have the wow-factor.
Don't forget to browse our top venues above for inspiration and get in touch if you need a hand.
Most venues will have a carefully planned out theme that will be used across all their parties during the festive season, so all you have to do is choose one that fits what you're looking for. However, you can always go fully bespoke and dress the venue yourself to suit your brand or group more closely - bare in mind that this option is likely to be more work but can have amazing results.
There are different options for catering too, many venues have in-house caterers or a 'preferred' list of suppliers that work at that venue frequently. It's likely to be cheaper (and easier) to use one of these options but many venues will also allow you to source your own caterer if that's what you require.
There are endless styles of catering depending on the type of event you want and your budget. It could range from a drinks and canapé reception to a sit-down three-course meal. There are also bowl food options available, that provide more substantial food offerings but retain the relaxed atmosphere of a drinks reception. You could also consider street food vans or stalls that will provide a number of options for your guests. More informal food offerings are becoming more and more popular and they are a great, flexible for more budget-conscious groups.
Oh, and our final top tip, make sure you've planned how you'll get everyone to the venue, either choose something that's walking distance, has good transport links or even hire a party bus. Equally as important is making sure all your guests have a way to get home or be sure to source accommodation as part of your planning - after all you want your party to be remembered for all the right reasons.
So, we hope you're now a Christmas party planning expert, but if you need an extra hand then don't forget to get in touch.
Christmas parties are a great way to celebrate a successful year with your colleagues, friends or family and let your hair down before gloomy January arrives. London has a huge variety of spaces that can transform into your festive shindig. Whether it's a big corporate celebration or a low-key, cosy 'do', there's a space out there to suit every occasion and budget. We've pulled together some of our favourites for you to browse from across London. There's impressive stadiums, beautiful bars and elegant livery halls to choose from and of course some more unusual Christmas venues to keep you on your toes.
You can enquire directly through Hire Space at any of the venues you like the look of, or if you need a bit more help, our Venue Expert can create a bespoke proposal of suggestions, all specific to your needs. We'll give you tailored quotes and negotiate on your behalf. The service is completely free so you can concentrate on Christmas shopping and drinking festive cocktails. Happy venue finding!
On this page you can browse venues from across the UK as well get some top tips from our Venue Experts on how to plan the perfect party.
Hire Space responded immediately with some fantastic, unique options. Couldn't have been easier.
Ruthlessly efficient in delivering exactly what we want... a triumph!
