Size matters. For whatever reason, sometimes only an enormous space will do, be it due to the length of the guest list, or just the will to impress invitees with a space of sheer proportions. London has a wealth of high-capacity venues; here are just a handful of the biggest rooms on offer.
1. BMA House
Space: The Great Hall
Capacity: 320 (buffet, reception)
28 feet high and 115 feet long, The Great Hall at Bloomsbury's BMA House is a central space for conferences, weddings and receptions for all occasions. The building has been home to the British Medical Association since 1925, and still retains its original, traditional charm. The first-floor hall will be a popular space for the summer, too, with its balcony overlooking the main courtyard.
2. Barbican Centre
Space: Barbican Hall
Capacity: 1,989 (theatre)
The Barbican Centre needs no introduction, but here's one anyway. It's a world-renowned arts venue, continually hosting the best of visual and performing arts and cultural attractions in general: it's currently showing RSC productions of Shakespeare, the International Mime Festival, and The Revenant on the big screen. The formidable Barbican Hall fosters this creative spirit, housing exactly 1,989 people for live theatre. Social and business events are also welcomed to the flexible hall, where in-house caterers Searcys add flavour to the proceedings.
3. Troxy
Space: The Grand Hall
Capacity: 2,227 (standing)
A diverse range of musical, athletic and cultural performances find their dedicated audiences at Troxy, the East-London venue that's been hosting for 80 years. The architecturally impressive, Grade-II listed Grand Hall, built in the Art-Deco style, welcomes guests for dinners and weddings, cinematic and theatrical events and more, with the assistance of in-house AV facilities and tech teams if needed.
4. Lee Valley VeloPark
Space: Velodrome Track Centre
Capacity: 750 (seated)
No one's ever bowled at the Olympics, but Lee Valley VeloPark was home to Team GB's victory at the London 2012 Games. Four years on – also an Olympics year, we should add – the middle of the Velodrome Track Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is a prime location for the biggest of business events, pop-ups, product launches and social get-togethers, with a capacity of 750.
5. Tobacco Dock
Space: The Great Gallery
Capacity: 2,000 (reception)
If the whole venue is hired at the expansive Tobacco Dock, a whopping 10,000 attendees can be accommodated in 70 separate spaces. But let's focus on a single space, The Great Gallery, which is still capable of holding 2,000 for standing receptions and 1,300 for dining. The 19th-Century warehouse was recently renovated and has since become a stunning quayside venue, sure to be home to some of Summer 2016's most memorable parties.
6. Electric Brixton
Space: Main Room & Mezzanine
Capacity: 1,700 (reception)
We're sort of cheating on this one, but not entirely: the Main Room at Electric Brixton also includes the use of the Mezzanine, fusing the two spaces into a single entity. Just off vibrant Brixton Road, the venue is a music-event powerhouse thanks to its huge stage and AV facilities; it's also hosted televised awards ceremonies, weddings, gala dinners and then some.
For more awesome venues – and for great deals on booking them – go to hirespace.com.
