Thames Venues - Tower Bridge to Canary Wharf

Tower Bridge
There are four event spaces on the world’s most famous bridge: two Walkways, managed by Seasoned Events, and the Victorian Engine Rooms, the Bridge Master’s Dining Room and North Tower Lounge, which are managed by Fizz. The views from the Walkways, it goes without saying, are stunning. 
Tower Bridge Road, SE1 2UP, tel: 020 7940 8384, BR:-  FR:4  M:40  D:120  R:250 

Butlers Wharf Chop House
Take the Chop House on an exclusive basis and a maximum of 150 guests can enjoy canapés in the shadow of Tower Bridge. On fine days, the restaurant’s folding doors can be opened, and inside there are semi-private areas for groups of 14-38. 
36E Shad Thames, SE1 2YE, tel: 020 7403 3403, BR:-  FR:-  M:20  D:150  R:150

Le Pont de la Tour
The heated Bar & Grill Terrace can accommodate up to 60 guests standing, the Salon Privé up to 20 to dine and the Wine Cellar up to 24. Take the restaurant exclusively to host 300 for cocktails.36D Shad Thames, SE1 2YE, tel: 020 7940 1850, BR:-  FR:-  M:20  D:24  R:300 

Cantina del Ponte
This reliable Italian on Shad Thames can feed groups of up to 36, though if you take exclusive hire that shoots up to 100 (or 200 standing). The outside space has great views of Tower Bridge and the Pool of London.
26C Shad Thames, SE1 2YE, tel: 020 7403 5403, BR:-  FR:-  M:120  D:100  R:200

Browns Butlers Wharf
Two private dining rooms by the alfresco deck can be combined into a space large enough for 150-guest stand-up receptions (up to 50 can dine), or split into smaller rooms for parties or meetings. 
Butlers Wharf, Shad Thames, SE1 2YG, tel: 020 7378 1700,  BR:-  FR:-  M:50  D:50  R:150

Guoman Tower Hotel
There’s no missing this 801-room hotel next to Tower Bridge. It’s huge, with a whopping 19 conference rooms and the facilities to hold events for up to 600, then the 12th floor is given over to rooms for meetings, presentations and private dining.
St Katharine’s Way, London E1W 1LD, tel: 0871 376 9036,  BR:801  FR:19  M:550  D:500  R:600

The Design Museum
The Design Museum has three function rooms, two of which have floor-to-ceiling windows for Thameside views. Riverside Hall is the larger of the two – a blank canvas perfect to showcase your creative party skills.
28 Butlers Wharf, Shad Thames, SE1 2YD, tel: 020 7940 8262, BR:-  FR:3 M:150  D:120  R:250

Blueprint Café
Chef Jeremy Lee has been at the helm of this Shad Thames museum restaurant for 16 years. Hire the first-floor space exclusively for a wedding reception, corporate do or private party for up to 150. There’s a small balcony to keep smokers happy too.
Design Museum, 28 Butlers Wharf, Shad Thames, SE1 2YD. Tel: 020 7378 7031, BR:-  FR:-  M:-  D:100  R:150

Riverlounge Italian
Views from this first-floor restaurant are of the river and St Katharine Docks, but it’s the yachts moored outside that have inspired the decor. Chefs from Sardinia, Naples and Turin bring a regional flavour to the Italian menu, which can be adapted to suit weddings, parties and corporate events.
50 St Katharines Way, London, E1W 1LA, tel: 020 7702 4588, BR:-  FR:1  M:-  D:70  R:150

River View Chinese Restaurant
All the classics are on the menu in this converted Wapping warehouse. A private room with space for 60 has French windows giving on to a terrace; the restaurant can also be hired exclusively.New Crane Wharf, New Crane Place, E1W 3TU, tel: 020 7480 6026, BR:-  FR:1  M:60  D:120  R:120

The Prospect of Whitby
This 16th-century pub has welcomed customers such as Samuel Pepys, Charles Dickens and Kirk Douglas. Upstairs, a private bar with river balcony can seat 25.57 Wapping Wall, E1W 3SH, tel: 020 7481 1095, BR:-  FR:2  M:40  D:50  R:100

The Narrow
Gordon Ramsay’s Limehouse pub has prime river views – milked to the full with the telescope in the Captain’s Table private dining room. It takes 18 for business meetings or meals, more for canapé parties.
44 Narrow Street, E14 8DP, tel: 020 7592 1373, BR:-  FR:3  M:18  D:40  R:120

Hilton London Docklands Riverside
The Rotherhithe outpost of the Hilton chain is just across the river from Canary Wharf. There are 26 meeting rooms on offer, with space suitable for one-on-one meetings or theatre-style presentations for up to 300 delegates. There’s not a huge amount going on in the area in terms of night life (or day life, for that matter) and no tube, but it is easily reached from Canary Wharf – a ferry shuttles backwards and forwards every few minutes late into the night.  265 Rotherhithe Street, tel: 020 7231 1001, BR:378  FR:26  M:300  D:250  R:300

This article first appeared in Square Meal Venues & Events, summer 2011