What's New: London
(menu)
Get Graphic in Soho
Graphic (tel: 0207 287 9241) has just opened in Golden Square, Soho and it's one of the most inviting bars we've stepped inside for a while. Available for exclusive hire for 200, with large windows opening onto the square, it boasts over 40 bespoke cocktail creations and a 'skewer-based' food offering. The dark wood panelling is lightened up by dozens of circular light shades suspended from the ceiling, and chesterfield booths complete the stylish backdrop. Perfect for stand-up summer drinks occasions...
Burlesque Soirée at The Gore
If you don't have plans for tomorrow night, pop down to Bar 190 at The Gore Hotel, where an intimate burlesque soirée is taking place from 8pm-1am. Burlesque attire is not essential, but strongly encouraged!
Horsing Around
400-capacity venue The Hoxton Pony rode into town last night, bringing a successful mix of edgy, modern design to Shoreditch. A team of top mixologists have created delicious cocktails using freshly-made syrups and purees, while food has been inspired by 'east end grub' - think pies and mash, jellied eels and pig's head terrine.
Moss Chooses Wapping Wedding
Kate Moss and Jamie Hince have chosen hip east London venue The Wapping Project for their wedding reception in September. Housed in a converted power station dating back to 1890, the two-storey restaurant and gallery space can cater for private parties of up to 100 seated and 500 standing.
Christmas in May
We know it's hard but try to fast forward to the festive season on 21 May, as cool city space Parker McMillan invite you to their Christmas party showcase, featuring Guildhall Vaults and Fulham Town Hall. Live entertainment, complimentary drinks and nibbles will be on offer from 6pm to late. RSVP to info@parkermcmillan.co.uk
Up on the Roof at the Oval
Perfect timing weatherwise for Oval Events to open up their spacious Roof Terrace for corporate hire at the Brit Insurance Oval. Formerly only available to hire on cricket days and as a hospitality venue, the open air bar and function space is now available for hire every day of the cricket season, accommodating up to 300 guests for a drinks reception or a buffet.
Learn Salsa in the City
The weather's hotting up and so, no doubt, will the atmosphere at Firefly City from 12 May, when salsateca start their salsa classes. Running every Monday night from 6.45pm, just pitch up and get your groove on in this 600-capacity venue, which offers lots of stylish flexible space for private parties.
ExCel Sold for £178m
ExCel London has been sold to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company for £178 million. It is understood the deal will assure the venue’s £150 million ‘phase two’ extension plan, which includes around 100,000 square metres of flexible flat floor exhibition and conference space. The development will see ExCel become London’s biggest conference and events centre.
Spring Clean at Cargo
We never know what to call Shoreditch-based Cargo, it being a combination of bar, restaurant, live music venue and nightclub. The 60-cover restaurant is reopening on May 12 following its closure last year after a fire, and with its airy outside space, Cargo is a great place to hold a summer party, whether partial or exclusive hire.
The Deck
When you hire The Deck at the National Theatre, you hire the whole of London – figuratively speaking. The views from this light-flooded function space are some of the most spectacular we’ve seen, panning from the ‘Gherkin’ across to Big Ben. Available from April to October, entertain up to 80 dinner guests or 100 delegates on the large alfresco terrace surrounded by a striking translucent cube structure with retractable glass walls in case of inclement weather. At night, hi-tech lighting works to enhance, rather than detract from, the London skyline.
Star-Gazing in Greenwich
London's only Planetarium (the Marylebone Road location is now part of Madame Tussauds and no longer features astronomy shows) has opened in Greenwich. The Peter Harrison Planetarium (tel: 020 8312 8517) is the centrepiece of the Royal Observatory's spectacular redevelopment project and can be hired for fantastic evening events, including a telescope viewing.
Chilling at the Sanderson
Bank holiday weekend sees the launch of Sunday Chill at the Sanderson, in the stylish Courtyard Garden next to the Long Bar. Live performances and cocktails are served up from 1 - 8pm every Sunday throughout the summer, and it's an ideal chance to check out the 50-capacity private room just off the garden...
Private View at Andaz
Andaz Liverpool Street takes pride in its links with the art world and is hosting, from 2 - 15 May, an exhibition entitled 'Private View'. It's a collaboration with product design students from the Royal College of Art and provides an insight into the workings of a designer's thinking process and how these ideas become reality. We're not sure what that means either, but even if you're not an art lover, it gives you an excuse to pop in and reacquaint yourself with this stylish hotel, which opened in November last year.
Politicians Weigh in at Altitude
29th-floor Altitude is proving a popular choice for politicians of late. First David Cameron, then Gordon Brown and most recently Republican Senator John McCain have chosen it as an iconic London backdrop for their meetings and campaigns.
wallacespace
Fans of light and airy wallacespace Covent Garden will be pleased to note that a second space is opening in April in King’s Cross. wallacespace St Pancras (tel: 020 7395 1265) is just two minutes walk from the station and at twice the size of the Dryden Street venue, has plenty of space for modish meetings. The building is a roomy 12,000 sq ft warehouse (once a toffee factory) on four floors, with varied-size spaces holding from two to 120 and a breezy basement café leading onto an outside deck. The third floor has interesting ‘apartment-style’ loft-space rooms and plenty of flexible breakout areas and email pick-up points are provided throughout.
Imperial War Museum London
For a venue with a licence to thrill, look to the new exhibition at the Imperial War Museum London. ‘For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond’ celebrates the centenary of Fleming’s birth and explores the history of the world’s most famous secret agent. Guests will be 'shaken and stirred' (sorry, it had to be done) by exhibits such as Daniel Craig’s blood-spattered shirt from Casino Royale, Auric Goldfinger’s golf shoes and Halle Berry’s fabulous Die Another Day bikini. The Grade II-listed museum can accommodate up to 1,000 guests for a drinks reception and 350 for dinner. Events packages start from £5,000.
The Pride of Camden
At Proud was reborn as Proud Camden (tel: 020 7482 3867) last week in Camden's famous Grade II-listed Stables Market. Holding up to 800 indoors or 200 outdoors, it's set to be the hot venue ticket for spring/summer functions. 10,000 sq.ft spread over three rooms also ranks it as one of the largest gallery spaces and live music venues in London. The Stables Room is one of the most innovative spaces, with erstwhile stables converted into intimate, individually designed booths.
Alfresco - Venues with Outdoor Areas
