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Venue Focus Magazine Feature, Spring 2005 - 'A Star is Reborn’

Address:	195 Piccadilly - BAFTA, Piccadilly W1
Tel	0870 780 9481
Fax:	020 7734 1009
Email:	Contact by email
Website:	Visit their website

Venue Focus Magazine Feature, Spring 2005 - 'A Star is Reborn’ Information:

195 Piccadilly, the home of BAFTA, is back in business after a £2 million refurbishment.

When the likes of Nicole Kidman, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones arrive at an event (as they often do at 195 Piccadilly), you’d expect to see a bit of sparkle, be it from a weighty diamond necklace, a dazzling white smile, or the paparazzi flashes. But these days, it’s not just the regular flow of celebrities that lends a sheen to 195 Piccadilly, for the home of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts has recently emerged from a £2 million refurbishment and is looking positively radiant.

‘I really like the new look – it’s very welcoming but also neutral and easy to personalise,’ says Christine Brown, a project manager from BBC Heritage who recently held an event at the tastefully made-over venue, where clean, contemporary interiors and impressive new technology add to existing features like the enviable location. The light and airy David Lean Room, for instance, is now a cool, white space, dotted with plasma screens and stylish light fittings, which also happens to come with an adjacent bar and views over Piccadilly, St James’ Church and Jermyn Street.

A space that really sets 195 Piccadilly apart is the Princess Anne Theatre, a purpose-built auditorium with 213 luxurious red seats, which combines the old-world elegance of wood-panelled walls with the very latest projection equipment. An obvious choice for private film screenings and awards ceremonies, the theatre has seen a few stars in its day – let’s face it, if these walls could speak, OK! would want to hear about it – but it’s also popular with corporate organisers, who have staged anything from seminars to AGMs here.

Indeed, this venue will add a touch of Hollywood glamour to any event and the facilities to create a truly memorable experience for guests are, of course, in place. How about red-carpet arrivals for starters? And beautiful hostesses to greet the crowds? Both are easily arranged, as is the use of a stage and dance floor for entertainment and dancing.

Food, too, lives up to expectations. And so it should, considering it’s provided exclusively by the family-run company behind the Capital Hotel and Restaurant, which has two stars in the Michelin Guide. ‘The catering was superb,’ confirms Denise Duignan of Roland Berger, who recently organised a recruitment presentation at 195 Piccadilly and has nothing but praise for the venue. Like many other happy customers, she proves you don’t have to leave here with an award in your hand to be a winner.

Techno House
One of the main advantages of 195 Piccadilly is the state-of-the-art technical facilities it offers. The David Lean Room boasts digital projection and plasma screens, while the Princess Anne Theatre features the world’s most advanced large screen digital cinema projector with a host of unique installation and operating benefits. Naturally, there’s an in-house tech team to oversee it all.