Finding the perfect wedding venue can be a challenge, but if you are looking for a spot that boasts glamour and grandness with a touch of history thrown in for good measure, then German Gymnasium in King’s Cross ticks all those boxes. The building was originally build in 1865 for the German Gymnastics Society (hence the name), before being used as the venue for the first London Olympic Games in 1866. It’s moved on a bit since then, though, and is now a restaurant and bar owned by D&D London, serving Mittel-European fare and an epic drinks list.
Fancy hosting a wedding amongst all of that? German Gymansium can be hired exclusively for special occasions, including for breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in between. The main upper floor restaurant area can be booked for up to 250 people standing, or 150 for a seated event, and includes use of the main restaurant, Meister Bar and semi-private dining room. This area also benefits from its own private entrance and looks down onto the grand café below.
For smaller groups or pre-wedding occasions, you might like to hire out the semi-private dining room alone, for up to 32 guests for a sit-down dinner. Or why not opt for the Grand Café on the ground floor, which can hold up to 50 people and feels little more relaxed than the more formal setting upstairs. There’s also an outdoor terrace that guests can amble out to for a spot of fresh air when celebrations are well underway.
What’s on the menu? Expect plenty of German-inspired plates, from schnitzel to sausages. Examples include smoked pork sausage with gherkins, red onions, cheddar and mustard dressing, chicken schnitzel with braised red cabbage, sweet potato fried and red wine jus and seared salmon with dill and a mustard sesame sauce.