Top 10 Venues for Awards Season
Looking into a 'post-COVID' world.
In our latest blog, we want to look ahead to 'post-COVID-19' and to something we all look forward to – Awards Season. Awards take effect in many different styles depending on the nature of them, and the setting is where we always start. So, here are some of our favourite venues to host Award Shows.
OUR TOP VENUES
Depending on your capacity, style and format.
Evolution London
Battersea, South West London
Style – Large Blank Canvas
Capacity, seated dinner – 2,000
Set within Battersea Park, Evolution London is a unique, purpose-built event space that can be transformed to any theme or setting required. This huge blank canvas is designed for large-scale events with every step of the guest journey considered, from the entrance doors and multiple cloakrooms through to the mezzanine, perfect for drinks receptions. We love what you can do with this space, especially with the huge ceiling height of 8m. Check out what we created here for Times Best Companies to Work for Awards and the Team GB Ball and Awards Show.
The Grand Hall, Old Billingsgate
City of London
Style – Blank Canvas within Grade II Listed Building
Capacity, seated dinner – 700 to 1,800
This beautiful building, overlooking Tower Bridge and The Shard, gives your guests the wow factor before they’ve even entered the doors. The stunning arches and building features can be lit up, making it very easy to create the ultimate black-tie event just with effective lighting. But what makes this event space so perfect for an Awards Show is the hung mezzanine in the centre of the room, easily splitting the room into a reception space and the sit-down dining area, creating intimate spaces in such a vast building.
The Lancaster Ballroom, The Savoy
The Strand, Central London
Style – Traditional Ballroom
Capacity, seated dinner – 380
The Savoy creates an Awards Evening like no other. The service, the food, and the grandeur of the room just puts guests in awe. The private entrance makes for a stunning red-carpet welcome, which is then upstaged by the features of the ballroom. The mirrored walls open up this intimate space, and the built-in stage means no floor space needs to be eaten up by building out a stage. We believe this is the best that a classic Ballroom in London can offer for this style of event.
Underglobe
Southwark, Central London
Style – Museum
Capacity, seated dinner – 350
An enchanting venue set right underneath the Globe Theatre itself. By day it houses the Globe’s Shakespeare exhibition, but by night, invite your guests to a ready-made Midsummer Night’s Dream complete with a full-sized model oak tree. This space is an intimate, warm venue, welcoming guests through the private entrance and down the sweeping staircase, ready to celebrate the night away in this enchanted forest.
Cutty Sark
Greenwich, South East London
Style – Museum
Capacity, seated dinner – 250
This unique setting over in South East London creates a dramatic yet warm evening for your guests to be celebrated. Sitting under the suspended copper-clad hull of the Cutty Sark creates a setting that your guests will never forget. We love that this iconic boat gives you versatile options for the flow of the night, including the option to have the drinks reception on the deck of the boat, offering sweeping views across the Thames and to the city beyond.
The London Palladium
Oxford Circus, Central London
Style – West End Theatre
Capacity, seated awards show – 2,295
Sometime the Awards Show is all the celebration you need, and a West End Theatre is the best format to present your winners. The London Palladium is the world’s most iconic Theatre, used for Variety Shows, West End Productions and A-List Performances, and is now available for private hire. Come into The London Palladium and create a show using the huge stage for your audience to sit back and enjoy.
Landing Forty Two
City of London
Style – Modern Blank Canvas
Capacity, seated dinner – 250
Landing Forty Two is the highest dedicated events space in the UK, up on level 42 (surprise surprise!) of the Leadenhall Building, so the views are the real highlight here. With floor to ceiling glass all around you, capture in the views of London’s amazing skyline. This events space can be great for a sit-down dinner, but personally we love taking the city’s vibrancy and using this space for a drinks reception and presenting the awards from a central stage, giving it a personal feel, especially great for those who want networking to be a key part of the event.
One Marylebone
Marylebone, Central London
Style – Historical Building
Capacity, seated dinner – 350
Built in 1826, One Marylebone is a Grade I listed venue, which has recently been refurbished to restore its incredible architecture. Being one of three Soane buildings in central London, it really is a unique space with every corner displaying beautiful mosaics and design. We love the grand entrance, the private garden and almost most importantly, the great location straight opposite Great Portland Street Tube station, making it so easy for guests to find.
OXO2
South Bank, Central London
Style – Modern Blank Canvas
Capacity, seated dinner – 180
OXO2 is a great space, mainly for high-end product launch events, but we love it for an informal Awards Show, where a luxury but low-key feel is the perfect atmosphere. This gorgeous space positioned directly on the Thames has amazing views of the city, and once decorated with modern bars and seating areas, it’s the perfect space for friends and colleagues to be celebrating each other’s achievements whist enjoying circulating food and drinks.
Roundhouse
Camden, North West London
Style – Large Blank Canvas
Capacity, seated dinner – 850
In London, this is possibly one of the most talked about venues when it comes to Award Shows, and we understand why. This iconic building and its rock ‘n’ roll history have stood the test of time as it has everything you need. A built-in stage, lighting and sound rig makes it easy to create an incredible evening, but most importantly, having a circular room makes the vast space feel intimate for the audience, with no table too far away from the action.
