Pinpoint Vol 2.

Venue Spotlight By Conference Care

OCTOBER

VOL.2

CONTENTS

What's the (Pin)point?

3

This Month's Feature

4

Venue For Good

8

Hottest Venue

11

Social Space

16

Venue Roundup

18

Overseas Venues

23

Venues to Look Out For...

26

WHAT'S (PIN)POINT? WHAT'STHE THE (PIN)POINT? This second edition of Pinpoint spotlights some truly unique spaces. Our team has been hard at work discovering venues that stand out from the crowd, perfect for lots of different events, from a small team meeting to a multi-day conference or exhibition.

We’ve gone far and wide looking at spaces for social events to co-working spaces that can accommodate and cater for all sorts of events. Read on to find out more...

Team Featured in this Edition Susie Ritchie Susie’s favourite thing is when the plane doors open and she’s hit with a wall of heat, followed by a chilled glass of New Zealand Sauvignon. Her next favourite thing is finding a quirky venue with lots of natural daylight and great social spaces.

Sophie Colden

Sophie is the latest edition to our expert venue-finding team. When she’s not searching for spectacular new venues (or older buildings given a new lease on life), she is out exploring new places with her dog or creating art pieces.

Megan Lord Megan the adventurer is always on the lookout for her next big expedition, she loves the outdoors and getting lost in the middle of nowhere. When it comes to venues, she loves finding hidden gems - places no one else has seen or heard of.

Georgina Foxall Our resident travel addict, Georgie can often be found paddle boarding with her dog, Isla. Her favourite type of venue is when something old has been turned into something new! Something that feels fresh & unique, but also has a story to tell.

THIS MONTH'S FEATURE

Read all about Middle Eight’s venue spaces here.

Find out more about Shiva Hotel’s latest opening: The BoTree.

Middle Eight Hotel in Covent Garden, London is built around a musical motif. It’s not just an off-beat quirk either, everything the venue has to offer is on time and in tune with their guests’ needs and wants. It also has fantastic spaces to host all kinds of different events, which is why we wanted to feature this venue – for its versatility, its style, and its community focus.

In this feature, we get insight from the Marketing Manager of Shiva Hotels, Nikki Brannan, on the unique timbre of Middle Eight.

SUSIE RITCHIE, ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, SCOTLAND “As soon as you walk into the reception area, you can feel the vibe of a 5star hotel and a lovely relaxed atmosphere. Sustainability is high on the agenda. You can see that from the sustainably sourced furniture in the public areas & amenities in the bedrooms, and from dining in the Sycamore restaurant. The food is authentically Italian and delicious. Middle Eight is a gem of a hotel and I am confident it will exceed all of your expectations.”

Want more recommendations from me?

Contact me on susier@conferencecare.com or call 02476 369 720

THE HISTORY OF MIDDLE EIGHT HOTEL Shiva Hotels takes old buildings and gives them a new lease of life by investing millions to transform them into contemporary spaces.

Middle Eight takes its name from the musical term ‘middle eight’, a musical interlude or bridge that differs in character from the song’s melody. The name honours the site’s rich history, which dates back to 1912. The building was originally a Methodist church called Kingsway Hall before it became one of the world’s leading studios for the recording of classical and film music.

Now, the luxury hotel continues this music legacy with live music and performances in the hotel’s late-night speakeasy, QT. The hotel was refurbished two years ago and was done so with sustainability in mind. The team now use sustainable products throughout the hotel.

Bathrobes are made from recycled plastic bottles. Toiletries are made from recycled aluminium. Even the toilet roll is eco-friendly, unbleached premium bamboo.

Right outside of Bond Street you’ll find Shiva Hotels’ latest offerring The BoTree.

A dazzling new venue with great transport links, shopping right around the corner, and glamour built into every corner - The BoTree is an experience you’ll likely never forget.

Why not give your attendees a taste of the high life?

Find out more about this stunning new hotel from Shiva, by turning the page.

Middle Eight is not your typical events hotel. Beautiful design and individual spaces create unique areas to hold your meeting.

On the first floor overlooking the bar and restaurant is The Balcony. Perfect for networking and product launches, the relaxed space suits a whole range of needs. For more space and culinary delights, you can take over the bar and restaurant for the ultimate reception or sit-down dinner.

In the basement of Middle Eight, you will find QT (pictured above) with its own street-side private entrance. With a stage, a high-end sound system, a green room and a private kitchen, QT would be great for hosting fashion shows, live music, product launches, receptions, and parties. This space has a 164” retractable screen, so is perfect for cinema nights and multimedia or hybrid events.

The team at Middle Eight are incredibly helpful, friendly, and tech-savvy. They will work with you to create an event that is exactly your tempo.

Book one of these incredible spaces, just call 02476 369 720 or email enquiries@conferencecare.com.

THE BOTREE Shiva Hotels has a whole range of fantastic venues in its arsenal. The newest of which - The BoTree opened this September.

This shiny new hotel is barely a breath away from the train station.

Its entrance is golden and enticing, and the lobby is, in a word, glamorous.

Here you can enjoy private dining, make use of a sleek, modern cinema room, and utilise any number of the amazing conference spaces available.

If you want an event with a “wow” factor - this is the place to be.

So why would you choose the BoTree over other hotels in the area? Simple... ...The venue is dressed to impress. It’s a perfect space for C-Suite meetings, gala dinners, screening events, product launches, and more.

The accommodation is also sure to impress, and perfect for high-level guests. The BoTree is hot on the scene and has great service to boot.

So, why here? Why not?

UNITY PLACE MEGAN LORD, EVENTS CONSULTANT “The brand new auditorium can hold up to 300 people with floods of natural daylight, it is fully equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for seamless connectivity, perfect for any hybrid events too! From zero food waste to solar panels on the roof, this venue has sustainability at the heart of its values.

Ultimately it’s a perfect mix of business and leisure all in one place.”

Want more recommendations from me?

Contact me on meganl@conferencecare.com or call 02476 369 720

Unity Place opened this summer to accommodate the new, flexible way of

Why Unity?

working that the UK has come to know.

But, failing to settle for a simple

There’s nowhere else like it.

workspace, the creators of this fantastic new hub set out to design a space that

This is a venue that would make running an event simple. From the

is sustainable, inclusive, and bolsters the city of Milton Keynes.

floorplan to the accessibility built from the foundations, this space guarantees a smooth-running event.

But what is Unity Place?

It is a high-quality venue, a dynamic hub of work and collaboration, and a place

You’ll never need to leave for the duration of the event - everything you need will be at Unity Place.

to connect and socialise.

Located at the gateway of Milton Keynes, the space is just a few minutes away from the station. This makes it a prime location for your event, with easy

Plus, you’ll get plenty of value for your money. If you compare this space to venues of similar size in London, you’ll get so much more bang for your buck.

transport links and an accessible venue.

And, this is a sustainable space that will

It’s accessible. It’s sustainable. It supports the local community. And, it’s

help reduce the carbon footprint of your next event.

a fantastic venue with a brilliant community vibe.

SPACES You can tell the entire building has been thoroughly thought out. The design, architecture, and technology all work together to make this space easy to navigate and use to its full potential.

All of the walls include a map of the building so it is impossible to get lost, and all of the spaces flow into the next. Everywhere is flooded with natural daylight. The venue is wheelchair accessible and it’s even AUDITORIUM The auditorium is modern, open, and able to seat 300 people. Each row of seating is lined with plug sockets, so you can bring laptops and other devices for use

possible to bring vehicles into the bigger spaces, such as the food market.

LED screens can be found across the entire venue, and these can be personalised for your own purposes.

Plus, new spaces are being

throughout the day. Perfect for

developed too, including a roof terrace bar that can be hired out for

award ceremonies, industry talks,

evening use.

and conferences. On either side of the auditorium are two more rooms that can be used for breakout spaces. It’s a great space for hybrid events.

SUSTAINABILITY Unity Place is an example of how a sustainable venue doesn’t have to sacrifice quality. It runs entirely on green energy, rainwater is reused, and waste is minimised by using close-loop recycling on-site. Its vendors are also passionate about sustainability and are hand-picked from the local community.

You can fit over 400 delegates in the urban food market - and you can utilise the brilliant variety of street vendors and restaurants on-site, or use their facilities for your own purposes, buffet-style.

HOTTEST VENUE

COLONY MANCHESTER BOOK TODAY Book your next event at Colony Manchester by speaking to one of our venue-finding experts on 02476 369 720

NEVER BORED(ROOM) Sometimes a hotel just doesn’t cut it and you need something different. Community workspaces are great for hybrid working, but they’re also fantastic spaces for meetings and events.

You’ll often see venues claiming that each of their meeting spaces has its own personality. At Colony, this is actually true. No two rooms are the same, but all of them are beautifully designed & thought out.

Want to hold a meeting around a ping pong table?

Host a movie night with tiered seating? Keep things light in an open space bathed in natural light?

All of these options are available at Colony. While most of their meeting spaces are tailored to small groups - between 5 and 18 people - there are options for larger groups too.

The event lounges at Ancoats and Piccadilly have a capacity of up to 150 people and are ideal for networking and small exhibitions.

or emailing: enquiries@conferencecare.com.

WHAT MAKES IT HOT? We’ve chosen to feature Colony Manchester thanks to its latest offering - Colony Fabrica, which opened this autumn.

This 24,000 sqft hub offers businesses a brand new way to work and host events. Fabrica gives an iconic building a new life, as well as providing a space to enjoy premium coffee and landmark views of the city.

All meeting spaces are equipped for hybrid meetings and can be as flexible as you need. Free, Plus, if you love that community feel, insightful events are running all the time at Colony. You will always have the chance to drop in on networking socials and workshops too.

SOPHIE COLDEN, EVENTS CONSULTANT "When I discovered Colony Manchester, I just knew we had to feature it somehow. The range of different spaces available means that there is something for everyone, and each location is beautifully thought out. Would recommend for meetings, small events, and team-building any day."

Want more recommendations from me?

Contact me on sophiec@conferencecare.com or call 02476 369 720

SOCIAL SPACE

NEON 194

Located in Piccadilly this space merges the city’s cultural and entertainment scene, which makes it a great hub for an evening of entertainment.

The space is set over two floors, featuring an all-day café & bar at ground level. On the sub-level, you have a private event space with a capacity of 410 people.

GEORGINA FOXALL, EVENTS CONSULTANT “It's a ballroom but without being fussy, turn the lights off and it’s a warehouse. Not your conventional event space - we are excited to witness the capabilities of this unique venue!”

Want more recommendations from me?

Contact me on georginaf@conferencecare.com or call 02476 369 720

Downstairs, the huge private event space has a hardwood floor, timber-panelled walls, wall lights and down lights, banquette seating and tables.

Food is served from 9am everyday from tweaked traditional bites to street food. This venue has so much potential - we’re looking forward to booking lots more events here!

THE ROUNDUP

THE ROUNDUP Looking for a London-based venue for your next event? Last month some of our venuefinding team took a tour around old London town to discover some unique gems in the Hyatt group of hotels in London - and they had a lot to say! Find out which one is right for you in this roundup of their favourites, including: The Andaz Hyatt Stratford Great Scotland Yard Hyatt Blackfriars; and Hyatt Regency - The Churchill

GREAT SCOTLAND YARD Of all the hotels our expert venue-finding team saw during their visit, Great Scotland Yard was the universal favourite. Why? let’s find out...

“You have to see Great Scotland Yard to believe it. The venue is down an unsuspecting, quiet road, and yet the hotel is full of character and history.

“The attention to detail in everything from the registration desks made from old suitcases to artwork created by prison inmates makes this venue truly unique. Probably one of my favourites in London!”

- Jayne Turnor

“The venue is full of history and it’s not hidden away. The staff know the story of the building, and it’s written all over the walls - literally.

“Great for overseas visitors, as it’s very British and very unique. It’s also a lot of fun - there is a moustache hidden in every room!”

- Karen Rogers

“The architecture throughout the building is magnificent and truly every tiny detail blew me away. Ideal for events of up to 40 people.

“Would recommend for smaller-medium meetings or high-level incentive style events.”

- Krina Parmar

CONTACT OUR TEAM:

Karen Rogers karenr@conferencecare.com Jayne Turnor jaynet@conferencecare.com Krina Parmar krinap@conferencecare.com

HYATT STRATFORD “This venue is the full package. It has beautiful outdoor spaces, as well as indoor.

The staff are wonderful, and cannot do enough for you. I wouldn’t hesitate to send anyone to this hotel as it is easy to get to and is in a great location. Hyatt Stratford is right in Westfield shopping centre & close to Abba Voyage! What more could you ask for?”

- Jayne Turnor

“Lovely hotel located in Westfield Stratford’s urban shopping and entertainment complex. Walking distance to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Rooms are modern and spacious.”

- Krina Parmar

“Stunning venue all round - from meeting facilities, bedrooms and the restaurant, Rates are brilliant for a London venue, and it is super easy to get to from central London. The fantastic outdoor terrace is perfect for receptions and an excellent meeting space for all types of events. The hotel is in a good location for rail links too!”

- Karen Rogers

HYATT BLACKFRIARS “Stylish hotel with meeting spaces all located on the same floor. All of the spaces have recently had a refurbishment, and are very modern.

Suitable for all types of events and attendees.

Good event space overall.”

- Karen Rogers

“The star of the show at Hyatt Blackfriars was the Chinese restaurant, it is one of the best I have been to. Beautiful space and wonderful food.”

- Jayne Turnor

THE ANDAZ “The Andaz has a really interesting blend of styles - Old and new. This extends to the rooms too. Each one had a different feel and design.

The hotel itself had a really traditional style, but all of the meeting and event spaces were very modern and contemporary”

- Jayne Turnor

“The Andaz has more capacity than Great Scotland Yard, so would be better for larger events, while maintaining a unique, traditional style.

Excellent location too - very close to the train station.”

- Krina Parmer

“Unique restaurants on-site that you can access right from the street, including a traditional British pub. There is really something for everyone.”

- Karen Rogers

HYATT REGENCY THE CHURCHILL “As soon as you enter this hotel, you feel like royalty. High ceilings, beautiful interior and exquisite service. Flexible meeting space can accommodate small and large meetings. Great event space, lovely touches in the décor.”

- Karen Rogers

“Perfect for bigger events. The hotel has a quintessentially English feel, including a traditional gentlemen’s bar. it’s great for anyone looking to capture that kind of style for their attendees or guests.”

- Jayne Turnor

Want to book your next event at one of the venues reviewed here? Contact one of our expert venue-finding team by emailing enquiries@conferencecare.com or calling: 02476 369 720

Overseas Venue

Marrakech

g ie F o M e, Geo r

xa l l

Marrakech

That night we had a gala dinner at the

In September, I was lucky enough to visit

dancers and a wonderful pianist. The food

some of the best hotels in Marrakech.

was mixed-Indian cuisine and set out as a

Along the way, I had one of the best

taster menu. This meant we got to sample

culinary experiences of my life and took

lots of different dishes, and all of them

in the sights of the city in a unique way.

were delicious. Looking around the hotel,

Rivayat on the patio. This space is perfect for events, private dining, and gala dinners. We were entertained by fire

you got the sense that you were walking I stayed at La Mamounia. If you’ve heard

around an Indian palace. Would highly

of any hotel in Marrakech, you’ve likely

recommend dining here for anyone looking

heard of this one. It was ranked as the

for an Indian feel to their event.

best hotel in North Africa by Conde Nast.

It was also among the 2021 world’s best award winners. Safe to say, the hotel lived up to the hype. It was luxurious, the

This trip took place during the devastating earthquake that left thousands of people

staff were attentive and friendly, and it

homeless. Please consider donating to the

felt Moroccan through and through.

British Red Cross to help with efforts to

Getting there was easy, as it was a quick

support those who were most affected by

15-minute drive from the airport.

this disaster: https://buff.ly/3sSTz9g?

The next day we had lunch on the rooftop of La Sultana. Needless to say, we were treated to some wonderful views and enjoyed La Table de Souk’s menu. One thing that really stood out to me about La Sultana was how unassuming the venue is from the outside. After venturing down some small streets in the old town of Marrakech to find it, you enter an extravagant riad-style space.

That evening, we had dinner at Le Menzeh, one of the private dining spaces at the hotel. The food was amazing, and so was the presentation. We ate at a long table decorated with some incredible flower arrangements.

Want more recommendations from Georgie?

Contact me on georginaf@conferencecare.com or call 02476 369 720

On this last day, we were treated to some spectacular views over the Atlas mountains and desert from a hot air balloon before returning home, and I was able to reflect on my time here and each of the hotels I’d visited. I honestly wouldn’t hesitate to recommend any of them for a private dining experience or accommodation. If you’re looking for a space to host a small event, particularly a gala dinner or incentive-style getaway, you can’t go wrong here.

Thinking of hosting an overseas event?

Contact one of our expert venue-finding team by emailing enquiries@conferencecare.com or calling: 02476 369 720

PUT A PIN IN IT...

Which venues have got us excited?

Stay put for these exciting new openings and refurbs!

W Hotel Edinburgh OPENING 14th NOVEMBER 2023 The second W hotel in the UK is coming to Edinburgh in November, with an iconic look smack bang at the centre of St James Quarter. With 5 meeting & event rooms, 244 guest rooms, and total event space of 3,000+ sq ft, there is a surplus of event potential here. Bookings are now open, so if you want to plan ahead and host your next event here - contact us today!

Convene’s Sancroft, St. Paul's OPENING 2024 This venue promises to be one of the largest meeting and event spaces in London with a max capacity of 1,200, including a whopping 900-person hall & 7 large meeting rooms.

Mollie’s Manchester OPENING MAY 2024 If you’re not already familiar with Mollie’s, the chain has a vintage brand, bringing a classic American motel-diner feel to its spaces. We can think of nowhere better to receive the Mollie’s treatment than the iconic Manchester Old Granada Studios, host to the Beatles & Sex Pistols first TV appearances.