WINNER (over 400 capacity)
The Roundhouse
The past year has been another busy one for the Grade II-listed building, with new developments including the addition of two outdoor spaces, upgrades to the lighting and sound kit, and retractable seating installed. It hosted a total of 61 events between May 2013 and May 2014, the highlight being the Mercury Music Prize Awards, which it managed to secure for a second year running.
The small team of one part-time and four full-time members of staff exceeded its budget by 43%, bringing in more than £1m in event revenue, while event sales were up 23% on the previous year. Income generated from corporate and private events fund the Roundhouse Trust, an in-house charity that provides creative space for 11- to 25-year-olds, particularly those who have been excluded, marginalised or disadvantaged.
Highly commended: The O2
Finalists: 8 Northumberland Avenue, Alexandra Palace, Hyde Park, Natural History Museum
WINNER (less than 400 capacity)
OXO2
Located on level two of London's OXO Tower, the blank-canvas OXO2 is a contemporary venue with views across the Thames. During the qualifying period, it hosted an impressive 112 events, with highlights including a Whistles brand day in which store managers were introduced to the new collection with a catwalk show, the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards, and a three-week event by brewer SABMiller.
Over the summer it was transformed into pop-up bar and restaurant The Garden Gate with street food menus and 'pick your own' cocktails. The past year has also seen the venue take its catering offering in-house, with the addition of a catering manager and chef, taking the total number of staff up to five. Together, they generated £500,000 in business from May 2013 to May 2014, a 21% increase on the previous period.
Highly commended: RSA House
Finalists: The Deck at the National Theatre, The Goldsmiths' Centre, Tower Bridge
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