IL BOTTACCIO
Where is it? At 9 Grosvenor Place, in the heart of Mayfair.
What is it? A historical venue that is also home to the European School of Economics.
What's it got? The Club Gallery has oak panelling and a fireplace, and holds 60 for dinner or 150 standing. Upstairs, the Grand Gallery offers views of Buckingham Palace Gardens.
Festive offering? The 12 Days of Christmas, with the venue dressed in green, black, red and gold. Bagpipers will greet guests and the Grand Gallery will be decorated with candles and garlands, along with elements of the theme. Prices start from 拢100 per person.
Who do I talk to? Ieda Basualdo on (020) 7235 9522
Web: www.bottaccio.co.uk
Xmas capacity: 500 (standing)
Tube: Hyde Park Corner
Postcode: SW1X 7SH
Cost: From 拢100 per person
THE VALE HOTEL, GOLF AND SPA RESORT
Where is it? Within the grounds of Hensol Park near Cardiff.
What is it? A resort with two golf courses, spa, banqueting rooms and a 143-room, four-star hotel.
What's it got? The Bar and Grill and La Cucina restaurants both seat 70. Other event spaces include the Castle Suite, holding 400 for dinner, and the Cowbridge Lounge, seating 75 theatre-style.
Festive offering? Eight Christmas packages and two New Year's Eve offerings. The Infantasia party nights are 拢35 per person and feature a three-course meal and entertainment from tribute band Infantasia. You can also choose to have a Christmas dinner in La Cucina for 拢27.95 per person. Dishes on offer include a Noel Noel pizza with smoked turkey, pancetta, pork sausage and cranberries and Christmas pudding for dessert.
Who do I talk to? Events team on (01443) 667805
Web: www.vale-hotel.com
Xmas capacity: 320 (standing)
Station: Cardiff Central
Postcode: CF72 8JY
Cost: From 拢19.95 per person for lunch
30 PAVILION ROAD
Where is it? The venue is in Knightsbridge on Pavilion Road.
What is it? A Georgian townhouse owned and managed by Searcy.
What's it got? 30 Pavilion Road offers a homely atmosphere with cosy spaces such as a library that can cater for 60 theatre-style. The Stone Hall features marble floors and columns, and can be used for a drinks reception, with space for 120. The ornate ballroom has oak panelling and yellow walls. It can host dinners for 120 guests or a reception for 240 standing, while the dining room can seat 40 theatre-style. Guests can also stay in one of the Roof Garden Rooms, which have a rooftop garden attached.
Festive offering? Searcy will provide event organisers with a completely bespoke offering during the Christmas season. You can choose from buffet meals or a three-course, sit-down dinner.
Who do I talk to? Events team on (020) 7823 9212
Web: www.30pavilionroad.co.uk
Xmas capacity: 240 (standing)
Tube: Knightsbridge
Postcode: SW1X 0HJ
Cost: POA
WESTON PARK
Where is it? Weston Park can be found on the A5 at Weston-under-Lizard. The venue is conveniently located for access to Telford, Wolverhampton and Stafford.
What is it? Built in 1671, the event space houses fine art, tapestries, porcelain and objets d'art and is surrounded by beautiful gardens.
What's it got? The Dining Room can hold 90 for dinner and has an impressive collection of paintings; the Orangery, complete with exotic plants and natural stone walls, can host a maximum of 120 diners; the Music Room offers additional event space for 60 dinner guests; The Stables, which sit alongside the 17th-century house, provide an alternative venue for more relaxed and informal occasions, and can hold 80 diners.
Festive offering? The venue can be booked on a private basis during the festive season. It also offers two packages: one is dinner only; the other a dinner and accommodation combination.
Who do I talk to? Events team on (01952) 852100
Web: www.weston-park.com
Xmas capacity: 120 (seated)
Station: Telford
Postcode: TF11 8LE
Cost: From 拢70 per person
LEONARD STREET GALLERY
Where is it? In Shoreditch, near Old Street tube station.
What is it? A contemporary art gallery.
What's it got? The ground floor has capacity for 150 standing or 100 seated cabaret-style. It offers a minimal themed space with white walls and solid wood floors. The lower ground floor caters for 150 standing and can be used as a lounge/party area.
Festive offering? For 拢96 per person you can hire the entire venue with unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks. The package includes a buffet or substantial bowl food by Boulevard Catering, offering dishes such as spicy tiger prawns on a bed of Asian greens, or Moroccan lamb tagine. Organisers can also choose to have a three-course meal, priced from 拢120 per person.
Who do I talk to? Organza Events on (020) 8536 9700
Web: www.organzaevents.com
Xmas capacity: 300 (standing)
Station: Old Street
Postcode: EC2A 4QS
Cost: From 拢96 per person
MANCHESTER235
Where is it? The venue is situated within entertainment complex the Great Northern Warehouse in Manchester.
What is it? A gaming, dining and live music club with two restaurants, live music venue 235Live, bar facilities and a casino.
What's it got? The modern venue features illuminated bars and columns, and comfortable seating areas. 235Live features a dancefloor and staging and hosts 200 reception-style. Other spaces include Icon, with capacity for 100 standing, and featuring an oak boardroom table that seats 20 for dinner. There are also two restaurants: Linen, which can hold 200 for a reception; and Numero, hosting 120 standing.
Festive offering? A Casino Royale-dinner party package for 拢55 per person. It includes James Bond theming and table centres, champagne on arrival, four-course dinner, entertainment from a band followed by a DJ, and access to the main casino floor. You can also book a buffet Christmas package within Icon.
Who do I talk to? Carl Darcy on (0161) 828 0316
Web: www.manchester235.com
Xmas capacity: 200 (standing)
Station: Manchester Piccadilly
Postcode: M3 4LP
Cost: From 拢18 per person
LONDON AQUARIUM
Where is it? On the South Bank, close to the London Eye.
What is it? The London Aquarium is a themed attraction offering an underwater experience with displays of marine life such as sharks, stingrays and clownfish.
What's it got? The venue is split into three zones and can accommodate 1,000 guests when hired exclusively. The Rainforest and Mangrove area is great for pre-dinner drinks receptions and can hold 70 standing; the Pacific Zone hosts 60 for dinner or 130 for a reception; the Atlantic Zone features displays of native sharks, stingrays and shoaling fish and can accommodate dinner dances for 180 guests.
Festive offering? Choose from either a shared Christmas party from 拢115 per person or a dinner dance package from 拢48 per person. Both options will take place in the Atlantic Zone.
Who do I talk to? Events team on (020) 7487 0224
Web: www.londonaquarium.co.uk
Xmas capacity: 1,000 (standing)
Tube: Waterloo
Postcode: SE1 7PB
Cost: From 拢48 per person
SAVOY PLACE
Where is it? On London's Embankment.
What is it? It was an examination hall for the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Surgeons. It is now home to the Institution of Engineering and Technology.
What's it got? A wide range of spaces, from meeting rooms to a Lecture Theatre seating 460. The Riverside Room offers panoramic views, and can cater for 240 for a dinner dance. The ground-floor standing capacity is 350.
Festive offering? Savoy Place is offering two festive packages within its Riverside Room. The Christmas package, at 拢85 per person, includes a three-course meal, half-bottle of wine per person, entertainment from a band and disco, and a glass of sparkling wine on arrival. You could upgrade to the premium package, which features champagne on arrival and unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks for 拢165 per person.
Who do I talk to? Sharon Fish on (0121) 600 7520
Web: www.savoyplace.co.uk
Xmas capacity: 350 (standing)
Tube: Embankment
Postcode: WC2R 0BL
Cost: From 拢85 per person
OUR DYNAMIC EARTH
Where is it? At the bottom of Holyrood Road, a 15-minute walk from Edinburgh city centre.
What is it? A visitor attraction that tells the unique story of the planet's past, present and future. As a corporate venue it offers stunning views of Salisbury Crags, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Scottish Parliament.
What's it got? The largest space, Stratosphere, can host 550 people for a dinner or 1,200 for a reception. Within the space is Ozone, a soundproofed enclosure that can host a 120-capacity drinks reception. The Earthscape galleries can hold 600 while the Biosphere has space for a 180-guest banquet.
Festive offering? The venue is offering both exclusive hire and shared party nights for up to 550 guests. The party nights will take place on various evenings in December and include sparkling wine on arrival, a three-course traditional Christmas meal, half a bottle of wine each and a disco.
Who do I talk to? Events team on (0131) 523 1292
Web: www.dynamicearth.co.uk
Xmas capacity: 550(seated)
Station: Edinburgh Waverley
Postcode: EH8 8AS
Cost: 拢40 per person (shared party)
THE LONDON DUNGEON
Where is it? Beneath the arches of London Bridge.
What is it? A themed attraction offering an insight into London's historic dungeons, with tours available of the warren of avenues and alleyways.
What's it got? The London Dungeon is available to hire exclusively for cocktail receptions for up to 220 guests. The historic venue is dressed to evoke a dark atmosphere, with creative lighting, skeletons on the walls and torture equipment.
Festive offering? Prices for The London Dungeon Christmas party package start at 拢39 per person. The package includes a drinks reception followed by a 20-minute tour of some of the highlights of the venue, taking in the Dungeon Experience, mirror maze Labyrinth of the Lost, interactive courtroom Judgement Day and hangman ride Extremis: Drop Ride to Doom.
Who do I talk to? Events team on (020) 7487 0224 or Eventwise on (020) 7378 2900
Web: www.thedungeons.com
Xmas capacity: 220 (standing)
Tube: London Bridge
Postcode: SE1 2SZ
Cost: From 拢39 per person
DOVER STREET RESTAURANT AND BAR
Where is it? The venue is situated on Dover Street in Mayfair.
What is it? A jazz bar that opened its doors in 1979.
What's it got? Dover Street provides event spaces with wooden floors and soft lighting. Framed black-and-white photographs of jazz and fashion icons adorn its walls. The top bar can seat 65 guests for dinner or 100 guests standing, while the lower bar has capacity for 200 for a reception or 130 seated. Dover Street Restaurant and Bar can be hired exclusively, offering space for 450 reception-style or 320 seated.
Festive offering? Lunch packages for 拢32.50 per person or 拢48 for dinner. The festive menu includes Dover Street gravadlax - thinly sliced, marinated salmon in a dill, mustard and brandy vinaigrette - ravioli of pumpkin and ricotta, and Christmas pudding.
Who do I talk to? Events team on (020) 7629 9813
Web: www.doverst.co.uk
Xmas capacity: 450 (standing)
Tube: Green Park
Postcode: W1S 4LQ
Cost: From 拢32.50 per person
GUILDHALL VAULTS
Where is it? Located on Chiswell Street, opposite the Brewery.
What is it? An open-plan, vaulted basement featuring brickwork arches. The venue is used as a practice room and student bar for the Guildhall School of Music during the day, and can be hired by organisers as an event space in the evening and at weekends.
What's it got? Guildhall Vaults can host 500 people for a reception or 160 for a dinner. Guests enter the vaults via the entrance to Parker McMillan. Clients can host a dinner dance event for 900 when Parker McMillan and Guildhall Vaults are combined.
Festive offering? This Christmas the Parker McMillan events team is offering a Winter Wonderland theme at the venue, which will be taking place between 10 and 20 December. Prices for the package start from 拢50 per person. It is the first time that the venue has been made available for corporate events.
Who do I talk to? Russell Nisbet on (020) 7256 5883
Web: www.parkermcmillan.co.uk
Xmas capacity: 900 (dinner dance)
Tube: Moorgate
Postcode: EC1Y 4SB
Cost: From 拢50 per person