Where is it? Refurbished event space the Royal Hall is located within Harrogate International Centre, a short walk from the historic town of Harrogate. It is due to open on 27 April.
What is it? The original Royal Hall opened in 1903. Its design was inspired by the ballrooms and music pavilions of Imperial Europe. It has taken 拢10.7m to restore the space to its former glory, and the Halle Orchestra will perform on its opening night.
What's it got? The venue has capacity for 1,100 guests for a seated event, although 500 seats can be removed for those events that require a dancefloor. The Royal Hall also boasts the latest audio-visual, lighting and sound facilities.
Who do I talk to? Jane Nicholls on (01423) 537438
Web: www.harrogateinternationalcentre.co.uk
Largest space: 1,100 (seated)
Stn: Harrogate
Postcode: HG1 5LA
Cost: POA
HARTE & GARTER HOTEL
Where is it? In the centre of Windsor, opposite Windsor Castle.
What is it? A four-star hotel with 79 bedrooms, a brasserie, spa and event facilities. It had an 拢8m refurbishment last year.
What's it got? The venue offers several rooms for events, each of which has a classic British decor with a modern twist. The largest, the Ballroom, can seat 200 theatre-style or 150 for dinner. The Lancaster Room can seat 70 theatre-style or 40 for dinner, while the Courtyard Room can seat 40 theatre-style or 30 for dinner. The hotel restaurant, the Tower Brasserie & Tearooms, can also be hired out and seats 140 diners. As a special treat, organisers can book the Stables Spa for groups of up to 15.
Who do I talk to? Michelle Colomb on (01753) 863426
Web: www.foliohotels.com
Largest space: 200 (seated)
Station: Windsor Central
Postcode: SL4 1PH
Cost: POA
COMPTON VERNEY
Where is it? Set in 120 acres of parkland between the villages of Wellesbourne and Kineton in Warwickshire.
What is it? An award-winning art gallery and Grade I-listed mansion with permanent collections and temporary exhibitions.
What's it got? The venue has a variety of spaces available for hire, including the grounds, which are suitable for events of up to 800 guests. Inside the venue, the Adam Hall is the largest space and can hold up to 350 for a standing event or 100 seated; the Neapolitan Gallery provides seating for up to 20 guests in the setting of Compton Verney's Neapolitan art collection, which features paintings by some of the best Italian artists from 1600 to 1800; finally, the contemporary Seminar Room has space for up to 60 delegates.
Who do I talk to? Julian Day on (01926) 645521
Web: www.comptonverney.org.uk
Largest space: 800 (sit/stand)
Station: Banbury
Postcode: CV35 9HZ
Cost: From 拢400
PICCOLINO
Where is it? In the City in Exchange Square, Liverpool Street.
What is it? This Italian restaurant and bar is the latest addition to the Piccolino restaurants portfolio and opened late last year. The group's other London venue is in the West End on Heddon Street, just off Regent Street.
What's it got? Piccolino boasts a glass facade, behind which is a bar area located at the entrance to the restaurant. Split across two floors, the venue provides an intimate and cosy feel with booth seating. The mezzanine level provides guests with a view of the restaurant below and can host up to 24 people for dinner or 40 for a cocktail party. Alternatively, event organisers can exclusively hire the entire venue at the weekend for up to 120 guests seated or 250 for a reception.
Who do I talk to? Nicola Williams on (020) 7375 2568
Web: www.piccolinorestaurants.co.uk
Largest space: 250 (standing)
Stn: Liverpool Street
Postcode: EC2 2BR
Cost: From 拢5,000
WATERHOUSE RESTAURANT
Where is it? This event space is situated on Orsman Road, overlooking Regent's Canal in Shoreditch.
What is it? Thought up by the same team behind eco-friendly restaurant Acorn House, the Waterhouse is a Shoreditch Trust social enterprise developed with restaurant consultant Eat Green.
What's it got? Serving modern organic cuisine, the restaurant has 64 covers and can seat a further 16 guests outside for alfresco events. Apart from sourcing local suppliers and using energy-efficient technology - such as roof-mounted solar panels and hydrocarbon fridges - the restaurant also uses water from the canal to heat and cool the venue and even filters its own drinking water in-house as an alternative to bottled suppliers. For drinks receptions and standing events the space can hold a maximum of 150 guests.
Who do I talk to? Kevin Flaherty on (020) 7033 0123
Web: www.waterhouserestaurant.co.uk
Largest space: 150 (standing)
Tube: Old Street
Postcode: N1 5QJ
Cost: POA
THE URDANG
Where is it? The Urdang is at Finsbury Town Hall in Clerkenwell, close to Exmouth Market and Sadler's Wells theatre.
What is it? Finsbury Town Hall closed in 2003 and was acquired by performing arts school The Urdang Academy, before reopening in January 2007. The event space is available through Organza Events.
What's it got? The largest space, the Great Hall, features Greek goddess-style statues called the Clerkenwell Angels, which are attached to the walls and used as light holders. The space can hold up to 300 guests for a reception. The Council Chamber features white pillars and stained-glass windows and can accommodate 100 people standing or 60 for a dinner. The Yellow Room, a bright open space, can seat up to 40, while for intimate events the ground-floor meeting room can host up to 30.
Who do I talk to? Organza Events on (020) 8536 9700
Web: www.theurdang.com
Largest space: 300 (standing)
Station: Angel
Postcode: EC1R 4RP
Cost: From 拢1,000
THE 108
Where is it? The 108 is next to IndigO2, inside the live music and entertainment mecca that is The O2.
What is it? Designed by Normal TM and owned and run by the IncGroup, it's an 800-capacity event space, opening next month.
What's it got? Named after its numbered space on the architectural drawings, the venue is split over three levels. On the first level is the conference and banqueting suite, which can hold up to 500 guests for a seated event or up to 1,000 standing; the second level consists of a balcony, on which up to 50 guests can enjoy a drinks reception with views over Entertainment Avenue; plans for the third level, meanwhile, are still under wraps. The venue could well become a popular choice among organisers for post-show parties and hospitality events.
Who do I talk to? Michael Namock on (020) 8305 3091
Web: www.incgroup.co.uk
Largest space: 1,000 (standing)
Station: North Greenwich
Postcode: SE10 0DY
Cost: POA
FIVE
Where is it? On the Farnborough Aerodrome site in Hampshire.
What is it? Farnborough International Venue and Events is a permanent structure with up to 4,400sqm of sustainable event space.
What's it got? The venue's design is centred on adaptability and flexibility of interior and exterior space, making it ideal for both large and small events. The site includes 3,150sqm of unimpeded exhibition space and 300sqm of meeting space. When used in its entirety the venue can hold up to 2,400 guests for a seated conference or 1,200 for a gala dinner. For even larger events, organisers have the option of increasing the floor space to 8,000sqm by adding a temporary structure, or they can simply hire additional outdoor space for summer parties. Private air access, an on-site organiser's office and a bespoke chauffeuring service are also available.
Who do I talk to? Suzanne Allis on (01252) 532802
Web: www.farnboroughfive.com
Largest space: 2,400 (seated)
Station: Farnborough
Postcode: GU14 6FD
Cost: POA
DEX
Where is it? In the heart of Brixton on Brixton Road.
What is it? The UK's first DJ hotel and private members' club.
What's it got? A modern-day reincarnation of Art Deco hotel The Prince of Wales, Dex maintains many of the Brixton landmark's original features and is one of the only venues in south London to have a 24-hour licence. Guests enter through a discreet door off the High Street and are met with a grand marble staircase leading up to the first floor members' bar, complete with restaurant and a private dining room that can seat 12-15 guests. Upstairs there are eight luxurious bedrooms, each with its own mixers and decks, while on the top floor is a 400-capacity, two-tiered rooftop terrace featuring a champagne bar and dining area, sun loungers, a Moroccan-style Bedouin tent and eight-person hot tub.
Who do I talk to? Stuart Hopson Jones on (020) 7326 7490
Web: www.dexclub.co.uk
Largest space: 400 (standing)
Tube: Brixton
Postcode: SW9 8HH
Cost: POA