There aren’t many corporate venues where the journey from a riverside reception to dinner can take you through centuries of London history, but at Glaziers Hall, it’s all part of the experience.
The Grade II* listed venue brings together seven distinctive spaces, Thames and City views, and the unexpected London Bridge Arches beneath the building, giving planners plenty to work with beyond the traditional boardroom or ballroom.
We caught up with the Glaziers Hall team to talk about the spaces that make the biggest impression, why flexibility is proving valuable for packed conference agendas, and how this historic venue adapts to the changing trends of the industry.
If your venue had a personality, how would you describe it in three words?
Classy, impressive, memorable.
What’s one feature or space in your venue that always wows corporate clients?
There are three that have a particular impact; the Banqueting Suite, the River Room, and the London Bridge Arches.
What’s your dream corporate event to host, and why?
My dream corporate event to host would be an international conference that combines keynote sessions, interactive workshops, exhibitions, and networking experiences across multiple spaces within the venue.
What sets your venue apart from others in the corporate world?
Glaziers Hall is the perfect balance, it provides unique spaces that have personality and character with professional service and exceptional attention to detail. This is further complemented by the infrastructure, which includes the latest digital connectivity and AV facilities.
What’s your “hidden gem” feature that people might overlook?
We have seven unique spaces that can be used together for a single event or booked separately for smaller, more intimate functions.
How does your team make every event extra special?
It’s a combination of teamwork between everyone that works behind the scenes, including catering, AV and additional services; the relationships we have with clients; and the focus we all have on ensuring every event is the very best that it can be.
If we can help then we will. It’s this attitude and approach that has our clients making repeat bookings throughout the year.
How does your team ensure every corporate event runs smoothly?
We follow processes that are tried and tested. What’s more, we have structured plans and itineraries that make it clear where responsibilities lie and what the expectations are of each person involved. As an experienced team, we work on the principle that there will be contingencies needed and we plan for them. We don’t leave anything to chance.
What type of corporate events does your venue attract most?
Larger conferences and exhibitions are becoming increasingly popular. And those that require an interactive element or audience participation. As an example, we have the Expedition Cruise Network (ECN) Conference across two dates in September. These events use our multiple spaces to provide delegates with breakout areas, and the opportunity to enjoy lunch and dinner in different environments.
It provides a change of atmosphere and brings more energy throughout a packed agenda and itinerary. It also means less disruption as spaces are set up for the next stage of an event.
What corporate event trends are you noticing, and how is your venue adapting to them?
More interactive elements, which require audience participation from both those in the room and those that may be attending remotely. Also last-minute press conferences and sporting media events that are streamed live across broadcast media and social channels.
The digital connectivity at Glaziers Hall means that these events can go ahead without interruption or downtime. It’s often surprising for some people to find out that an historic venue can deliver the modern infrastructure required of these events.
Finally, what’s your go-to song for hyping up before a big event?
“Insomnia” by Faithless. The build-up, anticipation and energy perfectly capture the feeling before a big event. There’s always a buzz in the venue during those final moments before guests arrive, and this track matches that atmosphere perfectly.”
Glaziers Hall is perfect for events that need more than one room to get the job done. Its seven spaces can be used together for larger conferences and exhibitions or booked individually for smaller events, giving planners flexibility without compromising on character.
Behind the scenes, experienced event, catering and AV teams keep everything on track, while modern digital connectivity supports the interactive, hybrid and live-streamed formats that appear so often on corporate briefs these days.
For a corporate event with historic character and the infrastructure to handle a modern agenda, enquire with Glaziers Hall today and see how the team can shape its spaces around your plans.
Feeling overwhelmed by the venue hunt? Our friendly Venue Specialists are here to help — get in touch with them today.
