A hearty well done to The Columbia for snaffling our 13th CANVersion award 🎁. The customer initially sent a brief for a Team Building event, specifically requesting a venue with ‘good vibes, attractive and with lots of natural light’ and we can confidently say they nailed their selection.
A grandiose, unique multi-room events venue and hotel in the heart of West London. The Columbia has that.. that pizazz, that razzle dazzle, that je ne sais quoi. Picture your favourite James Bond movie. Right, you know that scene where he is quietly brooding in a high end, visually stunning, London-based apartment, with a glass of whisky and top 3 buttons of his shirt undone? (It happens in all of them) It could have taken place in ANY of their event spaces.
There are x5 spaces, The Windsor Suite, The Viceroy & Regency Suites, The Lancaster Suite & The Bayswater Suite. They can host anywhere from 30-250 people and have combined capacities of up to 800 👀. The large halls are perfect for bigger gatherings and then the more intimate rooms working delightfully for Pop-Up shops or Press Days.
With Paddington, Lancaster Gate & Notting Hill Stations all within walking distance, it’s gloriously located. Sprinkle in the fact it’s directly opposite/overlooking Hyde Park and you can understand why it’s such a stand out venue with such tremendous pull. It has it’s own ‘drive in’ and boasts several private entrances. Remember what I mentioned about James Bond – Do you get it now?
Built in 1856 by Sancton Wood, The Columbia is a b-e-a-utiful piece of architecture. Packed full of charm and personality (starting to sound like my old dating profile), the exquisite little accents and details will leave a lasting impression. We’re talking vintage chandeliers, 4-meter high ceilings, elegant panelling (that my mum would 100% take a picture of and send to the family whatsapp group) and even prime views of Kensington Gardens.
Somehow we’ve got this far into the blog without me mentioning that The Columbia has hosted global ICONS such as Oasis, Iggy Pop, Amy Winehouse & The Stereophonics. Not to brag but it’s even had songs written about it. Talk about a USP.
Thank you to Sophie, who took the time to show me around the venue and shed light on some of its magnificent history. She’s a delight to deal with, as were the team on the front desk and essentially everybody else that we’ve connected with there💛