Press Event Venues in London

Your media launch is one of the biggest events that your company will ever have to host, and so it’s important that you get it right. One of the only times that you’ll be able to garner free media, a press event can mean the difference between success and failure. Yet it doesn’t have to be nerve-racking! With good planning, any press event can end in triumph.

Venue

The venue is one of the most important aspects to consider when organising a press event. When you send out your invites to the media to attend your day, the first thing they’ll do is look up where it’s being held. Press event venues can have a major influence on how the day goes, and even though they may love your brand or what you do, if the venue doesn’t impress them, journalists might give it a miss. Looking for unique London venues  with all the necessary facilities is one way that you can stay in touch with what the media would like. 

Think About Your Style

Searching for the perfect press day venues can be a challenge, but it all comes down to one thing – your company. You will need to think about the reason why you are having a media launch before you start looking at event spaces. Is it to announce a product launch? A festival brochure? A new CEO? This will impact the type of venue that you’ll consider hiring. For example, you wouldn’t launch an arts festival in a space designed for a conference event, would you? It just doesn’t make sense. The photographs will look too corporate and the media won’t get the right vibe from you. Searching for ‘event spaces London’ will give you a good idea of the vast range of options that are out there so you can choose the perfect space for your corporate event, conference, or intimate gatherings.

Finding the Perfect Location

While you may have found the perfect spot for your press event, there is one important thing to consider, and that’s how far away it is. You might have found a great room to hire, but if the distance that the media has to travel is too large, it doesn’t matter what you’re offering them, no one is going to battle through London traffic for it. While you might have a vision in mind, it’s important to stay realistic.

Book in Advance

Venue hire can be difficult for another reason as well, timing. If you don’t have your venue booked beforehand, then the perfect place may slip from your fingers. Like anything in the city, these things book up far in advance. You’ll need to pick your date and stick to it. This will also mean that you’ll be able to inform the media of the date right from the start.

Top Tips for the Perfect Press Event

No one really knows how a press day will go before it happens, but there are some things that you can do to ensure that it runs smoothly, and allow the media to enjoy themselves.

Press Release

The perfectly crafted press release can drum up a lot of interest from the media about your press event. Make sure it’s out at least 3 days before the event; invites to the press should have gone out as much as a month before this and the press release is one of the last things they should receive. It summarises what they are to expect from the event, and all of the important details such as the time and place, without too much wiggle room for unnecessary information. Remember, the press won’t want to see a sales letter – a press release is designed to give them the information that they need, and a brief summary.

Timing

The time of day that your event takes place can impact what news coverage you get. While this will differ depending on what industry you’re in, it’s an important fact to consider. Apartments in London for parties might work for the film industry, but a press event is usually quite a quick affair of no more than an hour. It generally happens during the day so that there is still time for it to be in the newspapers the next day. Everything in the media is done by deadline, and so if you need media coverage by a certain date then the timing of your event is crucial.

Who to Contact

The people that you invite to your launch might have some follow-up questions, and so they need to know who to contact. Having a dedicated media manager is important in the days surrounding a press event, and so is ensuring that they are always available to answer calls, emails, and social media comments. Having one person covering this means that your brand voice will stay the same throughout all of the media that you do. Make sure that everyone involved has their contact details.

Have a Press Kit

The press kit is one of the most important tools that you have at your disposal. It’s something that all of the journalists will expect, and something that they can refer back to as they complete the write up of your event. It should have:

• A list of the speakers
• A copy of the press release
• The background of your company
• Bios of the main members
• Interesting photographs and news stories

Don’t Ignore Anyone

Sometimes, journalists simply can’t make the event. That’s why it’s important that you post them out a press pack afterwards and that they have a digital copy of the press release. Having some photos available to them after the event may encourage them to still do a write up on your launch. As for those that are there, make them feel welcome and do everything you can to help them. They are the ones that have made the effort to be there, so you want to make it worth their while.

Relax

No matter how much you organise, you can’t control everything, and there’s nothing the media hate more than someone who tries to choreograph every part of their day. When the time comes, just relax and enjoy it. Let the press take whatever photos they want outside of the set phot opportunities – they don’t want the same picture as all of their colleagues. If you’re relaxed, the rest of the people there will relax as well, and your press event will be one to remember.

How do I organise a press day in London?

Organising a press day in London can be really fun, and can also have a big impact on the future success of your product, whether it’s a new gadget, an upcoming film or a celebrity endorsement. It’s a good idea to start with your guest list, so you’ll have an idea of how many people you’ll need to accommodate and therefore what size of venue you’ll need. Don’t forget to check the local and up to date pandemic restrictions, and if you need to invite more people than you can safely accommodate, why not consider a hybrid press launch?

Where are the top press day venues for hire in London?

Different industries tend to host their press days in different areas of London, as businesses of similar types tend to be located in similar areas. So theatre and creative press days are often in Soho, financial services host their press days in Canary Wharf and film press tends to be around Leicester Square. If you’re not sure about the right location for your industry, make sure you choose a venue that is close to public transport so your guests will have an easy journey.

What’s the best budget for a press day at a London venue?

There’s an assumption that, when it comes to events, the best budget is a large budget. But that isn’t always the case! You can organise a successful press day in a venue in London even if you have tight pursestrings; it’s just important to be clever with your money. Have a think about what aspects of the event are critical to its success, and spend your money generously there. If it means that you can’t offer a free bar, but you can give your guests a branded goody bag, you’ll find it easier to know where to spend your budget.

What do I need to know for a press event in London?

Some of the most important information you need currently for press events is to be up-to-date on current Covid-19 guidelines. Once you know your event can operate safely, you’ll be able to make some easy choices about your venue. How much space do you need so your guests can social distance? Are you able to host a part of your event outside, perhaps with a marquee? Do you need a screen to showcase a product or video? Can you include remote guests as part of a hybrid or live-streaming event?

What’s the difference between press and launch events

Press and launch events generally have the same outcome: to introduce a new product to the market. If your product is a new film or theatre production, it’s best to host a press event. The main focus will be on showcasing the creative works to the press, so they can start to create interest in the public before it opens. A launch event is better suited to physical products, like a new car, clothing line or technology.