Here at Canvas, we are proud to feature some of the best event venues in all of London (not to brag), including much-coveted spots like Pall Mall and hidden gems in Fulham and Hammersmith. Whether you're planning an office Christmas party or a summer celebration, our hundreds of venues can cater to your every need - we feature a wide range of event spaces, including private bars, function rooms, games rooms, and free venues across West London, Liverpool Street, and East London. What more could you want?
Whether you need a private dining room for corporate events or a main hall for a large gathering, you’ll find a great venue with all the amenities you need. Now sit back and read on, for we've got you covered.
Private parties have a reputation for either being a lot of fun… Or no fun at all. In order to make the one that you plan something that people will remember for all of the good reasons, you’ll need to keep a cool head and come up with a strategy that works. The more that you know about what the employees want, the better a party it’s going to be.
Start Early
So, you need to start planning your private party? Then it’s best to start thinking Where to host a birthday in London? about it and making plans much earlier than you might expect. Particularly if your party is happening near a holiday season, venues can book up really quickly. If you want the time to make a calm and informed choice, then getting organised early on will help you plan everything just the way you want it, while keeping on top of the rest of your day to day work. Breaking down all of your tasks into prioritised lists will help you to stay on track while you wait for replies from your enquiries.
Put a Team Together
Planning a large London party alone can be overwhelming, so gather a team to help with logistics - lists are great, but you need something sure to inspire a little more action. As such, frequent meetings will ensure everyone is on the same page. A dedicated team will help allow you to explore fun options, whether that’s hiring a karaoke room (count us in!) for a Christmas party or booking a private dining room at a venue in St. James.
Choose Your Theme
Even a private party needs to have a theme. If you are having an awards ceremony or a talk from senior leaders in the company, your theme could be something as simple as ‘Success.’ Having this in mind will help you to brand the event and organise the dinner and party in a way that complements it. It will help you to come up with the different awards that you want to give out to staff and show them that there is a reason and purpose to the whole event.
Set a Budget
If your budget is tighter than you’d like, you might have to look into alternative venues or a different keynote speaker in order to keep to the standard that you wanted. Checking your cashflow at regular intervals is important, as deposits need to be paid to secure services.
View Some Event Venues
One you have a plan in mind, it’s time to view some potential venues. Be sure to walk around the venues in person with another member of your team, so you get a feel for their atmosphere and space. If you are having speakers, you’ll need a stage, and a good-sized area if you are also having a sit-down meal, whereas if it’s more of a casual end-of-year party, them you’ll be looking for something that has a cool and relaxed vibe, so that everyone feels free from the stresses of the workplace.
Promote and Invite
Once you have the date, time and venue all sorted out, you’ll need to start promoting your event. The first way that you can do this is to send through a formal invite to everyone in your company, as well as stakeholders and other important people that you want to attend. Follow this up by asking them to register and let you know of any dietary requirements that they may have. If this is a strictly internal party, you won’t be promoting it on social media, but you may want to consider having information about it on your company intranet. The most important thing is that everyone should know about it and be eager to attend.
Have an Agenda
If you are having speakers, an awards ceremony, or anything that requires some logistics to be ironed out, you’re going to need to have an agenda. This will give you a timeline to stick to throughout that will ensure that you’re not getting behind at any point, and that you'll have time for all of your plans to unfurl.
Take Photographs
What is a private party if you don’t have any photographs to remember it buy? Make sure that you have a professional photographer in attendance to capture all of the best moments, particularly of employees with prises and of keynote speakers. Not only will these make for some wonderful mementos, they can also be used for future promotions and branding. If you can update your company blog with a post about your private party and how much everyone enjoyed it, along with a few key snaps of the night, then this will allow your customers to see the human side of your business.
Whatever you do, make sure that everyone has a little bit of downtime at the end of the night – it is a party after all! Whether this means heading to the clubs or hiring your own entertainment, no one wants a private party that is too sterile. Remember to have some fun!
Private dining rooms can seem expensive when you compare the cost to a table for two, but it’s important to remember you’re really paying for the experience, the personal attention and the privacy. Whether you’re hoping to win over an important client, or you’re celebrating a special milestone, hiring a private dining room can help make it an event to remember. Venues will normally require a fee for the space on top of your food and drink costs, but some spaces are able to offer a minimum spend even for private rooms. It’s always worth asking your favourite venues what packages and payment options they have available, and the venue manager will be able to make suggestions that will suit your budget.
Prices will vary between venues, and will sometimes include some food and drinks expenses but often will not, so it’s really important to check in with the venue manager to get a run down of what is included in the price. Some spaces will offer specific packages or set menus to accompany their private dining spaces which can offset some of the cost of hiring the room. It’s important to remember that the main element you’re paying for is privacy, which can totally change the atmosphere and experience of an event.
Finding the right private dining room to hire in London can be a daunting task. There are charming and exclusive restaurants in every area of London to suit every budget, so narrowing down to the right one can take a long time. We’re here to help - we’ve built an advanced search function so you can get really specific about what you’re looking for. Whether you need to choose a venue based on access requirements, available technical equipment or parking facilities, you’ll be able to find the perfect space for your next private dining event on Canvas.
When you’re looking for an event space with a view in London, there are two tricks that top event planners use to find the right space: look for a venue at the top of a building, or look for a venue by the river. If you're considering unique and elegant spaces, Somerset House offers stunning options like the Millicent Fawcett Room and the Coral Garden, both featuring a private entrance and beautiful private areas. For a chic, contemporary vibe, Louie London provides an exclusive atmosphere, and the Lotos Room is another excellent choice for an intimate setting with stylish décor. If you're considering hotels, there's the Beaumont Hotel and Milestone Hotel that provide luxury with exceptional views.
Most private dining rooms are seated banquet style, with the guests all seated around one large table. However, depending on the event you’re hiring the private dining room for, the venue manager may be able to offer theatre, cabaret or standing. Be sure to specify when you’re making the booking to give the event space enough time to prepare, and hosting different styles of seating can increase or decrease the capacity of the space, which may also impact the price.
In Covent Garden and Soho, you'll find trendy spots for the perfect private dining experience. Mayfair and Marylebone are home to upscale venues for group dining, with private spaces sometimes featuring a main restaurant for wedding receptions and corporate events. For those seeking a central location, Trafalgar Square and Hyde Park Corner feature elegant options with iconic views, whereas East London and areas near Liverpool Street provide chic, modern venues ideal for intimate dinners and other special occasions. If you prefer a classic London vibe, consider South Kensington, Bloomsbury, or Clerkenwell for charming and historically rich settings, and keep an eye out for venues with a garden room or terrace. You could hire a whole venue or hall in West London and the Oxford Circus area for versatile spaces, or Tottenham Court Road and London Bridge for their convenient locations with a range of stylish fine dining options. Areas such as Kensington, Marylebone, and Soho never fail!
Private party venue costs depend on the style of venue, the number of guests, the location and how much private space you require. If you’re looking to save some money, you could consider hiring a private area for part of the night - for dinner, for example - and then head to the public bar for the rest of the evening. You can use the advanced search function on Canvas to narrow down the right party venues for you, then use the Wishlist function to make a short list of your favourite spaces.