This is a guest post from Tommy Shane, Venue Expert at UK based startup Hire Space. You can follow him @hirespace.
There are the pop-ups, the flashes in the pan, the here-today-gone-tomorrows. They come, they go.
But some venues seem to have always been here, part of the very fabric of London. They’ve withstood centuries of fires, wartime bombing, and relentless redevelopment plans. And, consequently,they’re woven into the rich tapestry of London’s history, each with their own unique and remarkable story.
Here are five of the best historical venues for hire.
When a child, abandoned by their deprived families, was left at The Foundling Hospital orphanage, they were given a small token, like a thumbnail, a button, or a nut. If their families could ever take them home again, they would identify their child by their token. Almost none did.
The Foundling Museum commemorates the desperate ‘foundlings’ that the hospital looked after, which dates back to 1739. It’s an inspiring history, and a gorgeous venue.
2. RSA House
There’s nothing like the heart-warming aroma of a toffee-infused latte. But while this may be the staple of the modern coffee shop, in the 1750s the coffee and tea houses were a place of thought and political debate, and where William Shipley dreamt up The Royal Society Of Arts.
It’s a society that awards prizes to help contribute to the development of society, and counts Dame Judi Dench and Professor Stephen Hawkings as its members, was the first society to admit women, and even coined the term ‘sustainability’.
3. Quaglino’s
Judy Garland, Naomi Campbell, Kanye. Oh and the Queen, too. They’ve all flocked to Quaglino’s since its opening in 1927, run by the charismatic Giovanni. It’s been a haunt for the royal family – the first public restaurant ever to serve an English monarch – to the extent that they even had a dedicated royal table.
More recently, Princess Diana used to sneak in through the kitchens. But now the venue’s open to you, and your event (don’t worry, you can walk through the front door).
Theatre Royal Drury Lane is a phoenix. It’s risen from the flames four times, having been time and time again burnt to a crisp during its centuries-long history. It’s now the oldest theatre in London, having premiered timeless classics like Miss Saigon, and has just undergone a massive £4m refurbishment in 2013, meaning that it’s as beautiful as ever.
Built in 1773 under the design of James Adam, 41 Portland Place served as a base for the United Nations, survived the air raids during WWII, and has hosted some of the greatest scientific minds of the last century, including 70 Nobel Laureates.
Today it is home to and supports The Academy Of Medical Sciences, which means that hiring out this venue will be philanthropic, as your venue hire fee will go towards advancing medical science.
To enquire about one of these venues, or for the rest of London’s venues for hire, get in touch at hirespace.com
