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May – the month spring finds its stride and those darling buds, which Shakespeare sonnetted about, finally blossom. It's also the month before summer really kicks off (we hope). And with that in mind, the venue experts at Hire Space have picked out five cool new spaces with private-hire potential.
1. The Arts Theatre Club
This age-old Soho club has been a slice of London history since its days of hosting the Kray twins and other notorious gangsters in its more 'underground' days. It was recently relaunched with a theme in keeping with its shady past, emphasising the 'bitchin’' in 'Prohibition'. Both corporate and social parties are welcome in the speakeasy-style lounge, where intimate gatherings are made more personal thanks to the candles, plush sofas, and rickety piano for musical kicks. Parties can keep the Jazz Age jollies going into the early morning, with the venue’s 3am licence, Tuesdays to Saturdays.
2. Courthouse Hotel, Shoreditch
Already having made its luxury mark in Mayfair, this hotel opens in Shoreditch this month, bringing its sophisticated West End brand to a Grade II-listed, Baroque building on Old Street. The event spaces are numerous, with business meetings and conferences easily covered by no fewer than 11 separate spaces, accommodating a total of 800 delegates. There’s a screening room with 196 seats and a rooftop bar – not to mention an exclusive two-lane bowling alley for tenpin parties. For when events run late, there are 128 sparkling-new guest rooms and suites itching to be used.
3. The Humble Grape, Fleet Street
The sophistication just keeps coming this month, this time to the delight of the City’s wine connoisseurs. Fleet Street is now home to the second branch from the Humble independent wine merchants, who aim to introduce Londoners to wine from the unknown vineyards of the world, from Italy, South Africa, Australia and beyond. Events at this modern wine bar obviously take a sommelier slant, with the chic private dining space hireable for parties and corporate groups looking to dip into some intriguing whites, reds and champagnes. Events are highly tailored to preferences, whether sit-down or stand-up, educational or casual, for team-building days or birthday parties.
4. Swingers
Mini golf is the new regular-sized golf. A 16,000 sq ft crazy golf course is one of the City’s coolest new openings, with two nine-hole courses – The Lighthouse and The Windmill – providing a 1920s countryside vibe that fuses with modern amenities like the dedicated scorecard app. Hosting up to 500 people, the entire venue can be hired out exclusively, including such intriguing spaces as the two-storey clubhouse, the decked Gin Terrace, the Fairway Bar and the President’s Committee Room; alternatively, rooms can be hired out separately for smaller functions. There’s also a street food area featuring Patty & Bun, Le Bab and Pizza Pilgrims, to keep appetites sated for maximum putting prowess.
5. The Harcourt
Groups seeking out a new private dining space can head to a Grade II-listed Georgian townhouse in Marylebone, now a Scandinavian-inspired restaurant, bar and venue. Five rooms are available for Nordic eating and drinking experiences, including the warm and rustic Oak Room, the summery Garden Room, and the Whisky Room, where rare tipples can be sipped in 'hygge' – the Danish word loosely translated as 'cosiness'. See, it’s only the start of May and you’ve already learned a new language. It’s going to be a good month.
For more awesome London venues, head to hirespace.com.