London’s liveries are among the city’s oldest and grandest venues and provide a historic backdrop for corporate events. PA Life goes on a tour of some of these iconic properties
How to get the most out of the city’s historic venues
The most important thing is to start your search and book the venue early, as some halls are very popular and host events on an annual basis.
Make sure you take advantage of being in a livery hall by touring the venue and finding out about the history, traditions and customs that surround it. You can find out what a beadle (elected official) does, why some guilds use rosewater bowls, or why others have three toasts. These customs make up the fabric of life in the City of London, so immerse yourself in it.
You should also check on the details of your chosen hall, such as whether or not you have exclusive use and, if not, how it organises multiple events. Ask if there is outside space and a plan for bad weather, as well as parking arrangements and nearby transport links. It’s also a good idea to find out if the property has a PA system and complimentary wifi.
Next, explore the catering options. There is a huge list of suppliers in the City, some of whom provide exclusive service at the livery halls. The venues are all beautifully decorated, so little theming is required, making it easy to plan your event.
Kate McIntosh is Sales Director at ITA, a venue-finding and event solutions company with a portfolio that includes seven of London’s livery halls. For more information, visit itavenues.co.uk
Clothworkers’ Hall (pictured)
Dunster Court, Mincing Lane, EC3R 7AH
Cost: DDR from £58.20 per person
Capacity: Maximum of 350 standing, or 240 for daytime meetings
Overview: An unrivalled welcome greets every guest at this hall, where splendour and historical richness intertwine with 21st-century facilities. A magnificent grand travertine staircase set beneath a majestic glass dome creates a sense of occasion befitting every event. With beautiful décor evoking a different era in each room, Clothworkers’ Hall is not just stunning, but versatile too. Home to one of the city’s 12 livery companies, the only way to access this beautiful building is to book an event, giving every function held here a sense of exclusivity and prestige. The venue offers a range of rooms for hire and is perfect for conferences, dinners, award ceremonies, receptions and lunches.
Facilities: Permanent web broadcasting for TV, breakout space, air conditioning, exclusive hire, wifi and AV equipment
Brewers’ Hall
Aldermanbury Square, EC2V 7HR
Cost: DDR from £60.40 per person
Capacity: Maximum of 120
Overview: Hidden in a quiet square in the heart of the City, Brewers’ Hall seamlessly blends historical elegance with contemporary flexibility. It offers a centrally located, elegant and adaptable venue suitable for a wide range of events. Entering the building through the graceful marble lobby before climbing the carved oak staircase to the circular reception area will create an impeccable first impression for your guests. From here the function rooms interconnect to form a highly adaptable event space with the benefit of natural light. The property is ideal for conferences, presentations, lunches, dinners and receptions.
Facilities: An event organisers’ office, exclusive hire, natural daylight, wifi and AV equipment
Coopers’ Hall
13 Devonshire Square, EC2M 4TH
Cost: DDR from £62 per person
Capacity: Maximum of 85 for a reception, or 40 theatre-style
Overview: Discreetly tucked away in Devonshire Square, Coopers’ Hall is a delightful pre-Georgian townhouse in the heart of the City of London. The smallest and one of the oldest of the livery halls, with a history of wooden cask-making since its origins in the 13th century, the venue is rich with warmth and character. With a beautiful entrance hall and splendid staircase up the entire height of the house, the initial impression of the property is of sophistication and grandness. Refurbished, but beautifully preserved, it provides the perfect location for exclusive lunches, dinners, meetings, conferences and receptions. Coopers’ Hall is located just moments from Liverpool Street Underground station.
Facilities: Natural daylight, exclusive hire, home to a 13th-century cask-making museum, wifi and AV equipment
Founders’ Hall
1 Cloth Fair, EC1A 7JQ
Cost: DDR from £46.50 per person
Capacity: Maximum of 120 standing, or 84 theatre-style
Overview: The company of founders was one of the earliest medieval guilds formed to promote high standards of quality and workmanship in articles of bronze and brass. Founders’ Hall is a striking event space that is centrally located, but hidden away from the bustle of the City on one of the capital’s oldest streets. This beautiful venue is warm and intimate, with a more contemporary feel than many livery halls. Three stunning, perfectly proportioned rooms, distributed over three floors, provide a charming mix of different yet complementary styles. The property is suitable for holding conferences, presentations, meetings, lunches, dinners and receptions.
Facilities: Air conditioning, disabled access, natural daylight, exclusive hire, wifi and AV equipment
Goldsmiths’ Hall
13 Foster Lane, EC2V 6BN
Cost: Prices on application
Capacity: Maximum of 450 for a reception, or 300 theatre-style
Overview: Five stately interconnecting rooms in one of London’s finest and most beautiful livery halls offer huge Corinthian columns, ornately decorated gold-leaf ceilings, intricate tapestries and sparkling crystal chandeliers made from the finest English glass. Positioned at the junction of Foster Lane and Gresham Street, just north-east of St Paul’s Cathedral, Goldsmiths’ Hall is less than five minutes’ walk from St Paul’s Underground station. It’s renowned for presentations, award ceremonies, conferences, fine dining and cocktail receptions and is also a popular location for filming.
Facilities: The property’s five rooms boast natural light, imposing 19th and 20th-century design and modern facilities.
Haberdashers’ Hall
18 West Smithfield, EC1A 9HQ
Cost: DDR from £64 per person
Capacity: Maximum of 400 for a reception, or 240 for daytime meetings
Overview: Nestled in a secluded spot in West Smithfield, this is London’s newest livery hall, while being home to one of its oldest companies. Haberdashers’ Hall is a true one-of-a-kind venue, which seamlessly fuses the avant-garde with stately tradition. Designed by celebrated British architect Sir Michael Hopkins, the property combines modern architecture and state-of-the-art conferencing technology with traditional materials and celebrated building skills. It’s ideal for conferences, presentations, lunches, dinners, receptions and summer and Christmas parties. The courtyard and orangery offer serenity inside and out.
Facilities: Outside courtyard, permanent web broadcasting for TV, disabled access, air-conditioning, natural daylight, exclusive hire, wifi and AV equipment
Stationers’ Hall
Ave Maria Lane, EC4M 7DD
Cost: DDR from £55 per person
Capacity: Maximum of 400 for a reception, or 200 for meetings
Overview: History and tradition are at the heart of Stationers’ Hall, one of the few ancient liveries that remains in London. This striking Grade I-listed building is located close to St Paul’s Cathedral and offers a seamless blend of welcoming warmth and arresting grandeur. The four interconnecting rooms each possess their own individual charm and character, lending themselves to a range of functions and events. The secluded garden is a draw during the summer months for corporate entertaining. The beauty of the property, with its stained-glass windows, makes it a perfect setting for all types of functions. The venue is especially popular for conferences, presentations, receptions and summer and Christmas parties.
Facilities: Secluded garden, permanent web broadcasting for TV, disabled access, natural daylight, exclusive hire, parking, wifi and AV equipment
