Cool London Venues For Birthday Parties
FOR A CANDLELIT DINNER:
Brunswick House, Vauxhall
Jackson and Frank Boxer’s Vauxhall restaurant Brunswick House recently opened a private dining room in the renovated basement space of its 18th-century building. Between 12 and 24 diners can now enjoy dinner in the candlelit room, complete with seasonal flowers and beautiful tablescapes. Ideal for a relaxed evening with friends, the dining room has a separate menu featuring a selection of the restaurant’s classic and seasonal dishes, including raw Dexter beef with smoked bone marrow and crispy shallots; pork and prawn stuffed chicken wings with truffle; cod with rainbow chard, squash and girolles; and chocolate pots or plum cakes for dessert. There’s an extensive wine and drinks list, plus regular live jazz sessions in the adjoining cellar.
Price: From £65pp.
30 Wandsworth Road, Vauxhall, SW8 2LG
Visit BrunswickHouse.London
FOR ROOFTOP VIEWS:
Upstairs at the Department Store, Brixton
One of our favourite rooftop bars in the capital, Upstairs at the Department Store is a buzzy members bar, but you don’t need to have a membership to hire the venue. Of the three spaces, we like the Dome set in a beautiful turret of the building – one of the best hidden spots in Brixton. With space for up to 14, it opens out onto the roof terrace for panoramic views of the city. Perfect for an intimate dinner with friends, there’s a surround sound system for you to play favourite tunes. You can also hire the Roseberry Room which is accompanied by a set menu or drinks and canapés, or the main restaurant for a blow-out party.
Price: From £425.
10 Stockwell Avenue, Brixton, SW9 8BQ
Visit UpstairsBrixton.com
FOR A SPECIAL LUNCH:
Social Pantry, Battersea
One of London’s go-to catering companies, Social Pantry has a neighbourhood café on Lavender Hill in Battersea. As the leading employer of ex-offenders in the hospitality industry, Social Pantry tries to maintain a team made up of a percentage of people who have been recruited through prison reform charities. Guests can hire the café for birthdays and events – whether you’re after a long sit-down lunch or evening soirée with drinks and music. The kitchen specialises in sustainable, locally sourced menus that can be served as canapés, at food stations or as a seated dinner for up to 40 guests. Expect to try dishes like seared scallops with bacon and butter, smoked duck breast with orange curd, and chocolate miso caramel tart.
Price: From £1,200.
170A Lavender Hill, Battersea, SW11 5TG
Visit SocialPantry.co.uk
FOR GROWN-UP PARTIES:
Scott’s, Richmond
Scott’s recently opened in Richmond. A new take on the Mayfair hotspot from the same group as The Ivy, the riverside restaurant spans two floors: the lower with an impressive crustacean bar serving oysters, wine, champagne and cocktails; and the ground-floor space with floor-to-ceiling windows offering direct views of the Thames. There’s also a group space on the ground floor, which caters for 9-14 guests (excluding Friday and Saturday nights), and you can hire the first floor for a glamorous event with up to 80 guests. Choose from drinks, canapés and music, or a relaxed sit-down meal featuring seafood dishes like roasted cod with caponata and n’duja, lobster thermidor, and monkfish and tiger prawn masala followed by triple chocolate and hazelnut fondants.
Price: Available on request.
4 Whittaker Avenue, Richmond, TW9 1TH
Visit Scotts-Richmond.com
FOR DRINKS & DANCING:
The Last Talisman, Bermondsey
This sleek neighbourhood bar is a buzzy spot at weekends. It also has four spaces available to hire for events, but we like the room in the basement best. Dark and moody, there’s space for up 25 guests with a sound system and seating. Guests can also choose drinks and food packages which include beer, prosecco and soft drinks alongside a selection of snacks and canapés like bao buns, Korean fried chicken and tempura cauliflower. Hook up your phone to the sound system and dance until the early hours.
Price: From £400.
171-173 Bermondsey Street, Bermondsey, SE1 3UW
Visit TheLastTalisman.com
FOR A PRIVATE SCREENING:
Whirled Cinema, Brixton
Whirled is Brixton’s hidden cinema, tucked away in the railway arches in Loughborough Junction. As well as hosting affordable screenings throughout the week in its 60-seat screen (memberships costs just £9.99 per month), the venue can be hired for private parties. Groups can watch a film on the projector before the team whisk away the seats to reveal a dancefloor, complete with overhead glitterball. Play music with your own DJ or simply off your phone. All hire packages include bar staff, projection, party lighting including a haze machine, and a cleaning fee.
Price: From £300.
259-260 Hardess Street, Loughborough Junction, Brixton, SE24 0HN
Visit WhirledCinema.com
FOR A GIRLS’ NIGHT IN:
The Hearth, Queen’s Park
The Hearth is a flexible co-working space in Queen’s Park specially created for women. Set over two floors, the modern building has meeting rooms, a library and a lounge with comfy seats and low-level lighting which can be hired for drinks or a pamper party with friends. Perfect for a girls night in, guests can bring in snacks, face masks and other pampering tools for a relaxed night. There’s also a fully licensed bar stocked with coffee and cocktails.
Price: From £80 per hour per floor.
16 Lonsdale Road, Queen’s Park, NW6 6RD
Visit TheHearth.me
FOR ELEGANT DINING:
Spring, Covent Garden
Set within the New Wing of the iconic Somerset House, the dedicated event co-ordinator at Spring will ensure every detail of your private event or evening is covered. The Salon, its garden dining room, sits up to 36 guests in an enclosed interior atrium, allowing for year-round dining, while the entire restaurant is also available for hire, too, and can accommodate up to 116 for a sit-down dinner or up to 150 for a standing reception. Expect to enjoy dishes like tuna carpaccio with grapefruit, chicory and olive oil; wild halibut with curry leaf butter, cauliflower and pak choi; and rhubarb and custard tart with strawberries and vanilla cream.
Price: from £85pp
Somerset House, Lancaster Place, Covent Garden, WC2R 1LA
Visit SpringRestaurant.co.uk
FOR RELAXED DINING:
Bistrotheque, Bethnal Green
The private dining room at this east London institution is known for its pared-down aesthetic and a pianist who plays for diners as they enjoy a menu of European classics. A bright blank canvas, the space can be decked out however you like to create a one-off experience. There are three spaces to choose from: The Cockatoo which has space for up to 60 with a grand piano and disco lights; the main dining room with space for 100; and the Loading Bay – a great option for small groups of up to 24. Pre-order a three-course meal comprising dishes like twice-baked souffle with goat’s cheese, 12-hour braised short ribs with herby sauce, and apple and hazelnut galette.
Price: Available on request.
23-27 Wadeson Street, Bethnal Green, E2 9DR
Visit Bistrotheque.com
FOR SUMMER PARTIES:
Barge East, Hackney
If you’re looking ahead to the summer, Barge East in Hackney is a great choice for something a little different. Choose from packages aboard the barge or at one of its spaces on land – you can hire the restaurant (which recently won a AA Rosette), the private dining room for eight people, the outdoor deck, or the garden which has private cabins and a heated terrace. There’s also an option for drinks and canapés if you don’t fancy a sit-down meal.
Price: Available on request.
River Lee, Sweetwater Mooring, White Post Lane, Hackney, E9 5EN
Visit BargeEast.com
FOR A CHILLED EVENING:
Nine Lives, London Bridge
This cool basement bar is tucked away in a Victorian building near London Bridge. With a killer sound system, and tasty bar snacks and cocktails, groups can relax on plush seats and dance into the early hours. Interiors are Tulum inspired, with rattan pendant lights, soft lighting and plenty of greenery. Guests can enjoy Mexican bar snacks like fish, veggie or king prawn tacos, tostadas and quesadillas, as well as tequila and mezcal cocktails like picantes, palomas and spicy margaritas.
8 Holyrood Street, London Bridge, SE1 2EL
Price: Available on request.
Visit NineLivesBar.com
FOR A PUB LUNCH:
The Lady Ottoline, Holborn
If you like the idea of spending a few hours with your friends and family over a relaxed pub lunch, The Lady Ottoline in Holborn has two dining rooms available. The Morrel room seats up to 16 (or 20 standing for drinks and snacks), while the Dining Room has space for up to 30 across several tables. Groups can enjoy elevated classics like burgers, pies, fish and chips or gnocchi, and sharing desserts like apple tarte tatin or lemon posset.
11A Northington Street, Holborn, WC1N 2JF
Price: Available on request.
Visit TheLadyOttoline.net
FOR A BIG GUESTLIST:
Night Tales Loft, Hackney
If you’re hosting a milestone birthday party or have a long guest list, Night Tales Loft is a great spot out east. You can hire the outdoor terrace, loft or full venue for up to 350 guests. The Loft, which usually hosts DJ nights and jazz takeovers, is our favourite space with eclectic furniture, a DJ booth with an impressive sound system, and views of Hackney and beyond. The bar will keep guests topped up all night, and you can also discuss private caterers for snacks and canapés.
Price: From £800.
14 Bohemia Place, Hackney, E8 1DU
Visit NightTales.co.uk
FOR STUNNING FLORALS:
The Petersham, Covent Garden
Regular readers will know we love Petersham Nurseries, which has a private dining room curtained off from the main restaurant. With a separate entrance and terrace that overlooks Floral Court, the room has beautiful Genoese chandeliers and seasonally changing floral displays. The dining room seats up to 40 guests, making it ideal for larger parties or events. Guests can enjoy meals that revolve around The Petersham’s slow food ethos, with an emphasis on seasonal fruit and veg. Current menu highlights include fresh pumpkin and wild mushroom pasta with a reggiano fondue; herb crusted lamb rack with leeks and rainbow carrots; pecorino, pear, and black pepper risotto; and apple crumble with Disaronno custard.
Price: Available on request.
2 Floral Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 9FB
Visit PetershamNurseries.com
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