Whatever live event you’re holding, you want attendees to have an ‘experience’ – not just another sales conference or gala dinner. The right venue is essential for the overall experience, but have you considered an ‘out of the ordinary’ solution, compared to a simple hotel conference room. Here we are going to look at four unusual and offbeat venues to hold an event.
KENTS CAVERN, CORNWALL
The first unusual venue we are going to look at is Kents Cavern, based in Torquay, Devon (between Exeter and Plymouth). The venue is one of the most important Stone Age sites in Europe and hosts guided tours, weddings, corporate events and even television programmes.
We chose this venue for the list as you get the quirkiness of holding an event in a prehistoric underground relic, with the home comforts of standard event venues. There’s a fully licenced bar, wine and cheese tasting, electricity, presentation features and space for 100 attendees.
With all of these features considered, we would recommend using Kents Cavern for small-scale launch events or presentations. The smaller capacity makes larger scale conferences challenging and gala dinners are out of the question due to the lack of catering available.
For more information on Carnglaze Caverns, visit: www.kents-cavern.co.uk
SOLENT FORTS, PORTSMOUTH
If you have ever visited Portsmouth, you would have seen the forts dotted off the coast of the Solent. The Solent Forts date back over 150 years, from the Napoleonic Wars to World War 2.
But, did you know that three of these forts have been converted into secluded and offbeat hotels? No Man’s Fort, the largest of the island hotels, has 23 rooms with sea views, five bars, restaurants, hot tubs and a cabaret club.
There is space on No Man’s Fort for up to 200 attendees, a good number for all types of live events – from summer balls to sales conferences. With creating experiences in mind, not only does Solent Forts offer a unique place to hold a live event, there are lots of activities that attendees can experience, including spa treatments, fishing, laser quest, and RIB rides.
For more information on Solent Forts, visit: www.solentforts.com
THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, LONDON
The National Portrait Gallery – one of London’s most iconic galleries and a very exclusive venue to hold an event.
The gallery displays the globe’s most recognisable portrait paintings. In the evenings, the gallery opens the doors for private hire, offering the opportunity to hold a presentation, launch event, drinks reception, gala dinner or summer ball.
Pair canapés with portraits, offer a private view of an exhibition, or simply create an immersive experience for attendees to enjoy the event.
For more information on The National Portrait Gallery, visit: https://www.npg.org.uk/business/venuehire/
BRISTOL AQUARIUM, BRISTOL
Bristol Aquarium has a similar type of appeal to The National Portrait Gallery. It is an iconic piece of Bristol’s makeup, attracting thousands of visitors each year. But after all the visitors have left, the aquarium is opened up for hire, making it a safe-bet for creating a mesmerising event.
There are purpose-built function rooms which can accommodate a variety of conferences and presentations, whilst launch parties can also be held in the main reception against a backdrop of stunning tropical fish and other marine life.
The main reason for holding an event at the aquarium is the opportunity for attendees to break away and experience marine life up close and personal.
For more information on Bristol Aquarium, visit: https://www.bristolaquarium.co.uk/
As much as unusual venues can entertain attendees and provide a unique experience, there are still perfectly suitable event venues that do fit the mould. If you’d like a helping hand in finding the right venue for your live event, usual or unusual, UKSV can help. We spend time understanding your event in order to achieve a suitable venue.
