Unusual SURROUNDINGS

Venues with a twist

Barbican

020 7382 7246| www.barbican.org.uk

Set in one of London’s most admired buildings in the heart of the City, the Barbican Centre provides an incredible backdrop for your big day. Your hire will include the famous oasis of the Conservatory, the Conservatory Terrace, and the elegant Garden Room with views of St Paul’s and St Giles. Surrounded by the contrasting iconic Brutalist architecture and lush tropical foliage, you’re sure to have an unforgettable celebration.

The Conservatory Terrace is the perfect place for your ceremony. Open to the sky whilst protected from the weather, you will walk down the aisle with the foliage-adorned fly tower as your dramatic backdrop. Following your ceremony, guests will be welcomed into the main Conservatory where they can enjoy champagne and canapés surrounded by the oasis. They can wander through the tropical paradise, passing over the wooden bridge and fishponds with colourful Koi Carp, accompanied by acoustic romantic music. The celebration flows seamlessly into the adjoining Garden Room for the wedding breakfast. Flanked by stunning views of St. Giles Church and St. Paul’s Cathedral on one side and the iconic Conservatory on the other, the Garden Room offers a memorable setting. From making your entrance at the largest Conservatory in the City to dancing the night away at the Barbican you can be sure that your day will be one to remember.

Ham Yard Hotel

020 7287 4434 | www.firmdalehotels.com

In the midst of Soho and moments from Mayfair, Ham Yard Hotel has an urban village feel. Revolving around a tree-filled garden with a bronze sculpture by Tony Cragg, the central location has plenty of world-class attractions on its doorstep.

The fourth floor of the hotel boasts a large, leafy rooftop garden with sweeping views of London’s skyline. Scattered with Whitman benches, and boasting a bar and barbecue, it’s overlooked by trees and a garden that blooms year round with seasonal flowers.

The interiors are beautifully designed by Kit Kemp in her award-winning luxurious modern-British style. Guests will love the sumptuous drawing room, library and orangery.

Couples have a choice of seven ceremony spaces in all sizes for up to 250 loved ones. After the formalities, there are two reception spaces. The Roof Terrace seats 100 guests and is a wonderful spot to enjoy canapés and a barbecue. The Croc Bowling Alley accommodates 250 guests and is an original 1950s bowling alley imported from Texas, complete with bowling-style menus, private bar, karaoke and a dancefloor for a party to remember.

The hotel is home to the luxurious Soholistic Spa, the perfect space to enjoy a range of treatments and pre-wedding pampering and guests can stay in a choice of 91 bedrooms and suites, each individually designed, generously sized and featuring floor-to ceiling-length windows overlooking the leafy courtyard or across the London skyline.

Swingers London

020 3030 4111 | https://swingers.club/uk/

Those wanting a quirky setting for their big day should look no further than London’s Swingers West End. This uber-fun, high-end crazy golf venue located in the centre of the capital, offers guaranteed fun, a relaxed setting and spectacular food and drink.

The new wedding packages will function on its newest course, The Meteorite, helping newlyweds tee off to a winning start. Taking inspiration from 1920s English fair grounds and the seaside riviera, The Meteorite provides the perfect backdrop for those memorable snaps. This course is the ultimate event space, with a private entrance offering exclusivity for the nuptials. Located on the roof-top terrace, an expansive al-fresco space, it boasts botanical décor, smart banquet seating and a retractable roof ensuring the space is perfect in all weather.

There are two packages to choose from. The Perfect Set is ideal for intimate gatherings of 20 guests or more and includes a reserved area where friends and family can enjoy a glass of bubbles and delicious nibbles on arrival, two drinks per person and two rounds of London’s finest street-food. Guests can enjoy an evening of unlimited crazy golf on the course, too.

The Forever Set is the option for guest lists of more than 50. This package offers all the above plus a cocktail on arrival alongside three hours of unlimited drinks. This package is also inclusive of a private room, ensuring the party can get into full swing.

Both packages come with a wedding co-ordinator, a DJ, a glass of complimentary bubbles to toast the happy couple and a Crosstown Donut tower - the perfect centrepiece and a great cake alternative.

Aviary

020 3873 4060 | https://aviarylondon.com

Situated on the tenth floor of Montcalm Royal London House, Aviary Rooftop Restaurant and Terrace Bar, which is part of ETM Weddings, showcases spectacular views with a vibrant rooftop and terrace in the heart of London’s city centre. Sip on specially concocted cocktails and celebrate in style with tailored dining packages for up to 120 guests, including a range of exclusive rooms depending on your requirements.

Take in the spectacular view from The Glass Box at Aviary. This is an ideal space to host your drinks and canapé reception. Enjoy the sumptuous cocktails in Aviary Lounge. This area can accommodate semi- private hires for 150 guests standing and you’ll also have a section of the terrace so your guests can enjoy the spectacular views of the London skyline.

Tucked away on the ninth floor, Aviary’s Palm Rooms and Terrace are the ultimate party spots, and best-kept secret. With a gorgeous terraced standing area that can hold up to 100 guests, it’s the perfect space for a one-of-a-kind party. Inside, the Palm Rooms can seat up to 14 people and 20 standing, and there are three rooms leading out to the terrace that can be rented separately or combined. For those occasions that are so grand that everyone simply has to come, Aviary is available for exclusive hires.

Shoreditch Studios

07824 643 133 | https://shoreditch.com

Located in the heart of Shoreditch and nestled under Victorian railway arches, Shoreditch Studios is a beautifully converted and historic space that’s perfect for your East London nuptials.

The warehouse-style venue consists of two interlinked studio spaces as well as a spacious outdoor area, and as one of London’s leading photographic studios for fashion shoots; benefits from crisp white infinity coves which provide a stunning and picture-perfect backdrop for your ceremony and reception.

The interconnected studios offer seamless changeovers throughout your day from your ceremony and cocktail hour to your wedding breakfast and reception party.

Outdoors your guests can make the most of the huge courtyard during the afternoon and early evening and you have the option of dry-hire DIY or bespoke wedding planning and catering packages so there’s something for everyone here.

The largest space here can host 170 guests for your ceremony and up to 200 for your evening celebration with ample space for a dancefloor.

The Depot

020 3218 0083 | https://thedepotn7.co.uk

This converted old English bus depot, benefits from its entire exterior being made up of floor to ceiling windows that bring light into the venue no matter what time of day.

The rustic and bohemian interior is the perfect backdrop for any wedding and one of the venue’s focal points is the grand-rounded bar, that was originally sourced from Royal ascot racecourse.

The three open plan levels allow a party of any size to be an intimate and memorable affair. From the spacious dining and bar level to the loft and mezzanine for a drinks reception space, you can go from a refined wedding breakfast for 180 guests to a buzzing disco for 300 guests in a moment! Outside, the courtyard is embraced by two exotic plant walls that act as a beautiful entranceway for the newlyweds into a cobbled courtyard with an array of country-like picnic benches all framed by bulb-bunting lights that bring a warm glow after sundown.

Couples are offered an evening of wine sampling, food tasting and cocktail tippling to experience what their wedding day has instore.