Right in the heart of London, 116 Pall Mall has to be seen to understand this site’s true beauty. Seamlessly meshing wall-to-wall history with versatile, grand and elegant conference and meeting spaces, Pall Mall also boasts brilliant catering options and some exceptionally friendly staff. 116 Pall Mall has also been recognised at London Venue Awards 2022 with the Gold for Best Historic Venue and Silver for Most Versatile Venue.
After the long wait to be King, the Prince of Wales vacates his London home before his ascension to the throne as George IV. With his new residence more than doing the job, the home he left behind is demolished, and in 1828, on that same plot of land, legendary architect John Nash designs what will become 116 Pall Mall.
116 Pall Mall is a huge space, their biggest areas able to hold 350, or alternatively the building (which can be hired in its entirety) can hold up to 1000 delegates.
Pall Mall is simple for delegates to reach, no matter the size of the conference or meeting, a maximum five-minute walk from either Charing Cross or Piccadilly Circus, it couldn’t be closer to some of London’s most elegant scenery, with this space itself being no different, boasting Georgian architecture and originally opened in 1828, this spotlessly regal building stands out even in such a historic area.
As well as all of this 116 also doubles up as home to The Institute of Directors, a Royally Chartered group of industry leading directors and entrepreneurs which was founded over a century ago.
Website: https://www.116pallmall.com/
Number: 0203 814 7592
Address: 116 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5ED, United Kingdom
Email: [email protected]
Distance & time from nearest airport: London City Airport – 9 miles
Distance & time from nearest railway station: Waterloo & Charing Cross – 4min walking
Parking (how many spaces / location): n/a
Where do coaches drop off / pick up at venue: Waterloo Place
Number of floors: 4
Wi-fi: Yes - free throughout the venue
Venue History:
This Grade I-listed building, opened in 1828, was designed by John Nash for the United Service Club. It has been home to the Institute of Directors since 1978.
The Prince of Wales vacates his London residence at Carlton House to prepare for his accession to the throne as George IV. Carlton House is demolished and celebrated Regency architect John Nash, who famously designed the Marble Arch and Brighton Pavilion, is commissioned to create a new building on the site of the new king’s former home. This will eventually become 116 Pall Mall.
In 1978 The IoD moves into 116 Pall Mall and the venue becomes the location for a number of famous films and TV dramas beginning with the Oscar-winning epic Gandhi and Batman movie. In August 2018, 116 Pall Mall launch a brand new website creating a separate identity from the IoD.
Summary:
We absolutely loved 116 Pall Mall – what a fantastic location, your clients will LOVE it! Such a historic building with lots of flexible spaces and fantastic staff to bring it to life even more. Go arrange a site visit now, we think you’ll love it as much as we did.
116 Pall Mall is located in the heart of London - this beautiful Georgian building is home to the Institute of Directors with Searcy’s providing exceptional service. The building showcases period charm and unique heritage housing original 18th century paintings and grand chandeliers. All rooms are perfectly versatile for any style of event with an array of catering options from bowl foods and fork buffets to afternoon teas and food stations, 116 Pall Mall is perfect to suit all your catering needs. Their co-working spaces are open every weekday to members and non-members with refreshments available and a seasonal menu on offer in the Brasserie.
As you enter this gloriously beautiful Early Georgian building you are immediately met by the super friendly staff on the reception desk. The fairly small entrance hall means that you don’t quite realise the grandeur that lies inside this amazing building until you enter.
With the super grand staircase leading to the meetings floor, which includes a chandelier with an estimated value of £40m (Yes, forty million!) you can’t help but be impressed. On the top floors, there is a modern Business Centre that includes state of the art training and conference suites.
Even the lower-ground floor level is home to the glorious champagne Bar featuring Searcy’s very own champagne. With its exposed brick and its annexe, this space is perfect for a perfect for a private dinner that’d surely prove unforgettable to each and every attendee.
Speaking of unforgettable 116 Pall Mall is also a perfect venue for a wedding ceremony or civil partnership, with the versatile options to hire multiple rooms or the entire building for a weekend. 116 can cater for civil ceremonies, Asian and Jewish weddings and everything in between, not forgetting the incredible photo opportunities here, Instagram-able doesn’t even cut it.
Restaurant & Bars
116 Pall Mall has all of its exceptional award – winning catering done by Searcys, one of London’s oldest caterers that last year celebrated its 175th anniversary.
Their chefs have a brilliant way of creating extremely healthy dishes that don’t seem to be backing in flavour, we found their use of fresh, seasonal ingredients went such a long way in their fantastic food on offer.
The Searcys team at 116 Pall Mall, who are lead by the Executive Chef Alfio Laudani, told us to keep an eye out for berries, açaí, broccoli featured in our dishes, as they are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These fresh flavours are part of 116 and Searcy’s want to always have their finger on the pulse of the healthiest new options for their guests. We were massively impressed by this attention to detail and sense of care about the food that they produce.
One of the spots you can find this amazing produce is the Carlton Brasserie and Lounge, this open room, with a gloriously embellished white and gold ceiling and an even more glamorous menu. Between 12pm and 3pm the Brasserie is open for adventurous and exciting dinners which can mark an exciting midpoint in your productive day.
116 also boasts Cafe Duke, an amazing space which feels, in the best way possible, trapped in time. It can cater for up to 120 people standing, or 60 dining, and with original tiled walls and striking decor, it’ll be a memorable space for each and every guest. Just as impressively, Café Duke has served as a filming location for blockbuster, Oscar-winning Batman movie The Dark Knight and the award-winning TV drama Downton Abbey.
The meeting spaces in 116 Pall Mall are steeped in both astounding history, and brilliant functionality. During the Second World War, the building’s meeting spaces become a base for senior figures to meet and discuss matters of critical national importance.
Among them was the exiled Norwegian monarch, King Haakon, who would regularly join his officers to plan strategy during World War II. After the war, Haakon started the annual tradition of Norway sending a Christmas tree to Trafalgar Square. You genuinely get a sense of these amazing stories at 116 Pall Mall, in all of the walls of this building we felt an unmistakable sense of authenticity.
With 14 event spaces in this amazing building, there’s a great plethora of choices to place your event or conference. For large event registration, 116 Pall Mall have multiple areas such as outside the Morning, Waterloo or Nash Rooms respectively.
These rooms are placed all around the building’s emphatic centrepiece, the glorious staircase and that chandelier we mentioned earlier. The positioning of these rooms means there’s so much flexibility with these versatile spaces all interconnecting, offering the opportunity to host one event or numerous private events (as each space has its own private entrance).
Despite the deeply functional and effective use of space in this classic building. It’s decor is what gives it its unique character, with many of the meeting rooms equipped with amazing high ceilings, brilliant intricate wall designs, or other amazing 19th century stylings. If this isn’t your speed, 116 Pall Mall also offers more modern areas for training and meetings, such as the entire third floor which has six rooms and a barista bar, all in an easy to navigate layout, making it perfect for networking, or company training days.
Room 304 is also a versatile, large and refreshing space that can be adapted as a meeting room or a training space, depending on your needs! This versatility was one of the things that stood out to us the most, there’s a fantastic sense of awareness in each of these spaces, as if 116 Pall Mall had thought up every possible scenario you may run into in their designs, this is the care that we love to see taken in our industry.
Meeting Space Highlight: Nash Room
Named after John Nash, the building’s original designer. This room is total luxury, a large, high ceilinged space with beautiful golden accents, this space is as versatile as it is impressive, opening up onto the Waterloo Room (see below) which means the pair can be used together. This room too, is no stranger to impactful moments in time, with the London mayoral debate being held here in 2016, and this room also featured as a key location in Oscar winning Epic, Gandhi (1982). To add one final, incredible note, this room also has plenty of access to fresh air for guests who can use the connecting balcony to enjoy a glorious view over 116’s gardens, how about that!?
Location: 2nd floor
Best use for room: conference, meetings, dinner, reception, awards ceremonies, exhibitions
Natural light: yes
Size: 3,000 sq ft
Reception: 350
Theatre: 250
Cabaret: 176
Dinner: 250
AV Equipment included: no
Meeting Space Highlight: Waterloo Room
The Waterloo Room brags giant, floor to ceiling windows across it’s outer walls, which give this classic space, a refreshing and light feel. It can be used as a standalone conference room with stage and sets, or as a breakout and networking room brimming with period charm. Of course, this room can also be used in conjunction with the Nash room allowing for two separate spaces, that can function as reception/greet and networking areas respectively. You won’t want to miss this one.
Location: 2nd floor
Best use for room: conference, dinner, reception, awards ceremonies, exhibitions, meetings
Natural light: yes
Size: 520 sq ft
Reception: 160
Theatre: 120
Cabaret: 56
Dinner: 80
AV Equipment included: no
Meeting Space Highlight: Searcys Champagne Bar
The stunning large iron gates at the entrance to this bar, located in the basement at 116, served as the original doors to the Prince’s wine cellar! The beauty doesn’t just stop there though, the drinks sparkle just like the atmospheric underground room, with the drinks menu nodding to Searcys’ heritage, offering a selection of Brut, Demi-Sec and Rosé, alongside a list of magnums from the likes of Moët et Chandon, Drappier, and Dom Pérignon. This truly is one of the most impressive Wine/champagne bars in London, and an incredible space for a more intimate, or social style event. Another round?
Location: Basement
Best use for room (conference, dinner, reception. Etc): Dinners, receptions, wine tastings, wedding, after parties, birthday celebrations
Natural light: no
Size: 600 sq ft
Reception: 160
AV Equipment included: no
Summary
We absolutely loved 116 Pall Mall – what a fantastic location, your clients will LOVE it! Such a historic building with lots of flexible spaces and fantastic staff to bring it to life even more. Go arrange a site visit now, we think you’ll love it as much as we did.