Venue Reservations Newsletter

We are delighted to announce the arrival of Claire West as Customer Services Executive. Claire joins us from the Millenium Gloucester Hotel and Conference Centre in Kensington where she worked for 2 years as an Events Executive.

Having left college in 2000, Claire knew she wanted to work in events from an early age and has spent the last five years working towards this role.Claire is now our youngest team member and has quickly acclimatized herself into the team. She brings with her excellent communicative and interpersonal skills and is very enthusiastic to make her new role a success.

Our ever-expanding team means that as our client base continues to grow we can cope with the increasing enquiries. Venue Reservations aims to continue to provide the most efficient free venue finding service in London.

You can contact Claire on 020 7334 3965 or claire.west@venuereservations.co.uk

all your questions answered...

Who are Venue Reservations?
Venue Reservations is the central enquiry handling centre for the Crown Group.
We are a venue finding service, responsible for driving business into our key venues and securing catering revenue for our companies.

How we operate
The condition of a complimentary venue finding service for our Clients is on the basis that they use one of our catering companies (Chelsea Catering, Crown Society, CVC, Missing Ingredients or London’s Flying Chef).
We have over 150 venues included on our venue portfolio, where we are either sole caterers, listed on the accredited suppliers list or can introduce business.
Managing conference diaries at our priority venues (for example Gibson Hall, London Dungeon etc)
Venue Reservations do not claim commission.
We do venue find for conference agents and therefore will request commissionable rates.
We attend client site visits or arrange colleagues at our sole catering venues to coordinate show round.

Who are our Clients?
We receive enquiries from end user clients and conference agents
We receive referrals from our Customer Services Executives

How do we market Venue Reservations and attract our Clients?
A large majority of our enquiries are received via the Venue Reservations website.
Venue Reservations website www.venuereservations.co.uk
Attended and exhibited at RSVP, Confex, Square Meal and Confetti.
Networking at PR evenings and hosting venue familiarisation visits at our key venues.

For more information please visit the website at: www.venuereservations.co.uk

On Thursday 3rd November, Venue Reservations held their first Promotional Evening at Tallow Chandlers Hall in the City.

Tallow Chandlers Hall is steeped in history and sits on the buried walls of the Roman Governor's Palace, and is based in the ancient heart of London. Today's Hall dates from 1672, designed (it is believed) by the Company's Surveyor, Captain John Caines under the guidance of the Surveyor and polymath Robert Hooke. The basic size, shape and layout of the Hall has changed little since 1672. It is now one of the most well preserved - and certainly among the most popular - of the London Livery Halls.

Crown Society were awarded the Tallow Chandlers 5 year catering contract back in August. Since this time the team have been investing in and enhancing the quality and presentation of food and service provided at this prestigious Livery Hall. Crown Society provide a contemporary styled food offer whilst maintaining the traditions associated with catering at City Livery Halls.

The idea for a Promotional Event came as Venue Reservations wanted to showcase the new venue to their key clients. It was decided to keep the event small and intimate so only 50 of their key corporate clients were invited. The evening started with a Champagne and canapé reception followed by a Wine Challenge, New London Orchestra provided the entertainment, Moyses Stevens provided the stunning flowers and the food was sponsored by Crown Society.

The Wine Challenge started off with the clients being divided into teams of 6 and each team was hosted by a Venue Reservations member for each group. The winner of the Wine Challenge was Kay Relph from The Food and Drink Federation. She won dinner for 2 at the Crown Group’s Fine Dining 2 Michelin Star Restaurant in Cambridge- Midsummer House.

To book this venue for your parites, receptions or dinners: Venue Finder

Vinopolis, universally known for it’s wine attraction launched its 2006 Christmas season on the evening of Tuesday 1st November - ‘One Night in Havana’.

The experience was a truly Latin affair, with salsa dancing, cigars, and of course drinks with a Cuban twist within a traditional Havana backdrop in order to give the guests that carnival street party experience.

The evening was a huge success and over 400 Clients came along to learn the art of salsa dancing and how to make a Cuban cocktail. taste ….Vinopolis provided a selection of mouth-watering Latin-fusion dishes to compliment the theme. The evening was managed directly by taste….Vinopolis, and asked the Venue Reservations team if they would also provide support of which they were more than happy to oblige.

This was a great opportunity for all Vinopolis’ forward thinking clients to take an early look at what is on offer for Christmas next year. The evening was a resounding success and bookings for 2006 were being taken which goes to prove that Vinopolis is streets ahead in terms of flare and innovation, especially when it comes to providing parties throughout the festive season.

For more information on this event, please contact us: 020 7334 3922 enquiries@venuereservations.co.uk

Julia Murphy, Head of Venue Reservations hosted a table of ten Corporate Clients at the Tottenham Official Club Gala Dinner on Tuesday 1st November at Tottenham Hotspurs Football Club.

This was the first time this event took place and will now continue to be held annually. 550 guests attended which included the first team premier squad, THFC members and box holders, local companies and Sporting Legends.

Crown Venue Catering provided the catering and the Marquee which housed the dinner was provided by Piggotts Marquee hire London - Crown Group’s Marquee and Furniture Hire Supplier

Kelly Dalglish- daughter of football legend Kenny, presented the dinner and each table had 2 sporting legend guests to dine with them. Julia’s dining guests included Cliff Jones and Tony Marchi, both former Tottenham players.

There were interviews with Martin Jol and Jermaine Defoe and there was also an Auction which raised over £5,000, in aid of Tottenham and Enfield Community which provides support to disadvantaged children.