We know how stressful the lives of PAs and EAs can be, so when it comes to planning events, a little helping hand is invaluable. That’s why SquareMeal’s Concierge Service is so fantastic – our team can recommend venues and event suppliers tailored exactly to the type of event you’re organising. The best bit, though? It’s free! Yep, that’s right. Part of our service is showcasing venues in our portfolio to event planners out there, to demonstrate what their event capacities are. Here’s what you can take away from our private dinner at Trinity House.
Trinity House is a charity dedicated to safeguarding shipping and seafarers, and the events team at its home in Tower Hill certainly run a tight ship. They ensured a plain sailing for the nearly 30 invited personal and executive assistants at our event.
The Court Room at Trinity House is studded with original royal paintings
READ MORE: Did you know Trinity House does weddings, too?
For instance, representatives ranging from City-based financial companies, hedge funds and technology firms (including Deloitte and Facebook) were first treated to a drinks and canapé reception in the venue’s Court Room. With a ceiling fresco by Pre-Raphaelite artist William Holman Hunt to impress guests, as well as striking views of the lit-up Tower of London, we can’t think of a better place to start an event.
Live classical music was also provided by Amalia Strings to match the formal mood before Edgar King, event manager at Trinity House, welcomed everyone with some funny anecdotes and interesting trivia about the venue. Did you know that the Court Room is home to the second largest single-loom carpet in the British Isles? Now, there’s a conversation starter for you.
Amalia Strings and Trinity House have a special collaboration for corporate events and weddings at the moment, which will be available until the end of September. When engaging the string ensemble as a duo at £370, a trio at £480 or a quartet at £600, the second hour of the live performance will be offered free when booked to participate at an event at the House. This pricing includes VAT, transport of musicians and instruments to the House. For more info on this, contact Zoe Turner.
The Library can be set up with various configurations
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It’s worth noting that the Court Room is a fab place for a board meeting for up to 30 people or a conference for up to 80, too – even lunch and dinner for up to 60 people can be catered for here. But for this particular evening, guests were taken to the Library for supper.
And we had nothing against that, as the Library is yet another striking asset for Trinity House. Much larger than the Court Room, the Library also benefits from two beautiful chandeliers and stained-glass windows (don’t worry, the view of Tower of London is still visible from the south-facing windows). Our favourite part, though? The minstrel’s gallery which can accommodate a full chamber orchestra (Amalia Strings continued playing for us here). Dinners of up to 180 guests can be held here, as well as board meetings for up to 46 or conference seating for 130 delegates.
The Fresh Flower Company supplied simple, but beautiful flower decorations to let the big-impact room speak for itself
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Even better than the music was the menu provided by caterers Moving Venue (Trinity House doesn’t have an in-house caterer, which allows for external event suppliers to come in, adding much more flexibility and opportunity for your event).
For starters, a dish of bass fillet ceviche was served with pink grapefruit, peas, mustard and coriander – a light and playful dish that also looked the part. The vegan option was a ratatouille and quinoa salad with romesco sauce, basil vinaigrette and puffed quinoa crisp – delicious, one attendee said.
The starter was as pretty as anything! Photo: @tonje.eats
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The main course featured salt marsh lamb loin, whipped sheep’s curd, grilled leeks, wild mushrooms, a potato and tarragon croquette, finished with a peppercorn sauce (rich, deep in flavour and well-balanced texturally). Meanwhile, the vegetarians were treated to grilled polenta and ricotta fondant filled with ratatouille, aubergine ketchup, tenderstem flowers, split yellow peas, and a pine nut crumb.
Uniting vegetarians and carnivorous champions alike was the dessert of rosemary panna cotta with rhubarb and an apricot sorbet. To go along with it, beautiful wines selected by wine merchants The Vintner were served, which complemented the food brilliantly. Moving Venue and The Vintner were also responsible for the canapés and bubbly served at the reception.
Moving Venue's main of salt marsh lamb. Photo: @tonje.eats
READ MORE: Browse private dining rooms in London here
This grand venue boasts Georgian interiors, which naturally form a rather formal and decorative setting. There’s a distinctly nautical feel to the decor, which features maritime paintings, ship models and the brass bell from the royal yacht Britannia. Flower arrangements therefore needn’t be too boisterous – a trick The Fresh Flower Company mastered skilfully. Simple, but beautiful flower decorations scattered the dinner table, letting the big-impression room speak for itself.
Weddings, private parties, conferences and corporate events all work terrifically here. But don’t be fazed by the venue’s formal identity, thinking that this is the place for pompous and ceremonial events only. The traditional backdrop could be the perfect setting for a more modern and tech-driven shindig – imagine how playful you can be with music, decorations and theming to enhance the contrasts.
So if you’re looking to host an event such as the above, Trinity House would form a natural option. And with a talented events team on hand and with quality event suppliers to bring it safely to shore, it’ll be a breeze.
Get more inspiration for dynamic venues for blow-out events here.