As 2018 begins to draw to a close, there’s little chance of the
Twickenham team putting their feet up and reflecting on the past year. Instead they’re busy in preparation for the launch of the stadium’s redeveloped East Stand.
The additional 6,700sq m of space will offer a diverse mix of rooms suitable for traditional large-scale formal dinners, while also incorporating a few surprises – we’re excited about the open-air roof terrace, complete with rotisserie-style catering and a pizza oven.
It’s not just a new space that the venue’s team is bringing to the market though. They’re also working hard to get the industry to think differently. By offering a diverse range of settings, catering options and themes, they want to encourage the event professionals to approach meetings and events with fresh eyes and try something new.
‘The arrival of the East Stand gives our customers the chance to reappraise events at Twickenham,’ says Nils Braude, catering and conference & events director. ‘We’re asking clients to embrace change and use our modern and varied facilities to really explore what’s possible.’
Among the new spaces is the East Wing. The contemporary setting is reminiscent of a private members club and aims to provide guests with a feeling of exclusivity and intimacy. The venue can accommodate intimate bespoke dining experiences for 30 or, in its entirety, could host 800 diners seated restaurant-style.
Other stand-out additions include a chop-house style restaurant, called The Gate, with its own wine room that provides space for 48 private diners or a 500-guest restaurant-style banquet. While also on Level One there will be a large-scale pub setting, The Union Ale House, which would suit an informal post-conference gathering for 300.
Robert Dunsmore, a freelance creative director, sees this new-found versatility as a positive move for venues and has coined the phrase ‘meeting design thinking’. He says: ‘The new space is agile in both scale and mood to physically choreograph any meeting experience. It offers more because customers need more to deliver their content and expect more value from their venues.’
The new surroundings are not the only change. The food has had a re-think too, and it’s fair to say that you’re not likely to go hungry. Among the new menus on offer in the East Stand will be the Manapé selection – a substantial version of canapés for the larger appetite – as well as a Gentlemen’s Afternoon Tea.
The corporate event space will be available to hire from December, just in time for organisers to shake up their Christmas gatherings and surprise their guests with something new. Get in touch with the team now, using the button below.