Things to look for that make a good venue

Any successful event has to have the key ingredient – a great venue as this is critical for success or failure of the event.  When you are making a decision on which venue to hire you will consider all the obvious factors – cost, suitability and convenience. However, various other measures can be taken to ensure that the venue you choose is the best one for your requirements.

Here are some popular things to look for when sourcing a venue for that special event.

What is the theme

It is important to know what your theme is before booking any sort of venue. Ask yourself ‘What type of event am I having?' Is it a dinner and dance, fashion show, corporate event, wedding reception or party? Once you know the type of event you will have a clearer idea of the type of venue that you will need.

What attributes will the venue need to have

When planning your event you need to think about that attributes the venue will need to have. These can be mandatory and ‘nice to haves', but this will depend on the size of the event you are doing. These attributes would includes things such as accessibility for disabled people, parking, air conditioning, outside area – particularly important if the event you are holding is in Summer. It is always a good idea to create this list before you actually start trying to find a venue.

Is the venue suitable for your guests

This is extremely important when looking for venues – is it suitable for your guests? If the event is important such as a corporate event for clients then ask yourself if they will respond if the location is poor, the rooms are dark and cramped or the decor is outdated. All of these are definitely no for any event. If you do have doubts, arrange a visit beforehand.

What services will I need from the venue

This is very important when sourcing a venue for your event.  If it is a classy event, do you want a drinks reception, if so the finest Champagne or expensive wine?  Is it a sit down meal f self service buffet? Do you require flowers, cloakroom attendants, and waiter service?

Once you have assessed all the services that you require, ensure you are certain of all the costs that will be involved when hiring the venue. If the venue owners charge a service charge then establish this at the beginning, also establish the cost for hiring tables and chairs. Always fully understand all of the costs involved before signing on the dotted line. There is nothing worse than unexpected costs.

One of the most important factors is to consider the amount of time you are going to spend sourcing the right venue as this is a very time consuming process. One idea is to use an external venue sourcing company who can help you find the perfect venue. Try to find companies that provide venue sourcing as part of their services (such as our own). There should be no charge for using these services and no mark ups on venue fees.

Good venue sourcing companies will be able to provide you with venue opening hours, floor plans (these rarely don't exist), menu samples, date availability information, cost (most importantly) and (often) personal experience of the venues they are recommending to you.

If you're looing for the perfect venue to hire in London with a supporting events staff, then look no further than Old Spitalfields Market. Why not take a virtual tour around the venue

About the Author

Perry Manku - Old Spitalfields Market