Royal Horticultural Halls & Conference Centre

If you want to hold an event that is going to impress– this is the place. For most of us however, we will have to settle for being invited as guests as I expect the cash it takes to rent this place out for the night is far more than I earn in a year. The halls themselves are very grand and old-​fashioned. Beautiful large windows let the light in from every corner (at night this has the effect of making things a bit chilly though) and old paintings hang proudly on the wall. It’s the kind of place you find charity auctions and gala balls although most people will recognise it as the place from the BBC 1 trail, you know the one where the two women slide down the curtains elaborately? No? Just me then…
Most recently the venue hosted Secret Cinema, the ever impressive cult cinema event. The blend between old and new worked really well and it was clearly a big treat for people who would never otherwise enter this building to be able to enjoy a night out here. I suggest it’s worth keeping your eyes open for similar events, charity do’s and the like because this really is a great building to enjoy a bit of decadence in.

I went to the happy (crowded) event that was the Rum Experience at the Lawrence Hall, here on the weekend. It’s not the easiest venue in the world to find, although as filimbouk points-​out, once you’re in vast Vincent Square, you’ll find it eventually!
As soon as you enter the building, it has a much more pleasant feeling than many other exhibition venues. Far less ‘industrial’ and cold. Inside, it’s beautifully maintained with impeccable stair carpeting, an immaculate lift, attractive (rather than industrial) light fittings inside the (show) hall. You’re far less likely to get the same feeling of weariness here that can often be a real downside at other trade fair sites.
The seminar and conference rooms are located on the second floor (a steep stair climb or quick lift journey away), with the ladies on the same floor and the men’s on the third. The ladies loos were pristine. The seminar room wasn’t too vast, comfortable to sit-​in, providing easy viewing and good acoustics. I didn’t get the chance to visit the café area, as I didn’t spot any obvious signage telling me about it

Easiest way to find this place is to walk down the side of Vincent Square (which is enormous, the biggest square I’ve seen in London) and turn left. Just round the corner is the entrance, and a very impressive entrance it is too. I went there for the actors expo, which was incredibly crowded at teh start. Unfortunately the enormous size of the venuw dwarfed the stands, the hall was about half full. It is a fantastic six or seven storey high space, with huge glass panels in the roof, presumably to show the biggest plants in the world to their best advantage. There was a raised step area near the entrance which could be used as a stage. Downstairs was a café area, the food looked good but was expensive, and sofas and things to relax in. There were also rooms upstairs for lectures but I didn’t see those. The toilets were large but difficult to find, so don’t wait til you’re bursting. They had one of those strange Dyson handdryers that take a bit of practice.