Around the world in venues - September

The brand’s first hotel outside of London, Mama Shelter Liverpool will be located at the beloved George Henry Lee building (formerly John Lewis) off Williamson Square, and is expected to open in 2025 following a £25 million redevelopment. 

Mama Shelter is known for its playful, live-life-to-the-full approach to hospitality, featuring looney tunes masks in the bedrooms, karaoke rooms, in-house cinemas, DJ sets, and signature rooftop bars.

The Science Museum in South Kensington has announced the opening of a new space for corporate and private event hire – Power Up. This fully interactive gallery features 160 consoles where guests can get their ‘game on’ as part of an event at the museum.

The hands-on gaming experience features the very best video games and consoles from the past 50 years and is available to hire as an alternative venue for drinks receptions with entertainment on tap! Guests can compete together or against each other in the ultimate multiplayer showdown.

From Pong to Pacman and Minecraft to Mario, there is something for everyone, whether your guests are retro games fans, serious gamers, or just want to get together and have some fun. 

Power Up has a capacity for 200 guests for drinks receptions with the option to hire another gallery alongside Power Up for a dinner. Alternatively, daytime events including conferences, presentations and training can take place in IMAX with Power Up the perfect setting for guests to enjoy some downtime post-event with a game or two.

Bryony Mitchison, Group Sales Manager at the Science Museum, said: “We’re really excited to have Power Up as a permanent gallery at the museum. Now more than ever clients are looking for event venues that offer something that little bit different, whilst optimising opportunities for interaction and collaboration – and there’s no better way to break the ice than some friendly competition!

“Power Up is available for standalone drinks receptions, or it can be hired alongside any of our other incredible galleries for dinners or the IMAX for daytime events. With five decades of gaming, there is something for everyone to enjoy and we can’t wait to see guests letting their hair down and having some fun together.”

The Machrie is delighted to announce the launch of its Scottish Island Corporate Retreat, a new package inviting groups of all sizes to bond, reconnect, and strengthen relations at one of the UK’s Top 30 Hotels, as named by the Condé Nast Traveller Readers Choice Awards 2022. 

Home to some of the world’s finest whiskies, wildlife, seafood and dramatic coastal seascapes, Islay is the perfect rural island escape for teams to bond and explore. The hotel’s new Scottish Island Corporate Retreat package invites businesses to take advantage of the facilities and plethora of activities both on and off property and create their very-own bespoke itinerary that is sure to impress clients and colleagues alike.

Nestled in the dunes of a pristine seven-mile beach on this beautiful Scottish isle, just a 25-minute flight from Glasgow, The Machrie offers breathtaking views and world-class golf, alongside exquisite food and memorable outdoor pursuits. The 47 rooms, suites and lodges offer sweeping vistas of the Atlantic Ocean, golf course and hills of Islay whilst the lounge and bar areas are the ideal meeting spots for groups to reconvene and enjoy a glass of whisky after a day of adventures. Flexible and informal meeting spaces, including a cinema screening room, private lounge and boardroom are also readily available within the package. Serene spa treatment rooms, gym and sauna complete the wellness offering.

Team building exercises include clay target shooting, fishing, cycling trips around Islay’s coastline, fat biking on the beach, as well as visiting the island’s nine whisky distilleries, including Ardbeg, Laphroaig and Bowmore.

What’s more, clients can be entertained - or teams rewarded - with a round of golf on the award-winning 18-hole links, ranked 75th in the world in Golf World’s Top 100, or on The Wee Course, offering six par-3 holes with four different layouts - the perfect team-building exercise for all abilities.

 Following a day of teeing off or exploring the island, groups are invited to reconvene at Restaurant 18 for a seasonal five-course menu that celebrates the best of Scottish produce. With panoramic views overlooking the 18th hole of the golf course and across the Atlantic beyond, there’s no better place to reflect on their day on the Isle. 

 

Victoria Warehouse remains deeply rooted in its industrial heritage. Exposed brickwork, steel columns, and preserved original features serve as reminders of its timeless charm, which has inspired some of Britain's greatest brands, including Jaguar Land Rover, Kellogg's and Manchester United.

Construction of the two warehouse buildings began in the 20s, in the heyday of Manchester's textile industry. Originally serving as a storage facility for the Liverpool Warehousing Company, safeguarding cotton, fabrics and confectionary, the venue's rich history is deeply ingrained within its walls. For over 50 years, brands like Kellogg's, McVitie's and Cadbury's packed their delicacies into 'The Bays'.

The site suffered a large fire in the 1980s, leaving it derelict for many years. Then in 2005, property owner David Cohen, spotted the buildings while out running along the canal. With just an idea, he bought the structure and scoped out grand designs to fashion one of the country's most unique event facilities.

In the summer of 2013, the venue's inaugural fashion show for GAP Clothing put it in the spotlight for experiences with an edge, and the versatile Trafford Park venue has been a force to be reckoned with from that point onwards.

Since its transformation, Victoria Warehouse has solidified its position as one of the UK's most ambitious and forward-thinking event venues, consistently pushing boundaries and remaining at the forefront of creativity within the events industry.

From hosting world-class music events with high-profile artists and acts to captivating corporate showcases, fashion shows, product launches and seasonal parties for major brands, the venue team works with agents, event planners and individuals to craft exceptional experiences for guests and delegates.

In 2015, Victoria Warehouse was granted its civil ceremony license enabling it to host weddings. Fast forward to 2023, and the venue plays host to over fifty weddings per year, offering something outside of the tradition for many couples across the North West.

Located on Trafford Wharf Road, just six minutes out of Manchester city centre, with multiple spaces, breakout rooms, capacity for events from 20 to 6,000 people, and over 1,000 bedrooms within a five-minute walk, it's no wonder Victoria Warehouse continues to attract event planners nationwide.

Aviva Studios, Manchester’s landmark new venue, will officially open its doors in October 2023, offering another event space in the city.

The 13,350 square metre building has three industrial, modern spaces – the Warehouse, the Hall, the Social – that can work together or separately and flex to every need – as well as a riverside space outside. The 21m high Warehouse has a capacity for up to 5,000 people, and can also be divided by a movable, full-height acoustic wall, while the Hall which can house up to 2,000 people, with both spaces also having the potential to work together.

Located in the St John’s neighbourhood next to the River Irwell, Aviva Studios is at the heart of a burgeoning city centre hub for culture, creativity and digital innovation, with a range of transport links connecting the venue to all that the region has to offer and beyond.

Mollie’s (mollies.com), the fast-growing hotel and diner concept, moves into the business space with a range of corporate packages – available in Bristol, Oxfordshire and, later this year, Manchester (the group’s third hotel opens in autumn 2023).

Mollie’s for Business aims to appeal to corporate travellers seeking overnight-stay packages, meeting and reception spaces, lunch locations and away-day facilities. Mollie’s for Business – a new dedicated section of the group’s website – is now live.

With its unique combination of contemporary design, smart technology and affordable rates, Mollie’s for Business is positioned to offer a welcome escape from the stuffy, corporate environment.

Nobu Hotel San Sebastián opens its doors as the fifth hotel in Spain for Nobu Hospitality, the rapidly growing luxury lifestyle brand founded by Robert De Niro, Nobu Matsuhisa and Meir Teper. Working together with Spanish hospitality group, Millenium Hospitality Real Estate SOCIMI (MHRE), Nobu Hotel San Sebastián brings world-renowned Nobu cuisine to the city with the most Michelin-starred restaurants per square metre.

Housed in the former Vista Eder Palace, one of the last historic buildings on La Concha Bay designed by the architect Francisco Urcola, this exclusive boutique hotel offers 17 luxuriously designed guest rooms and suites, the iconic Nobu restaurant, Nobu Terrace with stunning sea views, and a rooftop infinity pool exclusively for hotel guests.

The Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation is gifting a new name to what has been known as Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre returning Wadawurrung language to country.

The name Nyaal Banyul means: ‘open your eyes to the hills.’ The name is made up of two Wadawurrung words – nyaal, meaning to open your eyes, and banyul, meaning hill. This name was chosen to encourage people at the site to take time to appreciate the landscapes of Wadawurrung Country.