Central Hall Westminster kicked off celebrations for its 25th anniversary with a showcase event for new and existing clients as well as leading industry professionals, on 4 July.
The celebration included venue tours, giveaways and a panel discussion looking back at 25 years of memorable events at the flagship venue, as well as food prepared by Green & Fortune and a live performance by Get Gospel.
Lesley Whyte of Custard PR moderated a discussion with Emma Williams, chief operating officer, Green & Fortune; Jonjo Glynn, venues director, White Light; Laura Hamilton, head of events at PIXL; Suzanne Singleton, head of associations and citywide bids at London & Partners and Sarah Franczak, chief operating officer at Central Hall Westminster. The panel discussed memorable moments and the evolution of its events during the last quarter of a century.
The panel explored topics such as adapting to the ever-evolving events landscape, the increasing sophistication and significant investment in technology, the importance of innovating food and beverage offerings to meet the changing needs of attendees, as well as the growing emphasis on ESG and sustainability.
Housed in the Methodist Central Hall in London, which opened in 1912, Central Hall Westminster Ltd has operated as an events venue since 1999 and has been a blueprint for supporting other Methodist Churches nationally.
The company’s success inspired the creation of Central Hall Venues, expanding its reach with the City of Edinburgh Methodist Church in late 2020, followed by Central Methodist Church York in summer 2021.
Ongoing investment in the historic venue’s facilities, including the recent installation of a state-of-the-art audio solution in its Great Hall, have continued to attract clients and seal Central Hall Westminster’s position as one of London’s leading events venues.
Following the cutting of a commemorative cake, Sarah Ainsworth, chief executive of Central Hall Venues, said: “This celebration is a special occasion for our venue, and I am delighted to honour this milestone with our dedicated team, suppliers, and event professionals who make Central Hall Westminster a truly unique place in the heart of London.”
