There's no doubt that the UK is blessed with stunning event venues, from huge blank canvas event spaces through to historical and iconic venues. Whatever the type of event, there truly is something for everyone. And it's not just the thousands of indoor event spaces that are available. Amazingly, around 85% of the UK is 'not built on'. Whilst that might seem unlikely whilst you are sitting in your car in the middle of London, greenbelt land is all around us, with woodlands, lush fields, riverside and coastal areas all playing host to some wonderful outdoor events...as long as the Great British weather plays its part of course! So, with all this choice, how do you find the perfect event venue in the UK? Hopefully the tips below will help you along your way when you come to find the perfect event venue. Know your audience Whatever your event - whether you're organizing a wedding or an international trade show or exhibition - the basic principle remains the same here. Who are you aiming the event at? For a wedding, it's the bride and groom with their friends and family. If it's an exhibition, it's industry professionals, some of which will be flying in from abroad. This HAS to be your first step in deciding which event venue to use as it determines many other factors which we'll look at shortly. And what they need... Is there an international airport close-by for your visitors from abroad? Or, if it's your wedding, is there sufficient good quality accommodation on site or close by to put everyone up for the night? What about parking and transport links? The amenities and facilities at your venue should all be considered, even down to Wi-Fi access for business travellers! Do your research Who does anything nowadays without doing lots of research online? One of the first things to do when we're presented with so much choice is to narrow it down to maybe 5 or 10 options. This enables you to make much more of an informed choice based on your overall requirements. Filter by price, location, amenities, size and so on. Are you looking for indoor exhibition space, or maybe an outdoor festival site, for example. Choose a venue in line with your vision You're probably not going to choose a stately home for a trade show or exhibition, just as you're not going to get married at London's ExCeL. Certain venues lend themselves much better to certain types of events. And it's not just the event space itself that is important. The people behind these venues also play an important role. Can you work alongside these people? Do they buy into your vision of your event? Are they flexible to enable you to execute and deliver your plans how you need to? All these are important factors to consider. Set your budget...and stick to it! We've all been there. With all the best intentions, you create a spreadsheet and set up your online budget. Then we go out and blow the budget (without meaning to, of course!) by either massively overspending on one particular item or just paying slightly more than we should be on lots of different elements. OK, so sometimes we HAVE to go over budget to get what we want, but get your negotiating hat on here - it's amazing how much you can save just by asking for the best deal. And in a post-COVID world, all event venues will be looking to maximize usage! Set the date and start planning early! There's a bit of 'chicken and egg' here. You can't really set the date until you know that your preferred venue is available. Nor can you book the venue until you have set the date! The two go hand-in-hand, and so make sure you've got a preferred date in mind along with a couple of back-ups just in case. Remember, event planning takes a lot of flexibility - rarely does everything work to your plan A. By the time you finish and complete your event, you're normally on plan Z! Find out what is included in the price So, you've decided and booked your event space. Now the fun can really begin! You can start planning everything in earnest. And don't forget that some venues will include certain items with the hire of the event space, whilst others won't. Be certain to find out what's included in the price - this might even have been part of your negotiations, of course! Wedding venues, for example, might include wedding table and chair hire whilst outdoor venues may include outdoor table and chair hire. According to easyEventhireUK table and chair hire is the most popular type of furniture rental for events and so always worth asking the question! Finding the perfect event venue in the UK really is as simple as that. There's a huge amount of choice available, and it very much depends upon the vision you have. Always try to visualize your event in your head and then get to work on executing your plans. Ask the right questions, work with the right people and have the right positive attitude, and you'll be amazed at how successful and memorable your event will be. Good luck!
How to find the perfect event venue in the UK
