10 Top Summer Party Hangouts
Whether it’s a birthday, you work summer party or just a soiree to celebrate the sun, the summer months offer up a wealth of stunning outdoor spaces for you to host your shindig. The days are longer, the skies are bluer and more people have the motivation to get up and go party weekday or weekend alike. Here’s our round-up of our favourite summer party venues whatever the occasion:
Rotunda Bar and Restaurant
Grand affairs
Perfectly situated alongside the picturesque Regent’s Canal, King’s Place and it’s restaurant Rotunda are ideal for large group events. King’s Place, the venue, offers generous spaces, all contemporary in design and versatile in use for larger parties while Rotunda, its waterside restaurant, offers a stunning Perrier Jouet Garden for the summer, ideal for relaxed get-togethers. They boast a range of party packages for you to choose from, meaning there’s no waiting at the bar for your next glass of rose!
Where: Kings Place, 90 York Way, Kings Cross, London N1 9AG, United Kingdom
Website: www.rotundabarandrestaurant.co.uk
No 1 Duke Street
Drinks Parties
We love Nº 1 Duke Street in Richmond, it’s the perfect spot for a glass of wine in the sun, a coffee on Sunday morning or a midweek supper. It also happens to have two spaces for parties – if you want something a little more formal then take the private floor upstairs which accommodates from 18 seated to 85 if you take the whole upstairs. Or if you’re keeping things casual then the ground floor space is ideal for drinks parties.
Where: No1 Duke Street Richmond London TW9 1HP
Website: www.no1dukestreet.com
The Dog House
Basement bar
Marylebone restaurant Bernardi’s have just launched an elegant new basement bar in time for the summer – The Dog House. Being the summer, basement might not sound all that appealing, but their quaint outdoor courtyard offers a slice of sunshine in the early evening while the indoors comes in handy later on. Available for private hire, the bar serves up both modern and classic Italian cocktails, with a dedicated Negroni section incorporating a wide range of vermouths – as far as The Handbook’s concerned, that’s the party started!
Where: 62 Seymour Street, Marylebone, W1H 5BN
Website: http://bernardis.co.uk/
Spring
Elegant summer soiree
Skye Gyngell’s seasonal sensation, Spring, boasts the most incredible dining atrium, which is available exclusively for parties of an occasion. Beautiful tree-lined walls and a simply stunning glass ceiling give the illusion of sitting outside, flooded with sunlight but with the cool, refined elegance of indoor dining. Depending on the party theme and size, you can rearrange seating and enjoy various menu options – think scallops with salsify, beurre blanc and wood sorrell, Grilled lamb with cavolo nero, farro and trevisse, and warm chocolate cake with bitter caramel.
Where: Somerset House, New Wing, Lancaster Place, WC2R 1LA
Website: http://springrestaurant.co.uk
Smoking Goat
Feasting Tables
Smoking Goat describe themselves as a ‘Soho Dive Bar & Dining Room’, so The Handbook wouldn’t recommend to anyone looking for luxurious surroundings. The restaurant is paired back, minimalist and relaxed in style, letting the fabulously flabourful food do the talking. Their feasting menus are perfect for foodies looking for a summer party, serving between 6 and 35 guests. Crispy belly and pickled watermelon and Fish sauce wings are but a couple of the starting dishes, with sharing mains like whole Cornish mackerel with chilli jam – yum!
Where: 7 Denmark Street, Soho, WC2H 8LZ
Website: http://smokinggoatsoho.com
BMA House
Lavish affairs and tranquil gatherings
Think big, think small, either way BMA House has your summer event covered. From the venue’s secret garden which hosts up to 90 people to the grand Courtyard accommodating up to 320 guests; however many friends you want to invite, you’ll be well catered for. Enjoy the tranquillity that the garden provides with its abundance of physic plants and beautiful oval pond or if you want a more lavish affair then head to The Courtyard with its majestic gates.
Where: Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JP, United Kingdom
Website: www.bmahouse.org.uk
Hampton Court Palace
Secret Garden
With its idyllic riverside setting Hampton Court Palace makes for a pretty ideal party setting anyway, but they’ve just launched their new events space – the 20th Century Garden. Trip over the bridge that leads from the East Palace across the canal and you’ll come across the hidden garden… it has space for 600 guests so you can invite everyone you know and you can choose from suppliers such as Blue Strawberry to make sure everyone is well fed.
Where: Hampton Court Palace, Surrey, KT8 9AU, United Kingdom
Website: www.hrp.org.uk
The Alfred Leroy
Canal-side party
The Alfred Leroy is a canal boat moored Queyside in Hackney Wick. It offers the ultimate unique experience and available for exclusive hire, it’s perfect for private parties this summer. Taking up to 55 of you on board, you can decide whether you want a steady shindig and keep the boat moored, or whether you want to catch-up while cruising along catching some rays. They serve up a range of sharing dishes, which are great for groups, while the Zingerber Mojito is a lovely summer sipper with East London Liquor Co. Guyana demerera rum, ginger beer, vanilla syrup and muddled mint leaves.
Where: 7 Queens Yard, White Post Lane, Hackney Wick, E9 5EN
Website: http://alfredleroy.com
Sanderson Hotel
Hidden Courtyard
Sanderson has six events spaces but it’s the Courtyard Garden that wins us over. Inspired by Japan the garden is a hidden open-air oasis in the centre of London. Flowering trees, mosaics, a fountain, twinkling lights and a reflecting pool, come together to create a beautiful setting for a birthday banquet or summer cocktail party!
Where: 50 Berners Street, London, W1T 3NG, United Kingdom
Website: www.sandersonlondon.com
Dalloway Terrace
Secluded Garden
Sometimes the British summer isn’t quite as warm as we’d hope for… we know who’d have thought? All is not lost though, because the charming indoor-outdoor space, Dalloway Terrace can be light and airy if the sun does shine and if it doesn’t they can turn on the heaters, pull out the roof and bring out the blankets to keep you snug. The weather won’t stop your alfresco party.
Where: 16-22 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3NN, United Kingdom
Website: www.dallowayterrace.com
