Venue Finder’s Notebook
The Venue Finder’s Notebook brings together first-hand insights from the Function Fixers team, drawing on more than 35 years of corporate venue finding experience.
From choosing the right type of venue and understanding budgets to comparing locations and solving real event briefs, our guides share practical advice, venue recommendations and lessons learnt from years of finding venues for real events.
Product Launch Venues: Beyond Capacity and Location
Choosing the right product launch venue means looking beyond capacity and location. The venue needs to work for your brand, audience, production, AV, access and the experience you want to…
Which Type of Venue Works Best for a Corporate Christmas Party?
The choice of venue for a corporate Christmas party will depend on the size of your group, the atmosphere you want to create and how much of the organising you…
What Type of Venue Is Best for a Company Away Day?
The best venue for a company away day depends on what you want the day to achieve. Some away days are primarily about strategy and planning. Others are designed to…
What Type of Venue Can I Hire for a £20,000 Budget?
A £20,000 venue budget can give you plenty of options, but what you can realistically hire will depend on the type of event, number of guests, location and what the…
Where Would We Hold a Conference for 500 Delegates in London?
Finding a London venue with a stated capacity of 500 is relatively easy. Finding one that actually works well for a conference for 500 delegates is a different matter. For…
Which UK City Would We Choose for a National Conference?
If delegates are travelling from across the UK, choosing the right city can make as much difference to a conference as choosing the venue itself. There is no single city…
How to Compare Event Venue Quotes Properly
You have shortlisted several event venues and the quotes have arrived. One looks considerably cheaper than the others, so surely that's the obvious choice? Not necessarily. The best way to…
How Do I Choose a Venue That Fits My Budget?
Choosing an event venue isn't simply about finding the cheapest option - it's about getting the best value for your budget. Whether you're organising a conference, training session, awards dinner…
Venue Finding Advice Centre
Helping event planners, PAs, EAs, HR teams and marketers make smarter venue decisions.
Expert Venue Advice
With over 35 years of venue-finding experience, we’ve created practical guides to help event planners source venues faster and avoid costly mistakes.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Whether you’re planning a conference, team away day or corporate event, our venue experts have created practical guides to help.
The Right Venue Changes Everything
When people ask me what the most important part of planning an event is, they often expect me to say the venue. The truth is, it’s not. The most important…
Booking Lead Time: How Far in Advance Should You Book?
Direct answer: For most corporate events, aim to start your venue search at least 3-6 months ahead. Large conferences, events requiring accommodation and events taking place on popular dates may…
How Corporate Event Planners Really Choose a Venue
Direct answer: Experienced corporate event planners choose venues by starting with the objectives of the event and then assessing capacity, location, budget, layout, accessibility, AV, catering and the overall delegate…
Too Busy to Venue Search? Here’s the Solution
If you’ve ever been asked to organise a meeting, conference, team away day or corporate event, you’ll know that finding the right venue is rarely as simple as it sounds….
The Best Conference Venues in the UK
Direct answer: The best conference venue in the UK depends on your delegate numbers, location, budget and event format. For large-scale conferences, purpose-built convention centres such as the ICC Birmingham…
What Your Venue Choice Says About Your Company
Why guests start forming opinions long before the first presentation begins Imagine arriving at a corporate event. Before you’ve heard a keynote speaker. Before you’ve seen a single slide. Before…
How do I find a Conference Venue?
Finding the right conference venue can make the difference between a good event and a great one. Drawing on over 35 years of venue-finding experience, we share the key factors to consider when choosing a conference venue in London.
How Do I Find a Conference Venue in London?
Direct answer: Start by defining your delegate numbers, preferred area of London, budget, date, room layout and any requirements for breakout space, catering, AV or accommodation. From there, you can…
Conference City Guide: Leeds
Leeds is one of the UK’s strongest conference destinations, combining excellent national transport links with a compact city centre, a wide range of venues and plenty for delegates to enjoy…
Average Conference Costs by City: What Should You Budget in 2026?
Direct answer: Conference costs vary considerably across the UK, with London typically the most expensive destination. In 2026, Day Delegate Rates (DDRs) can range from around £50-£90 per person in…
Conference City Guide: London
London is one of the world’s leading conference destinations, offering an unrivalled choice of venues, hotels and event experiences. From international conventions welcoming thousands of delegates to board meetings for…
Conference City Guide: Manchester
Manchester has become one of the UK’s premier conference destinations, combining world-class venues with outstanding transport links, a thriving business community and a vibrant social scene. Whether you’re planning a…
Conference City Guide: Birmingham
Birmingham has firmly established itself as one of the UK’s leading conference destinations. Sitting at the heart of the country’s transport network, it combines outstanding accessibility with an impressive choice…
Corporate Event Venue Advice
Looking for a corporate event venue in London? Whether you’re organising a drinks party for 50 guests or an awards night for 500, our guides explain how to find the right venue, what questions to ask and how to avoid costly booking mistakes.
Barber Surgeon’s Hall Unique Events Venue in London
When it comes to unique event venues in the City of London, few locations can match the heritage, elegance and sense of occasion offered by Barber-Surgeons’ Hall. Hidden away in…
How to Get Better Venue Rates for Corporate Events
When planning a corporate event, venue costs can quickly consume a significant portion of the budget. Whether you’re organising a conference, company meeting, away day, networking event or client dinner,…
Planning an Experience-Led Corporate Event?
For years, corporate events followed a fairly predictable formula. A hotel conference room. Neutral décor. Coffee station in the corner. Sandwich lunch. Repeat. Functional? Usually. Memorable? Rarely. But expectations around…
The Easy Way to Organise Team Away Days, Meetings and Company Events
Let’s be honest. Organising a team away day, company meeting or corporate event often starts with good intentions and ends with you questioning your life choices while comparing venue PDFs at…
Event Venues on the South Bank: Iconic London Spaces for Corporate Events
If you’re searching for a London event location that effortlessly combines atmosphere, accessibility and instant wow factor, the South Bank is hard to beat. Stretching along the Thames from Westminster…
Shoreditch London: Creative Corporate Event Venues
If your corporate event brief includes words like different, stylish, creative or not another boring hotel meeting room, Shoreditch should be firmly on your radar. London’s East End creative powerhouse…
How to Find the Perfect Party Venue
Looking for a corporate party venue in London? Whether you’re organising a summer party, Christmas party, networking event or company celebration, our guides will help you find the perfect venue, ask the right questions and create an event your guests will remember.
When Is the Best Time to Book a Christmas Party Venue?
Direct answer: For the widest choice of Christmas party venues and dates, start looking between January and June. Thursdays and Fridays in December are usually among the first dates to…
Corporate Christmas Party Guide
In short: A successful corporate Christmas party starts with a clear budget, the right venue and a good understanding of what your guests will enjoy. Decide on your preferred date,…
Healthcare Sector Summer Parties: Compliant Venue Options
Summer is the perfect time for healthcare teams to unwind and celebrate their hard work. However, within the highly regulated healthcare sector, choosing a venue for a summer party requires…
Summer in the City: 6 Fabulous London Summer Party Venues for Corporate Events
When the sun comes out, London transforms. Rooftop terraces fill with after-work drinks, riverside venues buzz with energy, and suddenly every company is thinking the same thing: we should do…
Affordable Summer Party Venues in London (2026 Guide)
Planning a summer party in London doesn’t have to mean high costs. From rooftop terraces and garden venues to riverside spaces and hidden courtyards, there are plenty of affordable summer…
London Party Boats for Corporate Events 2026
Hosting a corporate event in London in 2026? Ditch the standard hotel ballroom or rooftop bar — and take your next corporate party afloat on the River Thames. London’s river…
How to Find the Best Creative Venue
Looking for a creative venue? Whether you’re hosting a product launch, client event, networking reception or company celebration, this guide explains how to choose a venue that reflects your brand, engages your audience and delivers an unforgettable experience.
How to Choose a Venue for a Product Launch
Direct answer: Choose a product launch venue that reflects your brand while also working for the practical requirements of the event. Consider who you are inviting, how the product will…
Best Venue Types for Team Away Days, Workshops and Culture Events
A Guide to Choosing the Perfect Corporate Event Venue Planning a successful team away day, company workshop or culture event involves much more than simply booking a meeting room. The…
Best Brand Event Venues: A Guide for Marketing Teams
In a crowded marketplace, brand events have become one of the most effective ways for businesses to create meaningful engagement, generate buzz and leave a lasting impression on their target…
Dry Hire vs Blank Canvas: What’s the Difference?
When planning an event—whether it’s a wedding, corporate gathering, or private celebration—you’ll often hear the terms “dry hire” and “blank canvas.” They’re sometimes used interchangeably, but they’re not quite the…
Venue Essentials for a Large-Scale Product Launch
Planning a product launch? A large-scale product launch is a high-stakes, theatrical event where the venue is much more than a meeting space as you will already know. It is…
Creative Icebreakers for Networking Events
Networking events can be intimidating—even for seasoned professionals. Walking into a room full of strangers, balancing a drink, and finding the right moment to strike up a conversation isn’t easy….