Association Venue of the Month: The Barbican, London
We recently had the pleasure of hosting our event, the Brightelm Future Forum at The Barbican in April 2022. The venue proved an ideal location for us and set the scene for an insightful discussion about accessibility in the events sector. We chose the Barbican to host our event due to its central location, as well as its not-for-profit status. It was a great event enhanced by the space offering us the flexibility in set up ensuring a great round table discussion.
Whilst on site, we spoke to Sue Etherington, Associations Manager at the Barbican;
“We have a range of event spaces, so are able to accommodate a wide number of events – from board meetings for 20 persons to multi day conferences for 2,000, and not forgetting unique receptions and parties in our Conservatory.”
‘Through our in-house teams and carefully selected partners, we are able to offer a range of customised services to ensure organising events is as stress free as possible’
We were delighted to get an insight into why this venue has its name as a key player in hosting Association events.
Where is it?
The Barbican can be found in the heart of London.
You can walk to the Barbican within 30 minutes from almost all over central London, giving you the chance to explore the city on your way. It sits amongst historical landmarks such as St Paul’s Cathedral, and has excellent transport links to the airport, and benefits from its own underground subway station. It is now also easily accessible via the new Farringdon/Barbican station of the Elizabeth Line.
Why the Barbican?
One of the reasons we love The Barbican is its not-for-profit status. ‘We are a not-for-profit organisation,- so all profits from business events are channelled back into the Barbican’s vibrant arts and culture offering to the people of London and UK!’
Home to two art galleries, two theatres, three cinemas, a concert hall, restaurants and bars, as well as a range of unique public spaces , The Barbican has plenty to offer visitors when planning their events.
One stand-out attraction within the Barbican is the large conservatory visible from most leading corridors, brightening up the route with some impressive greenery. It houses around 1,500 species of plants and trees, some of which are rare and endangered in their native habitat. Whilst we were on site, this space was being set up for a drinks reception in the evening, and you can see why this venue works so well for networking and bringing everyone together.
What makes the Barbican stand out?
The Barbican offers a unique environment where events can thrive. At the Barbican, they are passionate about delivering events in the most environmentally friendly way possible.
Sue Etherington continued, helping us to understand the commitment to sustainability from the Barbican.
“We’re committed to creating a better future for everyone by reducing our impact on the environment. We work with our partners and teams to ensure we are focusing on this, and delivering options to our clients to meet their sustainability goals.”
You can find out more about their event spaces on their website and if you would like to find out more about hosting your own event at the Barbican contact the team.
email: businessevents@barbican.org.uk
Phone number: 020 7382 7043
As always, if you are planning your next big event at the Barbican and need some help, please contact us on hello@brightelm.co.uk or call +44 (0)117 427 0106