Dominating the first floor is the magnificent Florence Hall, the largest and most richly decorated room in the building.
Vast floor-to-ceiling windows, etched glass doors, patterned marble and wood floors and carved stone window splays set a grand and elegant scene for standing receptions, seated dinners, weddings, conferences and Christmas parties.
All of the furniture has been designed by Conran & Partners, and the room is equipped with fully-integrated audio-visual technologies. The windows flood the room with daylight and also open out onto a roof terrace – a beautiful additional space for drinks and receptions, either in the open air or under a marquee.
By day, the Florence Hall is home to the RIBA Restaurant, which offers a fresh and creative menu of seasonal dishes and is open to the public. Small architectural exhibitions are also on display here.
First floor landing
One of the grandest and most social spaces in the building is the first floor landing which extends around the marble staircase from the entrance area. The full-height windows and four monumental black marble pillars add a presence to the space that makes this an elegant setting for evening receptions for up to 150 people. The landing can be hired either on its own or in conjunction with the Florence Hall for truly memorable occasions. During the day there is a café| here, offering breakfast, light lunches, afternoon tea and snacks.
Client Feedback:
We host an Annual Awards event for our staff each year to celebrate their achievements and to say thank you for all their hard work. Florence Hall at RIBA was so perfect for our requirements that I wasn't surprised to receive the most positive feedback yet from our staff in the ten year history of us hosting these events. The room was perfectly dressed on the night and looked glamorous and beautiful. The staff were professional and friendly and the DJ was a real hit. The added bonus of a fully stocked bar, cloakroom and outdoor area was also very well received by our guests. From an organisational point of view it was a pleasure to work with Sally, Marek and the team at the venue on the night. Both Sally and Marek made me feel at ease with the planning of the event – no detail change was too small and they were incredibly accommodating of all our requests. They approached the organisation of the event with a calmness and professionalism that rivals any other venue in central London. It made my job a lot easier! I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending RIBA for any occasion and I hope to hold more events there myself in the future.
Marie, Huntress Group
Further Information
Please download the sheets below for further information on hiring the Florence Hall. For Weddings| and Bat/Barmitzvahs| please visit the relevant pages.
About the Architect
The Hall is named after Henry Florence, architect of Her Majesty's Theatre, Haymarket, in whose memory HSE Vanderpant made a large donation to the construction of the RIBA Building.
Henry Florence - RIBA Library Photographs Collection
www.ribapix.com|