BAR • ROOFTOP • PARTY FOOD • DJ • LATE NIGHT
Big Chill started as a boutique festival, bringing the music, the people and the good times together. Way back in 2004 the party was moved indoors; Big Chill Bar was born and the party lives on. &n... Read more
A spacious brick wood Restaurant and Bar, located in the heart of the city, beautifully decorated in Iberian fashion.
Camino Monument is located in the heart of the City, a short walk from Monument and Bank stations. Our spacious yet cosy space makes a great spot for business drinks and light tapas lunches, or hearty... Read more
Welcomed by a fun Bar by the entrance, the venue is the perfect mixture of casual and charming Tapas Restaurant.
Inspired by a life-altering voyage during the summer of 1984, Camino Shoreditch features a charming, Spanish-style interior. Welcomed by a fun Bar by the entrance, the venue is the perfect mi... Read more
An iconic central landmark of London's great Georgian heritage, with 5 floors of event space and endless opportunities
116 Pall Mall is an iconic central landmark of London’s great Georgian heritage located just minutes from Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus. This magnificently restored Grade I listed building of... Read more
Rustic Andalusian-style bar with exposed ceiling beams, for Spanish wines, cured meats and cheeses.
This bar is dedicated purely to the wonderful wines from the Rioja region of northern Spain, our aim being to showcase the exciting variety and quality of the wines and share our enthusiasm for them w... Read more
The craziest golf club in the world is in Camden! Get ready to take a walk on the weird side.
Hate Golf? Love Crazy! Take a walk on the weird side, through four mashed-up 9-hole courses. Navigate through a Basement Horror Rave, Circus FEAR-ground, Polluted Paradise, or ... Read more
A stylish indoor restaurant which features a lovely outdoor terrace, together with a bar and a spacious courtyard.
Camino King's Cross, a highly-praised authentic Spanish restaurant bar, is a wonderful Spanish getaway in Central London. The decor is exquisite and modern with its use of colour and wood, but it ... Read more
Luxury and elegant boat hire on the River Thames perfect for corporate events, summer parties and weddings.
Dixie Queen can operate from a selection of piers on the River Thames. The P.S. Dixie Queen is the largest entertainment, conference, and event boat on London's River Thames. Able to carry up t... Read more
A unique event space in the heart of Camden Market. 700 Capacity over three rooms with a 2am licence.
The venue consists of three connected spaces, including the industrial style Warehouse (500 standing, 200 seated), The Club (100 standing, 80 seated), and our Grade 2 listed stables (200 standing, 100... Read more
A unique and versatile festival-inspired venue beside the London Eye
Between the Bridges is a unique and versatile event space perfect for drink receptions, product launches, summer and Christmas parties, conferences and much more. The venue has four pr... Read more
is a purpose-driven members club, offering four floors of versatile event space in Covent Garden.
At The Conduit, we create unforgettable experiences right in the heart of London. Our dedicated events team can assist you in planning every detail of your event, should it be a private dinner, confer... Read more
A hidden gem on the bank of the river Thames
Arundel House is owned by the International Institute for Strategic Studies and is perfectly situated just opposite Temple underground station. With great views over the river Thames, Arundel House is... Read more
A modern Cinema set underneath railway arches.
Situated in the ever-popular cultural centre of Camden, as part of the contemporary Hawley Wharf development, Curzon Camden’s unique design sees five intimate 30 seater screens nestled under the... Read more
In the heart of Wandsworth and housed in a beautiful listed building, Strike is London’s newest boutique bowling alley.
Strike is a leading multi-games venue in London, housed in Britain's oldest brewery, offering diverse gaming, dining, and socialising in a unique environment. It features a range of activities fro... Read more
13 Indoor Venues and 45 Acres of Space. Private function experts from Conferences, to Weddings, to Festivals.
The Hive stands as London's preeminent destination for hosting celebrations, banquets, and events, nestled in the heart of North London. Our opulent venue, reminiscent of the grandeur found in ... Read more
?So, it’s someone’s special birthday, and you’ve decided that this is the year that they get the surprise of their life. Hosting a surprise birthday party is harder than it looks, what with all the secret WhatsApp messages and hiding the decorations! Particularly when you can’t ask the person their preference on anything, you have to go solely by what you know of them. We have 6 top tips for you to consider that will help you make the important decisions.
Keep it Appropriate
The age of the birthday boy or girl can
decide your whole event. If they are turning 21, then there is likely to be a
lot of loud music, and questionable drinking choices. For 30, perhaps a karaoke
bar is the place to be. 50, and maybe this is they first time they have been
out all year. 80, and maybe they want something more low-key. That being said,
it all depends on someone’s personality. There are plenty of 18-year-olds who
want nothing more than board games and pizza. Just like there are 40-year-olds
who want to get dressed up and hit the town. Knowing the person that you are
throwing the party for is going to decide what you do, so make sure you choose
something that fits with their personality,
not yours.
Do They Like Surprises?
Linked to this is knowing if a surprise
party is actually best for them. Do you know the best people to invite, or can
you get a group of people together who will know? If they have a lot of people
in your life that you don’t know, or won’t be able to contact, then it might be
a good idea to tell them that you are going to host a party and ask them for a
list. Some people just really, really, don’t like surprises, and won’t
appreciate something as big as a party being dropped on them. Not every party
has to be a surprise one, they might be happy if you do all of the organising,
so long as they know it’s happening.
Venue
Picking the venue is one of the most
important things to get right when planning a surprise party, as it will set
the tone for the whole evening. Are you looking a club? A VIP bar? Maybe something
more casual so that you can really go to town on when it comes to decorating.
It has to be accessible for all of the guests, and there also has to be a
plausible excuse in place for why the birthday girl or boy is turning up there.
There is a full array of birthday party venues for hire in London, from small
rooms to truly unique and bespoke private areas that can fit all close friends
and family. If you are having a theme, this will help you narrow the selection
down a lot, but don’t pick somewhere that is out of sorts with the rest of the
night.
Make Sure They’re the Last to Arrive
There is nothing worse than a surprise
being ruined by someone turning up too late and meeting the person the party is
being held for – before their grand entrance. No one is still going to be
surprised at this stage. When sending everyone the information about when to be
there, make sure that it is a minimum of half an hour before the scheduled
surprise. Be strict about the time, as it’s the one thing that could ruin all
of your careful planning. If anyone is running late, ensure that they text
ahead so they know if it’s safe to come in or not. Make sure that you know how
far away the birthday person is at all times, so that you can prepare everyone
for their arrival.
Have A Theme
A theme is something fun to do that will
add even more to the surprise. Getting everyone to dress up and decorating the
venue can really add a sense of fun to your party. Having props for them to
wear and hold when they arrive will mean that the party is instantly started,
and all of the snacks, nibbles and drinks can be around a set theme as well. It
even opens up lots of avenues to have party games. Make sure you know that it’s
something your friend or relative will like and get enthusiastic about, and
that all of the other guests are on board with being a little bit silly. If you’re
not having a theme, make sure that you at least have a dress code similar to
what the ‘surprisee’ will be wearing. This means that they won’t look
completely out of place when they arrive to their own party.
Keep the Surprises Coming
To make it a night to really remember, keep
the surprises coming. Maybe have a friend fly in from overseas to add some more
shock value. You can also have surprise gifts and even a ‘surprise’ cake. This
is a cake that seems plain on the outside but has a themed centre. The more the
birthday person is kept on their toes, the better. Make sure that the surprises
do stop at some point however, otherwise they’re likely to become too overwhelmed.
They’ll also want time to actually mingle and chat with all of the friends that
you have invited to celebrate with them.
A well-planned surprise party can be one of
the best nights you’ve ever had. Not only will the person have no idea, but other
people have gone to the bother of planning it all for them. It’s a really sweet
and caring thing to do for someone special in your life, and they are sure to
be thanking you for years to come. You’ll also have lots of other people
looking to get on board and help out, so you’ll never need to do all of the
planning by yourself.
The first thing you need to ascertain is whether you need to hire a private venue, or whether you’re happy to share a space with the general public. Getting a private venue is a real treat, and if you can’t treat yourself on your birthday, when can you? But if you’re looking to keep the price down, opting for a private space in a public venue can be the next best thing. The cost will then depend on where the venue is, whether or not you have an open bar and if you’d like to provide catering.
If a venue offers a “minimum spend” package – normally they’ll be a bar or restaurant – there’s normally no venue hire fee, and you just have to commit to spending a minimum amount of money on food and drink to secure the space. So when you’re asking about minimum spend, it’s useful to do some numbers on how many guests you’re expecting, and how much you think they’ll eat and drink. At the end of the day, it’ll be down to you to foot the rest of the bill if they don’t spend as much as you were expecting!
Depending on the venue and type of birthday party you’re organising, you might be able to bring your own food. A restaurant or bar that normally provides food is unlikely to be able to accommodate your own catering. So if it’s important to you (or your budget!) that you bring your own food, you might want to look for a dry hire venue. Even then, some dry hire venues want you to use their own caterers or food suppliers, so make sure you ask up front whether you can provide your own food before you make the booking for your birthday party venue.
London is an amazing city for venues, especially if you have a special milestone to celebrate! Everyone’s dream 30th birthday party will be different, so have a think about what sort of occasion you have in mind. Do you want a big bash at a private venue? Or would you prefer an intimate dinner party with close friends? Once you’ve decided what sort of party you’re going to throw, it’s time to get together the guest list and decide on a day. That’s the most important information you’ll need when finding a venue for your 30th birthday party in London – and then your 40th, 50th and 60th!
Kids’ birthday parties are a really special occasion, and one thing is for sure: if you’ve got lots of young children, you’ll need some space for running around. Church halls are a really popular option for just this reason, and they’re normally very experienced in throwing a birthday bash. If your child is a bit older, they might enjoy an activity or experience such as pizza making, mini golf or karaoke. When you’re looking for a venue on Canvas, make sure you use the filter so all the results will be perfect options for your little one’s special day.