The world’s first members club dedicated to the events industry will be arriving in London in Q3 2023, with the announcement of two sites in the heart of the capital. The two locations – one in Belgravia and one in Angel – will include lounges, workspaces, restaurants, rest pods, meeting rooms and bars, crèches for infants and dogs, and be attached to multi-use event spaces. Founding members are being invited to sign up now at a preferential rate, fixed for two years.

The business has been launched in response to demand from one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse sectors. Workers in the events industry are responsible for conceptualising, planning, building, running and de-rigging projects that facilitate the gathering of millions of people spanning conferences, exhibitions, festivals, sports events, arts and culture, corporate events, parties and weddings.

The huge influx of workers to towns and cities is a 24-hour operation, with builds and de-rigs often in the middle of the night. Historically, workers have finished shifts in the early hours and had to find somewhere to wait for prolonged periods until their next shift begins. A total lack of available places has led to them arriving tired and unprepared for their next demanding shift.

Whilst office workers have daytime use of a plethora of co-working spaces and members clubs, these are typically prohibitively expensive. Likewise at night, the economics of booking a hotel room that will only be used for several hours is beyond the reach of most event staff. The Events Club will provide the answer in the form of clean and luxuriously appointed clubs, at a cost designed to appeal to companies to include in employee benefit packages.

THE BELGRAVIA
The first location – called The Belgravia – is situated at 9 Grosvenor Place. Built in 1867 as a private residence, more recently it has been at the forefront of the capital’s event scene in previous guises as Il Bottaccio and subsequently One Belgravia. Designed in French Renaissance style by the infamous architect Thomas Cundy III, the building is the perfect backdrop to an array of events from weddings and celebrations to press launches and conferences, all set overlooking the gardens of Buckingham Palace. The adjacent building (number 8 Grosvenor Place) will house The Events Club at The Belgravia.

THE BLOCK
The second location, called THE BLOCK, is an urban sustainable venue spanning 16,500 square feet of space over two floors. This new building set between King’s Cross and Old Street, is ideally positioned for city-based events workers and less than a minute’s walk from Angel Underground Station. This location will house The Events Club at THE BLOCK.

Whilst The Events Club won’t launch until Q3 2023, the venues are open now and available for event bookings.

The clubs will be a hub of activity for the events community, championing industry causes and supporting businesses and their employees. Caterers and producers will mix with set designers, lighting engineers and venue sales execs, with the vision being that members will use the facilities to initiate future projects. Founding membership is priced at £500 per year, per employee, fixed for two years with an array of member benefits included for founding members, such as 10 per cent off all F&B in the clubs and free exhibition space at annual members events at the venues. Members will also be able to offset their membership fee as credit when booking events at either The Belgravia or THE BLOCK (and future sites).

Commenting on the launch, Andrew Morrow, founder and managing director, said: “From cup finals and concerts to trade shows and weddings, the UK events industry is a hugely diverse sector, impacting the lives of everyone. It is also a big driver of employment and trade, and vital to the UK economy. Behind every event at the nation’s stadiums and national parks or luxurious, historic and storied venues up and down the country are an army of workers. They are the people delivering these magnificent occasions, yet they do not have access to the same privileges of other industries, especially when you consider the world they are
immersed in day to day. The Events Club will put that right.”