That Butchers’ Hall is the spiritual home of the Worshipful Company of Butchers goes without saying. Despite our interesting (and sometimes exciting) tour of other Livery halls over the recent past, everyone has been looking forward to our return to Smithfield.
The Hall is now open, standing proud in the exciting Barts Square development in Farringdon. Much work has been going on behind the scenes with pictures being hung and silver polished.
Important decisions relating to style, type, comfort and colour of dining tables and chairs, carpets, light fittings, colour and finish of the lift doors, bathroom facilities including taps, mirrors and soap dispensers are now ready to be shown off. While these may seem trivial, together with the décor they will convey and communicate the style, atmosphere and ambience of Butchers’ Hall.
With Butchers’ Hall's reopening, our aim is to make Liverymen feel at home in familiar surroundings. The Great Hall retains the panelling of Southland Beech donated by the New Zealand Government, the stained glass windows, the Vestey Tapestry presented by Liveryman Ronald Vestey in memory of his father Sir Edmund Vestey and his uncle Lord William Vestey, as well as the Canadian Maple flooring beneath the carpet.
Events in the Court Suite will take place against the background of Black Bean panelling previously donated by the Australian Government in front of a fine Parisian white marble fireplace made in 1794.
Meeting and entertaining guests in the reformulated reception area will continue to take place against the backdrop of the Borthwick screen dedicated to Renter Assistant Algernon Borthwick and artwork donated by the Katz family. Proceedings will, again, be presided over by the Bronze bust of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, an Honorary Freeman, donated by Liveryman John Hamperl in 2008 to mark his 50 years as a Liveryman.
87 Barts Close
Liverymen will be well aware of the commercial realities facing Butchers’ Hall. The challenge we face is to use the facilities to maximum financial advantage when the Hall isn’t being used for Livery functions. Bovingdons are our venue management and catering partner as we seek to meet the significant demands of the competitive commercial marketplace while maintaining the uniqueness of of our venue.
Our facilities are now second to none, offering a range of versatile event spaces topped off with a stunning roof garden, state-of-the-art AV facilities, dedicated fibre optic broadband line, complemented by renowned service and hospitality and surrounded by the history and tradition of a City of London Livery Hall at Butchers' Hall, now commercially known as 87 Barts Close.
We look forward to welcoming you to our Livery home at 87 Barts Close and to you, your organisation or your company contributing to the future of our Company by using the meeting, entertaining, conference or dining options available.
For information about how you can hire different spaces within Butchers' Hall - 87 Barts Close, click below. It's a wonderful venue for all types of social and business occasions.