May 2010. HMS Belfast Sees Bookings Rise Following Relaunch of Corporate Hire Rooms
Following the refurbishment and relaunch of the corporate hire event rooms at HMS Belfast the team has secured provisional business of £184,000 from high profile clients.
The relaunch of HMS Belfast on 17th March is the fruit of a £250,000 investment in the restoration of significant parts of the ship.
Kerry Mutter, Sales Manager, HMS Belfast says, “We have been inundated with enquiries from new clients who, once they saw the fully restored function rooms, were very excited about hosting their own events on board. We've also seen a rise in repeat bookings from clients whose affection for the ship as an events venue brings them back again and again I am extremely pleased with the result and aim to reposition HMS Belfast as The Destination venue for central London. With the team working hard to ensure all our clients have the opportunity to see HMS restored to her former glory, I am certain we see sales continue to rise well into our next financial year”.
HMS Belfast as the Perfect Summer Venue
As guests are piped on board HMS Belfast on a warm summer evening, they are treated with an incredible 360 degree view of London which takes in London Bridge, City Hall, Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral, making it one of the best summer party venues in London. Once on board they can also enjoy a summer Pimm’s or Champagne reception and finger buffet on the Boat Deck before they let their hair down to the music of a live band.
From £54.00 per person, plus VAT, The Deck Party includes hire of the Boat Deck, Pimm’s reception, summer finger buffet with wine and beer and a jazz duo. The Sailors’ Summer Party costs from £63.00 per person, plus VAT and includes hire of the Quarterdeck and additional function room, Pimm’s reception, Quoits, summer finger buffet with house wine or beer, jazz duo and live band until the end of the evening. The summer buffet menu features delicious mouth-watering dishes such as Cumin Scented Lamb Kofte Brochette with Minted Yoghurt Dip, Skewers of Coriander and Red Pesto Chicken, Salmon and Haddock Fishcakes with a Mustard Dipping Sauce followed by Eton Mess.
For those who wish to indulge further, and revel in the historical surroundings of HMS Belfast there are private tours by HMS Belfast veterans, or being piped on board just like the Admiral would have been! To add vibrancy and excitement to the evening, bring in professional dancers who can present a lively and entertaining demonstration in how to jitterbug. Or why not have our period actors recreate a new recruit’s introduction onboard the Ship – with you and your guests as the recruits! Comedy and a little education in one well dressed package.
The Admiral's Quarters, comprise of his private dining room and sitting room, and his Ward & Ante Room, all of which have been carefully restored and refurbished bringing back the original character and atmosphere of the late 1950s. The Gun Room and The Ship's Company Dining Room have also been updated and modernised, with every effort being taken to ensure the authenticity of the refurbishment. Archivists at Sanderson have recreated the designs of the original curtains as closely as possible, while the material and stitching on the lampshades have been painstakingly copied to perfection. The window casing and door framework have been stripped back to expose the original wood and the bar has been recreated in the minutest detail.
History of HMS Belfast
HMS Belfast was launched in on 17th March in 1938 and served throughout the Second World War, playing a leading role in the Battle of North Cape and in the Normandy Landings. She later supported UN forces in Korea and remained in service until 1965. In 1971 she was saved for the nation as a unique reminder of Britain's Naval Heritage and is the only surviving example of the great fleets of big gun armoured warships built for the Royal Navy in the first half of the twentieth century.
HMS Belfast, Morgan's Lane, Tooley Street, London SE1 2JH
For more information or to arrange a visit please call 020 7403 6246, email hms.belfast@sodexo.com or visit HMS Belfast's profile page.