7 Stylish Central London Pubs to Hire for Business Meetings

A guide to seven of London’s best pubs – perfect for impressing a client

Guest Post by Mike James

Are you bored with bland meeting rooms and uninspiring corporate venues? Do you prefer somewhere a little more characterful, welcoming and relaxing, perhaps with fresh home cooked food and a great choice of refreshments? And if you’re looking for somewhere to take clients or foreign visitors, why not show off London in all its traditional glory while you’re at it?

The answer is staring you in the face: choose a good old fashioned English pub. London has countless beautiful pubs, many of them lovingly restored, full of character and hospitality. It’s the perfect environment in which to meet, greet and entertain for business.

Gone are the unloved function rooms of old; pubs have come a very long way to offer a wealth of unique and individual private hire facilities for corporate clients. Forget the humble ‘local’ on the corner – take a look at these 7 stylish pub venues in Central London.

#1 | Princess of Wales, Primrose Hill NW1

The three floors of this stylish London pub have been refurbished with great care and character. It’s the perfect place for informal meetings and laid back dinners in what must surely be one of London’s most friendly and welcoming pubs. There’s an elegant first-floor dining room and a lower ground floor bar and event space, as well as the Banksy inspired beer garden room which seats 40. The whole venue can be hired for up to 300 guests.

#2 | The Old Thameside Inn, Pickfords Wharf SE1

A traditional London pub on the riverside near London Bridge and Borough Market, this historic former spice warehouse oozes character by the spadeful. With its exposed brickwork and ancient stone floor, it’s the perfect venue for showing off the capital’s quirky and unique attributes to visitors from near and far. There’s good old British pub grub an extensive selection of real ales that are just asking to be sampled. The Cellar Bar seats up to 80 and is ideal for buffet and drinks for 150 guests. The outside terrace is a great summer barbeque venue for 50-150 people. The venue can be hired for boardroom style and theatre style meetings during the day.

#3 | The Walrus and The Carpenter, Monument Street EC3

A typical London pub with a vibrant atmosphere and great range of real ales, The Walrus and The Carpenter is centrally situated near London’s Monument to commemorate the Great Fire of London of 1666. There’s an airy first floor restaurant, ideal for relaxing dinners (max. 65 diners) and evening buffets (max. 120 diners) and the Cellar Bar can be hired for daytime business events and evening receptions for up to 45 people.

#4 | The Jugged Hare, Chiswell Street EC1

This gastropub and restaurant in the City of London is situated in the historic Whitbread Brewery and can accommodate up to 250 private hire guests in a stylish setting that beautifully blends the traditional with the contemporary. The restaurant specialises in seasonal British game, spit roast meat, wild fish and shellfish with a knowledgeable 100+ wine list. You can hire the private Josephine Room for a maximum of 50 people.

#5 | The Counting House, Cornhill EC3

A former banking hall dating back to 1893, this grand venue features domed ceilings and chandeliers – an impressive backdrop for a traditional pie and a pint. This pub has full conference facilities, with many function rooms offering everything you need for a corporate event. There’s the intimate Club Room for a private dinner for 8 guests, the elegant Dining Room for up to 25 dinner guests or the Gallery Room which seats 28. The generous Griffin Room is perfect for larger business events and is able to accommodate 80 seated or 100 standing guests.

#6| The Horniman, London Bridge SE1

Within a stone’s throw of the famous HMS Belfast, The Horniman at Hays is set in a former tea warehouse, with tea dealer Horniman’s travels depicted all over the walls. It’s a superb space for business meetings and functions. There’s a wonderful atmosphere, excellent food and a great range of real ales – what more could one ask for? The wharfside cellar bar has event space for 80 guests, including a projector and screen.

#7 | The Running Horse, Davies Street W1

One of the oldest pubs in Mayfair, The Running Horse dates back to 1738 when the original building was turned into a tavern. There’s a ground floor bar area and upscale dining upstairs, including private hire facilities for business and pleasure.

A bit about Mike:

Mike James is an experienced, independent writer working with Function Fixers – a FREE, UK based venue-sourcing service helping to unearth the best venues for corporate events.