When The Doyle Collection extended an invitation to Samantha from Miss London Concierge, it was an opportunity not to be missed. With a passion for discovering the finest venues in London, Sam set off to explore two of their most stunning properties—The Marylebone Hotel and The Bloomsbury Hotel—in partnership with Avenue Sales. These luxurious venues not only offer exceptional event spaces but also embody the perfect combination of elegance, charm, and top-tier hospitality.
At Miss London Concierge, we pride ourselves on experiencing and understanding venues firsthand to provide our clients with expert recommendations. This visit was a perfect chance to gain valuable insights into what makes these hotels so special for corporate events, meetings, and private celebrations.
The Marylebone
With six naturally lit meeting suites, The Marylebone Hotel provides an elegant setting for business meetings, conferences, and private events, accommodating up to 65 guests. Conveniently located within a 10-minute walk of Bond Street Tube Station and a 15-minute walk from Marylebone Rail Station, the venue offers excellent transport links for attendees traveling from various parts of London. Additionally, major transport hubs such as Euston Station, King’s Cross, St Pancras International (Eurostar), Liverpool Street (Stansted Express), Paddington Station (Heathrow Express), and Victoria Station (Gatwick Express) are all within a 10 to 15-minute drive, making it a prime location for both local and international guests.
Upon arrival to the hotel, we were greeted warmly by reception. The feel of The Marylebone is luxury mixed with warmth and that home-from-home experience. As I chatted to the teams later in the evening, I learned that this came from the owner of the Doyle Collection hotels who is Irish herself (yes, a great woman-owned business!) and really wants to give that ‘Irish’ welcome and love to the hotel visitors.
Everything about the hotel was welcoming in lavish luxury, starting with the hotel room. On arrival into the room, I saw – beautifully placed on the table – a brownie shaped in a rectangle and decorated with the Marylebone monopoly board piece. Next to that were tiny gold chocolate monopoly playing pieces – they didn’t last long! Just beautiful details from a 5 star hotel.
We had a twin room that looked out over the Marylebone village – and that’s exactly what Marylebone is. The hotel is the centre of a beautiful intimate area of London with cobbled streets and local businesses. The Marylebone hotel is really the beating heart in this friendly community.
After we checked in, I went downstairs to meet the MICE Doyle Collection team and the Avenue Sales representatives who were hosting the event. It was wonderful to see a friendly face welcoming me at the door. Niki and I met last year in Gerona, when she was working at a different venue, and this was the same time I met the Avenue Sales teams, so was like seeing wonderful friendly faces all together!
Niki and Bruno from Avenue welcomed me and the other agents with a glass of bubbles and we set to conversation.
The welcome drinks were held at number six, which is not far from the main reception, although you wouldn’t really know it was there! The whole hotel is filled with beautiful, nooks and crannies, seating areas, small bar areas, terraces, workstations – and yet you wouldn’t know by walking through the hotel that these secret hidden jewels even existed.
We were then welcomed by the general manager, Nicholas. He is the true reflection of The Marylebone Hotel premise. Nicholas was everything from friendly, dynamic, fun, engaging, intelligent, personable and emotional. After talking through the passion and feelings he has surrounding the hotel (and making me fall in love with it), he then introduced the gin that is made specifically for the hotel, the 108 Gin. We enjoyed an amazing tasting – in its natural form and also in a subtle martini. These bottles of gin are ideal gifts and details to gift corporate guests, as truly, this gin can be found nowhere else in the world.
Following the tasting, we then began the site visit. The visit began at Number Six where we were and continued into the Palm Room, which is adjoining. This light bright space is ideal for anything from breakfasts to meetings; presentations and receptions, using the beautiful Number Six space as a breakout or networking area. Number Six and the Palm have their own entrance and exit to the street, making it a truly exclusive and separate events space within the grand Marylebone hotel.
We walked a short distance to discover some wonderful, smaller events spaces, ideal for boardrooms and more intimate events until we took the steps to a jewel in the crown (as I may say so myself) – the blue room that leads out onto the courtyard and then into the library the other side – a superb event space.
Not only are the finishings to an extremely high standard, but they have thought of everything: as to how these events spaces can be used to their full potential and be welcoming and inviting. The courtyard itself is a site to behold, covered in beautiful greenery and subtly lit with a roaring fireplace in the corner. It is a space events professionals have to see for themselves to take in the real beauty.
Then we returned down to the 108 Brasserie for our dinner. It was a small FAM trip and so there were only a handful of agents allowing us to order à la cart – I chose the ceviche and the black cod, who wouldn’t? The food was exceptional, the service was slick and friendly, and the company was even better!
You really do feel at home in this hotel, each of the rooms have its own design, specifically thought out to give a members club style feel to a large hotel with over 200 bedrooms. Think ‘Love’, think ‘Friendliness’, think ‘Home luxury’ and notice the pride that you feel from all those who work here, which makes it a really special place to be.
These are things that you can only glean by visiting these venues yourself and feeling the vibe and emotion from each different space.
The Marylebone’s event spaces are as versatile as they are beautiful. Key rooms include:
- The Blue Room (I and II): Offering combined capacity for up to 80 guests with natural daylight and adaptable layouts perfect for workshops or team events.
- The Library: A serene space for up to 44 attendees, ideal for intimate meetings or presentations.
- The Long Room (I and II): Ground floor spaces that can accommodate up to 65 guests, offering a flexible setup for networking events or private dinners.
- Palm Room I and II: Spacious and elegant, these rooms combined can host up to 120 guests, making them perfect for large-scale events.
The Bloomsbury
Entering the front of the Bloomsbury was breathtaking – I say the front, but we entered via the impressive Coral Room. Of course, to the sound of clinking champagne glasses and the smell of a beautiful lunch.
The bright room is adorned with paintings, gold and velvet and yet doesn’t seem out of place of too gaudy. It is artistic.
Over the door you could read the sign YWCA – the Young Women’s Christian Association – I had no idea the venue had such wonderful ties to women’s history. We are often asked in our finds to search for venues that are women-owned or women-run or have history for women in leadership conferences. This is a stand-out venue for this purpose.
The site visit was exquisite – the George V ballroom was particularly breathtaking with bold wallpaper and bright floors, making it a talking point and, again, giving it a design to remember. The back of the room serves perfectly for catering and networking so, all in all, a brilliant events space.
There were two more areas I loved. First, the Dalloway Terrace – a beautiful secluded space, ideal for networking, breakfasts and so much more. It is cosy, luxurious and full of quirky design.
Then, the secret sub-ground level with its own street access and a popular weekend spot for locals and jazz fans! The inside space is cosy and luxurious, leading out into an old brick courtyard with an almost pub-style vibe and private bar. Ideal for those later after dinner drinks!
The Bloomsbury’s impressive selection of meeting rooms in central London offers an eclectic range of settings for business and private events. Whether you’re organising a conference for 300 delegates, a banquet, a press launch, or an out-of-office brainstorm, The Bloomsbury has the perfect venue for your needs.
Located in the heart of London, The Bloomsbury provides a blend of stylish and eccentric spaces, each with its own distinctive character. Key meeting rooms include:
- George V: A historic ballroom inspired by the adventures of King George V, offering a stylish, eccentric atmosphere with a capacity of up to 200 delegates in a theatre layout.
- Queen Mary Hall: A stately ballroom with lofty ceilings and Waterford Crystal chandeliers, accommodating up to 180 guests in a theatre layout.
- The Chapel: A unique and intimate space perfect for smaller gatherings, offering a cozy environment for up to 30 guests in a drinks reception or canapés setup.
- The Seamus Heaney Library: A serene, book-lined room named after the late Nobel Laureate, ideal for intimate meetings with a capacity for up to 40 guests in a theatre style.
Situated near major transport hubs such as King’s Cross, Euston Station, and St Pancras International, The Bloomsbury’s central location ensures convenient access for both local and international attendees. With natural daylight, versatile layouts, and high-end amenities, The Bloomsbury is the ideal choice for your next event, whether it’s for 30 or 300 guests.
