One for the modernists out there, Kensington Conference & Events Centre (KCEC) is part of the Kensington Town Hall complex, completed in the Brutalist style in 1976 by architect Sir Basil Spence, who was also responsible for other landmark 20th-century buildings such as Coventry Cathedral and the University of Sussex. While it is the day-to-day headquarters for Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council, it also gets a vote as a wedding venue.
With its versatile function rooms and striking modern decor, KCEC lends itself well to wedding receptions. If you have a big guest list, consider the Great Hall, where wood panels line the walls and ceiling and there’s a 400 capacity for dinner and dancing, complete with dance floor and stage. The adjacent foyer is ideally suited to a drinks reception for 300.
For something more intimate, there is the elegant, 80-capacity Small Hall which, like the Great Hall, has its own foyer and kitchen facilities. It has a fixed stage, is soundproofed and comes fully equipped with a public address system, audio visual aids and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Smaller still are the committee rooms, which offer private dining for 20-32 guests. KCEC uses a preferred list of suppliers which includes Lavender Green Flowers, Duchess and Butler event and venue design, and Cooks & Partners caterers.
The venue has a wedding licence, while The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is littered with historic churches – St Mary Abbots, home to the tallest spire in London, is five minutes round the corner – while the registry office at Chelsea Town Hall is a hop, skip and jump away.
Other benefits include being fully accessible for guests with mobility difficulties and an on-site 24-hour underground car park with a capacity for up to 460 vehicles. For guests arriving by public transport, High Street Kensington station, on the District and Circle lines, is a short walk away on Kensington High Street.