Hutong in the Shard

The Brief
A sophisticated venue with views over the City of London was requested by our client. The venue was to accommodate 120 guests for a seated dinner and have the capacity to have two separate areas, one for dining and the other for partying. A late night license was also requested as a bonus.

The Solution
As a city we are spoilt for roof top venues and restaurants with a view however, for this particular client the food offering was also a key aspect for their event. We therefore, slimmed down our search to not only restaurants with a view but also those which offered world renowned chefs and menus to accompany.

The decision was made to go ahead with an exclusive hire of Hutong in the Shard, an award-winning restaurant in London serving northern Chinese cuisine against a backdrop of stunning views from level 33 of The Shard.

In addition to the views, the award-winning food and the iconic location, this restaurant also offered the perfect layout for this event. With the internal floorplan set as a U-shape the bar and lounge would serve as the drinks reception and party area for later, while the other side would provide a separate dining area. This meant that guests would enjoy a different view of the city as they transitioned through the event.

As guests arrived they enjoyed Champagne, cocktails and canapes in the bar and lounge, while light acoustic guitar music set the scene as guests took in the fabulous views of the city. When guests were asked to take their seats they flowed through to the separate dining area, which was set with tables of 8 – 10. Over the next 2 hours a delicious sharing tasting menu was served to guests, which included the famous duck carving at the tables from the chefs.

After dinner, guests moved through to the bar and lounge area, with espresso martinis available along the route. Once guests arrived back at the bar and lounge it had been transformed into a sophisticated nightclub, with a scattering of velvet lounge furniture, high tables and stools. The DJ and cocktail bar were all ready to get the party started.

Additional entertainment was provided before guests decided to hit the dance floor, this consisted of a Chinese calligrapher making book marks, a mind reader and fortune teller, along with a selfie mirror photo area.
The guests then partied the night away into the early hours, with late night snacks ensuring the party would continue.