Events company Camm and Hooper is set to launch Banking Hall, a new and exclusive event space in The City in May 2014. The venue, former home of Lloyds Banking Group’s headquarters, is a Grade ll-listed building in the heart of Bank’s conservation area.
Interior specialist Russell Sage Studio is currently overseeing the £1m refurbishment. Russell Sage Studio has also worked on projects such as Jason Atherton’s Social Eating House and, as a part of the restoration, the team will ensure that the legacy of the Banking Hall is preserved and its elegance enhanced.
Incorporating glamorous art deco style with the building’s legacy, the project has involved researching historical photos to revive the spirit of the original interior. Traditional materials such as leather, wood and copper have been included into the design to mirror the hall’s past neo-classical theme.
Other key elements, comprising a copper box kitchen reminiscent of a bank safe, and a bank vault door, evoke the building’s former purpose. The main focus of the design, the magnificent 300 square metre floor, has been recreated with linoleum to reinstate it as the centre piece of the venue.
The revival of Banking Hall will see the venue transform into a flexible event space with the capability to hold a range of events from award-led dinners, client receptions, canapé parties, conferences and exhibitions.
Banking Hall will cater for more than 600 guests with two different event spaces available; the Grade ll listed main hall and the mezzanine level. Having already received £5.6 million worth of enquiries Camm and Hooper hope to raise the benchmark in the corporate events, awards and private hire market.
“We are thrilled by the initial amount of enquiries we have already received prior to opening,” says Claire Lawson, managing director of Camm and Hooper. “Banking Hall is not only a beautiful building but it also has a huge amount of heritage; we wanted to preserve its prominence and heritage whilst creating a striking event space unlike any other in the City.”