The Epic Return of an Icon!

Site visit date 28th June 2024

Unveiling the Revival of Kensington Roof Gardens: Exclusive Venue Insights and Event Space Bookings

Back in the day Kensington Roof Gardens was the place to be.? Party central for all the best-known names, photographed amongst the Flamingos until the small hours.? When most of us were getting out of bed, the party hard troops were just heading for theirs.

And then it closed.? Richard Branson’s Virgin brand decided against renewing their lease and closed it stayed until now.

Well, nearly now!? The Roof Gardens, all 6,000 sqm’s, see their soft launch to members start this Thursday (4th July 2024), of which, members-wise the target/threshold is circa 1500 and these guys will take priority for the immediate future, understandably so as the Roof Gardens is, after all, a private members club.

Let me just add a note here to say that I was asked not to take photos.? I did, but that was before I was asked not to so forgive the lack of new imagery. I’ll add images when I receive some official photo’s and/or the nod to include mine here.

For now what I can do is walk you around the venue, ask that you use your imagination and/or give me a call and I’ll explain further from having seen the venue last Friday first hand.

Location

The entrance is on 99 Derby Street.? The nearest tube is Kensington High Street and, from London Waterloo it’s a doddle, maximum 30minutes (Jubilee to Westminster, Circle to Kensington High Street with a 2minute walk from the tube exit to the Roof Gardens).

Concierge reception in the ground floor lobby then you take a pink and white cloud featured lift straight to the 6th floor.?

There are no hard fast, set-in stone, dos, and don’ts in terms of what event space can be used for private hire, that will evolve but for the time being here is a guide to the potential.? I’m going to work on the basis that it doesn’t hurt to ask the question, so fire the enquiries over and let’s see what we can do availability, rate and space-wise!

Sun Pavillon and Terrace

So, the lift arrives at the 6th floor and immediately to your left is the main lounge, the Sun Pavillon, a mild 70’s feel to the décor, very sophisticated, with its own bar, feature light fittings, gatherings of soft, mixed furnishings and table settings.? Floor to ceiling windows and glass doors leading onto an open-air terrace.? The feeling during the day when I visited was very much of a home lounge.? I say home because it felt comfortable, inviting, a space where you could settle for a fair while and pass the time working or socialising (certainly not comparing to my lounge at home in terms of the space, expanse and cost of the fittings though!).

Event Spaces

On the terrace or in the lounge this is a beautiful space.? Point to note the Sun Pavilion Terrace closes at 11pm.

This is one of the areas that the club feels may not be able to be taken exclusively (unless the whole club is reserved) and I can understand why as its naturally the first open space you walk into and possibly a difficult area to segregate off from the rest of the club.

Biba Bar

At the far end of the lounge is the Biba Bar, the venue’s late night lounge bar which may be available for private hire, potentially limited to Monday nights for groups of a maximum size of 50 – 60 guests total.

We walked through this bar to reach the outside spaces and your feet seriously sink into the carpet, there’s a feel of luxury everywhere, the detailing is amazing.

Moving outside there are water features, a table for 4/6 guests with parasol and behind that a stand-alone building, Esme, with a private dining room for 16-20 guests.

Walled Garden and Winter Garden

Beyond that lies the Walled Garden, an Italian themed outdoor restaurant set around a central courtyard area with fixed banquettes and other moveable dining furniture, capacity for this area is 90 – 100 seated but it would lend itself to a cocktail or drinks reception area too.

The Wall Garden flows naturally into the Winter Garden.? Think of an ornate concrete pillared, arched walkway, turned into a greenhouse style indoor Winter Garden and you’ll not be far off.? This lovely “indoor with an outdoor” feel space can accommodate approximately 60 seated and 80 – 100 for drinks and will be an extension to the Walled Garden, serving Italian cuisine.

Maybe think Walled Garden for pre-dinner drinks and Winter Garden for dinner?

Spanish Gardens

And finally for the 6th floor space, you arrive at the Spanish Gardens, purely 100% outside space, no cover as such, featuring the terracotta-coloured walls that are synonymous with the Roof Gardens, capacity-wise 200 – 220 standing.

While the Sun Pavilion needs to close at 11pm each night all other outdoor spaces have a licence to 2am Monday to Wednesday, and to 3am Thursday to Saturday.

7th floor Japanese Restaurant

Up one further level, and at this time still work in progress, on the 7th floor lies the, as yet unnamed, Japanese restaurant with stunning views over London via floor to ceiling windows.? Capacity for this space is approximately 180 standing, 100 seated and with a private dining room at the far end which will accommodate approximately 20 guests’ total.? This space too has a small, narrow terrace again with a licence until 11pm, but all the same it’s a bonus having access to fresh air especially if we get more of the temperatures we’ve had recently.

And if you can’t decided which space would work best for your event, or your numbers are too large for the individual spaces then the whole venue will hold circa 500 – 600 guests in total.

I’m so pleased the Roof Gardens are back, just in time for summer.? I’d love a peak at the membership list too.? For any enquiries about space, rates and dates, please let me know as I’d love to show you around this beautiful venue.

What next ….

I specialise in venue’s for events.

Drop me details of what you’re looking for in a venue for your next event or just what you need, it can be basic or bold, I really don’t mind.

I’ll just get going on some lovely venue options to suit and get those in your email inbox asap.

email: [email protected]

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website: www.mdem.co.uk

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