Woods Silver Fleet’s first static venue, Woods Quay
Woods Silver Fleet, privately owned by the Woods family who are 15th generation Kings Water Men, stop, re-read, and take that in, it’s quite a statement in itself.
Operators of the well-known Silver Barracuda, Silver Sturgeon, and Silver Darling. Amazing river cruising boats.
Use the “Get In Touch” button, contact form (scroll down) or email me your venue requirements/brief to helen@mdem.co.uk and I’ll email venue options to your inbox.
I’ve been on the Sturgeon, I ran a capacity private corporate dinner on the boat one September a fair number of years ago and, apart from the amazing food, atmosphere on the boat, I must admit that I never realised how beautiful London is in the dark on the river. The bridges, the history, the lights.
There’s a quick run down of the boats further down, simple capacities just for good measure but for now, Woods Quay ….
Woods Quay
This venue is understated and very beautiful. Designed by Kate Woods, the colours are themed murky chic, that’s not a derogatory term, but a very clever take on blending into the colour scheme that surrounds the venue, becoming part of the landscape and not standing out and shouting.
The flooring is riverbed pebble grey, the walls are Thames grey/green with natural wood and glass, ascents of colour from vases on shelves. This is a blank canvas which can be dressed to suit the occasion.
So, the space!
Accessed via a gangplank, the building rises and falls with the tide so the level of the gangplanks is dependent on the river, accessible to all at all times.
You enter Woods Quay centrally and walk onto the Cormorant Deck which is an open deck with fireplaces on the back wall which give off some heat, but they are there more for the aesthetics, and add to the homeliness of the venue.
Directly in front of you is a walkway onto the pontoon but I’ll come back to that.
To the right is the West Wing, enclosed from the elements by glass, each side can be opened in the summer warmer months or closed during the colder months to provide an elegant pre-dinner drinks room.
With a full bar (licensed until 2am) and relaxed seating, this area, also offers a full wrap-around terrace.
To the left of the Cormorant Deck is the East Wing, the kitchen wing which obviously is ideal for private dining to compliment the pre-dinner drinks offering of the West Wing.
Think Chef’s table, it also has a nook at the far end which could lend itself to being anything from a champagne bar to a coffee station.
This venue is ideal for many different events all year round.
I’m thinking
- private lunches or dinners for smaller groups, West Wing drinks reception, East Wing lunch
- Small meetings with the West Wing for refreshment breaks, lunch, breakouts, and East Wing for meetings. Anything from formal board meetings to informal brain storming sessions.
- Larger corporate summer and Christmas events to product launches.
When we’re looking at the larger networking, standing events the capacity and options increase.
And by the way, there are no noise restrictions.
Maximum capacity is x 350 but the venue limit that to x 250 for comfort. Events are not limited to Woods Quay but can spill onto the pontoon giving tonnes of space (the pontoon closes at 11pm).
BBQs are an option as are car launches … the venue has had cars on the pontoon showing that anything is possible. It’s also had a full Barbie pink make over too.
Although the Cormorant Deck is open to the elements from its frontage, it is possible to add more heaters during cooler days/evenings. The 160 metre private mooring pontoon is covered too.
This is Woods Silver Fleets first static venue, I say static but it does move with the river, but only slightly (I get sea sick on a hovercraft but felt 110% fine on the Quay, it’s actually quite reassuring, relaxing and calming to rock with the tide, I didn’t expect a wellness session during my site visit!).
This is a beautiful venue, a bit of a hidden gem. Built pre-covid (if we’re still able to say that, seems like ages ago but only yesterday) and fully, event ready in March 2020.
The classic-looking, tarpaulin, branded Woods Quay covering has just been added to the venue giving it more visibility as you walk across Waterloo Bridge (Waterloo Station behind you, venue to the left of the bridge), its literally a 10–15-minute walk from Waterloo Station so, for evening events and those travelling home via train it’s a no-brainer.
For Christmas events the venue will be dressed quite subtly, think White Company do Christmas and you’ve pretty much got it.
This venue needs shouting about. If your event fits the venue then this venue will absolutely, 110% work for you.
Use the “Get In Touch” button, contact form (scroll down) or email me your venue requirements/brief to helen@mdem.co.uk and I’ll email venue options to your inbox.
Meanwhile on the River ….
Capacity: 130 – 550 guests
The Ensign Room at the aft is a light and luxurious reception space with direct access out to the back and top decks.
At the fore, the River Room, an airy and sophisticated dining room with soft leather booths, dance floor and staircase leading to the top deck.
Capacity: 60 – 235 guests
The Upper Deck has a statement bar alongside contemporary leather sofas, dance floor and panoramic windows. A part-retracting roof brings the outside in beneath blue skies or starry nights.
The Lower Deck is a dining salon set with artisan marbles tables and cushioned booth seating.
The Silver Darling
Capacity: 12 guests
A warm indoor cabin with soft leather seating and a self-serve bar combined with a back deck, complete with upholstered lounge seating.
And I really do think that it’s important to note that Woods Silver Fleet hold all the licences they need to sail on the Thames and some! They also hold sea standard licences, above and beyond requirements.
I didn’t know that before I site visited Woods Quay and I think it needs to be shouted about. Safety is of the highest standard when you charter one of the Silver Fleets beautiful boats.
For more information, availability and rates contact us …
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Venues own website : https://www.woodsquay.co.uk/
mdem Ltd 