It feels as though the long-awaited British summer has abandoned us and now businesses are already advertising for Christmas?! We understand the injustice, it might seem unthinkably soon to entertain the thought, so here’s a few reasons why it’s a brilliant idea to get cracking on the planning…

Get bookin’ good lookin’…

“Eat a live frog every morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” – Mark Twain. Thankfully you don’t have to make frog eating part of your morning routine, instead, banish procrastination by doing your least loved task first. Booking a Christmas party venue might be at the top of this list! So… get cracking, tick it off and sit back and enjoy that summer we are all waiting for!

Thoughtful questions…

As you can imagine, there’s a whole heap of aspects to take into consideration when looking at potential venues. What your team needs and what the venue offers should be paramount. Here’s a few questions for consideration to help guide your thought processes:
– Getting there… Does the chosen venue offer a variety of transport links to suit all budgets?
– Classic or quirky? The style of your chosen venue says a lot about your brand and your team, does your choice tick all the boxes?
– Do you want to be part of a joiner party night or would you like exclusive use of the venue?
– What other events are going on in the venue on the same date, will it impact your party?
– Will the venue offer event security for peace of mind?
– Food for thought… It’s really important to take into consideration the catering of the event. People come in all different shapes and sizes, and so do diets! Allergies, religious or preference… can the venue support all these requirements?
– Check out the bar prices in advance so the drinks are affordable and in line with what your guests would expect as high street prices
– Does the venue have all the appropriate licences; liquor, entertainment, music, etc
– Does your package include merrymaking essentials like DJ and decorations?
– Storage… Would you need to store items before or after the party?
– Weigh up if you’d implement a “drink voucher” system so everyone gets their fair share. It comes in handy when you’re budget conscious!
– Is the venue fully accessible and able to welcome all of your guests?
– Will some of the team need accommodation? Is there a good range of options nearby?

Party time…

Let’s be honest, it’s always great to have something to look forward to, and what better than a party pencilled in for December. Remember your end of year festivities are in celebration of all your achievements. You may not be counting down the days just yet but before you’ll know it, it’ll be time to go out with a bang!

The run down…

In a nutshell, there are perks of arranging your Christmas shin dig now: avoid both stress and fully booked venues with something to look forward to. Hopefully we’ve inspired you to take hold of the sleigh reins and start jotting some ideas down.

Here @thestudio we like to make a difference. That’s why we’ve replaced our business cards with our “Give us a buzz” wildflower seed packs! Completely biodegradable, our give us a buzz cards give you more than just our contact details, you also get a handful of magic to grow.

It’s a sobering thought to realise that if the bee disappeared off the face of the earth, man would only have four year left to live (Maurice Maeterlink, The Life of Bee) so, help us do our bit and sow thestudio seeds this spring.

The best thing about our bee and butterfly seed blend is that they can be grown anywhere. You don’t have to be green fingered to get our little seedlings going! Whether you’re looking for a lovely sprig of spring to brighten up your garden or a pot of pretty flowers to adorn your window sill.

Simple as 1, 2, 3, handy tips to help get you started…

  1. Now the frost of a very long British winter has thawed out, it’s time to help the bees by sowing some seeds! Chose the ideal location by assessing sunlight and moisture sprinkle directly onto the ground or pot
  2. Water really is the elixir of life, so don’t forget to give the little buds a boost with a little shower every now and then.
  3. Everyone loves compliments, even plants! Kind words might help encourage you flowers to grow… So let’s get chatting.

Don’t forget to show us your progress… Tag your plant progression #GiveUsABuzz @studiovenues on twitter or Instagram. If you’d like a seed pack just let us know 😊

Happy Gardening!

To “give up” – cease making an effort; admit defeat.

Those who have stepped into any one of our four venues or met any of our team will know that “giving up” is not a phrase we like to take lightly here at thestudio. We make every effort to not view any task as too big, just a new challenge to embrace… However, at this time of year giving up is given a whole new meaning, with some doing it for different reasons to others…

Lent…
Lent is a 40-day period taking place around Easter, starting this year from the 6th March and ending on the 18th April. This is a Christian celebration, followers will fast from food and festivities to recreate the sacrifice of Jesus and time in the dessert.

Only a small amount of people now fast for the whole 40 days, instead some choose a favourite snack or bad habit to refrain from during this time. We all like to test our will power from time to time!

Indulge yourself…
Returning visitors will know we don’t like to hold back in feeding up our guests with a sweet treat here and there. We have even more opportunity to do just that recently, as today we have put out our pancake stations with the pick of your favourite toppings.

Our Spring treats also kick off to a flying start this week including a choice of Victoria sponge cakes, chocolate mini eggs and delicious hot toasted hot cross buns…

We have also made sure to include some little less indulgent treats; our bircher our pots and freshly sliced fruit platters.

I’d give up cake, but I’m no quitter …
Its been fascinating to find out what some of our team are going to try to “give up” for the next 40 days …

• Our Sales Director Oli wants to give up beer (and as he says now it’s written in black and white there’s no going back!)
• Our Sales & Revenue Manager Mandy is vowing to give up bread, saying she would happily eat it with every meal! However, she is going on holiday in the middle so may have a cheeky cheat day now and then…
• One of our Co-founders Emma, said she is going to give up Kale, she likes it a lot, but thinks she should be able to live without it until Easter Sunday !!

Let there be light…
Whether you choose to take part in Lent or not, in Old English the word means ‘lengthen’ reminding us that this time of year also means longer days. Hallelujah!

Written by: Rachel Robinson

Edited by: Emma Jennings

Here at thestudio, we aim to keep all of our fascinating facts and exciting changes at the forefront for our customers to stay in the loop with us!

We are beginning to install our Good to Know About chalkboards in our refreshment areas in all of our venues across to inform and keep you up to date about our latest fun facts, and all the important work we do behind the scenes every step of the way.

Here are some of our eight must know facts…

1. Around the world in 19 ways…
thestudio team between them speak an incredible 19 different languages! They all travel as far across the world from German, Polish and Yoruba, right up to Farsi, Japanese and Zulu – to name just a few!

2. thestudio and the city…
We have four fantastic and bright and bubbly venues throughout UK in vibrant major cities such as Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Leeds, plans are afoot for further expansion … where would you like to see the next studio?

3. Food glorious food…
Did you know that our customers can also join in some of our delicious food taster days and this summer we will be hosting a food innovation day with all of our location chefs, join our studiofamily database to receive your invite. Also good to know that in Birmingham our largest location any food wastage is donated daily to Lets Feed Brum to support with food stations and shelters for those in need.

4. Finding the right BALANCE…
We have our very own not for profit cookbook with all of our favourite recipes called BALANCE. It caters to specialised diets from vegan to gluten free; we even provide nutritional information from energy to protein.

5. Keeping it in the family…
thestudio is an independent and privately owned by a board of four directors who all still work in the business as its continued to expand throughout the UK.

6. Let them eat cake…
For every Foodinate cake added to your event, you can provide a warm and nutritious meal for a person in the local community. Take a look at www.foodinate.co.uk.

7. Coffee for two…
All of our coffee throughout thestudio venues is supplied by Groundhouse Coffee. They not only source their ingredients from co-operatively owned and sustainable plantations, but they also continue to give back to their local communities as a result.

8. It all starts in the Classroom…
For every booking that takes places in the Classroom thestudio donate £10.00 to the Wood Street Mission. They are children’s charity helping families living on low incomes in Manchester and Salford. Through their SmartStart initiative, this helps struggling families have access to non-branded school uniforms, coats, shoes, sports kit and stationery throughout the school year.

We’d love for you to stay in thestudio loop with us so give us a follow on Twitter, or tweet @studiovenues for any burning questions about our must-know facts to find out more.

Written by: Leah Mahon

Edited by: Emma Jennings

Have you overcome your fear of old photos? Well, now’s the time! Most of us cringe at the thought of sharing selfies from what seems like a happily forgotten past of wardrobe horrors, yet today, we’re relishing in the #10yearchallenge. Instead of burning unforgivable pics, we’re given the opportunity to be proud of who we were and present the world with who we are. Change is something to be celebrated and with that in mind, we just had to get in on the fun… Here’s thestudio’s #10yearchallenge!

Who would’ve thought it…?

Let’s set the scene, in 2009 thestudio would have only been three! In our modest beginnings, thestudio consisted of one venue: Birmingham. Our humble headquarters, fondly referred to Mission Control could welcome you to just 10 meeting spaces… At this moment in time, our sights were firmly set on Manchester and establishing a second home… Where were you in 2009?

Fast forward to 2019…

A lot has happened since 2009, some of which as a fellow studio goer you might already know! Count how many studio facts you knew and wow us by tweeting the number @studiovenues…

What’s the plan Stan? 2019 – 10 years on…

The New Year brings with it a call of reinvention, a time to applaud past achievements and another chance to dream big!

As always we ask you to stick with us and watch this space because this is going to be an exciting year! p.s we hope you enjoyed our #10yearchallenge!

Everyone needs a safe space from time to time, a place where you can recharge, restore and refill your positive energy. We’ve had the opportunity to offer just that, by welcoming homeless support charity Crisis through our doors this Christmas for the third year running.

Crisis do amazing work in leading those experiencing homelessness into a better life. By offering guidance to poverty sufferers, Crisis provides the support they need to empower themselves to create a positive change through education, support, employment and health. Our doors are open this week as the host venue for Crisis@Christmas, offering health and wellbeing support along with company, warmth, hot drinks and turkey baps with all the trimmings.

If you’re interested in finding out more about Crisis’s work with the community, please click here to visit their website.

Cathedral Christmas lunch…

This Saturday our chefs will be putting in some voluntary overtime to cook off a fantastic feast! In the spirit of Christmas, we’ll be dishing up 300 freshly cooked Christmas dinners for those in need at St.Peters Cathedral … a hot meal, some friendly faces and a place to be safe and warm for those in difficult and challenging circumstances.

Not just for Christmas, an extra slice…

Did you know, in an attempt to crack down on food wastage, thestudiobirmingham has been donating all leftover and excess food to Let’s Feed Brum? An amazing 4000 meals have been provided over the last couple of years. Let’s Feed Brum are a fantastic Birmingham based charity who aim to help alleviate poverty one meal at a time… Serving up delicious hot meals, the opportunity to restock on essentials and a chance to connect with other people.

If you’d like to know more about the charities, we currently work with through out our locations please click here.

We wish you all a wonderful Christmas break full of festive cheer, we look forward to welcoming you in the New Year and sharing with you another exciting studio year in 2019.

It’s dark! And with the darkness sets in an undeniable urge to retreat, armour yourself in the cosiest of clothes and surrender to your duvet. Trust us, you’re not alone! The sunny days of afternoon teas and wicker basket picnics feel like a hazy memory. It’s painful to waving good bye to that sun kissed glow you’ve worked on all summer, but don’t worry, we’ve got some tips to stave off the winter blues…

Energy boost…

Cold weather and comfort foods go hand in hand but before you help yourself to that second serving of that dangerously delicious lasagne, remember balance is key. Our energy levels during the day are greatly influence by the quality of our sleep, food and our hydration levels. So, before you comatose on carbs, get some iron rich greens will help you power through the fatigue!

Goals…

“If you can see it and believe it, it is a lot easier to achieve it.” – Oprah 

Visualisation is a powerful tool. It’s proven to boosts confidence, reduces stress and increases positivity! Imagining your achievements to come is only half of the process. Forget saving your resolutions for the new year, this new focus will help you overlook the looming snow days.

For a limited time only…
Pulled out your thermals at the first sign of a falling leaf? Find comfort in the promise that there will be another (hopefully hotter) summer in the coming year. Alternatively, how about all the positives this season brings. Short of ideas? How about hot chocolate, cosy clothes and unwrapping presents!

Get Christmassy…
This could be the solution to everything! For many it’s the most wonderful time of the year, it would be scandalous to not to play some festive classics in the office. Christmas brings along a fantastic season of gift giving and over indulgence. Even if you’re a bit of a Grinch, it’s proven that doing good makes us feel good. Fight off the winter blues by making someone else smile… you’ll definitely win a good citizen award from the ghosts of Christmas past.

Time to cosy up…
HYGGE! This Danish tradition of wellbeing through all things cosy. So, if you’ve sought refuge in a blanket on a cold day and enjoyed a hot soup to go with it… you’ve been unknowingly practising “hoo-ga”. Scandinavian countries are notorious for their sub-zero winters, even still they rank as the some of the happiest places in the world! Must be all thanks to Hygge. On that note… time to grab a hot chocolate!

Whether you’re a winter baby or love the sun, we wish you a fantastic season!

“A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.” Phyllis Diller

Say Cheese…

Smiles are a wonderful thing, they’re a lovely sign to ourselves and others that we’re feelin’ fine. We think everyone looks their best when they show off their pearly whites, you could even say they offer an instant makeover!

Tweet @studiovenues what makes you grin

What makes thestudio smile?

YOU!

It might sound cheesy, but we just can’t help it! We’re self-proclaimed feedback fanatics as without the good, the bad and the ugly, we wouldn’t know how to put a smile on your face.

There is another reason why we’re grinning from ear to ear… recently thestudioglasgow was chosen to host Children in Scotland’s young person’s question & answer session with Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon!

This charity event was aired on Scotland Tonight and can be caught on youtube! (Just click here if you’re curious ‘Scotland Tonight FMQT:Next Generation‘.)

Event Organiser Erin Butler from Children in Scotland shared some lovely words about her experience with us –
‘The young people on the design team for FMQT Next Generation were keen to find a venue that was relaxed, fun and flexible and The Studio ticked all of those boxes. We knew from experience that the staff are always so accommodating and true to form, nothing ever felt like too much trouble even when responding to the demands of the three different organisations involved with this project. I can’t speak highly enough of both the sales team in Birmingham and the operations team in Glasgow. I literally couldn’t fault them and we can’t wait to come back!’

So we’re celebrating world smile day with positive thoughts! P.S a cheeky grin is contagious, so the next time you see some give them your best as you never know… it could travel the world!

It’s time to raise that pinky and dust off those delicately decorated tiered dishes as this week we’re celebrating Afternoon Tea. A week dedicated to possibly the most British customs, it would be a sin not to get involved with some fun facts and the possibility of winning scones!

Tweet us your first choice finger food pic @studiovenues… The best pic could win complimentary scones to go with their next event!

3 things you might not have known…

1. Just what the Duchess ordered. Afternoon tea came about as a royal “pick me up”, in the 1800’s it was common for people to survive off only two meals a day! No wonder the Duchess of Bedford introduced bite size delights to her daily routine. We couldn’t imagine eating only twice a day, could you?

2. Low tea or high tea? Thankfully neither involves stilts or retreating to the basement! Both teas reveal social status, the time they’re eaten and, funnily enough, the table height! In the past, low tea was a commonly set up on coffee tables as a pre-dinner indulgence enjoyed by the high class. Unlike the middle class who’d enjoy it as a substitute for dinner and was commonly served at the dinner table… We like to think food as a gateway to building relationships. A cheeky afternoon tea is a brilliant way to break up the day and of course connect with those around you…

3. Intruder scones! That’s right, scones crashed the party, they weren’t part of the traditional selection of bites but were introduced during the 20th century. Now there’s only one question left to ask… a dollop of cream or jam first?

So much selection…
Bursting with sweet and savoury options, afternoon tea is a winner when it comes to social gatherings. Break the ice and start circulating, food is always a great conversation starter… Who knows it might end up with a new business venture! Luckily you don’t have to search far and wide for a great selection, we’re happy to host! Or you can do as thestudio team are doing… enjoying it throughout the week! Happy afternoon teaing from thestudio.

We’ve made it to the semi finals! It’s the perfect reason to be singing football’s coming home. With the World Cup in our sights, football fever has truly gripped the nation, including of course thestudioteam who’ve been listening to matches on the radio! We all love a bit of retro.

Did you know our sporting prowess and events co-ordination go hand in hand? Check out our top 3 similarities we noticed whist watching the world cup!

Dream Team…

If you’re an avid sports fan, we’re sure you’ve dreamt up a team made from your favourite players! Managers always substitute players for a change of pace. A brilliant game outcome really does hinge on skill, co-ordination and most importantly a great team effort. Which made us think… The smooth running of any event can become quickly undone without flawless team work! Thankfully, for those on the pitch and in your dedicated events team, collaboration is what we do best, we strive to be a team of players!

Pass, run, score…

Funnily enough, quick thinking and nifty footwork are event management essentials! It takes a lot of flair and experience to effortlessly pirouette through bespoke requests and offer valuable customers just what they’re looking for. Problem solving and seeking opportunity are bread and butter, at times it might seem as impossible as working through France’s defence, but rest assured it’s possible!

Saving the day…

No one likes the nail biting, cut throat nature of penalties. But all is not lost in the hands of a great goalie! Much like having faith in a player’s capabilities, leaving your planning to the experts takes the edge off!

Fingers crossed we make it to the final. Come on England.