the studio conference meetings and events venue Birmingham 1st floor refreshment areaNot to be confused with The Ting Tings, The Ting Thing is a prolific Birmingham based blogger! Her work encompasses topics like beauty, fashion, food and travel. So if you’re looking for some inspiration, her lifestyle blog is definitely worth a gander.

thestudio & The Ting Thing…

If you’re new to us, we’re a meetings and events venue who harness their core value of customer first in everything we do. We have 4 venues throughout the UK, with our HQ based in the heart of Birmingham’s bustling city centre.

Today, we’re happily welcoming The Ting Thing though our doors and many other Birmingham-based bloggers! In this exciting event, they’ll be looking to collaborate works, swap ideas and create something nothing short of brilliant.

If this sounds right up your street and you’d like to find out more about Birmingham Blogger UK please click here.

From thestudio…
Wishing everyone a fabulous blog together day!

In our fast paced world it’s good to slow down and place importance on that fabled ‘me’ time. Undoubtedly it’s why apps such as Headspace are such a hit! It can be difficult to set aside time to gather ourselves, so let’s draw inspiration from nature… the mascot for being seamlessly chilled, today we celebrate International Sloth Day!

Did you know…
One of our team members has travelled to the land of these strange but endearing creatures? Check out what she had to say about her experience:

Eye opening. That would be the best way I could describe my trip. I’ve never travelled solo let alone with a group of strangers!  So whilst putting my people skills to the ultimate test, I thought it would be  a bright idea to challenge my fears and take part in Indiana Jones type activities like waterfall rappelling, rainforest trekking, white water rafting and riding an ATV though jungle rivers. Yes I survived!

For me, travel is the door to learning more about yourself but you can only go through it if you’re open to new experiences and stepping out of the cosy comfort zone.

Not many people can say they’ve had the pleasure of meeting a sloth in the wild, but thankfully I can. So I knew we just had to celebrate International Sloth Day! (Jyoti even has a mouse mat proclaiming ‘my patronus is a sloth’!)

Costa Rican life is very serene, they constantly pursue efforts which enrich the lives of every living being there. They live by a saying called “Pura Vida” which means pure life, to live a full life, simply put “It is a perspective to life that evokes a spirit that is carefree, laid back and optimistic.”

Just like the sloth, the people there take time to slow down and appreciate their surroundings. Costa Rica doesn’t even have an army… so you can imagine how peaceful of a people they are!”

One two toed step…
We at thestudio promote a healthy work life balance and encourage the team to take on new experiences. We’re strong believers that a change of scene can do you the world of good. So today, celebrate International Sloth Day and take a breather!

the studio conference meetings and events venue Birmingham 1st floor refreshment areaWe just can’t seem to settle down, can you guess why? It’s International Coffee Day!

If we’ve had the pleasure of welcoming you through our doors, you might have noticed we love a good coffee. We’re proud to offer you and your guests’ fresh bean to cup coffee on every mug you pour… delicious!

Test yourself and see if you’re a coffee fiend by thestudio’s standards!

1.    Have you ever experienced coffee envy?
2.    Does the thought of tasting luxurious imported beans excite you?
3.    Are you on cup #3 by 9am?
4.    Does the scent of coffee outweigh the aroma of freshly cut grass or bacon?
5.    Would you always choose a coffee over tea?
6.    Are your friends and work colleagues impressed by how many jazzy named coffees you’ve tasted?
7.    Do you have a dedicated mugs or your all-important morning pick me up?
8.    Have you invested in a trusty coffee machine and placed it lovingly by your bedside?

1 – 4 yes’s – tea drinker perhaps?
5 – 6 yes’s – Coffee has a special place in your heart!
7 – 9 yes’s – Must be still buzzing for your last coffee…
10 yes’s – You’re a true coffee fiend!

Give Me Coffee and T.V…

This wonderful world is full of hot drink connoisseurs. With each of us having our own palates and taste preferences we just can’t help ourselves but give tea drinkers a good ol’ shout out…
It may be International Coffee Day we can’t help but use this opportunity to welcome Tetley tea in our venues!

So whether you prefer a rich coffee, sweet tea or a flavoursome hot chocolate… Happy International Coffee Day from thestudio.

SNOZZCUMBERS!

You are what you eat…
Not our usual breakfast we must admit but today’s a special day! Creating timeless masterpieces that transport you to magical worlds full of wonder and awe, today we’re celebrating the works of a truly iconic author: Happy Roald Dahl Day!

“Never do anything by halves if you want to get away with it. Be outrageous. Go the whole hog. Make sure everything you do is so completely crazy it’s unbelievable…” Matilda – Roald Dahl

The Golden Ticket…
Here @thestudio, we’re a sucker for everything inspirational. You’ll only have to visit our venues to be welcomed with a myriad of encouraging quotes. From Rene Descartes to David Bowie… our inspiration net is cast far and wide! We’re looking for our golden ticket, tweet @thestudio with your favourite Roald Dahl quote and be in with a chance of it being put up in one of our venues!

First impressions…
We usually think of the first impressions being the most important but here @thestudio we count on making a lasting impression! With that in mind, check out which Dahl works have touched our team:

Gillian: BFG. Really appealed to a child’s imagination and sense of humour with whizz popping and snozzcumbers. To this day I still call humans human beans….

Julian: My all-time favourite is Danny The Champion of The World – I read it at the age of 7 and I can still remember being up until the early hours of the morning trying to finish it. He lives with his dad in a gypsy caravan and his dad makes a living by repairing cars and poaching pheasants. My favourite bit is when he has to rescue his Dad from capture by driving their Austin 7 to a wood where his Dad has been trapped by his leg (his Dad has broken his leg) I would have loved to have been able to drive at the age of 7…

Nigel: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It is so Studio and I dream of giving it away to a small child one day who can manage the cash flow better than me…

Dawn: I love James and the Giant Peach. My favourite teacher read it to us as a class when I was little, his writing really made me feel as though I was there with James. We have just started to read it to my little boy at bedtime.

Tracey: It’s funny, sad and seeing all those kids triumph over the horrid Miss Trunchbull always makes me smile and it goes to show if you put your mind to it you can achieve anything and it’s ok to be different!

Prabjot: My fav is The Witches.
Because the witches live amongst us… I could be a witch, you could be a witch, anyone could be a witch!

To all our studio goers remember, “those who don’t believe in magic will never find it”.

the studio venues meeting and events Birmingham petsSayings through to films and even being venerated as gods… It’s no wonder we have a whole 24hrs dedicated to these feisty furry creatures: introducing International Cat Day!

Are you a crazy cat lady?

Take thestudio yay or nay test and see how cat crazy you are!
1. Do you talk to your pet cat?
2. Is your perfect evening a night in with your furry friend?
3. When on a walk, would you stop and try to befriend a cat you’ve never met before?
4. Do you think about cats more than 5 times a day?
5. If you saw a cat would you have to point it out to the people you’re with?
6. Have you ever wished you were a cat or live in the hope of being reincarnated as one?
7. Would being around your own kitty (or someone else’s) be the highlight of your day?
8. Ever meowed just for fun even if there’s no cats around?
9. Would you cry from happiness if you were handed a box full of kittens?
10. Have you ever taken your cat out for walks with you on a leash?
1 – 4 yes’s – think you should wait for our #InternationalDogDay blog!?
5 – 6 yes’s – Your heart is cat inclined!
7 – 9 yes’s – You’re just on the cusp of being feline-infatuated
10 yes’s – Coo coo cat crazy!

Cat Competition…

Whether you secretly spend all your free time watching cat videos on YouTube or you proudly relish your love of moggies by tagging your friends in all tabby related posts. Whatever you’re level of kitty cat love, we’re celebrating today by offering a chance to win a studio canvas just for your pet! Here @thestudio we really love our purry pals, we even have a wall dedicated to our studiopets canvas art. Tweet your best pet images to @studiovenues with the #InternationalCatDay #WinYourOwnCatCanvas to be in with a chance with winning your very own master piece. Pet selfies only 

What’s Up Pussycat?
On the surface, your feline companion may only seem good for lounging around. Apart from sleeping most of their days away, did you know these fuzz balls are great stress relievers? Even science says some quality time with your furry friend can boost those feel good hormones! So after a hard day in the office how about a petting session with your four legged buddy? Now where did that string go…

From all the team at thestudio, we wish you a brilliant International Cat Day!

the studio venues meetings and events Leeds reception areaFind out why we’re bouncing off the walls…

In 2015, we welcomed a new addition to thestudio family in Leeds. Perched on the 8th floor on Riverside West, overlooking both city and country views, thestudioleeds offers a bright, quirky alternative events venue. A place to soak in the Yorkshire views and escape from the norm. We’ve got some brilliant news we’d love to share with you!

Bigger is better…

Remember, remember this September. Imagine that your favourite cake just got a whole new layer, with the same deliciousness as the others! Well, that’s exactly what’s happening to thestudioleeds. We’re happy to announce the introduction of a whole new floor. With a mixture of spaces perfect for small to medium events, they’ll be ready to Rock ‘n’ Roll by this September!

Venues under the hammer…

If we’ve been lucky enough to have you as guests at any of our venues, you might have noticed that we’re really into food. That’s why thestudiobirmingham’s kitchen is getting a revamp! So we can create and make even more delicious dishes for you and your guests.

Look forward to welcoming you!

the studio conference meetings and events venue Manchester reception areaSelling out in 2016, thestudiomanchester are excited to once again welcome Jamchester through its doors!

It’s Jamazing…

Not quite sure what Jamchester is about? One thing’s for sure, it’s not a festival dedicated to jam! Presented by Gameopolis and HAC100, we introduce the UK’s biggest professional game jam, a weekend long event offering industry professionals the perfect opportunity to let their imaginations run wild. Get your creative juices flowing as you compete either in a team or as a lone wolf to create the best game. Rome wasn’t built in a day, so you’ve been given two to craft your masterpiece!

We’re Jammin’…

Not for the faint hearted, this game building extravaganza is a 24hr event! Guests will be working round the clock on their precious projects. Last year Jamchester welcomed a whopping 200 attendees and received a staggering 39 video games! Whether you love gaming or are a curious kitten, check out last year’s marvels by clicking here… thestudio

To All Gamers…

Here at thestudio, we really value being customer focused. Whether you’re new to our meetings and events spaces or have stuck by us since our Orange days, we’re always super excited to see the return of clients’ year in year out. To everyone competing this weekend, a massive good luck from thestudio team.

What’s smoking hot @thestudio?

Blazing sun, clear skies, hot weather, shades… Yes the long awaited British summer is here! And what a better way to celebrate than a classy BBQ. We humans are a social bunch, loving any old excuse for a get together and with the sun high in the sky, what a better opportunity?

Individually we’re brilliantly unique but together, together we’re unstoppable. That’s why we love rounding up our team for a quarterly get-together. Being on the same page doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom with monotonous meetings. Spicing things up with a fun, relaxed event does wonders when it comes to team bonding. Plus, you know that age old saying to get to someone’s hear you have to go through their stomach!

No case without a showcase…

We’re really looking forward to the season of BBQ’s and great weather. So much so we’d like to add a bit of pizazz to your reunions by offering a smoking hot team building session in Birmingham and Manchester. Running from July to August, catch up with your crew over some delicious food!

Under the watchful eye of BBQ extraordinaire Richard Holden, your crew can enjoy a tailor made bespoke grilling master class. That’s not all, whilst looking forward to this creative lunch, we include the use of a main meeting room, unlimited tea, coffee and snacks throughout the day.

Ideal for 10-20 guests wanting to live it up in the sun, in just a few hours you’ll experience a 2 course menu of a starter and a main course, BBQ skills on show, tips on grilling and roasting, how to make pioneering pesto, saucy marinades, homemade pizza dough plus choosing and cooking the perfect steak! With a variety of activity packages starting from £50+vat pp for 3-6 hour sessions, looks like the only thing you’ll need is some shades and sun cream!

*Minimum numbers for any course are 10, increasing to a maximum of 20 per session. The above is subject to availability, to make an enquiry contact thestudio team on 0800 028 6694

This years’ International Women’s day is all about the world of work. Calling on all the wonder women in the area, NatWest held their inspiring #BeBoldForChange event today and thestudio have had the pleasure of hosting it.

Challenging the status quo, pushing for change and raising awareness are hot on the cards when it comes to highlighting rights, opportunities and inspiration. Especially within the international minefield of employment. But this event is not just about drawing attention to our daily trails, it’s about celebrating, celebrating women’s momentous contributions to societies all over the world.

Today we …

Applaud all the powerful, inspirational, iconic women who have helped shape cultures and fashion a better place for everyone to live equally.

Today is a special day, not just for women, but for mankind as a whole. Working together as one solid unit is the only promise we have that drives change for this generation and the next.

crisis-2Christmas is undoubtedly the ultimate season of giving. It’s a time where even the most cold hearted of characters are sprung to life with a sprinkle of Christmas spirit. The sight of people scattering, frantically buying and wrapping presents comes with the season, but here at thestudio we recognise the most precious gift you can give someone is your time.

Teaming up with CRISIS Birmingham we’ve taken up the opportunity to give something back to this great city. Opening our doors for two days in the run up to Christmas, CRISIS have hosted a free drop in centre offering advice and support as well as medical and rejuvenating treatments, such as haircuts, facials, pedicures and manicures.

All treatments were provided by local volunteers and supported by the CRISIS team.  thestudio dedicated one of our largest rooms and most importantly lunch! Being the massive foodies that we are, it would be sacrilege to not offer up delicious turkey and stuffing baps with an equally appetizing vegetarian option of falafel to all that joined us, along with copious cups of hot drinks to warm the toes and the soul. To top off the festivities was a live band, again from willing volunteers to offer some festive cheer.

At the end of each year we are reminded that it is important to give, that the most valuable things in this life cannot be bought and if Evan Almighty has taught us anything; one random act of kindness can make someone’s day. We can’t change the world, but every little thing does make a difference to someone, please just be kind.

To everyone, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from thestudio.