We’ve all experienced it. Gone to a disappointing BBQ where there were no welcome drinks, blackened burgers easily mistaken for coal and baps soggier than the British weather…
Thankfully we’re here to make sure, come rain or shine, that your BBQ’s are the best on the block! Be warned, intoxicated passers-by might want an invite!
Rock your grill with our top 5 sure-fire ways to organise and host the best BBQ ever…
1. Imagine being welcomed into a party where there was a fancy drinks station covering options from water to punch and another table filled with mouth-watering dips, crisps, crackers and only the best crudities… sounds dreamy. Having a drinks and nibbles station is the way to go in making a great first impression. Plus, it helps ease the pressure off having to slave away on the barbie straight away.
2. Sleep on it! Create out of this world flavours by marinating your fan favourite meats and veggies then leaving them to soak in the night before = winner.(As long as you don’t burn them of course!). Tease and tantalise your guests taste buds with adventurous spice blends. We’ve got a few in our cookbook, have you had a thumb through yet?
3. Finishing touches… compliment fiery, sweet and smoky barbecue flavours with sensationally seasoned salads and side dishes. These can be prepared in advance and assembled at the last minute to give you the ultimate title of being The Host with the Most!
4. Have the element of surprise by wowing your guests with sweet treats. Ever tried flame grilled pineapple kebabs? Delicious! How about a hot banana Sunday? The possibilities are endless…
5. Mood maker… set the feel of your event and say no to awkward silences by playing fun background music, it’s a brilliant ice breaker. Remember atmosphere is everything!
Bonus tip from our Grill Master Richard Holden:
“Use the lid and master the art of grilling vs. roasting on your barbecue. Closing the lid will surround your food with heat and cook it quicker than on an open grill. Start foods over the heat to achieve those gorgeous caramelisation marks before moving to an area of roasting heat to cook through thoroughly. I always use a digital thermometer to check my food is safely cooked before serving to guests and my golden rule is “75 – Stayin’ Alive!” The core of your food should be 75c in order that it’s safe to eat.”
Now you’re on the road to becoming a barbecue master! Interested in having an expert Richard Holden show you a thing or two? Feel free to ask our team or click here…
Happy hosting from thestudio, you’ll most likely catch us basking on our roof terraces!
It’s heating up at thestudio this May as we’ve got some exciting news to share! Our cookbook BALANCE has arrived in all of our venues and is rammed with over 60 healthy recipes!
The book fits perfectly with our food philosophy, an affordable but beautiful book that has been created in response to the amount times we have heard “lunch was delicious” can you ask the chef for the recipe!
But here’s a few things you might not have known about our little book of BALANCE …
Not for profit…
That’s right, this little number is a not for profit book! All the proceeds go directly to supporting the Nutrition & Diet Resource UK a not for profit organisation for patient centred care working in the public and private sector. It really is all about the food and promoting healthy balanced diets!
Daily dine…
If you’ve attended, are going to attend or actually are at thestudio this very moment, chances are you’ll be lunching on one of the recipes from “Balance”! With over 60 fresh, exciting and inspired dishes that have all appeared on our menus at some point, you won’t be short of combinations to choose from. Aside from an undeniably delicious afternoon break, it’s serves as the perfect time to show guests what thestudio’s made of!
Swapsies…
Things are better when everyone can enjoy them, that’s why on a lot of our recipes, whether it’s for ethical or health reasons, we’ve highlighted ingredients within the recipes that can swapped to suit your dietary needs. Balance has a section dedicated to adapting to special diets from veganism to gluten free… we’ve got a dish for you!
Hats off to the chef…
Compliments were driving force behind the whole idea, each location chef has been involved in the creation of the book, thestudio thought it would be great to give something back to the guests who love their food, offering up the opportunity to impress their friends and family with some tasty dishes. All of this whilst contributing to the bigger picture.
Nutrition is the key …
All the recipes have been analysed by Nutritics software, so you can be assured (if you can stick to just one portion!) of the energy, fat, carbohydrate, protein and salt content in each dish.
We’d love to hear about your favourite foodie experience at our venues, tweet @studiovenues your favourite dishes and remember, if you’d like to find out more, we’re just a fork call away…
What’s that sound?
The melody of excited whistling kettles and the magical chiming of swirling spoons fills the air… It’s time to make some music… Let’s stick on a brew and make a song & dance about Tea! That’s right, it’s National Tea Day.
Hi Chai…
Us Brits are well known for being avid tea drinkers, whether it’s enjoying an afternoon filled with cakes and bite sized sandwiches or nuzzling into a fluffy blanket on a cold day, everything seems so much brighter accompanied by a good cuppa.
We’ve been drinking tea for centuries! Did you know the earliest record of sipping this humble leaf originated in 3rd century China? It’s no wonder this lovely leaf has achieved, quite frankly, world domination. With almost an infinite variety of blends, infusions and combinations, this once mainly medicinal potion has expanded its branches and planted obsession into hearts all over the world.
Hot or cold, this delicious drink comes with a whole heap of impressive health benefits: antioxidants, bone protection, boosting your immune system… just to name a few!
Milk and two sugars…
Making tea is a serious business. It’s the ultimate challenge in timing and ratio skills, a touch too much milk or leaving the bag in can really dictate if the mug you made with love gets left untouched… To make absolutely certain this never happens, thestudio team have a tea chart in their office highlighting acceptable shades of tea!
Can’t tell your tea cups to your tea pots? Help is at hand! Get your skills up to scratch by clicking here… A sure fire way to win the hearts of everyone in the office. (p.s don’t forget to bring some cake to sweeten the deal).
Mug to glug…
@thestudio nothing can beat a good cuppa. Whether you’re a health enthusiast or just need a morning ‘pick me up’, from energetic green tea, a good ol’ Tetley or a soothing Earl Grey… we’ll have your tea needs covered!
Imagine if you could help the local community whilst attending your teams’ yearly round up or weekly meet up. Sound impossible? Not quite! Here at thestudio, we like to bring innovative ideas to the table and make them the centre piece of everything we do. We’ve achieved just that with thestudiomanchester’s alternative, collaborative, self-contained events space: The Classroom.
Every day’s a school day…
How does booking The Classroom help the local community? Let’s fill you in… thestudiomanchester is partnered up with incredible children’s charity: Wood Street Mission. With each get-together The Classroom hosts, a £10 donation goes towards Wood Street Mission’s fantastic work. They believe all children should live a poverty free life, encourage children to value education and offering practical guidance so families can raise themselves out of poverty. Knowing that you’ve helped a budding young mind have confidence in their brilliance and supporting them in having the best start in life will make the unlimited retro snacks even sweeter.
Saved by the bell…
Children are our future engineers, doctors, writers, architects… we believe they all deserve the opportunity to shine bright. With the £10 going directly to Wood Street Mission‘s SmartStart initiative, we’ll be able to support a child in need’s first steps into education by supplying them with essential school clothes and equipment!
From thestudio team, we thank everyone who has helped us improve the lives of many Greater Manchester families through using The Classroom. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Wood Street Mission and of course working with you!
Keep calm and carry on…
For us Brits, we’re renowned worldwide for having a “stiff upper lip” approach to life. Though, this might not always be the case… It’s natural to feel overwhelmed and experience stress, trust us, we work in the events industry! On a brighter note, stress isn’t malicious, it’s our bodily and mental reaction to a given situation and for prehistoric man, it would’ve saved their cotton socks. Without stress induced flight or fight mode… we may not be here…
Let your hair down…
Life is such a rush, especially with our constant use of computers, laptops, tablets and smart phones. With everything being so stimulating, it can be quite hard to switch off and unwind. Thankfully there is a cure! So, step away from your smart phone and give those eyes a well-deserved rest. Changing your view and giving yourself some much-needed head space really helps. Think back to what you really love to do and indulge in it!
We can help…
Feeling the pressure? Give our punch bag a few swings! Feeling frustrated? Take it out on our foosball table! We’ve got a few things dotted around our venues to help offer you a new perspective that are a bit of fun! It is said you can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation… don’t pass up on our building on our Lego wall. Psst, if you love colouring in, turn over our studio headed paper for a nice surprise!
Did you know Grace Marshall runs Think Productive’ Stress Less Achieve More workshops at thestudiobirmingham? If the source of your stress is an overwhelm of too much to do in too little time and a constant feeling of information overload and distraction, Grace will show you how to reduce stress by eliminating those nagging feelings of doubt, guilt and overload panic, and replace them with a focused, playful, purposeful and productive momentum.
Book onto the next one at thestudiobirmingham here: stresslessoct2018.eventbrite.co.uk
Balance…
If we’ve had the pleasure of hosting your meeting or special event, you’ll have noticed aside for our vibrant décor, we love the colour grey. So much so we incorporated it into our logo. But why grey you ask? Other than reminding you of the typical British sky’s colour, it promotes balance and complete harmony, the comfortable medium between light and dark. We’re firm believers in work hard, play harder. A work life balance is essential and thestudio team are encouraged to switch off after their days commitment. Once the team even had a masseuse visit and take a 15-minute massage within their work day!
Proof is in the pudding…
Check out the NHS online, they have some great advice on managing those dreaded stress levels. Making small changes can offer a whole new world!
We’ve got two things on our agenda today… singing along to Pharrell Williams’ Happy and reminiscing about some of the best moments in studio history as it’s International Day of Happiness!
Do you celebrate?
They say it’s important to celebrate the little victories and of course the big ones. But do you find time to congratulate yourself when you achieve your goals or do you straight away delve into a new set of goals to achieve? We understand wins can get overlooked and often forgotten… Feel inspired today and reminisce!
thestudio’s top 10 happiest moments so far…
1. 2nd first… It’s normal to sound off starting with one, thestudio with all its quirks started with two! Way back when, we were only able to offer events space on our 2nd floor. Creating some ruckus, bull dosing into the first floor, we were able to increase our meeting room spaces and offer you a brand-new floor to experience!
2. Cowley Manor will always have firm place in studio’s history, aside from being the location of the first group away day, it’s here thestudio ethos was born! Through team building activities, we defined the kind of company we were and how we would make decisions… Customer first it is 😀
3. Baby steps… wise Confucius once said – “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” Experience teaches us one thing, that we only ever truly fail when we give up trying. It was a momentous time when thestudio blew out its 3rd birthday candles… apparently this is the bench mark that an astounding 75% of new companies fail to make!
4. The Directors’ trip jet setting off to the beautiful Eindhoven in the Netherlands. Keen advocates of “if you want a new idea change the view”. And a follow up trip to Iceland sharing an elongated hot pool under a starlit sky, a perfect setting for the Northern lights and for sharing and planning big dreams.
5. Winning the pinnacle of awards “Best Independent UK venue in 2017” what an accolade, ticking every box in our company vision, where we strive for our customers to say “why would be go anywhere else!”
6. thestudio first ever profitable year independently in 2009, it felt like a massive feat!
7. There’s no feeling that quite compared to opening our 2nd venue in Manchester’s glorious Northern Quarter.
8. “Come with me, And you’ll be, In a world of, Pure imagination” Did you get the Golden Ticket? That’s right, one of our happiest memories was when we held the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory themed party. With a cluster of family, friends and special guests, it was the first time Nigel (thestudio’s co-founder) showed them what we did. To say the least, they were blown away and to top it off, it was a brilliant party night with new, past and current studio team members.
9. In 2016 the team ticked one off the bucket list… expanding into another country! Opening thestudioglasgow was an amazing achievement and added another member to our family. We’re feeling more like a seasoned business with 4 venues now.
10. A happy team is a productive team! Undoubtedly some of our happiest times are when we’re whisked away to a team weekend. Usually full of fun activities and packed full of friendly competition, they’re a great chance to catch up with each other.
Remember, remember…
Remember all your achievements and good times today, after all, it’s International Day of Happiness! Wishing you a lot more memorable days and achievements to come.
It’s no doubt we like to feel good. Afloat with warm fuzzy feelings, our moral compass points us to do what we feel is right and encourages us to go above and beyond. Kindness is a definite strength, having the courage to dish out positive reinforcement or offer a helping hand are admirable traits! That’s why we just had to shout about Random Acts of Kindness Day.
Conferencing and kindness…
Forget the add ons, don’t you just love it when a venue or hotel just puts that little extra effort in to make you feel welcome and appreciated? Whether it’s a complimentary map of the city, on the house welcome drinks or a treat on your pillow, it’s totally brilliant to feel thought about. Here at thestudio we have TNT’s. Tiny noticeable things which make a positive explosive impact! We’re always thinking of ingenious ways to make our guests feel more at home. Just remember, if it’s raining and you need some cover, help yourself to a studio brolly!
Check out the teams most memorable random acts of kindness experiences:
Prabjot: Philpotts! Even if it’s been months they always remember my breakfast order!
Jyoti: I’m a fiend for Fuel drinks, the team there know my order so as so as they see me coming they get a making! I don’t have to wait long for my drink and always have a friendly catch up while I’m there.
Katie: Our team member Karolina! She always surprises us with gifts from cute personalised Christmas cards to chocolate treats, she’s bursting full of random acts of kindness. Lovely lady!
Brighten someone’s day today with a random act of kindness and if you can think of anything that would make your stay at thestudio even better, we’re always open for suggestions…
“When the moon hits your eye Like a big pizza pie, that’s amore…”
If you didn’t know already, the 9th of February is dedicated to the super cheesy, super saucy and fully loaded main. Whether fine dining or eaten the morning after, thestudio’s celebrating National Pizza Day by offering you a slice of the action: to win a pizza on us!
Take another pi-zza my heart…
Tweet @studiovenues a quick sketch of your ideal pizza. The most impressive we’ll replace it with an actual pizza… No kidding.
Do pizzas and conferencing go hand in hand? We can all agree, aside from being a faithful crowd pleaser, pizzas are simple, efficient and most importantly delicious. Reigning supreme when it comes to variety, it’s no wonder this nosh is an international star. Being food fanatics, we can’t help but liken this famed food to event perfection!
Just like a divine slice of cheesy heaven, a great venue will offer their guests a tailor-made experience with lots of opportunity to shake things up and of course, extra mozzarella. We’re definite believers in flexibility when it comes accommodating peoples’ needs… Arranging your event should be as easy as pie… pizza pie to be exact!
Wishing everyone a scrumptious day…
Born from the ingenious imagination of A.A. Milne, today we’ll be celebrating and drawing attention to an unforgettable children’s classic: Winnie the Pooh.
What’s Winnie the Pooh got to do with thestudio?
The question is why would a meetings and events space celebrate such a day? This cheeky chap shares some brilliant wisdoms. Exercising mindfulness whilst indulging in honey, this little bear is nothing short of a role model. With all of his little quirky insights, thestudio can’t help but be drawn in by his whimsical view on life.
It’s no wonder as we’re inspirational quote fanatics! It’s always a pleasure to welcome familiar and new faces through all our doors across the country. If we’ve been fortunate to host one of your events, you’ll have definitely noticed our colourful design features and, of course, our room name inspired quotes!
Pooh Proofs…
A couple fun facts that you might not have known about this honey loving furry mammal:
1. Winnie is based on an actual bear who was bought by a soldier in the First World War who was later rehomed to London Zoo
2. Christopher Robin is based on A.A. Milne’s son
3. Some of Pooh’s friends are based off Christopher’s actual teddy collection and can be found in New York Public Library
4. Hundred Acre Wood is a real place known as Ashdown Forest in East Sussex
“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.”
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh
Quotes on us…
Help us celebrate today by tweeting us @studiovenues your favourite Winnie the Pooh quote, you never know, it might end up in one of our future venues!
With the flurries of new year’s resolutions coming in faster than UK’s snow spells, 2018 will no doubt be full of fantastic opportunities to make your wishes come true. With foresight taking centre stage, we’d like to celebrate your dreams!
I have a dream…
Martin Luther King’s timeless speech undeniably influenced change, he dreamt of a future full of equality and freedom, a future which he pursued to create a reality. Today, take inspiration from people who chase their callings. Aspiring to go after your dreams, no matter how big or small, can be illusive. It’s easy to only see the successful iceberg tip whilst overlooking what lies beneath, this perception is perfectly demonstrated by
Stephen McCraniein’s famous quote:
“the master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.”
One thing’s for sure, with a bit of elbow grease and perseverance, dreams can come true!
Burning with passion…
Ever notice how hours can fly by when you’re immersed in something you really enjoy? It’s because you’re no longer a serial clock watcher! When we’re bored, we become insanely aware of how slow time passes. Most of our lives are spent at work, time that would be best spent doing something we love. Unsurprisingly a lot of thestudio team had a background or interest in events before getting to join the family, as you could’ve guessed we love what we do!
Grab the bull by its horns…
We encourage risk takers, free thinkers and game changers. It’s why thestudio venues are designed with all the quirks. We want to offer you a fresh environment, laden with the inspiration to get your 2018 goals ticked off. Whilst we look to the year ahead, we wish you the very best of luck in making your dream come true.
