When thinking of event venues in the centre of Leicester, The City Rooms is never far from the top of the list.
Weddings, business events, celebrations, awards, or simply a city break overnight stay, The City Rooms can cater for it all. As larger events return, life has sprung back into The City Rooms and we caught up with Marketing Manager, Laura Foster, to find out more about it all.
How would you describe The City Rooms to someone who’s never visited?
The City Rooms is a one of a kind exclusive-use venue and boutique hotel situated in the heart of Leicester City Centre. Built in 1792 and boasting a Grade I listed status, the building is steeped in Georgian history which is apparent from your very first steps inside. From its façade to the magnificent Ballroom that spans the entire first floor, there’s so many fascinating features that provide a unique backdrop for any event.
How has life been at the venue since reopening?
The City Rooms has come back to life, and it has been fantastic to host gatherings and those special events again! There’s a buzz not only in our venue but around the area too. We’re located on Hotel Street and it has been wonderful to see so many people back in the City. During lockdown we gave the building a complete makeover (including a 200-year overdue clean of the outside grand face!) and invested in new furniture, greenery and luxury fittings so that when we could reopen, we’d be reopening in style.
What are some of The City Rooms’ stand out features?
Firstly, our Ballroom. It is one of the best examples of an event suite in the Midlands. It runs the whole length of the building on the first floor – you step into the room and immediately you are blown away by its impressive size and grandeur. A combination of its high ceilings, magnificent windows, figures in the niches on the north and south walls, paintings in circular panels on the walls and ceiling – just gives it that wow factor. We also have a bar onsite that is located on the ground floor along with two other luxury event suites and 4 boutique bedrooms.
Tell us a little about the wedding packages you offer at the venue?
At The City Rooms we can cater for both large and intimate weddings and we tailor our packages to suit the requirements of our couples. Our prices do vary but they are extremely good value, and our venue is exclusive-use so it is yours for the day. We have a professional and dedicated team of wedding coordinators that ensure every wedding and event with us is carried out to the highest of standards as well as a talented team of chefs who provide amazing in house catering, with all food freshly prepared and locally sourced. We also allow outside catering for Asian Weddings.
Aside from weddings, what events do you cater for at The City Rooms?
Our function suites have been designed with events in mind and our team can help bring any idea to life. We often host small meetings, large scale conferences, private parties and balls. We’re currently getting ready for the festive season and can’t wait to throw our Christmas parties this December!
What’s your favourite thing about your location in the centre of Leicester?
We’re in the heart of the City and it’s the perfect place to be. We’re amongst a great community and are surrounded by fantastic bars, restaurants and shops that are just a stone’s throw away from our front door. We also love how much history and culture there is in Leicester and we’re very proud to be a part of it.
Aside from hosting events you also have boutique hotel rooms available to book throughout the year, what’s unique about your rooms at The City Rooms?
We have four boutique bedrooms onsite and they are a hidden gem. They have a lot of history to them as they were once used for the Judges Lodgings many years ago but have now been beautifully decorated to provide a luxurious stay for our guests. One thing to note is that our building is incredibly old so these bedrooms can only be accessed by stairs, but they do provide the perfect base to retreat to after an event or a long day of exploring Leicester.
Can people book a tour if they’re looking at venues to host an event?
Absolutely and we’d highly recommend taking a look around so that you can experience the magic of our venue for yourself! Our team are more than happy to book in private showrounds of The City Rooms and are on hand to answer any questions you may have about hosting an event with us. We also have a virtual tour available on our website if you’d like a sneak peek beforehand.
Where can people find out more or book a room?
We have recently launched a new and improved website so for more information or to book a stay with us, please visit www.thecityrooms.co.uk.
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