In celebration of CSR Share Day and Earth Day, we share our top picks of venues that are leading the way in sustainability…
The Crystal
Opened back in 2012, The Crystal is based in London’s Victoria Dock and is one of the world’s most sustainable venues. With a huge list of accreditations, the building is one of the only to achieve the highest certification in both the BREEAM and LEED schemes. With an annual heating bill of £0, this all-electric building uses solar power and a ground source heat pump to generate its own energy. With 14 flexible meeting spaces, they can handle events up to 270 delegates.
H2 Hotel, California
H2 Hotel based in California has 36 eco-chic rooms and suites and prides itself on a multitude of sustainable features. They have solar panels on the roof, used to heat the swimming pool and hot water in the guest rooms, and much of the building has been made with recycled materials. Their menus are carefully sourced using seasonal ingredients and artisan-crafted products from local purveyors. They have a meeting space able to fit 50 people banquet style.
Daylesford Farm, Oxfordshire
One of the most famous farm shops in Britain, Daylesford has expanded well beyond just being a meat and veg store. Now with restaurant spaces, cookery school, a spa and gardening shop, they’re a perfect venue to meet any event need. They provide seasonal menus, with locally sourced produce, and ensure they stick to their strict sustainable principles. Whether it’s a gala dinner, small private dining room or team networking day needed, their stunning Cotswold location is the perfect spot to entertain.
Zetter Hotel, London
The Zetter Hotel is located in Farringdon, London, and is an award-winning quirky hotel. As eco-conscious hoteliers, they are dedicated to making their hotels more sustainable. They have bicycles for guests to hire and environmentally-sourced bath products, and they are also a founding member of the Sustainable Restaurant Association. There are three stunning spaces available for small events, so whether it’s a board meeting or an intimate dinner, the dining room, the games room, and the library are all available for your event needs.
The Pig Hotels
The Pig Hotels are already in five locations across England and we are sure to see these boutique hotels continue to expand. They are famed for their locally sourced menu (80% of produce from within a 25-mile radius). The Pig in Brockenhurst is our favourite of the collection, with their own vegetable garden, orchard, and happy chickens supplying the eggs for their kitchen. They have a private dining/meeting space called The Green Room which holds up to 14 people and makes for a relaxed environment for your meeting needs.
The Scarlet Hotel, Cornwall
The Scarlet is a luxury eco-hotel overlooking the ocean in Cornwall. Voted as one of the top 20 hotels in the UK by Condé Nast, they pride themselves on creating a luxury venue which also adheres to a strict sustainability policy. As part of their efforts to promote sustainable tourism, they have set up a Community Fund to fund new or existing projects in their area that contribute to improving the local natural environment. There are a variety of spaces that can be used for events, whether it’s a small party or group up to 35, all spaces are beautifully designed and have expansive ocean views.
15 Hatfields, London
15 Hatfields is central London’s most sustainable venue. They have many eco –friendly credentials and are really aiming to raise the bar in sustainable event management. They have a strict ‘no bottled water’ policy (which has prevented 1 million plastic water bottles ending up in the landfill) and have distributed over 2 million wildflower seeds as part of a campaign to help save the decline of bees in London. They have rooms to fit any event need and have spaces able to accommodate up to 500 delegates standing.
1 Hotel Central Park, New York
At 1 Hotel, nature inspires everything they do. They ensure everything is fresh, local and natural. Spreading the word is part of their philosophy and if you take to their website you will see plenty of content on clean and sustainable living. They have lots of beautifully designed events spaces and are able to provide pop-up park meetings too. They offer ‘mindful meeting programming’ and delicious and healthy food for snacks or full meals, and eco-friendly office supplies.
British Airways i360, Brighton
We couldn’t have a top ten list without the British Airways i360 being included. It is said that even during its construction the British Airways i360 was kind to the environment. The site only uses green energy and incredibly the pods descent will power 50% of the energy required for the pods ascent. The pod itself has thermal insulation, and double glazing to minimise energy usage and electricity is the only energy source used, and this comes entirely from renewable energy sources. The restaurant only serves locally sourced food and a composter has been installed that turns waste into the water!
Pines Calyx, Kent
Touting itself as the most environmentally friendly events space in the UK, Pines Calyx is the perfect space for workshops and away days. The venue has won a variety of sustainable building awards and used a blend of ancient and modern architectural innovations in its construction. With beautiful grounds and too many sustainable credentials to list, Pines Calyx is certainly one of our favourite eco venues in the UK.
For more sustainable venues, check out our top hotels that make a positive social impact. For venue enquiries or assistance with your next event, don’t hesitate to contact one of the Banks Sadler team on +44 (0) 207 424 3333
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