Churchill War Rooms - 28th September 2011

"Personally I'm always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught." - Winston Churchill

After an amazing day of weather (28th September) and then a stroll down the river towards Westminster, we arrived at the Churchill War Rooms ready for dress up and an evening of 1940's splendour.

Sparkling Wine was given to all PA's upon arrival between 6pm and 7pm, and those who arrived early had chance to have a wander around the War Rooms themselves and mingle with the other PA's.

The staff on hand were all dressed for the occassion in 1940's attire and were on hand to answer any questions, which I'm sure there were a few from the PA's with the venue being full of historical facts. At around 7 o'clock, our very own Harry Knight started the speeches off and introduced Phil Reed OBE, Director of the Churchill War Rooms to everyone. Phil gave a highly amusing and passionate speech full of quotes and history from Churchill himself.

The evening then went on to serve drink and food on plates of slate, giving our readers a taster of the food the venue can offer. One of our lucky readers, Amanda Bouch, won a bottle of Pol Roger Champagne (Churchill's favourite tipple) and two other readers, Kerry Murphy and Annette Mascarenhas, won free tickets to the museum.

The evening was highly entertaining and completely different, definately one of London's best kept secret's hidden away.

Churchill War Rooms
Hidden beneath the Treasury in Westminster, the preserved historic site and secret government headquarters during World War II is one of London’s best kept secrets.

On becoming Prime Minister in May 1940, Winston Churchill visited the underground War Cabinet Room and said, 'This is a room from which I will direct the war'. The Cabinet War Rooms sheltered the heart of British military and government command throughout the Second World War, before being sealed in August 1945.

Today the rooms have been preserved and restored to their former glory and look just as they did when Churchill last held court there. Peer into the War Cabinet Room, left as it was when chief of staff last met, and marvel at the complex Map Rooms, abandoned in 1945 and left frozen in time.

Guests can explore the once bustling bunker, and walk in Sir Winston Churchill’s footsteps through the same dimly lit corridors. Nowhere is the scene of his and Britain’s finest hour better illustrated and more intimately experienced than at the Churchill War Rooms.

Accommodating events for 10 to 350 people, the Churchill War Rooms offer all modern facilities at a venue redolent of history. Whether you’re planning an intimate dinner, a party to reward staff, or holding an annual conference, the Churchill War Rooms offer great versatility, allowing you to create an occasion that is truly unique.

Sitting underneath six feet of concrete and steel and adjacent to the award winning Churchill Museum, the HCA Auditorium and Learning Suite include high-tech audio-visual facilities and offer a light and focused approach to a meeting or workshop, but are equally great as quirky reception spaces.

Recently refurbished, the Harmsworth room is a stunning space in the heart of the War Rooms and offers the opportunity to entertain in a unique historic setting, with the room now incorporating the original switches from the back up generator that controlled the electricity for Westminster during the blitz. For smaller, intimate events, the re-designed and refitted Switch Room represents one of London’s most unique fine dining spaces