25/01/2021
At first glance the Georgian room looks the set of a period drama with duck egg blue walls, pristine columns, antique bookshelves, and an 18th century fireplace.
The Georgian Room has a regency aesthetic in keeping with our prestigious and historic Mayfair venue. More intimate than the Library, the Georgian Room is a flexible space perfect for receptions, private dinners or a corporate meeting.
While the Georgian Room is one of the oldest spaces at the Royal Institution venue, it only became part of the Royal Institution in 1893 when 20 Albemarle street was gifted by notable German chemist Ludwig Mond. Prior to its addition to the Ri, 20 Albemarle Street had a turbulent history.
Being owned by a succession of MPs and Peers some of whom were not pleased by the arrival of the Royal Institution and subsequent building works, in particular the Dowager Lady Lilford and her daughters who moved away to Portman Square in 1803 despite being offered admission to the lectures. No. 20 ceased to be a private house in 1833 when it was bought by John Gurr Chaplin and used to extend the Clarendon Hotel on New Bond Street, one of the finest London hotels at the time. The hotel then ceased to trade in 1866 and 20 Albemarle Street reverted to a private residence for Earl Cowley and following that the lease was taken up by the Oxford and Cambridge club in 1883 and held for ten years. Mond bought the house after the club left the premises and finally No. 20 became part of the Royal Institution.
The décor in the Georgian Room remained largely the same, with the only significant change being the addition of the interconnecting door between the Georgian Room and the Library, bringing together 20 and 21 Albemarle Street. The Georgian Room fireplace is one of the most important pieces of décor in the Royal Institution, linking directly back to our founding. Before its life at the Royal Institution, the fireplace was in the drawing room at 32 Soho Square, which was the home of Sir Joseph Banks, an English naturalist and botanist who was the official botanist of James Cook's expedition between 1768–1771 visiting Brazil, Tahiti and Australia. Sir Joseph Banks was a founding member of the Royal Institution, and it was in his drawing room at 32 Soho Square on the 7th March 1799, that the first meeting of the Royal Institution took place, which means the Georgian Room fireplace was there at the very start of the Royal Institution, and is still with us today.
Alongside the Theatre or Library, the Georgian room can act as a breakout space or an event venue in it's own right. With interconnecting doors to the Library and Writing Room, these three spaces can be used all together for dinners and receptions to add an sense of glamour and elegance to any occasion. The Georgian room sparkles with heritage Mayfair charm and has hosted private receptions, luxury dinners, intimate weddings.
Whether you’re looking to film the next Bridgerton or want a luxurious private event venue in central London – look no further than the Georgian room at the Royal Institution Venue.
