After Conference Pop-up Pub

Conference dinners can sometimes be drab and repetitive occasions, so when we were approached to help a global financial services client deliver its UK Bi-annual event, we were determined to do something different; the result: A pop up pub!

Instead of a formal conference and sit-down dinner, we helped to transform a part of Hall 9 at the NEC, in Birmingham, into a pop-up pub so that attendees could relax and mingle in more informal surroundings.

We were tasked with helping to transform part of the huge conference venue into the more familiar surroundings of a local pub, so that guests could have a few drinks while networking with friends and colleagues.

The venue was christened the Dog & Gun and the space we created included a specially-fabricated bar serving a range of popular beers and spirits, atmospheric lighting, some street food stands, pub tables and seating, and bar games including skittles, a giant Scalextric set and a foosball table.

There was also a stage and dancefloor in the corner of the pop-up pub, where guests could enjoy music played by a live band, or choose their own playlist on a specially-created jukebox.

Guy Eaton, our Managing Director, said: “The client had a really cool, original idea to turn the dinner completely on its head and we were delighted to be asked to deliver it.

“The main concern was that events like this can be too stuffy and formal, so the challenge for us was creating a space which portrayed the professional corporate image of the business, but was quirky and fun enough to engage the guests and create a relaxed and informal atmosphere so they could really enjoy themselves, in the familiar surroundings of the good old British pub.”