Corporate event venue planned for Rathbone Square

Plans for a “multi-purpose conference and flexible event space” have been unveiled for an office block at One Rathbone Square in Fitzrovia West.

The venue — which The Fizrovia News understands would have a capacity of up to 750 people — would have an entrance across three currently empty shopfronts along Rathbone Place. It would occupy part of the ground floor but be mostly underground in a space of around 4,000 square metres.

Plans for the venue came to light earlier this month when a licensing application was submitted to Westminster City Council seeking permission for the sale of alcohol, late night refreshment, recorded music, and live music on the premises.

“The proposed use of the space will accommodate events such as speeches, presentations, and similar activities,” states the application.

Three blue notices across the Rathbone Place frontage announce that Etc Venues Limited, which operates locations under the name Convene, has made an application to the licensing authority.

One Rathbone Square is a commercial complex occupying the south east side of Rathbone Square, which is a mix of residential, business accommodation and public open space, originally developed by Great Portland Estates on the former Royal Mail West End delivery centre after they received planning permission in 2014.

Facebook’s parent company Meta briefly had offices in the building until it took the decision in 2024 to downsize its office footprint.

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