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Royal Hospital Chelsea (The) – London SW3
Founded by King Charles in 1682 as a retreat for veterans of the army, The Royal Hospital Chelsea occupies a magnificent position alongside the River Thames. Home to the widely recognised Chelsea Pensioners who are instantly known in their scarlet coats and tricorne hats. It is little known that within the Royal Hospital grounds stands a memorial to those who fell at the Battle of Chillianwalla and cannon engaged in the conflict. The Launch of the Anglo Sikh Heritage Trail took place at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on 2nd July 2004. The State Apartments consist of two main rooms, the Council Chamber and an Ante-Room. The Council Chamber is a stunning oak-panelled room designed by Wren and embellished by Robert Adam and still in its original stunning condition. There are a number of fine paintings by Van Dyke, Kneeler and Lely as well as important carvings and mouldings by William Emmett, John Grover and William Cleere. Together with the Ante-Room next door the State Apartments are ideally suited for receptions, dinners, lectures, and press/book launches, photo–calls and filming. Also available for hire are the stunning The Great Hall which is available for hire in the evenings only from about 6.30pm and includes the use of the kitchens. It would be ideally suited for banquets and receptions. Seating capacity is 270 and standing around 400. The Chapel is only available for weddings under certain circumstances. Marquees and Garden Parties are permitted throughout the year by private and corporate clients in the South Grounds and Ranelagh Gardens, re-designed by the eminent landscaper John Gibson in 1860.
Room Capacities
| Maximum Venue Capacity | Reception | Dinner | Dinner & Dance | Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The State Apartments | 180 | 80 | 0 | 120 |
| The Great Hall | 500 | 270 | 0 | 0 |
Hire Periods
| Access Times to Venue: | The Great Hall 7pm - 11.59pm The State Apartments 10am - 11.59pm |
|---|---|
| Venue Closed Periods: | Dec 24th, 25th, 26th, 31st, Jan 1st |
Venue Notes
| smoking | No | |
|---|---|---|
| marquee | Yes | |
| dancing | No | |
| garden | Yes | |
| marriage | No | |
| parking | Yes |