There are historic venues and then there is Barts North Wing. The Grade I listed North Wing of St Bartholomew’s Hospital in West Smithfield has been part of the London landscape since 1732, originally built to support the hospital’s fundraising efforts. For the last 50 years it stood without significant investment, its remarkable interiors largely out of reach. In 2017, a new charity, Barts Heritage, was established with the sole purpose of raising the funds needed to restore it properly. That £9.5 million project completed in September 2025, and the venue has now officially opened its doors to corporate and private hire for the first time.
The arrival experience alone sets it apart from almost anything else available to planners in London. Guests make their way up the Hogarth Stair, the grand staircase decorated with two of William Hogarth’s most celebrated paintings, The Pool of Bethesda and The Good Samaritan, before reaching the centrepiece of the venue, the Great Hall. It is the kind of entrance that will generate some reactions before anyone has reached their seat.

The Great Hall was designed by architect James Gibbs as part of his wider redesign of St Bartholomew’s Hospital. The ceiling features ornate plasterwork by Jean Baptiste St Michele, and the walls are lined with the names of more than 3,000 historic benefactors to the hospital, a detail that gives the room a sense of history that purpose-built event spaces simply cannot create. New integrated lighting, heating and audio systems have been installed as part of the restoration, making it fully capable of hosting events for up to 400 guests. Conferences, gala dinners, awards ceremonies, product launches – this room can handle all of it.
For smaller gatherings, the options are equally plentiful. The Henry VIII Room seats up to 30 for a dinner or 50 for a reception, making it a strong choice for client entertaining or more intimate corporate occasions. The Treasurer’s Room offers a quieter, more private setting for up to 20 guests. Catering across all spaces is handled exclusively by Lettice Events, with bespoke menus tailored to the event and the space.
There is also a broader reason to book here that goes beyond the architecture. Revenue generated through venue hire goes directly towards Barts Heritage’s creative health and wellness programme for hospital staff and patients, as well as towards the long-term preservation of the building itself. For planners whose organisations take social impact seriously, that is a genuinely compelling addition to an already strong proposition. If you’re looking for a London venue that genuinely stops people in their tracks, Barts North Wing is now very much on the table.