Broadwick Group to "review" venue hire process after hosting Nigel Farage speech
Reform UK held an event at Banking Hall - which is owned by the Drumsheds, Magazine and Printworks operator - earlier this month
Broadwick Group has said it is "reviewing" its hiring process after it was found to have hired one of its venues for a Reform UK event earlier this month.
On November 3, Reform UK held an event in Central London with a speech from leader Nigel Farage, who introduced the party's "vision to fix Britain's economy."
According to The Guardian, Farage's plans included £150 billion in public spending cuts, including welfare benefits, support for asylum seekers, foreign aid, and more.
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The event was held at Banking Hall, owned by Broadwick Group — the parent company of Broadwick Live, and the owner of nightlife venues such as Drumsheds, Magazine, Depot Mayfield, and Troxy.
Broadwick Group acquired the Grade II-listed former Lloyds Bank headquarters-turned-hospitality venue in March as part of its acquisition of catering giant Camm & Hooper, alongside OXO2, 26 Leake Street, and Victoria Bath House.
In a statement shared with Conference News in March, Broadwick Group CEO Simon Tracey said: "We’re pleased to welcome Camm & Hooper to Broadwick. Their venues and expertise align with our vision, and together, we’ll build on their success to deliver outstanding events."
In recent months, Reform UK has been met with criticism for the conduct of its councillors, comments made around the COVID-19 vaccine at its party conference in September, and charges brought against former Reform UK Wales leader Nathan Gill, who is accused of taking bribes to make "pro-Russia statements" as a member of European Parliament.
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In a statement to Mixmag, a spokesperson for Broadwick Group clarified that Banking Hall is "operated by our venue management division" and is a "recently-acquired conference and events space within our growing portfolio of venues."
"Across our spaces, we host over 2,000 hires each year for a broad range of organisations, sectors and clients," Broadwick Group's statement continues, adding that the event's management company "does not endorse the views or affiliations of any individual or organisation that hires our venues."
"We are reviewing our hire uses and strengthening approval processes going forward," the statement ends.
Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, follow her on Twitter