St Albans is a cathedral city with Roman roots, a lively market and a strong food and drink scene. With fast trains to London St Pancras, it has a big commuter population, and that shows in the style of its events: relaxed, sociable and well organised.
Where people celebrate in St Albans
Sopwell House, a Georgian country house hotel on the edge of the city, is one of the area's largest wedding and event venues. St Michael's Manor is a much more intimate choice: a sixteenth-century manor house with five acres of gardens and its own lake, a short walk from the city centre. In the heart of the city, St Albans Museum and Gallery hires out its historic spaces in the former Town Hall for receptions and parties.
Some couples marry in the city and hold their reception at one of these venues, which means guests travel between two places. A magician waiting for them at the reception is a lovely way to start the party.
The city's restaurants and wine bars also have plenty of private rooms that suit a birthday or anniversary dinner with a magician.
Magic for smaller, stylish events
St Albans has lots of intimate occasions: dinner parties at home, private dining rooms in restaurants and small weddings for close family. Close-up magic is perfect for these, because it's personal and conversational.
At a dinner party, a magician might spend a few minutes with each small group over drinks, then perform a short set at the table once everyone has eaten. Nothing needs to be moved and nobody has to leave their seat.
Harpenden's the same. Lots of dinner parties, lots of private dining, and lots of guests who'll love a bit of close-up magic.
St Albans magician bookings for client and staff events
The city is home to many professional services firms and small businesses, and plenty of London companies have staff who live here. Client evenings, partner dinners and team Christmas parties are common bookings.
For a professional audience, a refined close-up act or a mind reader usually goes down best. Let us know the tone you're after and we'll suggest someone who fits.
Planning your booking
If your venue is in the city centre, check the parking and loading arrangements, as some streets around the cathedral quarter are narrow and busy. Your magician only needs to carry a small case, but it helps to know where to arrive.
Popular venues here can be booked well ahead for peak dates, so once your date is fixed, send us an enquiry and we'll check availability.
And if it's a Christmas party, try to get your request in by early autumn. December fills up fast round here.
Weddings in and around the city
St Albans weddings come in all sizes. Some couples go for a large country house celebration with a couple of hundred guests, others choose a small, stylish gathering in a private dining room or museum space.
For big weddings, we'd usually suggest a magician during the drinks reception and then a short visit to each table between courses. For smaller ones, a single set during drinks is often enough to get everyone talking.
If you're getting married in the city and travelling to a reception elsewhere, let us know. We'll plan the magician's arrival so they're ready to go as soon as your guests walk through the door.
