Functioning very well

Hoteliers and event caterers can reach a potentially lucrative source of function business on www.partyvenues.co.uk, which officially goes live this month.

The site provides a nationwide directory for people - business and private - organising parties, social events and other functions, helping them to narrow down their search by area, type of event, location needs, late licences, and so on.

"We want people to be able to organise the event by sitting in front of their computer for half-an-hour rather than spending three weeks getting brochures and comparing notes," comments Jim Cressford of Party Venues.

"We see arranging a party as a process: you start with the venue, sort out important things like the food and the entertainment, and end up with more specialist items like ice sculptures. We aim to let people do everything at once," he adds. Venues and caterers interested in appearing on the site are not charged, although in the longer term, some kind of commission will probably be introduced.

Party Venues