Architecture As Stunning As Your Content
Clients choose Tobacco Dock because its architecture is a catalyst for creativity. Whether a software user conference, a global product launch, a fashion show or an immersive consumer festival, brands and their agencies love the contrast between our flexible heritage building and cutting-edge experiential design and content.
Combine this with an award-winning team, entirely focused on the success of your event, and you have an unbeatable combination.
Award Winning
Tobacco Dock delivers an exceptional customer experience that inspires the world’s leading brands and organisations and their agencies to create their most compelling, memorable and effective events. The venue offers the convenience of flexible, high specification spaces within a historically rich atmosphere.
In recognition of the quality of our service we have been honoured with a trophy cabinet full of awards over the last few years including Gold for Best Summer Party Venue, Silver for Best Customer Service at a Venue and Bronze for Best Catering at a Venue in the 2021 London Venue Awards and 3 Golds in the 2022 Eventex Awards for Best Venue, Most Versatile Venue and Best Outdoor Venue for our rooftop bar, Skylight. Most recently, we've scooped the Gold for Best Events Venue in the 2023 Micebook Awards, Gold for Best Large Scale Events Venue and Silver for Best Conference Venue (+500 Theatre Style) in the 2023 Conference and Venue Awards. We brought home 2 Bronze awards for Best Large Scale Venue and Best Venue Team and Gold for Best Venue with a View in the 2023 London Venue and Catering Awards.
Keep your eyes peeled as we add to the trophy cabinet!
A selection of recent awards
Meet the Team
When you hold an event here, not only do you enjoy the use of world-leading events facilities and spaces, but you are also looked after by one of the most talented teams in the industry. We’d like to invite you to Meet the Team!
Leadership Team
Our leadership team supports everyone at Tobacco Dock to deliver an outstanding experience for our clients, to nurture relationships with our partners and suppliers and to deliver our vision of being the destination of choice for creative events in the UK.
Commercial Director
Charlotte Smart
Rising from account manager to Director of Sales in just six years and now Tobacco Dock's Commercial Director, Charlotte isn’t just an inspirational leader, she’s our Queen of Data – analysing trends to ensure we’re exploiting every opportunity to host creative events and experiences.
Event Sales
Your first point of contact when you enquire about an event at Tobacco Dock. Our sales team will advise you on all aspects of your event – optimal guest flow, the spaces that best accommodate your requirements and how our supplier partners can make your creative vision a reality. A fully consultative process up to handover to the Event Operations Team.
Account Manager
Shona Blanford
Native South-East Londoner Shona grew up walking past Tobacco Dock and has always had the venue in her career sights! Her 7 years' experience of working in leading venues in London, passion for foodie events and her interest in transforming historic spaces make her an exciting addition to the Tobacco Dock sales team.
Senior Account Manager
Kathleen Wilkinson
Super creative Kathleen comes to us with a wealth of experience in working with global brands across the fashion, beauty and F&B industries. Specialising in PR / marketing launches and celebrity talent deals in her previous role, her passion is for live events and creating a great experience for attendees and clients alike.
Event Operations
Once your event is contracted, the Event Operations Team guide you through the process of delivering a successful event from health and safety advice to supplier selection and make the entire planning process as seamless as possible.
Senior Event Operations Manager
Alice Botham
Backgrounds don’t come more wide-ranging than Alice’s, with form in everything from museum and gallery curation to live music events and premises licensing. As a previous hirer of the venue, she’s here to support clients through the process of breathing life into their ideas.
Event Operations Manager
Kirsty West
After a degree in Events at Leeds, Kirsty made her start in the industry working agency-side on everything from corporate music events to awards dinners to speedboating championships. Her experience means she has a deep understanding of our clients’ needs and how we can make things work for them.
Venue Operations
Keeping both our 200 year old, Grade 1 listed building and cutting-edge tech infrastructure in world-class order is no mean feat and our Venue Operations Team focus on ensuring our facilities are maintained in tip-top condition and also lead on our capital and sustainability investment.
History
From luxury imports to tech launches, Tobacco Dock has been at the centre of hosting all manner of commodities for over two centuries. The listed timbers and curved brick vaults have witnessed trade deals, a tiger attack, sleep deprivation challenges and Victorian tasting days not to mention world-class conferences, consumer shows and product launches.
Built in 1812 as a hub for precious cargo arriving from the New World, such as wine and, of course, tobacco, Tobacco Dock originally spanned 70 acres. Now occupying just two-fifths of the original site, this Grade 1 listed building still offers a generous 57 spaces over 16,000 sqm.
Over the years Tobacco Dock has had many different identities, from storage facility to shopping centre. Since its relaunch in 2012, Tobacco Dock has developed a reputation as being the destination venue in London. Let's see what the next two centuries bring!
How to find tobacco dock
Tobacco Dock is located in the heart of East London’s thriving enterprise zone, within striking distance of Central London and straightforward to reach by public transport, lying between Wapping (Overground) and Shadwell (Overground and DLR) stations, as well as plenty of nearby bus stops (routes 100 and D3).
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Shadwell Station
5 mins
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canary wharf dlr
15 mins
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shoreditch overground
2 stops
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wapping rail Station
6 mins
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bank dlr
1 stop
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tower hill station
15 mins
Our Grand Entrance
"Regardless of your department, Tobacco Dock offers the opportunity to partake in a huge variety of projects whilst working with world leading brands on innovative and industry leading events. Tobacco Dock has provided me with the tools and support to succeed and significantly progress my career and in turn I am now delighted to be able to offer the same to our rapidly growing team. All employees benefit from mentorship, regular appraisals and development opportunities with a focus on encouraging growth and celebrating achievements."
Join our team
Be a part of something extraordinary!
At Tobacco Dock we are proud to have a team as unique as our spaces, who strive to deliver an exceptional customer experience that inspires the world’s leading brands and organisations to create their most compelling, memorable events.
Latest news
Here at Tobacco Dock we've a wealth of experience and know-how when it comes to events, so we'd love to share some of our thoughts and tips with you.