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 as well as a highly commended in for Best UK Venue in micebook. Awards, and Gold for Best Venue and Silver for Most Versatile Venue in this year's Conference and Venue 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.
Managing Director
Charlotte Smart
Rising from account manager to Director of Sales in just six years and now Tobacco Dock's Managing 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.
Director of Venue Operations
Chris Floyd
We wish we knew where Iron Man Chris gets his energy! Acting as a linchpin between the venue and many of our key external stakeholders, he works hard to ensure we optimise the potential of the building while respecting and honouring its Grade 1 listed heritage.
Sales and Marketing
Our Sales and Marketing teams work together to build relationships with our clients and deliver exceptional event experiences. The Marketing Team showcase our spaces and successes, driving enquiries and keeping Tobacco Dock front of mind, while our Sales Team guide each client through 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.
Account Manager
Hannah Bradshaw
Life of the party Hannah is in charge of the bookings at the Dock Gallery, our self-contained conference and events space. She specialises in building fantastic relationships with clients and an expert in gathering all the necessary elements for an extraordinary event.
Account Manager
Sophie Dreher
Sophie began her career organising events in hotels, specialising in conferences, meetings and weddings. She found her niche in event sales, pitching venues and developing relationships with clients. She’s inspired by the endless opportunities Tobacco Dock can offer and loves to get her teeth into a challenge!
Head of Brand
Daniel Smith
With 20+ years’ experience, Daniel has specialised in both commercial and operational roles across the events, hospitality and travel industries. Daniel has a strong ethic for delivering an impeccable experience, and is well versed in uniting all stakeholders to make this a reality.
Senior Account Manager
Lucy Turner
From organising clay pigeon shoots to weddings and everything in between, Lucy’s event background has left her ready for whatever you throw at her. A master at nurturing strong working relationships with our clients she’s on hand to take your event from great to extraordinary!
Events Team
Our Event Operations and Facilities teams work hand in hand to bring your event to life. While Event Operations guide you through planning, health and safety and supplier coordination, Facilities ensure our Grade I listed building is beautifully maintained and ready to host exceptional experiences.
Maintenance Operative
Eric Umoh
Our Georgian building is in safe hands with Eric! A skilled and adept steward for the fabric of our historic venue, Eric tackles everything that is thrown his way, from general venue upkeep to prompt unforeseen repairs during events.
Senior 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.
Workspaces
Not only do the Workspaces team take care of our tenants and meeting rooms, they're also the first faces you'll see when you come to Tobacco Dock and help our team stay organised.
Guest Services Executive
Emma Brown
With a strong background in customer service experience and a degree in interior architecture, Emma combines her passion for our Grade I listed building with a talent for client care. She supports our team and tenants daily, recently expanding her role into sales administration to build on her growing experience.
Guest Services Executive
Genevieve Greenall
Genevieve’s smile is one of the first things you’ll see when you arrive at Tobacco Dock. Joining us straight from university, she was eager to immerse herself in the world of events and client experience, and she’s done just that. Over the past two years, she has played a key role in helping our Guest Services team develop within the business.
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 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.