Our company

Founded in 2005, First Option Venues Ltd manages an exclusive range of unique and exclusive venues/showrooms in Central London which are dry hired by clients for a wide range of events and Pop-Ups.

FOV provides consultancy to property landlords in London, the UK and globally who are looking to utilise their space or property asset(s) as a means of leveraging revenue from event activity.

FOV are able to provide a tailored Venue Search function for existing and prospective clients with specific Venue requirements.

FOV can also provide our clients with creative consultancy and strategic production expertise in terms of event conception and production.

Why should you work with First Option Venues

First Option Venues have over 15 years’ experience of managing a wide range of award winning and exclusive dry hire event spaces for a variety of Landlords.

We have incomparable experience in providing or procuring a diverse selection of superb dry hire venues for our existing and prospective clients.

We take great care to invest this professional experience to deliver the requisite support and certainty both our clients and Landlords value so much.

We are passionate about the service we provide and believe building a good customer or supplier experience does not happen by accident. It happens by design.

We would welcome the opportunity to discuss working with you and invite you to get in touch to discuss your next event project or consider your venue for hire.

Events

The company provides venues and event space for:

Product Launches

Pop-Ups

Experiential Events

Brand Activations

B2B

B2C

Sample Sales

Seminars

Exhibitions

Filming

Our mission

The goal of First Option Venues is to provide customer service that is not just the best in our industry but legendary.

Meet the founder of First Option Venues


Dickon Galloway - Founder of Award Winning Venue Management & Dry Hire Venue Sourcing Agency, First Option Venues

I established First Options Venues in 2005. Based in the heart of Central London, we now produce over 200 corporate and private events around the world every year. The company has exclusive tenureship of various central London blank canvas dry hire spaces.

We are also able to source and procure specific bespoke venue options for prospective and existing clients from our extensive range of Landlord contacts in multiple locations.

Our spaces are sought and hired by our clients for a range of event types including Press Shows; Product Launches; Experiential Events; Brand Activations; B2B; B2C Events; Sample Sales; Seminars; Exhibitions and Filming.

Entrepreneurial by nature and a proud Yorkshireman, Dickon was educated at Ampleforth College and graduated with a BSc Hons degree in International Events Management from The University of Surrey.

Dickon is acknowledged as a leading expert in venue provision and management as geared to the production of brand-related events. He has worked with and for a broad-spectrum of blue-chip brands, agencies, start-ups and property Landlords.

Outside of the business Dickon is a published poet and has a passion for Indie music, photography, paddle boarding, mountain biking, skiing and the outdoors. He is an avid collector of original album artwork and sites the iconic designer Peter Saville of Factory Records fame as one of his main creative inspirations.

Dickon Galloway, Founder and Managing Director


Testimonials

  • Bemma Ntim-Donkoh - Events Manager EMEA
    Dickon and his team at First Option Venues were simply awesome in their facilitation of our latest Walt Disney experiential showcase at the Oui2 Rooms in Central London. He provided invaluable event production insight and great support to me and my colleagues in the run up to and during our event. We have worked with First Option Venues several times on a range of events at what are always well managed venue spaces.
    Bemma Ntim-Donkoh - Events Manager EMEA
    The Walt Disney Company
  • Hannah Brudenell - Account Director
    Working with Dickon and his team is an absolute pleasure and he will always be my first point of call when organising an event. His professionalism and industry knowledge is of the highest standard and he consistently goes out of his way to ensure everything runs seamlessly and delivers above and beyond what is expected. I have done many events with Dickon and First Option Venues at a number of his fantastic venues and always feel in safe hands with no doubt that the event will be a success and my clients will be happy. Dickon and his team are in a league of their own and make event planning an absolute joy, I would recommend him time and time again.
    Hannah Brudenell - Account Director
    Popcorn PR
  • Rosie Johnson - PR & Events Manager
    Dickon’s and his team at First Option Venues incredibly collaborative approach to ensuring your event is the best it can possibly be is what makes him and his team an absolute joy to work with. His industry expertise and knowledge are a great asset and nothing is too much trouble – he always has access to an impressive range of venues for our events and provides a qualified solution for every problem! I wouldn't hesitate in recommending him or his business to anyone who wants a very safe and experienced pair of hands. The Joules team always look forward to working with him and his colleagues at First Option Venues.
    Rosie Johnson - PR & Events Manager
    Joules
  • Peter Robinson - Head of Press & Events
    It was a pleasure to work with Dickon and his team at First Option Venues. His excellent provision of fabulous dry hire space options, knowledge regarding the expectations of a press event and all the crucial details that matter helped to progress everything at pace and finesse.. Nothing was too much trouble, whether helping to secure parking for Directors, advice on power ratios for A/V configurations or suggestions for other trusted suppliers with specific expertise we required. First Option Venues Ltd know what they are doing and always deliver for The White Company. I rate them as supplier very highly.
    Peter Robinson - Head of Press & Events
    The White Company
  • Frances Card - Fashion and Business Consultant
    Dickon is a composite professional who always delivers over and above any brief. His selection of event spaces are always the best and his expertise in relating to and providing solutions for our clients’ needs on their press shows, product launches, experiential events and sample sales is second to none. I have no hesitation in recommending him or his team at First Option Venues to both potential clients or prospective Landlords alike.
    Frances Card - Fashion and Business Consultant
  • Rebecca Coe - Account Director
    I have worked with Dickon and his team at First Option Venues many times over the years and across various events. You could not ask for anything more from a supplier. Their range of  spaces are stunning, clean and versatile and his team are always attentive to their client’s needs, actively willing to go above and beyond the call of duty to help make every event a success. Extremely accommodating and always a pleasure to work with.
    Rebecca Coe - Account Director
    Lee Publicity
  • Victoria Lock - Senior Director
    It is easy to recommend Dickon, I have worked with him for years over various different events from corporate days to brand activations, experiential events and Pop-Ups. He has always impressed me, my colleagues and the attendees with his attention to detail and active customer care.  Always the professional and an absolute pleasure to work with. I wouldn't think of organising or producing an event without him or his team at First Option Venues.
    Victoria Lock - Senior Director
    Viacom Inc
  • Rachel Bishop - Owner
    Dickon Galloway is without doubt the press event & product launch expert. His authoritative experience in venues make him and his company the number one destination when planning a PR Event. Dickon's venues are always carefully considered and offer the very best in terms of space, destination and layout. He and his team always deliver an exceptional service and nothing is ever an issue. Fluorescent PR have worked with First Option Venues for many years and always will. 
    Rachel Bishop - Owner
    Fluorescent PR
  • Jo Delbridge - Director of Public Relations
    A true pro – Dickon and his colleagues at First Option Venues take the stress out of venue provision and event management and always have a refreshingly positive 'can do' attitude... nothing is too much trouble. They are always prepared to go the extra mile and provide us with professional expertise and certainty. Always a pleasure to work with.
    Jo Delbridge - Director of Public Relations
    Specsavers
  • Jo Beamish - Global PR Manager
    I have worked with Dickon over the last ten years on a number of high profile events. He is without a doubt one of the most professional and helpful people in the industry. He and his fabulous team are true professionals and are always on hand to help and make useful recommendations. His client investment input and knowledge of the industry is unparalleled. I can't thank Dickon and his team at First Option Venues enough for everything. 
    Jo Beamish - Global PR Manager
    Walgreens Boots Alliance
  • Malcolm Cohen – Director of Leasing and Marketing
    As a property management and advisory consultancy to The Langham Estate, a 13.8 acre holding in the heart of Central London, we have worked closely in collaboration with First Option Venues Ltd for over 12 years. They have provided a highly dependable interim space management service for a number of our property assets and a valuable additional source of income derived from their provision of  temporary event and pop-up activity. They have proved themselves professional in all areas of their modus operandi. As operators and masters of their business model I would recommend them without reservation to any prospective private or commercial landlords.
    Malcolm Cohen – Director of Leasing and Marketing
    Langham Estate Management
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