Following our success with Best Parties Ever, we were approached by Levy Restaurants, the in-house catering partner at IWM Duxford, to deliver a similar concept of both exclusive and shared corporate Christmas parties—this time within the unique setting of an aircraft hangar on the airfield. After initial consultations and budget planning, we were given creative freedom to design and deliver a truly standout experience, which we successfully achieved over a number of years from 2016 to 2021.
Unlike traditional venues, no additional scenic set build was required, as the surrounding environment—historic aircraft, aviation exhibits, and the museum itself—provided a powerful and immersive backdrop. Guests began their experience walking through the museum, surrounded by iconic planes and artefacts, before entering the main hangar space, which accommodated up to 1,000 attendees. The scale of the hangar presented both an opportunity and a challenge, with its vast footprint and extremely high ceilings requiring careful design to create a warm, engaging, and atmospheric environment.
Drawing on our experience with large-scale events, we introduced a bold central feature to anchor the space: a 12m x 12m raised dance floor positioned near the hangar doors, finished with a striking chequerboard surface. Above this, we installed one of our custom 10.5m diameter Milos bandstand structures (without its canopy), providing a versatile rigging point for lighting, sound, and special effects. A raised performer and DJ platform was positioned behind, serving as the control hub for the evening’s entertainment.
To further transform the space, we installed over 250 metres of 4m-high black pleated drape around the perimeter of the hangar. This not only softened the vast, industrial feel of the environment and improved acoustics, but also discreetly concealed catering operations within the space. Over the six-year period, the concept evolved with new structural elements and design variations, continually enhancing the guest experience while maintaining a consistent, high-impact production standard.
Equipment supplied in detail over the years
- Milos MR1T self-climbing, 10m x 8m arc roof structure
- Milos MR1 Bandstand 10.5m diameter structure
- Milos MR0 6m x 4m Sloping roof structures
- 90 x Stage deck using LiteDeck, handrails and accessories
- POD Access ramp using LiteDeck, handrails and accessories
- 2 x DMT P5.9, 6.5m x 4m video walls and all processing and control
- 2 x Milos LSG0 6m x 4m Screen Gates
- 20 Milos 4m towers on base plates
- 8 x HK Audio Contour CT112 flown dance floor speakers
- 12 x HK Audio Contour CT108 flown background speakers
- 4 x HK Audio CT118 subs
- 2 x HK Audio CT112 Monitors
- 4 x Lab Gruppen FP10000 amplifiers
- 2 x Pioneer CDJ2000NXS
- 1 x Pioneer DJM900NXS
- 1 x Avolites Tiger Touch
- 80 x Showtec Indigo 5500 Spots moving heads
- 24 x Showtec Expression 33000 Zoom Washe moving heads
- 24 x Showtec Pixel Track Pro Battens
- 2 x Antari Smoke Machines
- 2 x Antari Hazers
- 24 x 50cm Mirror balls, rotators and 8 led pin spots
- 1000metres of festoon
- Hundreds of KG of Ballast
- Power distribution
- 12m x 12m black and white Portable Floor maker and Grumpy Joes, chequerboard dance floor
- Event furniture
- Technical and structural build and de rig crew
- DJ’s and light technicians for the shows
- Daily checks and on-site management staff for all flown equipment