If you’re looking for a magician for your wedding or Christmas party at Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings in Clerkenwell, London, I’m Richard Symes, a close-up magician who has been performing at events at the venue since 2022.
I’ve been booked repeatedly for Christmas parties and entertained guests at a wedding after being recommended by the venue manager, with whom I’ve built a longstanding professional relationship.
That relationship has led to repeat bookings, personal recommendations and wedding enquiries.
My approach is simple: create moments that get people talking, laughing and sharing an experience, without taking over the event. Whether I’m performing during a wedding drinks reception or entertaining colleagues at a Christmas party, the aim is to help people relax, interact and enjoy being there.
Wedding magician at Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings
Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings is a distinctive London wedding venue, with its townhouse character, plant-filled interiors, bar areas and different spaces for guests to eat, drink and socialise.
It’s also a venue where the atmosphere can change throughout the day. Guests might begin with drinks and conversation before moving into a meal, followed by dancing and the evening celebrations.
Close-up magic can fit naturally into these different stages without requiring a stage, microphone or a break in the proceedings.
When is the best time to have a magician at your wedding?
In my experience, the drinks reception is one of the best times for close-up magic.
It’s particularly useful when two families or friendship groups are meeting for the first time. A shared experience to laugh about and talk about, making it easier for conversations to start naturally.
Magic can also work well during a room turnaround, when guests are waiting for the next part of the day to begin. Depending on your timings, guest numbers and plans, I can also perform during the wedding breakfast or evening reception.
The important thing is to fit the entertainment around your plans, rather than force your plans around the entertainment.
A bride's experience of my wedding magic
One of the weddings at Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings came about through the recommendation of the senior manager I’ve worked with over several years.
I performed during the reception drinks, entertaining guests as they mingled. It was a particularly responsive crowd, and the magic became a talking point throughout the reception.
Afterwards, the bride, Louise, shared this review:’
Richard was absolutely incredible at our wedding, we could not recommend him more highly! His magic completely blew everyone away, and our guests were still talking about the tricks long after the day.
He created such a fun, brilliant atmosphere and was a real highlight of the wedding. Jack and I loved having him there, and he helped make our day even more special and memorable.
We’re still trying to work out how he did some of the tricks! If you’re looking for an amazing magician for an event, Richard is definitely the one to book.
Christmas party magician at Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings
Christmas parties are another event I’ve returned to Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings for repeatedly.
I’ve performed at lively festive events with around 200 guests, working across the venue and adapting to the schedule. The atmosphere is sociable and energetic, with colleagues catching up, enjoying drinks and celebrating together outside their usual working environment.
Close-up magic is particularly well suited to this kind of event because it doesn’t require everyone to stop what they’re doing and watch a performance at the same time.
Instead, I move between groups, creating smaller moments of surprise and laughter throughout the evening.