The Queens Hotel in Leeds always feels like an occasion — and this one absolutely was. A large charity gala supporting St Gemma’s Hospice, around 350 guests, black-tie energy, and a room full of people there for a brilliant cause.
Events like this are slightly different from weddings. The atmosphere is polished, people arrive looking their best, and everything feels a little more “red carpet” than dancefloor chaos — at least at the start.
That’s exactly why the Magic Mirror works so well here. It gives guests something interactive without interrupting the flow of the evening.
Mirror Placement – Creating a Red Carpet Moment
We positioned the mirror just outside the main ballroom. Honestly, this is the perfect spot at The Queens.
Why this works
- Guests naturally pass it entering and leaving the room
- Cleaner lighting than inside the ballroom
- Creates a genuine red-carpet arrival feel
- No disruption to speeches or fundraising moments
The result? Guests arrived looking dapper, took photos, then immediately relaxed into the night.
The Atmosphere – Smart, Stylish, and Full of Laughs
Even at charity events — where fundraising rightly comes first — people still want to enjoy themselves. And once the photos started, the serious poses quickly turned into laughter.
That’s always our favourite moment: the switch from “formal gala” to “right… let’s have some fun.”
You could tell everyone genuinely wanted to support the cause while still making memories together.
Lighting & Photography
Ballrooms can be tricky lighting environments, but placing the mirror outside the main room gave us clean, balanced light — perfect for crisp DSLR photos and instant prints guests actually keep.
Guests arriving for a fantastic charity evening at The Queens Hotel Leeds.
Photo:Yorkshire Magic Mirror
The ballroom looked incredible — classic Leeds elegance.
Photo:Yorkshire Magic Mirror
Red carpet placement gave guests that celebrity arrival moment.
Photo:Yorkshire Magic Mirror
What worked especially well
Clean Lighting
Bright and flattering away from the stage lighting.
Natural Guest Flow
Guests stopped naturally without needing announcements.
Red Carpet Feel
Exactly the vibe a gala evening needs.
A Proper Hosted Setup
Even at large events, we fully host the mirror so organisers don’t need to worry about anything.
- Complete setup & pack down
- Guest interaction
- Queue management
- Instant print handling
- Keeping energy consistent all evening
Live entertainment added real energy to the evening.
Photo:Yorkshire Magic Mirror
Guests loved the red-carpet style mirror experience.
Photo:Yorkshire Magic Mirror
A relaxed but stylish atmosphere throughout the night.
Photo:Yorkshire Magic Mirror
Planning an Event at The Queens Hotel Leeds?
- Place entertainment just outside the ballroom for best results
- Use the mirror as an arrival experience
- Keep pathways clear for large guest numbers
- Allow extra time for loading — access can be challenging
Honest take? The venue looks fantastic and delivers great events — but access and parking can be a challenge during load-in. Once inside though, everything runs smoothly.
The night itself felt steady, relaxed and genuinely enjoyable — a room full of well-dressed guests supporting an amazing cause while still finding time to laugh together.
Tell us your venue + date and we’ll come straight back to you.
