Past Research Network events
Connecting Experienced Researchers

Events History

Since its inception at an informal lunch in the old Research International offices in late 2002, the Network has held Spring and Autumn Lunches each year and Christmas Party (incorporating the AGM). A Summer Party was introduced in 2005.

The Spring and Autumn Lunches are held at a variety of different venues. The Summer Party was initially held at the Auriol Kensington Rowing Club in Hammersmith, and since 2010, at Doggett’s Coat and Badge in Blackfriars. To date, the Christmas Drinks and AGM have been held by kind permission of TNS/Kantar, Verian and Ipsos at their offices. 

Pictures of recent and past Research Network social events can be found in the Gallery section. The Photo Archive page contains a selection of pictures of each year's events, from our first Spring Lunch in 2003, to the present day.

In 2020 and the first half of 2021, our face-to-face events unfortunately had to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In response, we instigated a series of early-evening virtual 'Network Evening Drinks Talks' (NED Talks) on Zoom, with a speaker talking about a topic of general interest, followed by discussion. 

Our face-to-face events resumed in October 2021, with our Autumn Lunch, and our virtual NED Talks have continued on an occasional basis. 

As the NED Talks are virtual events, pictures are not included in the gallery or the photo archive, but an illustration and report on all of the talks can be found in the News sections of this website.

 

A full history of events is as follows:

2023:

Spring Lunch: Tuesday 25th April, Brigade Bar + Kitchen
Summer Party: Tuesday 4th July, Doggett's Coat and Badge
Autumn Lunch: Tuesday 17th October, Brasserie Blanc, Southbank
Ned Talk 16: Wednesday 15th November at 17:30. Chris Martin. 'Rowing the Atlantic and Pacific oceans'.
Christmas Party & AGM: Tuesday 5th December, Verian (Formerly Kantar Public)

2022:

NED Talk 13: Wednesday 23rd February at 17:30. Neil McPhee: 'From the studio to your bedroom'.
NED Talk 14: Wednesday 6th April at 17:30. Professor Patrick Barwise, in conversation with Sheila Byfield: 'The War Against the BBC'.
Spring Lunch: Tuesday 26th April, Ev Restaurant
Summer Party: Tuesday 5th July
NED Talk 15: Wednesday 21st September at 17:30. Graham Mytton: 'From Saucepan to Dish to Smartphones: 53 Years of Media Research'
Autumn Lunch: Tuesday 11th October, The Royal Airforce Club (20th Anniversary of the Network)
Christmas Party & AGM 2022: Tuesday 6th December. Ipsos UK

2021:

NED Talk 6: Tuesday 19th January, at 17:30. Neil Mc Phee: 'Musicology as a Socio-Cultural Journey... A Personal Timeline'.
NED Talk 7: Wednesday 17 February at 17:30. Phil Barnard: ‘A village on Exmoor’.
NED Talk 8: Wednesday 24th March, at 17:30. Sheila Byfield: ‘The dark and the lighter sides of advertising’.
NED Talk 9: Wednesday 21st April 2021 at 17:30. Graham Woodham: ‘NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION – The Subtleties of Social Interactions’
NED Talk 10: Wednesday 19 May at 17:30. Simon Chadwick: Through the looking glass darkly. What the hell is wrong with America?'
NED Talk 11: Wednesday 22nd September at 17:30. Ruth McNeil: 'William Heath Robinson, the man, his art and museum'.
Autumn Lunch: 14th October, The Savile Club
NED Talk 12: Wednesday 10th November at 17:30. Danny Wain: ‘Shouting in the Evenings’
Christmas Party/AGM:  7th December, Kantar Profiles, Millbank

 

2020:

NED Talk 1: 17 June, Nigel Spackman: ‘Climbing the Munros’.
NED Talk 2: 15 July, Jackie Dickens‘Life is too short to drink bad wine - 10 tips on how to get good wine’.
NED Talk 3: 19 August, Nick Tanner: ‘What happens to Jamie Oliver in translation?’
NED Talk 4: 14th October, Jane Bain: 'The Owls’ Story – a glimpse into the life of a family of tawnies'.
NED Talk 5: 11th November, Penny Mesure: ‘From 'La Triviata' to Shakespeare and Sullivan ... ‘

2019:

Spring Evening Meeting: 6th March, IPA
Spring Lunch: 30th April, Brigade Bar + Kitchen
Summer Party: 2nd July, Doggetts Coat and Badge
Autumn Lunch: 17th October, Brasserie Blanc, Southbank
Christmas Party/AGM: 4th December, Kantar Profiles, Millbank

2018:

Spring Evening Meeting: 19th March, IPA
Spring Lunch: 17th April, Ev Restaurant
Summer Party: 4th July, Doggetts Coat and Badge
Autumn Lunch: 17th October, Azzurro, Waterloo
Christmas Party/AGM: 4th December, Kantar TNS

2017:

Spring Lunch: 26th April, Thai Silk
Summer Party: 5th July, Doggetts Coat and Badge
Autumn Lunch: 19th October, The Royal Air Force Club (15th Anniversary of the Network)
Christmas Party/AGM: 6th December, TNS

2016:

Spring Lunch:  12th April, Smiths Bar and Grill
Summer Party:  6th July, Doggetts Coat and Badge
Autumn Lunch:  18th October, Azzurro, Waterloo
Christmas Party/AGM: 6th December, TNS

2015:

Spring Lunch:  14th April, Ev Restaurant
Summer Party:  1st July, Doggett's Coat and Badge
Autumn Lunch:  20th October, Jamies London Bridge
Christmas Party/AGM:  8th December, TNS-RI

2014:

Spring Lunch:  29th April, Azzurro Restaurant Waterloo
Summer Party:  10th July, Doggett's Coat and Badge
Autumn Lunch:  15th October, The Union Jack Club (John Downham's 90th birthday)
Christmas Party/AGM:  4th December, TNS-RI

2013:

Spring Lunch:  23rd April, Thai Silk
Summer Party:  9th July, Doggett's Coat and Badge
Autumn Lunch:   22nd October, Jamies London Bridge
Christmas Party/AGM:  3rd December, TNS-RI

2012:

Spring Lunch:  19th April, Ev Restaurant 
Summer Party:  3rd July, Doggett's Coat and Badge
Autumn Lunch: 23rd October, The Savile Club (10th anniversary of the Network)
Christmas Party/AGM:  4th December, TNS-RI

2011:

Spring Lunch:  12th April, Tuli Restaurant
Summer Party:  7th July, Auriol Kensington Rowing Club
Autumn Lunch:  20th October, Chez Gerard Southbank
Christmas Party/AGM:  7th December, TNS-RI

2010:

Spring Lunch:  22nd April, Borough Bar
Summer Party:  7th July, Auriol Kensington Rowing Club
Autumn Lunch:  14th October, Tas Restaurant, Borough High St.
Christmas Party/AGM:  9th December, TNS-RI

2009:

Spring Lunch:  21st April, Georgetown Restaurant
Summer Party:  9th July, Auriol Kensington Rowing Club
Autumn Lunch:  29th October, Balls Bros. Minster Pavement
Christmas Party/AGM:  8th December, TNS-RI

2008:

Spring Lunch:  17th April, Georgetown Restaurant
Summer Party:  10th July, Auriol Kensington Rowing Club
Autumn Lunch:  7th October, The Union Jack Club
Christmas Party/AGM:  9th December, TNS-RI

2007:

Spring Lunch:  26th April, Hop Cellars Wine Bar and Restaurant
Summer Party:  11th July, Auriol Kensington Rowing Club
Autumn Lunch:  1st November, House of Lords (5th anniversary of the Network)
Christmas Party/AGM:  3rd December, TNS-RI

2006:

Spring Lunch:  25th April, TMS Queen Mary (the late Harry Henry’s 90th birthday)
Summer Party:  6th July, Auriol Kensington Rowing Club
Autumn Lunch:  18th October, Singapura Restaurant
Christmas Party/AGM: 5th December, TNS-RI

2005:

Spring Lunch:  13th April, Bankside Restaurant
Summer Party:  26th July, Auriol Kensington Rowing Club
Autumn Lunch:  21st October, Chartered Accountants Hall
Christmas Party/AGM:  6th December, RI

2004:

Spring Lunch:  22nd April, Singapura Restaurant
Autumn Lunch:  21st October, The House of Lords
Christmas Party/AGM:  30th November, RI

2003:

Spring Lunch:  10th April, The Reform Club
Autumn Lunch:  16th October, The Carlton Club
Christmas Party/AGM:  2nd December, RI