Me and my husband decided to look at The Backstage Event Center for our wedding ceremony and reception because our first date was downstairs at Nicholson's Fine Food & Whisk(e)y. We thought it would be fun to go full circle and get married on the same premises where we had that 1st date! We are so glad that we picked The Backstage Event Center for our wedding ceremony and reception. All of our guests raved about how beautiful the space was, how wonderful the staff were, and how delicious the appetizers and the meal were! We worked with Elenya to coordinate everything and she made it so easy. She answered all 10,000 of our questions, made wonderful suggestions, and made sure that we had a fantastic event! Every aspect of our wedding day was perfect. The venue was beautiful. The bartenders were super friendly and were willing to go above and beyond to make sure our guests had a great time. The kitchen staff outdid themselves with great appetizers and a wonderfully delicious meal. All of the staff worked very hard to make sure our day was perfect! We can't thank The Backstage Event Center and it's staff enough for such a wonderful evening!!! Highly recommended for your next event!!!!! - 11/10/2024 

I booked Backstage for my rehearsal dinner. Between the fantastic communication (you’re amazing Elenya!), beautiful space, and fantastic food and service I wish I had hosted my whole wedding here! Everything was so perfect and Elenya made my life easy from start to finish. I don’t have the words to describe how easy and amazing it was to host an event with Backstage and I couldn’t recommend them more. So grateful!!! - 11/03/2024 

We had a great experience having our wedding at The Backstage Event Center. It’s a great location in the heart of downtown Cincy with a cozy romantic vibe. Communication was good from our day of coordinator and everything day of went incredibly smoothly. We were impressed by their wait staff. At the end of the night, they even packed up all of our stuff for us which made it so smooth the next day to pick it up. I wouldn’t have changed anything about our experience at Backstage. - 10/15/2024 

The Backstage Event Center was an absolute dream to work with for our wedding. From our very first interaction, the staff was friendly, helpful, and responsive, making the planning process stress-free. Prior to the wedding they worked with us to plan the order of events and helped us plan our vision for decorations. On the day of, they executed our vision flawlessly and made the set up and rehearsal process so easy. Elenya and her team even improvised when we lost the cord to our neon name sign before drop off and they searched everywhere until they found a backup. The Backstage's combination of stunning exposed brick, warm lighting, and flexible layout allowed us to create the perfect ambiance for our special day. The celebration was perfect from start to finish and everyone was on the floor dancing all night. The entire time the event team was there to help, and they even boxed all of our decorations up for an easy pick up the next day. We couldn't have asked for a better venue or team to bring our wedding dreams to life. - 10/02/2024 

The Backstage Event Center was an absolute dream to work with for our wedding. From our very first interaction, the staff was friendly, helpful, and responsive, making the planning process stress-free. Prior to the wedding they worked with us to plan the order of events and helped us plan our vision for decorations. On the day of, they executed our vision flawlessly and made the set up and rehearsal process so easy. Elenya and her team even improvised when we lost the cord to our neon name sign before drop off and they searched everywhere until they found a backup. The Backstage's combination of stunning exposed brick, warm lighting, and flexible layout allowed us to create the perfect ambiance for our special day. The celebration was perfect from start to finish and everyone was on the floor dancing all night. The entire time the event team was there to help, and they even boxed all of our decorations up for an easy pick up the next day. We couldn't have asked for a better venue or team to bring our wedding dreams to life. - 10/01/2024 

What a fantastic venue! We are so happy we chose them for our wedding. The coordinator Elenya was very friendly, honest, and easy to communicate with and the food was great. Everything was great and happened without a hitch! - 9/22/2024 

Amazing experience from the Backstage Event Center. Elenya accommodated us like we were her family and she wanted it to be perfect. We were from out of town and they helped us in every way possible. Beginning with the food selection, cocktails, music, flowers, floor plan. Everything was on time, the food was delicious and presented beautifully. Cleanup was a breeze. They even helped us with our personal belongings after the event. The dessert literally flew off of the dessert table. It was incredible. I wished we lived closer to enjoy it all the time. - 7/31/2024 

It is a delight to work with professional staff who care about our annual events. - 6/28/2024 

Firstly, Elenya exceptional in accommodating all our needs. The food, the decor, the ambiance and staff could not have been nicer! Our sincere thanks for all your hard work! Many thanks for making our signature fundraising event, Hats Galore, a success.... - 5/30/2024 

Everyone at Backstage Event Center was amazing from planning our event to the conclusion of our rehearsal dinner. Food and staff are wonderful! - 5/30/2024 

Wedding Rehearsal Dinner/Nicholson’s Nicholson’s is a great place for a rehearsal dinner. The atmosphere, the food, the service - all top notch! Elenya, the event planner was so flexible and helpful. I, the mother of the groom, wasn’t worried about anything!!! The whole event went exactly as we had hoped. We don’t live near Cincinnati - not as easy to coordinate decor, etc. Elenya helped us with flower arrangement suggestions and made it so easy for those to be delivered and set on the tables. Sooo glad we chose Nicholsons. I highly recommend them! - 4/16/2024 

Elenya was fantastic to work with! They made the whole process so easy and fun. The room was set up beautifully and everyone loved the food! - 2/23/2024 

We loved The Backstage Event Center! Everyone was very nice and accommodating! We worked with Elenya the most and she answered all our questions quickly and made sure everything went smoothly. The place is beautiful-rustic/industrial. The appetizers were great and the flaming donuts were amazing! We went with the Cincinnati experience with Larosa’s pizza and Skyline Cheese Coney’s stations. The pizza was a little disappointing but I know its hard to feed a lot of people all at once. Excellent experience and would highly recommend! - 1/17/2024 

We had a great experience hosting a corporate holiday party at the Backstage Event Center. All of the planning process was simple and easy and our whole team enjoyed the ambience, food, and drinks. We had about 50-60 people and didn't feel crowded at all in the main space. Pricing was fair and transparent and we hope to host our next holiday party there too! Thank you to Elenya for coordinating everything to perfection! - 1/14/2024 

The Backstage Event Center went above and beyond for our wedding day. Elenya and Shannen were incredible to work with and made us feel so supported when it came to the planning process and actual day of celebration. The venue itself was absolutely gorgeous for our afternoon reception and the food was fantastic. All of our guests were gushing about the food! The wedding day went super smooth and we could not recommend the staff and venue enough. - 1/03/2024 

Elenya Stephani was an absolute dream to work with for our son's rehearsal dinner! The Backstage was beautifully decorated for Christmas and provided a gorgeous, intimate setting for family and friends! The food was next level from the appetizers to dessert! The bartender and staff were attentive and extremely nice! Overall I would rate our experience a 100! My only issue now is trying to come up with another reason to throw a party for 33 people at this venue! - 12/20/2023 

Truly the best!!! Our st Patrick’s day wedding was everything and more thanks to this venue. The staff was incredible. Obsessed with the buffet stations and casual bar vibe we had instead of formal seating. They even set up 200 Guinness as our “speciality drink”. Put up a slide show of all our pics around the room. We had a blast and I’m still over the moon about it all nearly a year later. Heather florance photography out of Louisville KY did the photography and can’t recommend her enough as well. - 12/14/2023 

The staff was absolutely wonderful to work with from initial visit, booking, finalizing and the night of the event. They helped with with all my questions. I give this place 5 stars. - 12/09/2023 

We had an incredible experience with Elenya at Backstage Event Center for our wedding reception. She was our event contact and day of coordinator. All of our questions were readily answered, and the whole process was simple and streamlined. The online portal made it very easy to contact Elenya, look at our documents, and make changes to our banquet order. The venue is spacious, romantic, and filled with gorgeous wooden flooring and decor. After our initial tour, we returned closer to our event for our food tasting and to finalize day of details. The BEC team both set-up and tore down our decor. They made my vision come to life. The day of the reception, we had an incredible kitchen and serving staff ensuring our group was fed and hydrated. The walk-up bar never had a long line, and we felt very catered to the entire night. Elenya organized our other vendors such as florist and DJ which was so helpful. We had a nice night, so the balcony was opened up for our guests to enjoy the city lights. The BEC team went above and beyond for us, and we couldn't have had a better night. Thank you all so much <3. - 11/20/2023 

THE BEST! My husband and I had our wedding reception here and we were SO happy with the whole thing. The staff was amazing. They set everything up and tore it down and boxed it up for my parents to pick up the next day. Our event coordinator was absolutely amazing and helped with everything. They worked with us to help us make this day perfect. After being to several weddings recently I have to say for the money, this spot can't be beat. I'm so thankful now even 5 years later that we found this spot and got to use it. Truly a great experience. - 11/14/2023 

Wonderful event for our corporate event! Perfect indoor space and excellent outdoor space for mingling. Food was fantastic and service was some of the best we have ever had. Would highly recommend and use for a corporate event again! - 11/14/2023 

The Backstage Event Center went above and beyond to make our wedding day special and run smoothly. It was one of the more affordable options we looked at, which sometimes means compromising in other categories. But not here. The staff was welcoming, helpful and kind every step of the way. The food was fantastic (you could re-visit Nicholsons on your anniversary/eat similar dishes). The location is neat. You're downtown and get great views with the two balconies. Their space is also very accommodating if you plan to do both a ceremony and reception. I could go on for hours. Our guests still rave about this venue and we do too. Couldn't be happier with our choice! - 11/06/2023 

We had our welcome drinks and rehearsal dinner at BEC and couldn't recommend it more! Amazing, attentive staff, great food and drinks, and a smooth + wonderful experience. - 10/23/2023 

Wedding rehearsal dinner The staff was friendly and helpful. The space was lovely and the food was absolutely delicious! - 10/23/2023 

The Backstage was an absolutely incredible vendor to work with!! I can’t say enough good things about the space and the team. They were extremely responsive, accommodating and fun to work with! I had a some last minute changes and questions and they were on top of it all. The reception went so smoothly, if there were any issues we didn’t know about it! We had multiple people come up to us during and after the reception say that it was the best reception they’ve been to! People raved about how beautiful the space was, and how good the food was. I highly recommend The Backstage and their team to host your next event! - 8/30/2023 

Excellent food and service night of the event! Communication was poor at times but may have been due to changing staff. In the end, the event was exactly what we wanted it to be, the team was able to accommodate all of our requests, and the venue was a great place to kick off our wedding weekend! - 8/04/2023 

The space is perfect for a great celebration of any type. We celebrated my son's wedding rehearsal dinner here. Everyone had a great time, service was excellent, beer, wine, and liquor selection was great, and the food was delicious. The two patios were amazing for talking and enjoying everyone's company. The mariachi band was an excellent touch, we even had them in the balcony and even the people outside were enjoying the music. Definitely recommend it. - 7/14/2023 

We used The Backstage Event Center for my son's rehearsal dinner. It was a smooth process from start to finish. The staff was very accommodating when it came to scheduling those first appointments when we were deciding on the venue. Once booked, the great service continued. Shannen and Natalie were wonderful-they were patient, personable, answered all our questions, and made suggestions when we needed them. They were even able to get us a special bottle of bourbon that we requested. The night of the event was wonderful! The room as so pretty, the kid zone was a hit with the kids, and the weather was perfect, so we were able to take advantage of the outdoor patio. The meal was delicious and the flaming donut station was a hit! Service from the servers and bartender were top notch. I would highly recommend this venue! - 7/03/2023 

I hosted my sister's bridal shower here and it truly turned out better than I could have expected! At first we had a slight hiccup in communication with working with their hospitality department, but the GM and assistant GM more than made up for it. I worked with Natalie after that and she went above and beyond. She was there for every question and concern I had. She was there on the day of my event and was so hands on and helpful, as well as the rest of the staff! From helping me with communication on road closures and traffic with Pride falling at the same time and day as my event, to setting up and breaking down, she was there. The Garden Room came with the patio and it was the perfect place to bring together my vision of a summer garden party. We had the perfect amount of food from their brunch options and add ons and it was delicious! We also still had the inside room to keep the food and utilize before we went outside for the brunch. Amazing time and super grateful to Natalie and her team! - 6/26/2023 

Was here for a welcome party for a wedding, good food and bar service. Great patio with views of the street. Great for people watching! - 6/14/2023 

I could not recommend the Backstage Event Center enough! The venue is beautiful, with large windows and balconies, and the staff was exceptional! They went above and beyond communicating with me throughout the planning process and on the day of the rehearsal and wedding. The food was fantastic! A month later people are still commenting on the food and venue. Thanks to Backstage!! - 5/30/2023 

I hosted an awards reception for my association and our members. The BEC was absolutely beautiful and the perfect size for our group of 80. There was plenty of food for our group, and the food was absolutely delicious; I have never heard that many rave reviews from attendees. I also appreciated that many of the beers offered at the bar were from local companies. Shannen was extremely helpful from the beginning of the RFP process through our event. Natalie was terrific on site for the event. The entire staff was extremely professional, courteous and accommodating. We made a mess of Styrofoam when setting up. We asked for a broom, as we were going to clean it ourselves, and they swept it for us. The entire team went above and beyond and it set the bar high for our 3 other events throughout Ohio and Michigan this past month. We have already began making plans to hopefully host here again in 2024. I wish I lived closer, I have a wedding coming up in 2024 and I would have loved to have it here! - 4/14/2023 

I only wish I could give this place 6 stars. We had our first non-profit summit at The Backstage in Cincinnati. We all flew in from different areas of the world. This was planned site unseen, with only a few weeks notice. Both of those elements usually spell disaster. Shannen Watson, our coordinator, made it effortless from the time I placed the phone call. She anticipated our needs, gave me options, and was always there within moments of an email, call, or text. She held my hand throughout the process and made it actually fun. The food was amazing and the venue was even more gorgeous in person. How this place is not booked until 2040 is beyond me. - 3/14/2023 

This venue is spectacular for weddings. The communication was a little spotty as the room set up was different than what we had planned for but alas that did not stop us from having the best time of our lives. Thank you to Cara and her team for making it all happen, your staff was quite attentive throughout the night and made sure Marlea and I were well taken care of. Everyone raved about the food and the drinks were flowing all night. The balcony's we're an added bonus especially with blink going on outside. A truly unreal reception venue that made the best night of our lives unforgettable. - 3/14/2023 

Came for our nephews wedding and reception. Great place for both! Nice double patio, ample dance floor, good MC and DJ. Lots of room for the buffet and table seating. Fun hardwood floors. Great being downtown. - 3/14/2023 

We held our welcome reception here and they did a fantastic job! Very responsive and professional. We will definitely use this venue again. - 3/14/2023 

me And My Fiance And Our Beautiful Baby Daughter 🤩 Have Not 🚫 Been Here Yet ....... But I Am Lookin For Venue For Something Special - 3/14/2023 

Shannen and Cara were so helpful with planning our event, and Austin was a fantastic server and Barkeep! Had a great event! - 3/14/2023 

Great venue in heart of downtown Cincy! - 3/14/2023 

We worked with Cara and her staff to plan a rehearsal dinner at Backstage from out of town. They could not have made the process easier and the final result was perfect. They were super attentive to detail and the food was delicious!! - 1/14/2023 

The Backstage Event Center was such a terrific venue. From the tour, my fiancé (now husband) and I loved that we could have both the ceremony and reception in the same location. After the tour, we canceled all our other venue tours as we already knew BEC was the venue for us. Kudos to Cara and her team as they did an outstanding job! On the day of the rehearsal, Cara was so accommodating and helped make sure our rehearsal went smoothly. She even let us start setting up some of the décors early. On our wedding day, Cara and her team were ready for us; the rest of the décor looked amazing and she really captured my vision. The food was delicious; highly recommend the crab cakes as an appetizer and the caramelized brussels sprouts as a side dish. We got a lot of compliments on our choice of venue and everyone was super happy with the wait staff and bartenders’ exceptional work. BEC and Cara exceeded our expectations and I highly recommend this venue! - 11/18/2022 

I am honestly still in awe of how great of an experience we had at our wedding. The entire night was perfect from the ceremony all the way through the last dance. Our guests loved the set up and flow of the evening, the food, and the ambiance. All of that was because of this venue. I am a very inexperienced party planner, but Cara was so amazing in helping us plan our wedding. She did a great job of following up and checking in, which really helped ease my worries. No questions were too small. She made everything so easy, and for that, I am super grateful. On the day of the wedding, I truly felt like I didn’t need to worry about anything, and I had such a fun time. Th staff during the event were also amazing. They were very attentive and made sure to check to see if I or my husband needed anything (special shout-out to Ethan! He was so great). They were very polite, and the service was excellent. I seriously feel like my wedding was perfect, and this venue and the staff were a big part of that. - 10/31/2022 

Cara was easily one of the best vendors and most communication forward one that I worked with all planning. One thing we had planned and talked about and changed was the layout of the room. I based my tables off the seating arrangements we had agreed upon but when I arrived to the venue there was no seating chart. (they told us they would provide/only provide place cards for those with dietary restrictions which we did but no one else knew where to go) However when we arrived the tables were not arranged in the way we agreed upon however in the way we initially were looking at but as far as I knew we had changed it. if I would have known the tables were going to be the old way I would have sent the original table layout. Other than that however the location, especially during blink, was absolutely 1/1 other than the parking. the pictures we got down in the alley will truly be one of a kind. the food from the appetizers (highly recommend the chicken and waffles) we're absolutely incredible. The coney bar was actually Skyline and that was a huge bonus. The bartenders and staff made sure my wife and I never had an empty hand. our guests raved about the venue and food and you could not ask for better lighting. The balcony's, dance floor and kings and queens chairs made for incredible photo ops that we will cherish forever. Giving Cara and her team a 5 star rating because despite the few mishaps they truly delivered on an unforgettable night. Everyone was well fed, well taken care of and happy. My Grandma got a front seat to the dance floor and that was the most important thing. - 10/22/2022 

Cara and her staff at the BEC truly were exceptional. I was coordinating a rehearsal dinner (for the first time) from out of town and I couldn't have been more pleased with Cara's patience with my questions (I was very green), her promptness, attention detail, and flexibility. That evening that staff was exceptional with their service and little details that arose. They went beyond my expectations adding beautiful candlelight and other touches to enhance the decor which made it even more special. All of our guests commented on how good the food was. I am happy to give them our highest recommendation!! - 9/11/2022 

I cannot recommend this venue enough! My husband and I had our reception here last week after our Florida wedding earlier in the year. Cara, the event planner was amazing and attentive. The week of the event, she called vendors for me which took a ton of stress off. The day of the wedding, she set up all the decor and made sure everything was ready to go. It looked amazing and she captured my vision perfectly. It was a dream come true! The bartenders were also amazing. We have received so many compliments on their service and everyone thought they were hilarious! Anytime they saw my husband in line for the bar they served him first, and we also had another bar tender assigned directly to us who had a new drink in our hands before we finished the last ones. The food was also to die for, especially the chicken & waffles and goetta balls from the late night bites station. When we left, the bar tenders had a to go bag for us with cake, left over food, utensils and water bottles. It was much needed. We picked up all our decorations and left over cake on the Monday after the reception, and they had everything together for us and put away nicely. Cara came down the elevator with a cart and helped me load everything into my car. I didn’t even have to go inside. I am reliving this day over and over in my head because it was so perfect and it was all because of the backstage staff!! You will not regret booking this venue for your big day! - 7/20/2022 

The Backstage Event Center was absolutely wonderful! We had our rehearsal dinner from 6-8pm and then opened up the venue for a welcome party from 8-10pm - it was the perfect amount of space and setting for both! The venue is so beautiful in and of itself that we only needed a few decorations/flowers to make it absolutely perfect for us. Cara was amazing to coordinate with! So professional, knowledgeable and helpful. We highly recommend book the Backstage Event Center for any event you have! - 6/12/2022 

A big thank you to you and your wonderful team for a lovely rehearsal dinner. Kudos to the chef and the kitchen crew. I heard so many comments that the food was absolutely delicious and I personal loved the chicken and waffle bites. The bartenders were so friendly and very efficient. The logistics of the event were seamless and everything came off right on schedule. We can’t thank you enough for a beautiful venue and an evening that exceeded our expectations. - 5/16/2022 

I recently got married at the Backstage Event Center and couldn't have picked a better venue! My husband proposed in April 2021 and we both knew BEC was the place for us as soon as we ended the tour! We had both our ceremony and reception here which made it very convenient for our guests. Cara was absolutley amazing! She answered all of our questions and was so very helpful for recommendations. I don't know how Cara does it, but she remembers every little detail! We opted for food stations and did a taco bar, bbq slider bar, and mac & cheese bar. For the cocktail hour, we did a cheese plate, goetta balls, bacon wrapped bangers and chicken & waffle bites. For the drinks, you get so much options! 4-5 craft beers, great liqour options and they were more than happy to provide Guinness cans (my favorite beer). Our guests cannot stop talking about how good the food was! There are debates which appetizers or station was better with the aunts and uncles, lol! When I was doing my research, other reviews mention great food but it's 100% true! Our guests also cannot get over how pretty it was inside and because we had great weather, the outdoor patios where fully used! But for the most important review, our guests and us cannot stress enough how great the staff was during the whole event. They really run a tight ship and were just on top of everything! We seriously cannot be happier with BEC and would do it all again if we could! If you are thinking about booking (which you should!), try to stick around 150 for ceremony but reception can hold much more. Cara is so flexible and can help manage the crowd! Ugh, can I just relive our wedding? Such a perfect day and BEC helped make it happen! - 4/29/2022 

I highly recommend The Backstage Event Center! We had a rehearsal dinner for about 150 guests (wedding party, immediate family and out of town guests) and it could not have been better!! Cara Shipp and her team at The Backstage Event Center went "above and beyond" and didn't miss a detail. They are willing to do anything and everything it takes to make an event special and memorable... they had great recommendations and were such a pleasure to work with!! Cara & team wanted our event to be as perfect as we wanted it to be... and it was PERFECT!!! Delicious food, outstanding service, beautiful room set-up... it was even better than I expected!!!! - 4/10/2022 

I just had my wedding here (ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception) and must warn the reader: long post of adoration ahead. Starting with the venue itself: perfect for literally any wedding aesthetic and so much to offer. Beautifully rustic but modern interior with 2 large balconies looking over busy parts of the city. Capable of hosting small and large groups. My wedding was incredibly romantic with minimal additions needed to the interior decor. The team that put everything together did a fantastic job and deserve more accolades than I can offer in this single post. My event coordinator, Katie Swantko, did an impeccable job. So accommodating and I feel like she cared as much as I did (if not more) about everything being as perfect as I imagined from the second I chose the venue. She was there to make sure I was happy even until the second I walked down the isle and the rest of the night that followed after. This place is booked heavily during wedding season (and it’s obvious why) and she was still always checking in with me about details, updates, changes, etc., even when I know she didn’t have time. I was honestly never worried about a single detail of the day, simply because of how effectively she works as a coordinator. Bravo, Katie. The food was unbelievably impressive. For cocktail hour, we had shrimp cocktail, a large charcuterie spread, chicken and waffles, and heirloom tomato + mozzarella bites. For dinner, we did a duet plate of chicken piccata and flat iron steak with bordelaise, mashed potatoes and green beans with shaved Parmesan. Every single steak and the chicken were cooked to perfection. The vegetarian meals (pasta with a garlic wine sauce and seasonal vegetables) were so delicious, as well. The portions and the plating were impressive and EVERY guest has mentioned how great the food was. Even the kids macaroni and cheese dishes were perfect! I can not recommend this venue enough. If you choose this space and the team that comes with it for your wedding or any event, I’m so excited for what you’re about to experience!!! - 3/14/2022 

My cousin's wedding was here and I would recommend it to anyone. The place is very nice and the food is great. - 3/14/2022 

Great Old Fashioned, ask for the Black Walnut Bitters. - 3/14/2022 

I have had several events at the Backstage Event Center and every event Cara and Katie have gone above and beyond my expectations! Their attentiveness to detail and ensuring the evening goes as planned does not go unnoticed! - 2/02/2022 

We had our son’s rehearsal dinner at The Backstage. Katie was very helpful and responsive to all our needs. She made it very easy to work with her and also to stay within our budget. She was also very accommodating when we made last minute changes to the time of the event. Katie and Adam were there to assist us in any way when we arrived to set up for the event. It was overall a very pleasant and enjoyable night. My only suggestion would be to have either weekend or later hours during the week to tour the event center. Thanks for everything! Mike and Eileen - 12/21/2021 

The Backstage Event Center is a hidden gem. I would recommend for private parties such as weddings. The service is professional and staff is friendly. Katie is the best coordinator and knows all the ins and outs. The terrace overlooks Walnut and 7th St skyline and the bistro lights give a warm festive vibe inside. - 11/22/2021 

If you are looking for urban elegance with some rustic charm, this is your venue! Directly across the street from the Aronoff Theatre, it has a distinct Cincinnati flavor. Katie, the event planner, is an absolute joy to work with. My daughter had to postpone her 2020 wedding, and Katie and the staff made sure her wedding in 2021 was absolutely perfect. Not only is the venue beautiful, but the food is TO DIE FOR!!! Everything is prepared on site. We served salmon and filet mignon and our guests raved about the food. The chicken & waffle appetizers, along with their bacon-wrapped bangers and the bruschetta were a huge hit. And the service during dinner was AMAZING! I cannot say enough about Backstage - it definitely flies under the radar. Our guests were blown away and everyone was so complimentary. We are SO grateful to Katie and the entire staff at Backstage for making our celebration most memorable and absolutely PERFECT in every way. - 11/16/2021 

We booked The Backstage Event center for our son’s rehearsal dinner. The staff was very kind and professional. They were very prompt when responding to questions prior to the event. The food was delicious. The room was beautiful and the team working the event could not have been more helpful. The entire evening was a huge success thanks to the staff and chef. I would definitely recommend this venue for any wedding or other special event. - 11/16/2021 

Completely incredible from start to finish! We had our wedding and post-wedding brunch at Backstage/Nicholson's and everything was phenomenal. We continue to receive messages from guests days after saying it was the best food, service, atmosphere, and overall wedding they've ever been to which makes us so happy! Cara and Katie made all of the planning and coordinating so easy. I'm a control freak and tried to do so much myself...I should have let them do all of it because everything they handled was executed beautifully. The team at Backstage is the most hard-working crew and exceptional group of people I've ever encountered. I can't recommend this venue enough! - 10/28/2021 

Katie Swantko made planning this large wedding rehearsal seamless, enjoyable and even made a few menu recommendations which I VERY much appreciated! She didn't stop there...she worked past the time she was suppose to leave to assist us with set up, gifts, the cake and even the music genre! ALL of the guests RAVED about the food, the vibe, the balcony and so on! Katie was an absolute pleasure to work with and went above and beyond to make my son and daughter in law's rehearsal perfect! - 10/26/2021 

I just had my wedding here (ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception) and must warn the reader: long post of adoration ahead. Starting with the venue itself: perfect for literally any wedding aesthetic and so much to offer. Beautifully rustic but modern interior with 2 large balconies looking over busy parts of the city. Capable of hosting small and large groups. My wedding was incredibly romantic with minimal additions needed to the interior decor. The team that put everything together did a fantastic job and deserve more accolades than I can offer in this single post. My event coordinator, Katie Swantko, did an impeccable job. So accommodating and I feel like she cared as much as I did (if not more) about everything being as perfect as I imagined from the second I chose the venue. She was there to make sure I was happy even until the second I walked down the isle and the rest of the night that followed after. This place is booked heavily during wedding season (and it’s obvious why) and she was still always checking in with me about details, updates, changes, etc., even when I know she didn’t have time. I was honestly never worried about a single detail of the day, simply because of how effectively she works as a coordinator. Bravo, Katie. The food was unbelievably impressive. For cocktail hour, we had shrimp cocktail, a large charcuterie spread, chicken and waffles, and heirloom tomato + mozzarella bites. For dinner, we did a duet plate of chicken piccata and flat iron steak with bordelaise, mashed potatoes and green beans with shaved Parmesan. Every single steak and the chicken were cooked to perfection. The vegetarian meals (pasta with a garlic wine sauce and seasonal vegetables) were so delicious, as well. The portions and the plating were impressive and EVERY guest has mentioned how great the food was. Even the kids macaroni and cheese dishes were perfect! I can not recommend this venue enough. If you choose this space and the team that comes with it for your wedding or any event, I’m so excited for what you’re about to experience!!! - 10/11/2021 

October wedding The event staff at the backstage event center make wedding planning a breeze. They make your vision happen stress free. The space is beautiful and timeless, I would chose working with The Backstage over and over again! - 10/05/2021 

Horvath/Jobes Rehearsal Dinner I can't say enough about the wonderful experience we had at the Backstage Event Center for our son, Scott and his now wife Lisa as we hosted their Rehearsal dinner held on THUR SEP 16th. Katie Swantko, Austin, Finn and team provided a seamless experience. Austin was amazing and Finn was great as they worked with us setting everything up. The chef made a last minute entree change from a mahi mahi to piccata chicken. The atmosphere was outstanding as we received soo many compliments about the venue along with how delicious the food was. Again we cannot thank Katie and her team enough for such an excellent experience! - 9/22/2021 

Excellent event experience The team at the Backstage Event Center were terrific to work with! Katie S. was super helpful and responsive. We hosted a brunch event with delicious food, great service, and beautiful venue. Highly recommend! - 9/14/2021 

Very helpful and professional staff. Location is amazing. I hosted a 40th birthday party but it's a perfect location for a wedding or an engagement party. Spacious, nice indoor area, great outdoor views, exceptional staff and amazing food - they have it all!! - 9/13/2021 

We could not be more pleased with our Rehearsal Dinner event held at Nicholson's. The venue was perfect, the food excellent, and service outstanding! We would recommend without hesitation! - 9/07/2021 

As the mother of the groom, I choose this amazing space for our rehearsal dinner for 60 close friends and family. It’s rustic setting is cozy and the balcony over Walnut St. downtown Cincinnati adds another space for your guests to enjoy. The BEC exceeded my expectations. The organizational efforts by my event coordinator, Katie, made for a seamless experience for me and my guests. The food was exceptional. I chose a family style serving style for a more relaxed and social setting. The staff and their timing was amazing! From the appetizers, dinner, and then dessert…each was more delicious than the next! The BEC takes great pride in the presentation of their food. Everything was delicious and beautiful. The staff was well coordinated and worked hard to see that my guests were comfortable. Katie was accommodating to all of my needs, including drop of decor before the event and the needs of my guests. She was accessible to me for any questions I needed answered during my planning process. The bar was managed very well, pours were generous, and my guests felt so welcomed. The space has a great flow and a cool vibe. Be sure to add the lights to your package to compete the look of the space. I loved the food so much at BEC, that I’ll be calling on the chef for future catering needs. Enjoy this perfect, memorable space! - 8/18/2021 

Lovely space for a very fun reception. Staff was excellent so thank you for making my friend’s special night amazing! - 8/02/2021 

This venue was perfect! We had our reception on a Friday and everything went so smooth. The staff was great and helped make the evening and planning stress free! All of our guests complimented the venue and the food. I would highly recommend, especially for the price! - 7/30/2021 

The Backstage Event Center was absolutely fantastic for our Rehearsal dinner. With so much stress involved in planning a wedding it was nice to be able to work with a group of people that were so kind and professional. Everyone loved the evening. - 6/10/2021 

The TOTAL package My husband & I got engaged in 2018 fully anticipating a 2020 wedding. Obviously, covid changed a lot of plans and our original date was postponed a year. Backstage Event Center was absolutely phenomenal through it all. Cara was my event coordinator & she made our day so incredibly special. She put me completely at ease and delivered everything I wanted & MORE! We've gotten so many compliments from guests saying everything went flawlessly and they never felt rushed like they've felt at other weddings. The whole set up was beautiful. The entire staff were so courteous and professional and an absolute dream to work with. I could not recommend this venue enough, even more so Cara for executing my vision! I could not have done it without her! Everything exceeded expectations! It was a perfect day! Thank you, Backstage & thank you, Cara!!! - 6/01/2021 

We had our rehearsal dinner at The Backstage Event Center and it was the perfect venue. Not only did our guests love the venue but they also had great things to say about the food and service. Katie helped plan our rehearsal dinner and was an absolute pleasure to work with. We would definitely recommend The Backstage Event Center to others! - 5/21/2021 

We recently used The Backstage Event Center to host our son's rehearsal dinner followed by a welcome party for our out-of-town guests. Not only was the space perfect for the evening but Cara and her team were outstanding. All the guests found the location easy to access from the downtown hotel. The food for the dinner and appetizer for the party were delicious and there were so many menu options available. The staff that we worked with were extremely professional and helped make the evening a perfect start to the wedding weekend. I would highly recommend this venue to anyone looking to host an event! - 5/13/2021 

We could have not imagined a more perfect day for our wedding ceremony and reception at backstage event center. Cara was amazing to work with and so helpful. We had so many compliments from our guests about the venue and the food. I highly recommend this venue. Cara, thank you for everything! - 5/01/2021 

The Backstage did a fantastic job with hosting my daughter’s wedding. Cara was there from the beginning when we contacted the venue over a year ago and was there for the wedding. She met all of our needs and was so easy to work with during the whole covid crisis! She made us all feel at ease and helped us work out all the arrangements. The facility was clean and has a wood/iron industrial but bar like atmosphere. I would recommend to stay under 150 people so there is room to dance. This is a great venue in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio! - 4/26/2021 

We had our rehearsal dinner at the Backstage Event Center and had the best time! Everyone loved being on the patio with the heaters (since it was mid-April). Planning was easy thanks to Cara. The entire staff made sure we had anything we could ever need and everyone really enjoyed the food. - 4/22/2021 

Cara and Katie at backstage event center do an amazing job! They are responsive, organized, and so easy to work with. I planned a wedding in two months with their help. They go out of their way to make sure each bride is stress free and each couple get the wedding of their dreams. Food at backstage was a hit! Particularly the goetta balls. Staff was polite and professional. I would 1000% host another event here or recommend them to anyone! - 3/22/2021 

Thank you Katie ! Fabulous food and loved the event center for our rehearsal dinner! Great location, great service, beautiful. Pamela M - 3/22/2021 

Absolutely Amazing! Backstage Event Center downtown Cincinnati hosted our rehearsal dinner. It couldn’t have turned out more perfect! Katie Swantko was absolutely wonderful in helping us plan our event. The space was perfect, food was awesome, service impeccable. Highly, highly recommend it. - 3/17/2021 

I was extremely impressed with the entire event! The space was beautiful, the staff was outstanding and the food was amazing! We had close to 100 out-of-town guests attended (including us) the dinner and EVERYONE commented on how wonderful the entire event was. I would highly recommend The Backstage Event Center for your next engagement. I would also like to thank Cara Shipp for all her assistance --she is the BEST! - 3/16/2021 

Fantastic Service and Venue Katie and team were great to work with and the service the day of the wedding was superb! Communication was good throughout the process. The Backstage Event Center was flexible with us in terms of COVID restrictions and working with us on last minute changes to numbers. Overall, it was a great experience and we could not have picked a better venue! - 2/02/2021 

We got married this past October at the Backstage Event Center and we could not have been happier! The staff was very helpful and they thought of everything. Getting married during a pandemic was not ideal but the wonderful staff especially Katie, made the day perfect! They worked with us through every up and down of COVID rules and mandates. We truly had the best day ever and we definitely recommend this beautiful venue! - 1/26/2021 

Cara and the entire team at the Backstage Event Center provided a flawless experience for us. We hosted our rehearsal dinner here for about 35 people. The bartender, wait staff, and crew were attentive and accommodating. The food was exceptional. Cara was always readily available for any questions we had prior to the event. If our wedding guest list had been smaller, we absolutely would have hosted a reception at this romantic venue. - 11/18/2020 

Rehearsal Dinner Cara and the entire team at the Backstage Event Center provided an absolutely flawless experience for us. We hosted a rehearsal dinner of about 35 people. The bartender, wait staff, and entire crew were attentive and extremely accommodating. The food was all so delicious, and the event space was romantic and spacious. If our wedding had been smaller, we absolutely would've gone with The Backstage as a reception venue as well. - 11/17/2020 

excellent, professional service! We planned our rehearsal dinner during the coronavirus pandemic. Backstage was extremely flexible with the changing ordinances and shifting guest list. The food was excellent and the staff was professional and helpful during our event. We were extremely pleased with the party! We would definitely have another party at Backstage Event Center. - 11/17/2020 

Perfect Small Wedding Venue This venue was everything we wanted. Our guests loved the food and the location was great! The staff were super professional and helpful. Our wedding could not have gone any better. - 11/17/2020 

A Dream Come True Katie and her team at the Backstage Event Center were amazing to work with. We were a destination wedding that had to quickly come up with a new plan because of COVID. With a little over two months to change all of our plans, Katie was able to give us the wedding of our dreams. Katie communicated clearly, never made me feel like I asked too many questions, and handled more than I thought she would including decorating our venue from photos I sent her, running our ceremony rehearsal, and just being a sweet calm face right before I walked down the aisle. We felt like queen and king during our reception. We never lifted a finger. The food was on a whole new level! This is not “wedding food” this is top tier, elegant comfort food. Our hors devours were the talk of the night. The beer cheese and soft pretzels, cranberry Brie bruschetta and spanakopita were huge hits! Also, if you’ve never considered pot roast for your wedding meal, this is the place to do it. The meat was so tender it fell apart, and our guests could not say enough about it. Katie and the venue made sure to handle a guest who had a lot of food allergies. He made sure to find me and let me know that everything he ate was off the charts delicious. He didn’t worry at all about cross contamination because the staff were beyond professional and handled his allergies with care. Something you might not consider but ended up being a game changer were the terraces off of the front and back of the event space. A beautiful view of the lights of downtown Cincinnati, wrought iron cocktail tables and chairs, and propane heating towers in case it got chilly. Our guests took photo after photo with the city scape as their backdrop. You will not regret using the Backstage Event Center for your special day. I can’t say enough about it, just that I could do it all over again! - 11/09/2020 

No worry rehearsal dinner I’m so glad Backstage was responsive and had our date available! The coordinator was so helpful as we, parents of the groom ,live more than 2 hours away. Menu options were amazing but with help we decided on the family style meal and it was delicious. - 10/27/2020 

Wonderful experience / event Loved all aspects of Backstage from event pricing, to hard working event planners, event space, and food was delicious. Booked our rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, wedding, and reception all at Backstage and Horse and Barrel. All staff worked so hard before and during events to ensure a wonderful memory. Would definitely recommend to family and friends and would also book other events there myself. - 10/20/2020 

Beyond what I could have imagined! Cara was so helpful during this whole process! She was very helpful with anything we needed. She even gave me breathing exercises to help calm my nerves in the minutes before walking down the aisle. She was so supportive. Thank you, Cara! The food and service was excellent too! Our waiter boxed up our food and we enjoyed it the next day! Still delicious! I could not be more grateful to have worked with them! I cannot say enough good things about working with the Backstage Event Center from the food to decorating! You guys went above and beyond for our day! - 10/09/2020 

I am the father of the bride and we used Backstage for the rehearsal dinner. It went off without a hitch and we had to plan it with Katie from 10 hours away !!! Changes were being made up until the week of the dinner and every request we made was honored and executed flawlessly. Food was excellent and the service was impeccable. The staff took care of every need that evening professionally and timely. Everything was done according to the agreed upon time table. The staff even helped with cleanup of the decorations we brought with us. If you need a venue that will work to give you an evening that fills your every desire, contact Katie at Backstage. You will not regret it. - 9/28/2020 

Had my son’s rehearsal dinner here. Excellent experience. Food was great and the service was outstanding. Fantastic venue and great staff. Every detail was perfect. I would highly recommend to anyone. - 9/23/2020 

We had our rehearsal dinner at The Backstage Event Center. We had initially planned to have the dinner at Nicholson's, but realized we needed a bigger space to allow for social distancing. This was a wonderful decision. There is a separate entrance and bathrooms - making social distancing easy. The food was fantastic, the space is beautiful, the service was wonderful. You have access to a rooftop patio so we got pictures with the lights of the city behind us. I can't say enough great things about how easy it was to work with Katie Swantko - the Events Manager. We didn't do any special decorating. They put some votive candles on the tables and it was all the space needed. It was romantic and fun. I didn't know this space existed. Planning a Covid wedding hasn't been an easy task, but The Backstage Event Center was one of our silver linings. - 9/15/2020 

Cara and the entire Backstage Event team were amazing to work with. They were accommodating, professional, and provided top notch service. The food was above my expectations and all of my guests commented on how good it was. Great space and loved the patio area. - 9/15/2020 

Katie was very helpful in planning our son and fiancee's rehearsal dinner. She was professional, understanding and very accommodating to changes that were occurring during COVID. The food and the atmosphere were just perfect! - 9/10/2020 

I’m a DJ in the area and just finished up an AMAZING event at The Backstage Event Center. I go to 40+ weddings a year and was blown away by the level of service the team at Backstage provides. Usually at the weddings I work I’m the one keeping the flow of events going, but tonight Katie, the event coordinator tonight, was always one step ahead of me. In my job I eat a lot of wedding food - Dinner tonight was one of the best I’ve had in a long time. Don’t sleep on the shrimp, mozzarella, and pasta dish - it was amazing! Thanks again For all the help tonight Backstage. I can’t wait to be back! - 8/30/2020 

The Backstage Event Center is, in my humble opinion, one of the best new venues in the Cincinnati area. The venue itself is a beautiful space right across from the Arnoff and offers inside and outside gathering areas, which given our August wedding, was nice for our guests. The space has a nice rustic charm to it and is welcoming and warm. Cara, our event coordinator, was extremely professional, easy to work with, and was an asset in helping us navigate the COVID restrictions. The wait staff were incredible during our event and made sure everyone was comfortable and accommodated. The food was also prepared fantastically and we received many compliments on the taste and presentation. I have held my wedding at Backstage and attended a wedding here as a guest prior and, what was most amazing to me, was the experience, food, and service was the same in both events. This shows me that Backstage holds all their events to the highest standard and is dedicated to making the experience for the planner and the guest as memorable as possible. Thank you Cara and the Backstage team for making our event so special for my bride and I. - 8/22/2020 

The Backstage Event Center was a wonderful venue to host our wedding! We fell in love with the aesthetic of the venue and the delicious food. Cara and her team were wonderful to work with, and extremely accommodating once COVID struck. Our original 100 invited guests shrunk to 30 due to the virus (by the choice of the guests, NOT mandated by the venue), and they kindly adjusted our package to reflect that. Cara is very responsive to communications and delightful to work with. This is an amazing wedding venue and I can't overstate how much we enjoyed our wedding with them. - 8/22/2020 

As the mother of the bride, I can’t say enough positives about our experience! During this time of COVID, my daughter had to postpone her wedding, then wait to see what guidelines were set by the governor in terms of number of guests, dancing, etc... Cara and her staff were very flexible and professional, especially when dealing with all the changes, protocols, and guidelines. I HIGHLY recommend The Backstage Event Center! - 8/17/2020 

We had our wedding and reception for about 55 people at this venue and it was an absolute dream! We worked with both Kelly and Erin who were so kind and helpful throughout the process as well as the rest of the staff there who helped with the event. We were so taken care of the entire time. The food was phenomenal, everyone complimented it non stop. They said it was the best wedding food they’d ever had. The space is just breath taking, I can’t say enough about the perfection of it! - 3/14/2020 

For those who want simple understated elegance. Exposed brick with wide plank wooden floors. Giant mirror behind the staircase made for awesome photo's. - 3/14/2020 

Nice place for an event with a group. Open area with room for mingling. Decent food and drink. Located centrally in Cincinnati, OH. - 3/14/2020 

Here for a wedding. It was beautiful and the steak was fantastic! - 3/14/2020 

Enjoyed my time there and very nice people - 3/14/2020 

Awesome place great food - 3/14/2020 

Great atmosphere - 3/14/2020 

Love it - 3/14/2020 

We hosted a rehearsal dinner here. The venue is elegant. Our guests raved about the food. The staff members were all so helpful and professional. My husband and I could relaxed and enjoy our time with family and friends. We highly recoment The Backstage Event Center. - 11/24/2019 

We had our rehearsal dinner at Backstage Event Center which was essentially like a mini-wedding. Kelly was super easy to work with and talked us through all the options for bar packages and dinner and made everything super easy for us. All of our guests loved the venue with the outdoor rooftop space and we got nothing but compliments on the food as well! Aesthetically the space really didn't need too much decorating, the open ceilings and lighting look and photograph well as-is which was great for the rehearsal dinner. They even put the TV's on at our request for some OSU fans! I definitely would recommend Backstage for your event! - 11/13/2019 

Cannot say enough phenomenal things about this team. I was so nervous for planning my wedding with my entire family from out of town and all the attention and they made it all flow so well. I literally had a pile of decorations that I handed them and they turned it into my vision without any direction. I walked into the venue day of and almost cried at how beautiful they made it with all of our things. 10/10 have your wedding here. It’s charming, rustic and the PERFECT location. - 9/14/2019 

The Backstage Event Center was the perfect location for our wedding ceremony and reception! Everything from the food, drinks, and staff were flawless. Talyah, our event coordinator was so helpful and wonderful. She always promptly responded to my texts and emails which made the planning process easier. I am so glad that we selected The Backstage Event Center as the venue for our dream wedding. - 6/20/2019 

Had rehearsal dinner here for my wedding. Staff was wonderful and the venue was gorgeous. Everyone loved the food and friendly staff. They were always willing to help and to make sure we had an amazing time. We truly enjoyed our night with the Backstage Event Center. Thank you! - 3/14/2019 

I was glad to see an elevator. Their help was courteous and they did not seem to be understaffed. The food was delivered hot and quite tastie. All together, a enjoyable evening. - 3/14/2019 

Had our wedding here. It was absolutely stunning. Kelly, the event coordinator is amazing at what she does. Made the entire process so easy. - 3/14/2019 

Beautiful venue, would recommend for wedding. The food is very good also. Parking isnt the greatest though but you are downtown. - 3/14/2019 

Always an excellent choice. Went there for the UC Health after party for the Mini-Heart Marathon. Was a great time. - 3/14/2019 

Nice space and good food and drinks with a very convenient downtown location - 3/14/2019 

Beautiful place to have an event , wedding reception, work party, etc - 3/14/2019 

Took wedding party there for their wedding snd reception in limo. - 3/14/2019 

The event went flawlessly, much appreciation to those involved - 3/14/2019 

Beautifully painless way to have a wedding. - 3/14/2019 

This was a very pleasant experience!! - 3/14/2019 

Great venue to hold an event - 3/14/2019 

Always a wonderful time! - 3/14/2019 

Awesome funness! - 3/14/2019 

The Backstage Event Center is locates across from the Arnoff Center and above Horse and Barrel (door adjacent). I attended an after party for the Heart Mini here that was sponsored by my work. The space is open and inviting. I'm not sure what the capacity is but if definitely felt like if accommodated a decent number of people without cramping us together. The floor was perfect for dancing and the bars were easily accessible. The catering quality was good. We had three different types of sliders (pulled pork, ham and cheese, and veggie) all were good. They had an excellent selection of cheeses and the desserts were petite and fantastic (perfect size for trying a few). The Mac and Cheese was good but maybe a bit garlicky. The bathrooms were clean and well stocked. The service was friendly and efficient. This event center is definitely worth a look! - 3/10/2019 

My husband and I had our ceremony and reception at The Backstage Event Center on 1.19.19. After touring 5-6 different venues, we selected the Backstage because of its very reasonable pricing, the loft/pub vibe of the space, and because we knew Nicholson's did the food, which we were already fans of. We were assigned Talyah as our event coordinator throughout the planning process. She was always quick to respond to our many questions and gave us a lot of helpful tips about the flow of the wedding and reception. She is very knowledgeable about the venue and weddings in general and was an absolute joy to work with. During the wedding weekend she was amazing. She co-ran our rehearsal with our officiant, was on top of every detail on the day of the wedding, communicated with our vendors, checked in with us frequently, and created the most beautiful ceremony and reception space. She and the rest of the Backstage staff were incredibly professional and helpful and stuck to our timeline perfectly. We were truly blown away by the level of service we received. Our guests kept commenting on how beautiful the space was and how much they loved the food - especially the appetizers! The best part about the service we received at the Backstage was that Talyah and the event staff set up and tore down everything for us. We were able to drop off our boxes of decorations at the rehearsal for them to set everything up, and then after the wedding they took everything down and packed it back up for us to pick up at our convenience. They even packaged up the leftover food for us in to-go containers. We would recommend The Backstage for your wedding or event a million times over. The space itself and the service were both top-notch and we couldn't have been more pleased with how everything went. - 1/30/2019 

Backstage was very accommodating of all our wishes. The venue is beautiful and rustic! The food is delicious! I could have never wished for a better venue to suite my husband and I. If I could, I would do it all over a million times! - 1/23/2019 

Talyah and staff did an amazing job making sure our wedding was perfect! She paid attention to detail and was highly professional. The venue is gorgeous, modern, and perfect for small to medium sized events; our wedding had just under 90 guests. The balcony is a great feature as well. We had multiple guests rave about the venue and service. I think the only criticism we had was with the food. My husband and I both had the hanger steak which came out looking and tasting like Salisbury steak (frozen then reheated). It was not good. The fish looked better, but everyone avoided the conversation about dinner. We didn't do a tasting as my schedule literally didn't allow me to do so. Nonetheless, we were disappointed with the food. With that said, literally everything else exceeded our expectations. - 1/16/2019 

Wow, so much to say about The Backstage Event Center! We’ve decided to highlight three (3) things: Our wedding size: Approximately 90 people The Service Shortly after we got engaged, we wanted to start our venue search early because we live in Phoenix but were planning a wedding in Cincinnati. From day 1, we received nothing but excellent service from Kelly which put our minds at ease. She never grew tired of answering all of the questions, she was quick to respond and even let us know when she wouldn’t be available in case we had questions while she was out. And then the wedding weekend arrived! Kelly and her team went above and beyond to make our day smooth. We didn’t have to worry about ANYTHING. The team was fantastic and made sure we both were well fed, hydrated and happy throughout the entire night. Words cannot explain how grateful we are for The Backstage Event Center team. They made sure our day was an absolute success. The Venue We researched the space a lot from their website but also put our trust in social media (mainly Instagram) to see what others are posting about the space. Photos do NOT do this place justice. Make the time to schedule a visit and be prepared to be amazed. The space is huge but warm and cozy with a very modern/industrial vibe. The Food Bring your appetite, because the portions are huge. We ate at Nicholson’s to try out some food and thought they would dial back the portions and Kelly told us that is not the case. Besides the portion size, the quality of food was amazing. Our guests raved about the food and probably slowed a few people down when hitting the dance floor after dinner. Not your typical rubber chicken wedding food at all. They nailed it! Thank you again to The Backstage Event Center! We’re still glowing from the night and can’t wait to see our photographer photos. - 12/02/2018 

Wow, so much to say about The Backstage Event Center! We've decided to highlight three (3) things: Our wedding size: Approximately 90 people The ServiceShortly after we got engaged, we wanted to start our venue search early because we live in Phoenix but were planning a wedding in Cincinnati. From day 1, we received nothing but excellent service from Kelly which put our minds at ease. She never grew tired of answering all of the questions, she was quick to respond and even let us know when she wouldn't be available in case we had questions while she was out. And then the wedding weekend arrived! Kelly and her team went above and beyond to make our day smooth. We didn't have to worry about ANYTHING. The team was fantastic and made sure we both were well fed, hydrated and happy throughout the entire night. Words cannot explain how grateful we are for The Backstage Event Center team. They made sure our day was an absolute success. The VenueWe researched the space a lot from their website but also put our trust in social media (mainly Instagram) to see what others are posting about the space. Photos do NOT do this place justice. Make the time to schedule a visit and be prepared to be amazed. The space is huge but warm and cozy with a very modern/industrial vibe. The FoodBring your appetite, because the portions are huge. We ate at Nicholson's to try out some food and thought they would dial back the portions and Kelly told us that is not the case. Besides the portion size, the quality of food was amazing. Our guests raved about the food and probably slowed a few people down when hitting the dance floor after dinner. Not your typical rubber chicken wedding food at all. They nailed it! Thank you again to The Backstage Event Center! We're still glowing from the night and can't wait to see our photographer photos. - 12/02/2018 

Very professional and accommodating! They made everything very easy and helped us personalize and tailor our day. Went out of their way to make sure we felt comfortable and were taken care of. - 11/07/2018 

My husband and I selected The Backstage because of it's unique venue, layout and prime downtown location. We wanted our wedding to be different rather than a typical reception hall. The Backstage's venue is amazing! Even better, we were delighted when we began working with Kelly, the Event Coordinator. Kelly is absolutely fantastic! She is very punctual, super responsive, helpful and has such a sweet personality. She made planning our wedding a thousand times easier. Additionally, Kelly was very upfront about pricing, gratuities and any applicable fees. We knew exactly how much the evening would cost once we got our final head count in. Kelly even fixed my bustle after my Maid of Honor stepped on it and ripped the button off within five minutes of the reception! Our guests can't stop talking about how great the food, bar service and bar selection was! Absolutely great venue and great people to work with! - 9/24/2018 

This venue is perfect if you're looking for a relaxed get away in the city. Its such a beautiful venue that you truly can do a lot with. I was looking for modern rustic and this was perfect. I worked with Talyah to plan my wedding and she was very helpful and knowledgable. She did wonderful ensuring everything was set up the way I wanted it, which is hard because im very particular. The food was AMAZING my guests really enjoyed their meals. The staff was so kind to not just us (the bride and groom) but to all our family and friends. They were so polite and quick to help with any assistance needed. They truly do go above and beyond to ensure your event goes perfectly smooth. I could not have asked for a better place to bring my friends and family together for my ceremony and reception. - 8/07/2018 

My friend got married here. The only thing I could say is that there could definitely be more Lighting in the restrooms. It is a little dark in there. Other than that my friend was able to accommodate all of her gas with no issue. The food was pretty good the drink service was not bad at all. Selection was kind of bomb actually! Very surprised the views were beautiful. And the crew moved really fast to make sure the hall where they got married turned into a dining area very quickly without issue. There's an elevator if needed. Parking is a little hard to come by you definitely will have to park up the street in a lot - 3/14/2018 

Kelly, Erin and Randy were the most attentive staff ever! Our son’s rehearsal dinner was spectacular! The food, family style chicken and filets, macaroni and cheese-was delicious! The event space was just perfect - warm and inviting! The outside patio was perfect for our cigar bar!! I would recommend this venue for ALL events!!! The set up and clean up were effortless and done entirely by the staff.....Thank you Backstage for some awesome memories!!!! - 3/14/2018 

I hosted a private event here on Sunday. The staff were wonderful! The food was great - as was the bar - and the space was perfect for the type of event we had (people coming and going throughout the time period). I highly recommend them. - 3/14/2018 

Check out the view of the street scene from the balcony. Very cool, hip urban private party space. - 3/14/2018 

This event space in the heart of the CBD is affordable, flexible, and suited for any occasion. - 3/14/2018 

Nice quite place for private party, good employees and good services. Thumb up. - 3/14/2018 

Great venue. - 3/14/2018 

We had the rehearsal dinner for our son’s wedding weekend at the Backstage Event Center. We were so pleased with every moment from planning to final outcome. Kelly was amazing with all the coordination—Very quick with responses to any questions and very accommodating with any requests. The food was absolutely wonderful. Everyone of our guests told us afterward how much fun they had and how much they enjoyed the whole evening. Erin did a fabulous job as the evening of coordinator. Every server introduced themselves to my husband and Ias the party got started. Totally 5 star— would give 6 if I could—total amazing forever memories. - 11/06/2017 

This venue was absolutely perfect for our ceremony and reception. Kelly was so helpful and flexible throughout the entire process. If you are looking for a space that doesn't require a lot of decoration (the space is its own decoration), a great staff (seriously the nicest servers/bartenders), and delicious food (it comes from Nicholson's), this is the venue for you! My only suggestion for Brides that rent the Horse and Barrel Bourbon bar as part of their package is to place a sign at the main bar upstairs that let the guests know there is another bar downstairs. So so happy that we went with The Backstage Event Center! - 10/16/2017 

My husband and I had our wedding at the Backstage Event Center on 09/23/17 and Kelly was truly amazing to work with throughout the entire planning process. She was extremely professional and truly made my vision come to life. She made us feel comfortable and the day could not have turned out better. Randy and the rest of the wait staff were extremely professional and exhibited excellent service! We are so happy with choosing this as our venue for both the ceremony and reception. - 10/04/2017 

We had our ceremony and reception here and we had an amazing time! All of our guest loved the FOOD! We had brunch immediately following the ceremony and heavy appetizers at our reception-all of the food was amazing. The staff provided excellent service! There was a gentleman who made sure that my husband and I had whatever we wanted or needed, even provided me with a glass of water after I left the dance floor for a break. The level of service was excellent and much appreciated. Special thanks goes to Kelly, the event coordinator! Thank you for all your help in helping us plan a wedding in 2 months! Our vendors kept raving about the space and accommodations you provided. This space is beautiful, reasonably priced and was the perfect place for our city chic theme. I highly recommend this venue for ceremonies and receptions! - 9/09/2017 

I recently had my wedding here in August and this place is nothing short of AMAZING! The venue itself is just beautiful! With two outdoor patio areas overlooking the city and the inside being the perfect combination of modern and rustic I couldn't imagine not having my wedding here now that I have. My guests just keep talking about how amazing the food was and how unique the venue is. Now the people that work there are also nothing short of amazing as well. Kelly worked with me side by side every step of the way and on the day of I had two wedding coordinators and the help of all the staff at my beck and call to help with anything I needed. They were the reason my wedding was so amazing and I couldn't thank them enough!! - 8/25/2017 

There are not enough GREAT things to say about the Backstage Event Center. If you live in or near Cincinnati, this place is a must. Whether you are looking to celebrate a wedding, rehearsal dinner, birthday bash or work meeting you cannot beat the exceptional service and experience that the Backstage Event Center offers. This is truly a unique venue with a fabulous team! Kelly Schneider is a phenomenal event coordinator – there is no one better than her! She is so friendly and patient. She is attentive to all your needs and never skips a beat. Kelly was our wedding coordinator for our July wedding at the event center. We began working with Kelly over a year in advance of our wedding. She always made time to meet with us and responded to all phone calls, text and emails within less than 24 hours. Most of the time, I received a response in less than one hour! I love that the Backstage offers a coordinator for your event because I could not have planned this wedding without the help and advice of Kelly. In addition to Kelly, there is also a “day-of” coordinator, Erin. Erin was also super friendly and extremely professional. Our wedding was simply amazing – I don’t think we had anything go wrong under Kelly and Erin’s supervision. The venue is gorgeous and so unique! It has two outdoor patios and two large rooms available for rent. The venue is right in the heart of downtown and offers so much beauty, it doesn’t even need decorations! I love that they allow you to bring in any vendor you want instead of being confined to a preferred vendors list. The minimum on the venue was well below that of most making it extremely affordable. They also provide all pricing options upfront so you know exactly what you are getting into – throughout the planning process, Kelly would provide me with updated quotes based on our options. We were able to do tastings and visit the venue as often as we’d like – as long as there wasn’t an event going on, Kelly or another staff member would allow us to go upstairs and check things out. I was overwhelmed by the service and reliability this venue and its amazing staff offer. They were flexible on all of our needs and always found a solution to any dilemma we encountered. One other thing that I thought was incredibly helpful was that the venue will allow you to drop off decorations in advance and the team will decorate your space and takes everything down for you! You don’t even have to take the decorations home with you the night of the wedding, you can pick them up the next day – such a relief that most other vendors do not offer. I could go on and on for days about how pleased I was with our experience with the Backstage Event Center, but it is definitely a place that I recommend to everyone searching for a wedding venue in Cincinnati! This place is the epitome of great hospitality and exceptional customer service! Thank you to Kelly, Erin and the whole team for your unparalleled service! - 8/09/2017 

This is an amazing venue. It is a beautiful space in an amazing location downtown. The event planner, Kelly, is so helpful and made the planing experience stress free. We had our ceremony and reception here and it could not have been more perfect. All of the staff were so accommodating on the night of the wedding, they helped with the set up of all of our decorations and desserts, they packed up all of our decorations and allowed us to pick them up the next day, they packed me food to go because I wasn't able to eat anything during the reception. It was truly an amazing experience to get married here, I highly recommend it. - 10/17/2016 

BEAUTIFUL . . . DELICIOUS . . .FUN . . . UNIQUE! Those are some of the words used to describe this wonderful venue for my son's rehearsal dinner! I knew I was in good hands working with Kelly to set up all the evening's details in the months leading up to that evening, and Erin & her staff the night of the event. This is a group of very professional people who knew how to make this special evening a wonderful experience! Kudos to the kitchen as everyone complimented their meals plus we enjoyed the most delicious appetizers & desserts. The space looked absolutely beautiful as the sun set over the city and our guests were able to enjoy the unique patio in a downtown setting. Our guests were having such a great time that we were able to extend our evening an additional hour as they just didn't want to leave! If you decide to hold your special event at the Backstage Event Center, you will actually be able to enjoy your evening as Kelly and Erin and the entire staff will take care of everything else for you ~ in a word. . . PRICELESS!! - 10/16/2016 

I recently had my wedding reception here after discovering it when my work had our annual Christmas party there this past year and it was amazing, especially with the new addition they added. We received SO many compliments on the food from our wedding guest and how we had everything served family style with prompt service for each table. The bar selection and service was amazing as well. Every person I've dealt with was very helpful and easy to work with and not to mention its such a great deal for everything you get and the awesome quality of service you have the entire time. I also want to add how beautiful the outside deck/patio is that overlooks the city life it's a great feature for your guest to enjoy if they want to mingle and relax. I would highly recommend the backstage event center for anyone who is looking for a place to host a wedding reception or for any party in general! - 8/30/2016 

We had many guests from out of town staying at 21c in Downtown for our Autumn wedding. We wanted to provide a brunch for them the morning after the wedding. I had looked for weeks for something within our budget and near the hotel that could fit 65-70 people. When I found Nicholson's initially I was unsure due to the fact I had not eaten here and I remember when the Backstage Event Center was many many other things ha. However the large space and close location and the hot breakfast very near our budget sold me on it. Then, the morning of the event, I was BLOWN AWAY. The set up was beautiful and perfect. So clean and professional and beautiful. The tables looked amazing, the coffee was strong and delicious. The hot food was extremely good and I had multiple comments from the guests about how good the food was. We had a quiche, creamy potatoes, bacon and french toast. Then there were pastries and granola and fruit. They TOTALLY exceeded my expectations on food and deserve very very high rating for serving such a delicious buffet for a large group. My husband and I just cannot say enough good things about how the event went and we would for sure book them again. I will also be trying the restaurant for brunch myself someday because the food was truly fantastic. - 11/23/2015 

My Husband and I found the Backstage Event Center online and booked everything (including food and layout) in less than 2 hours. The team was extremely flexible as our numbers and asks changed up until the last week of the wedding. Our family commented on the high quality of the food and loved the openness of the space. Finally, the staff was amazing and had wine waiting for guests as they entered and were respectful of our budget, letting me know when we hit a certain amount, after which, we made it a cash bar. Overall, we had a great experience and would highly recommend it to others! - 10/27/2015