Dry Hire Venues London
Find a venue that lets you sort your own catering from our list of the best dry hire venues in London. Ready to save on catering costs?
About Dry Hire Venues
## What is a dry hire venue? Dry hire venues are places where you can hire just the space, without the other elements that can sometimes be included in venue hire, like catering, AV or branding. This is perfect when you want to provide your own refreshments, when catering isn't necessary or when you simply want more control over all the individual parts of your event. There are many popular dry hire venues in London, offering everything from large event spaces to intimate meeting rooms. Whether you're looking for a venue for a private party or a corporate event, there is sure to be something that fits your needs. ## Dry hire vs. wet hire: what's the difference? When you hire a wet hire venue, you are usually hiring the space as well as other services that come with it, like in-house catering, AV or branding. The venue manager will help to plan your event to your requirements, which means you won't have to source and coordinate multiple suppliers. This will take much of the stress and hassle out of organising your event. Wet hire venues are also known as 'all-inclusive.' On the other hand, when you hire a dry hire venue, you are only hiring the actual space. This gives you much more control over your event, as you can source and coordinate all the different suppliers yourself, such as choosing your own caterers. Dry hire venues are perfect when you want to create a unique event or when you have specific requirements that need to be met. While many venues will operate as only dry hire or only wet hire, others will offer a choice between the two. Having said that, nothing is ever cut and dry and you'll find there's a lot of variety in terms of what dry hire venues offer and how they work. For example, some dry hire venues will just provide an empty room, while others will include furniture. Similarly, wet hire venues may not be able to provide everything that you need for your event, so it's important to clarify what exactly is included before you hire a venue for your event. ## What are the benefits of choosing a dry hire venue in London? Dry hire venues in London come with a whole host of benefits. Here are the main ones. - Give you more control. With a dry hire venue, you can source and coordinate all the suppliers yourself, which gives you a lot of flexibility when it comes to planning your event. This is especially useful if you have specific requirements, as you'll be able to source suppliers that can meet those requirements exactly. - Great for creating a unique event. Dry hire venues also offer plenty of scope for individuality, allowing you to really make your event stand out from the crowd. You can hand-pick all the suppliers you want to work with, from caterers to AV companies, to create a completely different experience from all the other events that have been held at your venue. - Keep a closer eye on your budget. You'll have more control over how your budget is spent, as you'll be choosing suppliers that meet your needs and budget. This means you can choose to spend more on those elements of your event that are most important to you, and less on those elements that aren't. - Can be more affordable. Dry hire venues offer more affordable pricing than many other kinds of venue (although remember, this is largely due to the fact that suppliers aren't included in the price as they are with wet hire). - More flexible. Dry hire venues also tend to be more flexible than all-inclusive venues, as they're not tied to any one supplier. This means they don't have just one fixed way of working and are often more open to trying new things. Are there any downsides to choosing a dry hire venue in London? While there are plenty of great benefits that come with dry hire venues in London, there are also a few potential downsides that you should be aware of before making your decision. - More work for you. One of the main disadvantages of dry hire venues is that they require more work from you as the event organiser. You'll have to source and coordinate all the different suppliers yourself, which can be time-consuming and stressful. - Costs can add up. Although dry hire venues are often more affordable than all-inclusive venues, this doesn't mean your event as a whole will be cheaper. You'll need to factor in the cost of all those external suppliers when you're calculating your budget, and this can sometimes make events in dry hire venues more expensive than in all-inclusive venues. - Less time to enjoy the event on the day. As you'll be coordinating your suppliers, you'll have more work to do on the day of your event. This will make it harder for you to find the time to switch off and enjoy it. ## What types of dry hire venue can you find in London? There's a wide range of dry hire venues in London, including party venues, conference spaces, and exhibition halls. However, you'll often find that dry hire venues come into their own the most when you're looking to host a completely bespoke event that's going to create a unique and memorable experience for your guests. For that reason, they're particularly useful for events like product launches, fashion shows, gala dinners and weddings. ### Dry hire product launch venues One of the most popular types of event that dry hire venues are used for is [product launches](https://hirespace.com/Top/London/London-Product-Launch-Venues). A product launch is all about making a big impact and creating a buzz around your new product, so it's important to choose a venue that will reflect that. Dry hire venues offer you the opportunity to create a bespoke event that's tailored exactly to your needs and that will help you make the desired impact. A [blank canvas space](https://hirespace.com/Top/London/Blank-Canvas-Venues-in-London) like [Village Underground] (https://hirespace.com/Spaces/London/10550/Village-Underground/Whole-Venue/Events) will give you plenty of scope for creativity and flexibility, ideal for a memorable product launch or pop-up event. ### Dry hire fashion show venues Another type of event that's well-suited to dry hire venues is [fashion shows](https://hirespace.com/Top/London/Fashion-Show-Venues). Whether you're hosting a small boutique show or a larger event featuring some of the biggest names in fashion, a dry hire venue can give you the creative freedom you need to host a wow-worthy event. Some of our favourite dry hire venues when it comes to fashion show venues in London include abandoned warehouses, industrial spaces and rooftop terraces. We particularly love [Hoxton Arches](https://hirespace.com/Spaces/London/11934/Hoxton-Arches/Hoxton-Arches-Arch-402/Arts) with its exposed-brick arched ceiling. Able to be hired on a dry or wet hire basis, it's ideal for any kind of fashion show. ### Dry hire gala dinner venues Dry hire venues can also be the ideal choice for grand [gala dinners](https://hirespace.com/Top/London/Gala-Dinner-Venues-in-London) where you're looking to create something for your guests that they've never experienced before. Being able to bring in your own suppliers will allow you to make your gala dinner the event of the year! Some top dry hire venues for gala dinner venues in London include ballrooms, historic houses, and grand hotels. These kinds of venues offer an air of sophistication and elegance that's perfect for gala dinners. However, one of our favourite dry hire options has to be the striking [Bloomsbury Big Top](https://hirespace.com/Spaces/London/512/The-Bloomsbury-Big-Top/Cirque-Shanghai/Events), an award-winning, multi-purpose venue that's sure to make an impact on your guests! ### Dry hire wedding venues Dry hire [wedding venues](https://hirespace.com/Top/London/Affordable-Wedding-Venues-London) are a very popular choice. A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event, so it's important to choose a venue that will allow you to really make it your own. Some top types of dry hire wedding venues include outdoor spaces and manor houses. However, we bet you'll love [The Bloomsbury Ballroom](https://hirespace.com/Spaces/London/4515/The-Bloomsbury-Ballroom/The-Ballroom/Weddings). This stunning Art Deco events space is located in central London and is full of character, making it the perfect backdrop for a wedding day. ## What to consider before choosing a dry hire venue When choosing a dry hire venue, there are a few things to keep in mind. - The kind of event you're planning. First, you'll need to know what kind of event you're planning. If you're looking for a dry hire wedding venue, that will be very different from a dry hire conference venue, for example. - The style of space you're after. Dry hire venues come in all shapes and sizes, from large industrial warehouses to historic halls. So, it's important to know what kind of space would suit your event type, brand and the taste of your guests. - The number of guests you're expecting. Go through and hone your guest list before hunting for a dry hire venue as they'll all have a maximum capacity. The last thing you want is to be forced to cull your guest list to fit your event into the venue you've booked! - Your budget. One of the main considerations when choosing a dry hire venue is your budget. Dry hire venues typically don't include additional costs such as catering, so it's important to factor this into your budget when choosing a venue. - The logistics of setting up and clearing away your event. Dry hire venues typically don't offer event management services, so you'll need to organise all the logistics of setting up and clearing away your event yourself. - The amount of time you have to plan your event. Dry hire venues will require you to source all your suppliers and deal with the logistics of getting them there on time. So, consider how much time you have to dedicate to the planning of your event before you put it in the diary. ## How to find the best dry hire venues in London for your event If you're looking for the best dry hire venues in London for your event, just follow these simple steps. 1. Search Hire Space. You can browse the dry hire venues we've listed above or cut straight to the chase by using our advanced search tool. Our handy filters will allow you to find a venue that matches your requirements exactly, from the location to the budget and capacity. 2. Contact the venues you like. Once you've selected a few top choices, it's a good idea to contact the venues directly via their profile on Hire Space, to arrange viewings. This will help you get a better sense of what each venue has to offer and whether it's the right choice for your event. 3. Get quotes from suppliers. Dry hire venues typically don't include additional costs, such as catering or AV equipment, in their hire fees. So, once you've chosen your venue, it's important to get quotes from multiple [suppliers](https://hirespace.com/Suppliers/Event-Suppliers) to ensure you're getting the best deal for your event. If you're looking for a space for your event that offers plenty of flexibility and creativity, a dry hire venue in London could be the perfect choice. If you need any help finding the best one for your needs, feel free to [get in touch](https://hirespace.com/Ask-An-Expert) with our venue experts and they'll be happy to introduce you to some venues that could be right up your street!
Featured Venues for Dry Hire Venues
Browse 16 venues perfect for Dry Hire Venues
Events at Central Hall Westminster
A versatile Lecture Hall for up to 400 delegates in Central London's historic Grade II* listed building.
From: £5700 per person
Capacity: Up to 500 guests
Events at The Bloomsbury Ballroom
An Art Deco bar with DJ deck, small stage, and lift. Ideal for receptions, dinners, and exhibitions.
From: £5000 per person
Capacity: Up to 250 guests
Business at The Brewery
Historic venue with exposed brick, oak floors, and period lanterns. Ideal for receptions and exhibitions.
From: £115 per person
Capacity: Up to 700 guests
Events at The Science Museum
A modern event space with city views in the Science Museum. Ideal for large dinners, conferences, and receptions.
From: £12000 per person
Capacity: Up to 450 guests
Events at The Steel Yard
A versatile 1000-capacity venue in restored Victorian arches with staging, AV, bar, and VIP areas.
From: £6000 per person
Capacity: Up to 200 guests
Business at ISH Venues
A versatile 300-seat space in central London, ideal for conferences, launches, and exhibitions.
From: £45 per person
Capacity: Up to 550 guests
Events at RSA House
Historic Georgian venue with versatile spaces, including atmospheric Vaults for large receptions and unique celebrations.
From: £3589 per person
Capacity: Up to 220 guests
Dining at 116 Pall Mall
A grand, versatile event space in a Georgian landmark, ideal for dining, banquets, and weddings.
From: £90 per person
Capacity: Up to 160 guests
Business at Crafts Council Gallery
From: £250 per person
Capacity: Up to 160 guests
Business at 83 Rivington Street
A spacious dry hire venue in Shoreditch with exposed brick arches, ideal for corporate and social events.
From: £13000 per person
Capacity: Up to 700 guests
...and 6 more venues available
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a 'dry hire' venue?
'Dry hire' means that a venue only provides the use of the space that they have, such as a hall or room, whereas 'wet hire' allows you to not only use the venue space but also their caterers, drinks, event designers and audio-visual services
Can I bring in my own caterers for dry hire?
It does depend on the venue but the majority of dry hire venues allow external catering. If not, they'll have a preferred suppliers list that you can pick from.
What are 'dry hire' venues commonly used for?
Dry hire venues can be used for any event. They are commonly used for pop-ups, press events, dinners and parties.
Related Event Types
- Event Venues
- Ballrooms
- Stadiums
- Intimate Event Venues
- Large Venues
- Outdoor Event Venues
- Product Launch Venues
- Showpiece Venues
- Blank Canvas Venues
- Awards Ceremony Venues
- Large Event Venues
- Corporate Venues
- Corporate Event Venues
- Business Venues
- Inception Group
- Venues With No Corkage
- Impressive Event Venues
- Venues on the Thames


