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Events

What are the venue hire rates and minimum catering requirements for different spaces?

The Garden Room & Conservatory costs £7,800+VAT for evening hire (17:30-00:00) with a minimum catering spend of £3,000+VAT. The Frobisher Triple Room is £3,200+VAT for day hire (08:30-17:00) with overnight hold at £950+VAT and minimum catering spend of £1,500+VAT. Cinema 1 day hire is £6,100+VAT (08:30-17:00) and evening hire is £5,100+VAT (17:30-23:00), both with £5,000+VAT minimum catering spend.

What are the capacity limits for different room configurations?

Cinema 1 has a total capacity of 280 in raked auditorium style. The Garden Room & Conservatory accommodates 220 banquet, 180 dinner/dance, 450 reception, 180 seated buffet, or 350 fork buffet. Frobisher Triple Room holds 170 theatre style or 96 cabaret style. Both Cinema 1 and Auditorium 1 have 220 capacity spaces.

What AV equipment is included and what are the additional costs?

Cinema 1 includes a 34000lms 4K DLP cinema projector, screen, PA system, 3 cabled microphones, Wi-Fi, full house lighting system, and dedicated technician. Frobisher rooms include LCD projector 8000lms with WUXGA resolution, screen, and Wi-Fi. Additional options include PA system & microphone for £111+VAT and 55" LCD screens for £175+VAT.

What are the standard operating hours and setup requirements?

Day hire runs 08:30-17:00 and evening hire runs 17:30-00:00 or 17:30-23:00 depending on the space. Tenancy times include setup and de-rig - they recommend 1.5 hours for setup and 30 minutes for de-rig. For additional hours beyond standard times, you must speak to your sales contact for pricing.

What payment and contract requirements must be met before events?

Invoices must be paid prior to the event going ahead. Contracts must be signed before the event can proceed. The venue requires both payment and signed contracts as mandatory prerequisites, with no exceptions for events to take place.

How far in advance do spaces get booked and what affects availability?

Popular spaces like Cinema 1 and Auditorium 1 (both 220 capacity) can be fully booked months in advance. Large conference groups can block availability for multiple days (such as 8th-10th September periods). The venue regularly has no availability for requested dates, particularly for their most sought-after spaces.

What catering options are available and who provides them?

In-house catering is provided by Searcys with professional kitchen facilities available. Halal catering is available upon request. All spaces have mandatory minimum catering spends that must be met, ranging from £1,500+VAT to £5,000+VAT depending on the space hired.

What makes Cinema 1 particularly suitable for award ceremonies and conferences?

Cinema 1 features raked auditorium seating for 280 people with excellent sightlines - no seat is more than 20 metres from the stage and every audience member has an unobstructed view. It includes a state-of-the-art 4K cinema projector, full house lighting system, and dedicated technician for sound and lighting operations.

Are there any unique venue features that distinguish the Barbican Centre?

The Conservatory is described as a "hidden tropical oasis in the heart of the city" housing exotic fish and over 1,500 species of tropical plants and trees. It currently hosts site-specific art commissions, making it one of London's most unusual event venues with a distinctive atmosphere.

What happens if my preferred date is unavailable?

The venue sales team will actively help find alternative venues if your preferred dates are unavailable. They have established processes to "find the customer an alternative venue" when the Barbican Centre cannot accommodate the requested dates, demonstrating their commitment to client service even when they cannot host the event.