Business

Events

Screenings

What are the hire rates and minimum catering spend for Cinema 1?

Cinema 1 day hire (08:30-17:00) costs £6,100+VAT and evening hire (17:30-23:00) costs £5,100+VAT. There is a mandatory minimum catering spend of £5,000+VAT for each hire period. The venue includes a 4K DLP cinema projector, PA system, 3 cabled microphones, Wi-Fi, full house lighting system, and a dedicated technician for sound and lighting.

What is the capacity and setup of Cinema 1 for conferences and screenings?

Cinema 1 has a total capacity of 280 people in a raked auditorium style with fixed seating. The space is located on Level -2 and features a 34000lms 4K DLP cinema projector with 1920 x 1080 50i HD resolution. It includes 3 simultaneous translation booths and fully-integrated stage lighting that can be colour-washed to match corporate branding.

What are the hire rates for the Frobisher Rooms and what's included?

Frobisher Triple Room day hire (08:30-17:00) costs £3,200+VAT with a mandatory minimum catering spend of £1,500+VAT. An overnight hold costs £950+VAT. The space accommodates 170 theatre style or 96 cabaret style and includes LCD projector (8000lms WUXGA resolution), screen, and Wi-Fi. Tenancy times include setup and de-rig, with 1.5 hours recommended for setup and 30 minutes for de-rig.

What are the hire costs for the Garden Room & Conservatory?

Evening venue hire (17:30-00:00) for the Garden Room & Conservatory costs £7,800+VAT with a mandatory minimum catering spend of £3,000+VAT. The space has multiple capacity options: 220 banquet, 180 dinner/dance, 450 reception, 180 seated buffet, or 350 fork buffet. Additional PA system and microphone costs £111+VAT, and 55" LCD screens cost £175+VAT.

What technical equipment and support is included with venue hire?

Cinema 1 includes a dedicated technician for sound and lighting, 4K DLP cinema projector, PA system, 3 cabled microphones, and full house lighting system. Frobisher Rooms include LCD projector and screen. Additional equipment available includes PA systems from £111-122+VAT, LCD screens from £175-216+VAT, and stages are available free of charge for some spaces.

Are there any restrictions on event timing or access hours?

Standard day hire runs 08:30-17:00 and evening hire runs 17:30-00:00 or 17:30-23:00 depending on the space. Setup and de-rig time is included in tenancy periods. For events requiring earlier access (such as 3pm access), additional charges apply at £750+VAT per hour. Payment of invoices must be completed prior to events proceeding.

What is the booking and payment process?

Bookings require a signed contract and invoice payment prior to the event proceeding. The venue operates on an availability basis, with some spaces frequently booked (Cinema 1 and Auditorium 1 are noted as popular 220-capacity spaces). Clients should check date flexibility as availability can be limited, particularly for larger conference groups.

What catering arrangements and minimums apply?

All venue hires have mandatory minimum catering spends that must be met through the venue's catering partner Searcys. Cinema 1 requires £5,000+VAT minimum spend, Frobisher Rooms require £1,500+VAT, and Garden Room & Conservatory require £3,000+VAT. The catering team can create original menus and provide theming to match event requirements.

What makes the Conservatory unique for events?

The Conservatory is a tropical oasis in the heart of the city, home to exotic fish and over 1,500 species of tropical plants and trees. It currently hosts site-specific art installations and can accommodate various layouts from intimate dinners to large receptions. The space offers a distinctive setting that can be themed and decorated according to client requirements.

What are the different capacity options across the business spaces?

Cinema 1 seats 280 in raked auditorium style, Frobisher Triple Room accommodates 170 theatre or 96 cabaret style, and Garden Room & Conservatory offers flexible capacities from 180 seated dinner up to 450 reception style. Auditorium 1 also seats 220 and is frequently booked alongside Cinema 1 for larger events requiring multiple spaces.