Lilian Baylis Studio

Sadler's Wells

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Lilian Baylis Studio stage with seating, ideal for conferences and performances.
  • From £55 per hour
  • 350 Reception
  • Angel
  • From £55 per hour
  • 350 Reception
  • Angel
Retractable raked seating transforms from intimate 180-seat theatre to blank canvas reception space at the touch of a button.
Aidan De Forest-Brown
Aidan De Forest-Brown

Venue Expert @ Hire Space

  • Dedicated technical team
  • In-house catering available
  • Air conditioning
  • Flexible blank canvas space when seating retracted
  • 180-seat retractable raked seating
  • Built-in projector and screen
  • State-of-the-art sound and lighting equipment
  • Three private dressing rooms

Recently refurbished with the latest sound and lighting equipment, the Lilian Baylis Studio combines state-of-the-art event facilities with a real theatre atmosphere to create the perfect setting for seminars, performances and conferences. It is a stimulating and intimate venue with flexible design. The raked seating can be retracted at the touch of a button to reveal a blank canvas for private dining, parties and evening receptions. The Lilian Baylis Studio includes three private dressing rooms and is managed exclusively by a team of experienced technicians.




Frequently asked questions

The Dorfman Room costs £1,400 plus VAT per day, £1,000 plus VAT per half day, or £1,250 plus VAT per evening. The Mezzanine Level costs £2,100 plus VAT per day. The Lilian Baylis Studio costs £3,100 plus VAT per day (09:00-22:00). The Peacock Theatre costs £11,000 plus VAT per day, with an additional £6,500 plus VAT for a get-in day only.

The Dorfman Room accommodates 64 people in cabaret style or 100 people in theatre style. The Mezzanine Level has a total floor area of 241.32m² and includes the Dorfman Room plus additional breakout spaces. The Lilian Baylis Studio has 180 theatre-style capacity with retractable raked seating. The Peacock Theatre accommodates larger audiences but specific capacity numbers weren't provided in the communications.

All spaces include Wi-Fi access, technical support, built-in PA systems linked to CD/iPod, drop-down screens, and built-in projectors connected to computers and memory sticks (HDMI cable only for laptops). The Dorfman Room and Mezzanine Level include portable plasma screens if multiple screens are needed. Free items include lecterns, 2 wired microphones, and cloakroom facilities.

For the Peacock Theatre, payment must be settled in advance with a non-refundable 50% deposit on signing and the remaining non-refundable 50% due two months prior to the event. A deposit on services and hired equipment is invoiced together with the venue hire fee for all spaces. Specific payment terms for other spaces weren't detailed in the communications.

Sadler's Wells manages all catering and bars in-house - no other caterers are allowed on site. They provide seasonal menus ranging from breakfasts and sandwiches to hot fork buffets and canapés. If you're showcasing a drinks brand without serving, this may be considered but requires approval and details about the brand must be shared.

Theatre spaces operate with booking hours of 09:00-22:00 each day. Get-out hours may run later than 22:00 after the final day as required. Technical support is provided 09:00-17:00. No equipment is present at the start of hire, so the first day begins with technical rigging and preparation before stage access.

Technical staffing is mandatory for health and safety reasons - minimum of 1 senior technician plus 2 additional technical staff for theatre operations. Rates are single time Monday-Friday, time and a half on Saturdays, and double time on Sundays. Front of house and security staffing costs are recharged and invoiced separately. Staff costs apply to Sundays for all venues.

All theatres undergo maintenance during August and are unavailable for hire. September through December is the busy season with internal programming, making availability limited. December dates are typically booked up with programming. Availability varies significantly by month, so flexibility with dates is often required.

All external enquiries require approval from Senior Management. You must provide an artistic presentation or video/photo material of your show or event. This approval process applies to all external bookings and is mandatory before confirming any reservation.

For ticketed events, hirers receive 100% ticket share. Ticketing service costs £300 plus VAT per production/performance and includes website listing and e-tickets. There's a 3% payment fee on all card and cash transactions for tickets sold. Ticket office staffing is extra and will be invoiced separately.

Yes, there's a 30% commission on all programmes and merchandise, which must be sold via Sadler's Wells' front of house staff. You cannot sell merchandise directly - all sales must go through their FOH team who will handle transactions and remit the remaining 70% to you.




More about Sadler's Wells

Sadler’s Wells is a world-renowned performance and events venue. Boasting three contemporary theatres ranging from 180 to 1,500 seats as well as a host of versatile meeting rooms, Sadler’s Wells is the ideal venue for conferences, workshops, product launches, AGMs, training days, award ceremonies, team building experiences and networking receptions.

Our experienced Events Team provides dedicated events management, ensuring smooth event delivery and success. Clients also benefit from our in-house catering team which provides a wide range of fresh, seasonal menus for a variety of occasions.