Business

Dining

Events

What are the minimum venue hire costs and catering requirements for business events?

Minimum venue hire is £8,000 ex VAT for weekend bookings. Catering has a minimum spend of £69.50 per person with a minimum of 250 guests (£17,375 total). For smaller events, there's a minimum catering spend of £2,500 ex VAT for 100 guests, and some spaces require minimum spends of £41.50 per person with 280 minimum guests.

Which spaces are available for business meetings and what are their capacities?

Key business spaces include the Assembly Hall (main conference space), Hoare Memorial Hall (catering and exhibitions), Harvey Goodwin Suite (up to 180 theatre style), Convocation Hall (up to 100 theatre style), and smaller meeting rooms like Charter Room, Robert Runcie Room, and Temple Room for breakouts. The venue can accommodate up to 600 guests across multiple spaces.

What AV packages are included and what are the costs?

Standard AV packages start from £1,830 ex VAT for smaller spaces like Convocation Hall, £2,796 ex VAT for Harvey Goodwin Suite, and £4,794 ex VAT for Assembly Hall. Packages include projectors, screens, sound systems, microphones, lighting, laptops, and technical engineers. Weekend bookings incur an extra £500 per AV package.

What are the standard operating hours and setup access times?

Standard venue hire runs from 08:30 to 17:00 for day events. Evening setup access is available from 18:30-21:30 for an additional £11,940 ex VAT, with venues cleared by 22:00. Extended hours for evening events can run until 19:00 or later with additional charges.

How far in advance do I need to book and what dates are typically unavailable?

The venue gets fully booked well in advance, with multiple dates showing as unavailable including September 23rd, October 21st, and June 26th 2025. Popular dates fill up quickly, so flexibility with dates is recommended. The venue actively suggests alternative dates when preferred dates are unavailable.

What catering options are available for business events and can I bring my own?

Catering is provided by in-house partner Searcys with options including Day Delegate Rates (DDR), breakfast, coffee breaks, buffet lunches, and reception drinks. DDR packages start from £52-65.50 ex VAT per person. External catering is not mentioned as an option - all catering appears to be handled internally.

Are there any restrictions on event types or special requirements for corporate events?

The venue accommodates various business events including conferences, meetings, training sessions, and corporate events. Boxing events and filming enquiries are handled by specialist teams. There's a separate contact (Ben) for filming enquiries, suggesting different processes for non-standard corporate events.

What is the booking and payment process for securing a date?

The venue provides detailed proposals with space allocations, pricing breakdowns, and terms. Site visits can be arranged with sales executives like Charlotte Brumby. Proposals include specific room assignments (e.g., Assembly Hall for main sessions, Hoare Memorial Hall for catering) and comprehensive cost breakdowns including venue hire, catering minimums, and AV packages.

What spaces work best for different business event formats and capacities?

For large conferences (300+ people), the Assembly Hall serves as the main plenary with Hoare Memorial Hall for catering. For smaller meetings (50-100 people), Harvey Goodwin Suite works well with Robert Runcie Room for catering and Temple Room as breakout space. Multiple rooms can be combined for larger events requiring breakout sessions.

Are there additional costs beyond venue hire and catering that I should budget for?

Yes, AV packages are mandatory extras starting from £1,830-4,794 ex VAT depending on the space. Weekend bookings add £500 per AV package. Setup access the evening prior costs £11,940 ex VAT. All prices are quoted excluding VAT, so add 20% to all figures for final costs.