Business

Dining

Events

What are the minimum venue hire costs and catering requirements?

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-£43.50 per person.

Which spaces are available and what are their capacities?

Main spaces include Assembly Hall (main conference space), Hoare Memorial Hall (catering/exhibition space for 250 standing), Harvey Goodwin Suite (180 theatre/main conference space), Bishops Partridge Hall (150 standing), Convocation Hall (100 theatre), and various smaller rooms like Charter Room, Robert Runcie Room, and Temple Room for breakouts. Multiple spaces can be combined for larger events.

What are the standard AV packages and costs?

Assembly Hall AV package costs £4,794 ex VAT and includes 4K laser projector, large screens, 8-speaker sound system, microphones, stage lighting, and engineers. Harvey Goodwin Suite AV is £2,796 ex VAT with LCD projector, sound system, and lighting. Convocation Hall AV is £1,830 ex VAT with 95" LED screen and basic sound setup.

What are the typical operating hours and setup access?

Standard event hours are 08:30-17:00 for day events, with evening events extending to 18:00-22:00. Setup access the evening prior is available from 18:30-21:30 for £11,940 ex VAT, with venue clearance required by 22:00. Day-of access for AV crews can start from 06:30.

How far in advance do dates get booked and what's the booking process?

Popular dates book well in advance - the venue frequently responds that specific dates are "fully booked" months ahead. The sales team provides detailed proposals with space allocations, pricing breakdowns, and can arrange site visits. Contact Charlotte Brumby at +44 (0)20 7390 1544 for bookings.

What catering options and pricing are available?

Day Delegate Rates start from £59,400 for 500 guests (£49,500 ex VAT) including room hire, arrival refreshments, mid-morning/afternoon breaks, and two-choice standing fork buffet lunch. Alternative options include hot fork buffet at £52.00 ex VAT per person, with breakfast and juices charged separately. Drinks receptions start from £29.50 ex VAT per person.

Are there any restrictions on event types or special requirements?

The venue accommodates conferences, award ceremonies, Christmas parties, boxing events, and filming inquiries (handled by a separate contact). There are no obvious restrictions mentioned, though filming enquiries are directed to a specialist team member. The venue appears flexible with different event formats and layouts.

What's included in venue hire and what costs extra?

Venue hire covers room access during specified hours but AV packages, catering, and setup access are charged separately. Weekend bookings incur additional fees (£500 extra for AV packages). All prices quoted are exclusive of VAT. Setup the evening prior requires separate hire charges and must be cleared by 22:00.

Can the venue accommodate large conferences and what's the maximum capacity?

The venue can host up to 600 guests in a single space and has successfully handled events for 500+ attendees. For large conferences, they offer exclusive hire of the 1st floor (Assembly Hall, Hoare Memorial Hall, Bishops Partridge Hall, Convocation Hall, and additional smaller rooms) for £21,535 ex VAT, plus breakout spaces like Harvey Goodwin Suite.

What are the payment terms and budget considerations?

Budget examples from actual quotes range from £34,740 ex VAT for 250-guest dinners to £74,940 ex VAT for 600-person conferences. The venue works with budgets from £5,000-£6,000 for smaller events up to £180,000 for large multi-day conferences. Specific payment terms aren't detailed in the communications, but proposals are provided for review before booking confirmation.