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 per person with 280 minimum guests.

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), and Convocation Hall (100 theatre). Multiple spaces can be hired together, with the Assembly Hall, Hoare Memorial Hall, and Bishops Partridge Hall commonly used as a package.

What AV packages are available and what do they cost?

Standard AV packages start from £4,495 ex VAT. Assembly Hall AV package is £3,995 ex VAT including 4K laser projector, 8-speaker sound system, stage lighting, microphones, and engineers. Harvey Goodwin Suite AV is £2,330 ex VAT with LCD projector, sound system, and lighting. All packages include WiFi access and technical support.

What are the standard operating hours and setup requirements?

Standard event hours are 8:30am-5:00pm, with some events running until 6:00pm or 7:00pm. Evening setup access is available from 6:30pm-9:30pm the night before for an additional £11,940 ex VAT. The venue must be cleared by 10:00pm on setup nights.

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

The venue experiences high demand with frequent full bookings, particularly on popular dates like Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Specific dates mentioned as fully booked include September 23rd, October 21st, June 26th, and July 12th 2025. Early booking is essential due to limited availability.

What catering options and pricing are available?

Day Delegate Rates (DDR) start from £59.50 per person including room hire, arrival refreshments, mid-morning/afternoon breaks, and lunch. Full DDR packages can reach £65.50 per person including hot/cold breakfast buffet and all-day refreshments. Drinks receptions start from £29.50 per person, and catering is provided by Searcys.

Can I use external suppliers or do my own catering?

The venue works with Searcys as their catering partner, and there's no mention of external catering being permitted. For filming enquiries, these are handled by a separate colleague (Ben), suggesting different rules may apply for film productions versus standard events.

What is the booking and payment process?

Initial proposals are provided after discussing requirements, with detailed quotes including venue hire, catering minimums, and AV packages. Site visits can be arranged with sales executives. The venue offers 2nd option holds on dates while clients make decisions, and proposals are tailored based on specific space combinations needed.

Are there any restrictions on event types or special requirements?

The venue accommodates conferences, award ceremonies, corporate events, Christmas parties, and even boxing events. Special setups like cabaret style, theatre style, and exhibition spaces are available. The venue is fully accessible and located in Dean's Yard, Westminster with views of Westminster Abbey.

What happens if my preferred date is unavailable?

If your preferred date is fully booked, the sales team will suggest alternative dates and can help find alternative venues if needed. They frequently ask about date flexibility and offer 2nd option holds on available dates. The venue maintains relationships with other venues to assist when they cannot accommodate requests.