Business

Dining

Events

What are the minimum venue hire costs and catering requirements for weekend bookings?

Weekend bookings have a minimum venue hire of £8,000 ex VAT. Catering has a minimum spend of £69.50 per person with a minimum of 250 guests (£17,375 total). AV packages start from £4,495 ex VAT.

What is included in the Day Delegate Rate (DDR) and what does it cost per person?

The DDR costs £59,400 ex VAT for 500 guests (£118.80 per person) and includes room hire of Assembly Hall, Hoare Memorial Hall, Bishops Partridge Hall & Harvey Goodwin Suite, arrival refreshments, mid-morning refreshments, mid-afternoon refreshments, and two-choice standing fork buffet lunch. There is a minimum of 330 guests for DDR packages.

Which spaces are typically used together for dining events and what are their capacities?

The Assembly Hall is commonly used as the main dining space for up to 250 guests, with the Hoare Memorial Hall serving as the catering and drinks reception area. The Harvey Goodwin Suite can accommodate 180 theatre-style or be used as additional catering space for larger numbers.

What are the standard AV packages and costs for the main dining spaces?

Assembly Hall AV package costs £4,794 ex VAT and includes 4K laser projector, 5.6m x 3.15m screen, 8-speaker sound system, microphones, stage lighting, and engineers. Harvey Goodwin Suite AV costs £2,796 ex VAT with LCD projector, screen, sound system, and lighting. Weekend bookings incur an extra £500 per AV package.

What are the minimum catering spends and guest requirements?

Minimum catering spend is £41.50 ex VAT per person with a minimum of 280 guests (£11,620 total). For some events, the minimum increases to £43.50 per person. Food minimum spends vary by event size and space configuration.

What are the typical operating hours and setup access times?

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

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

Popular dates like Tuesday 23rd September 2025, Monday 21st October 2025, and Thursday 26th June 2025 are already fully booked. The venue recommends booking well in advance, particularly for autumn dates which appear to have high demand.

What is the pricing structure for multi-space bookings and exclusive hire?

1st floor exclusive hire costs £21,535 ex VAT and includes Assembly Hall, Hoare Memorial Hall, Bishop Partridge Hall, Convocation Hall, plus additional rooms like Charter Room, Jubilee Room, Canterbury Room, York Room, Bishop's Robing Room and College Room. Individual room hire varies from £690 ex VAT (College Room) to £8,580 ex VAT (Assembly Hall).

Are there different rates for charity events or special discounts available?

The venue does accommodate charity events and mentions being budget-conscious for charitable organizations, but specific discount rates are not detailed in the standard pricing. Clients should inquire directly about potential charity rates when making their initial enquiry.

What catering options are available beyond the standard DDR package?

Options include hot fork buffet with three tea/coffee servings at £52.00 ex VAT per person, traditional afternoon tea, drinks receptions from £29.50 ex VAT per person, and bowl food/finger food options. Breakfast items and juices are charged separately when not part of DDR packages.