Business

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

There is a minimum venue hire of £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 based on 100 guests minimum.

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

Key business spaces include the Assembly Hall (main conference space), Harvey Goodwin Suite (up to 180 theatre style), Hoare Memorial Hall (main conference space with catering), and smaller meeting rooms like the Robert Runcie Room, Temple Room, Abbey Room, Westminster Room, and Herbert Baker Room for breakout sessions. The venue can accommodate events from small meetings to 600+ delegates.

What AV equipment is included and what are the costs?

Standard AV packages start from £1,830 ex VAT for smaller rooms up to £4,794 ex VAT for the Assembly Hall. Packages typically include projectors, screens, sound systems, microphones (lectern, lapel, and handheld), lighting, laptops, and technical engineers. Basic AV like 64" plasma screens are included in some room hires.

What are the standard operating hours and setup access times?

Standard hire times appear to run 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 to be cleared by 22:00pm. Extended hours until 19:00 incur additional charges.

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. Multiple dates in 2025 (September 23rd, October 21st, June 26th) are already fully booked. Early booking is essential, and date flexibility is strongly recommended.

What catering options are available for business events?

Day Delegate Rates (DDR) are available starting from £49,500 for 500 guests, including room hire, arrival refreshments, mid-morning and afternoon refreshments, and lunch. Individual catering items include breakfast, coffee breaks, and various lunch options. All catering is provided by in-house partner Searcys.

Can I use external suppliers or do I need to use venue-approved vendors?

The venue has in-house catering through Searcys and in-house AV services. While external suppliers aren't explicitly prohibited in the available information, the venue appears to primarily work with their own teams. A colleague named Ben handles filming enquiries, suggesting some external production work is accommodated.

What is the booking and payment process?

Initial proposals are provided after discussing requirements with the sales team. The venue offers site visits to potential clients, and proposals can be customized based on specific needs. Payment terms and deposit requirements aren't specified in the available information, but the sales team provides detailed written proposals for review.

Are there any restrictions on event types or special requirements?

The venue accommodates various business events including conferences, meetings, workshops, and corporate events. Special events like boxing matches and filming are handled by specific team members. The venue is fully accessible and has achieved carbon-neutral status, indicating strong sustainability credentials.

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 maintain a policy of finding customers alternative venue options when Church House Westminster cannot accommodate the request.