Business

Dining

Events

What are the minimum spend requirements for private dining events at Duck & Waffle?

Minimum spends vary significantly by day and time. For breakfast events, the private dining room (up to 20 guests) requires £500 including VAT, excluding 14% service charge. For exclusive hire of the main restaurant (up to 120 seated), minimum spends range from £18k on Sunday breakfast to £30k on Saturday evenings, all excluding VAT and service charges. All minimum spends exclude the mandatory 18% total service charge (15% service charge plus 3% event management fee).

What are the capacity limits for different dining configurations?

The private dining room accommodates up to 20 guests seated for breakfast events. For exclusive hire of the main restaurant, capacity is 120 guests seated or 250 guests standing. The main restaurant can also accommodate 14 guests on one table when requested for smaller groups who don't require full exclusivity.

What service charges and fees are added to all bookings?

All events incur an 18% total service charge, comprised of 15% service charge plus 3% event management fee, calculated on the minimum spend excluding VAT. For the private dining room breakfast events, there's a 14% service charge instead. These charges are mandatory and separate from the minimum spend requirements.

What are the standard event timings and setup access?

Evening events typically run from 18:30 to midnight with setup access from 16:30. Breakfast events run from 08:00 to 11:00. Bar bookings are available for up to 3 hours with option to extend later, and the venue operates with flexible timing based on the event type and day of the week.

What additional mandatory costs apply to exclusive hire events?

While Duck & Waffle doesn't charge hire fees, additional mandatory charges apply for security and furniture removal on exclusive hire events. The specific costs for these services are determined based on the event requirements but are compulsory for full restaurant exclusivity.

What are the booking and payment requirements?

The full minimum spend is required as a deposit within 24 hours of booking confirmation. Duck & Waffle operates a 7-day cancellation policy for group bookings and a 14-day cancellation/postponement policy for private dining room bookings. Online bookings can be made up to 2 months in advance.

What dining restrictions and dietary accommodations are available?

Duck & Waffle does not supply Halal meat but can provide vegetarian alternatives. For all group bookings, a pre-order of arrival drinks and canapés is required to ensure prompt service on the day. The venue offers set menus, canapé options, and beverage packages that must be selected in advance.

What event types and promotional activities are prohibited?

Due to venue licensing restrictions, Duck & Waffle cannot host externally promoted ticketed events. Any ticketed event must be organised by the venue itself and comply with their specific venue requirements. This restriction applies to all spaces within the venue.

How do minimum spends vary between weekdays and weekends?

Saturday is considered a high-demand day with significantly higher minimum spends due to regular restaurant operations. Sunday events offer reduced minimum spends - for example, exclusive hire drops from £30k on Saturday to £25k on Sunday evening. July evenings require a minimum of £20k excluding VAT and service charge at the lowest rate.

What spaces are available for different group sizes and how do they connect?

For smaller groups, the private dining room seats up to 20 guests or the main restaurant can accommodate 14 guests on one table. For larger events, full restaurant exclusivity provides 120 seated or 250 standing capacity. There's also the SAMBAROOM option on the 39th floor with shared lift entry and cloakroom, offering different pricing structures for standing receptions.