Business

Dining

What are the Day Delegate Package rates and what's included?

The Day Delegate Package is £75-£90 per person including VAT, with minimum numbers typically required (14-48 people depending on the event). This includes arrival tea/coffee with refreshments, mid-morning tea/coffee break, restaurant buffet lunch or working lunch, afternoon tea/coffee break, room hire, pads/pens/mineral water/sweets, complimentary WiFi, dedicated event host, and LCD projector/screen/flipchart. Some quotes show rates reduced from £95-£105 per person.

What meeting rooms are available and what are their capacities?

The venue has nine meeting suites including The Belle (suitable for 10-16 people in U-shape), The Viceroy Suite (21 people boardroom), The Orient Suite (largest space seating up to 110 people, 56 cabaret, 80 banquet, 100 theatre style, 40 U-shape), The Ghan Suite (smallest boardroom for 6 people around circular table), Blue Boardroom, and Rovos Suite. All rooms include natural daylight, air conditioning, wireless broadband, and LCD screens or plasma displays.

What are the room hire rates for individual spaces?

Room hire rates vary by space: The Ghan Suite £500 per day, Blue Boardroom £500-£600 per day, The Orient Suite £1,500 including VAT for afternoon sessions (1pm-5:30pm). Some rooms are included in Day Delegate Packages while others require separate hire fees. All rates include basic AV equipment, pads, pens, mineral water, sweets, and complimentary WiFi.

How long can bookings be held and what are the confirmation requirements?

Booking holds vary significantly - some are held for just 2 days, others for 5 days, with extensions sometimes offered until specific deadlines (like 3pm the following day or 11am Monday). First option bookings require signed contracts and payment within the hold period, while shared option bookings may have multiple parties competing for the same space. Confirmation typically requires signed contract and payment.

Are evening meetings allowed and what are the time restrictions?

Evening meetings are not permitted as the venue has bedrooms on the same floor as meeting spaces. The venue appears to operate standard business hours, with most events running during daytime hours. Events typically run from 9:00am-5:00pm or similar business hours, and timing flexibility may be limited due to hotel operations.

What catering options are available beyond the Day Delegate Package?

Additional catering includes tea/coffee with sweet or savoury snacks at £5 per person per serving. The venue has The Soak restaurant where lunch tables can be reserved with bills settled on consumption. For events requiring drinks and nibbles, there's a minimum spend requirement of £1,500. The Brasserie Restaurant can be used for exclusive buffet dining as part of DDR packages.

What AV equipment and room setup options are provided?

All rooms include LCD projectors/screens or plasma displays, with some having ceiling-mounted equipment. Flipcharts are available, and all spaces have complimentary WiFi. Rooms can be arranged in multiple configurations including theatre seating, banquet style, boardroom, U-shape, and cabaret style. The venue provides pads, pens, mineral water, and sweets as standard.

Can external vendors or decorators be used?

The venue mentions finding alternative venues for clients when they cannot accommodate requests, and there are references to vendor approval processes, but specific policies on external vendors, decorators, or catering are not clearly detailed. Clients should confirm vendor policies and any approval requirements during the booking process.

What accommodation rates are available for multi-day events?

Classic rooms are priced at £250-£309 per night including breakfast and VAT for single occupancy, with double occupancy at £265 per night. Some quotes show accommodation at £289 per night. Rates appear to vary by season or demand, and group bookings for events may receive different pricing structures.

What happens if bookings need to be cancelled or modified last-minute?

The venue cannot accommodate very last-minute bookings due to time constraints and logistics of handover to hotel operations, particularly over weekends when the meetings and events office is closed. The venue releases bookings from their system when no feedback is received within hold periods, and appears to have strict policies around confirmation deadlines.