Dining

Events

What are the venue hire rates for private dining events?

Venue hire rates start from £4,825 VAT exempt for weekday hire or £7,175 VAT exempt for weekend hire, covering 2pm until midnight with supplier access from 12pm. Individual room hire varies: Council Room £1,750, Barnard Room £1,750, Reading Room £1,900, with additional hours after 10pm charged at £500 per hour.

What is the maximum capacity for seated dining?

The maximum seated capacity for ceremony and dinner is 100 guests in the Beatrice Webb Room. For smaller groups, the Council Room seats up to 70 for dinner, while the Music Room alone is not suitable for dinner service and requires booking an additional room for dining.

What are the minimum catering spends and pricing?

There is a minimum evening spend of £1,000 + VAT for catering. A 3-course dinner costs £66.50 + VAT per person, with wine packages at £17-£27 + VAT per person. Welcome drinks start at £8 + VAT per person for prosecco, and pre-dinner canapes are £17.50 + VAT per person.

Which rooms are recommended for different group sizes?

For 40-50 guests: Music Room requires an additional room for dining. For up to 70 guests: Council Room and Barnard Room combination works well. For 100 guests: Beatrice Webb Room is required, or split dining between Beatrice Webb and Radhakrishnan Rooms with drinks in Gallery/Music Room.

What are the Christmas party packages and pricing?

The Festive Dinner & DJ package costs £145 + VAT per person with a minimum of 55 guests. This includes sparkling wine on arrival, 3-course dinner, half bottle of house wine per person, tea/coffee with mince pies, nibbles, manned cloakroom, Christmas crackers, and DJ from Blank Canvas Entertainment.

Are there restrictions on suppliers and what approval is needed?

The venue has a detailed list of Approved Suppliers for Audio Visual, Production, and Floristry, plus Recommended suppliers. Use of third-party suppliers outside this list must be agreed in writing by the venue. Searcys is the exclusive catering partner.

What deposit and payment terms apply for bookings?

A 50% deposit invoice is sent upon receipt of the signed hire agreement. You must wait to receive the invoice before making payment as you'll need to quote the invoice number. December bookings operate on a first-to-confirm basis due to high demand.

What additional fees and charges should be budgeted for?

Late catering service after 11pm incurs £300 + VAT per hour. Catering service before 8am costs £300 + VAT per hour. Manned cloakroom is available at additional cost (price on request), while unmanned cloakroom with coat rails is complimentary.

What special offers are available for winter bookings?

There is currently a winter offer of £1,000 discount on venue hire for weddings taking place in October or November 2025. December is noted as a very busy period with all bookings operating on a first-to-confirm basis.

What dining options and dietary requirements can be accommodated?

Searcys can provide halal or South Asian inspired catering, though they note they are not specialized in South Asian catering. All dinner packages include vegetarian/vegan options, and there are healthy lifestyle menu options available marked with green leaf symbols.