Business

Dining

Events

What are the venue hire rates for dining events and what's included in the base price?

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. For smaller dining spaces, individual rooms range from £1,400-£1,750 VAT exempt for evening hire from 6pm-10pm. The base price includes room hire only - all catering, AV, and additional services are charged separately.

What are the maximum capacities for seated dining across different rooms?

The maximum seated capacity for ceremony and dinner is 100 guests in the Beatrice Webb Room. The Council Room can seat up to 70 for dinner, while the Music Room alone is not suitable for dinner service and requires booking an additional room for dining. Individual dining rooms vary in capacity, with specific numbers depending on your chosen layout and room configuration.

What are the mandatory catering costs and minimum spends for dining events?

A minimum evening spend of £1,000 + VAT applies for all dining events. Three-course dinners cost £66.50 + VAT per person, with wine packages at £17.00-£27.00 + VAT per person depending on selection. Welcome drinks start at £8.00 + VAT per person for prosecco, with canapes at £17.50 + VAT per person for three pre-dinner selections.

Which suppliers must I use and what requires written approval?

All catering is provided exclusively by Searcys, the in-house catering partner. The venue maintains detailed lists of Approved Suppliers for Audio Visual, Production, and Floristry, plus Recommended suppliers. Use of any third-party suppliers outside these approved lists must be agreed in writing by the venue before booking confirmation.

What are the booking and payment requirements?

To proceed with booking, you must provide full signatory details including name, organization, email, phone, and address, plus finance contact information if different. A signed hire agreement is required, followed by a 50% deposit invoice. Payment must reference the specific invoice number provided - do not make payments before receiving your deposit invoice.

Are there any seasonal discounts or special offers available?

A winter offer provides £1,000 discount on venue hire for weddings taking place in October or November 2025. December bookings operate on a first-to-confirm basis due to high demand. Last-minute bookings may receive up to 20% discount on venue hire, though this varies by availability and timing.

What dining options and dietary accommodations are available?

Searcys can provide halal and South Asian inspired catering, though they note they are not specialized in South Asian cuisine. Standard menus include vegetarian and vegan options for all courses. Additional dish options can be added for £20.50 + VAT per person per course, and custom menus can be designed to meet specific dietary requirements.

What are the timing restrictions and additional fees for extended hours?

Standard evening hire runs 6pm-10pm with organizer access from 5:15pm. Events extending beyond 10pm incur additional charges of £500 VAT exempt per hour. Catering service before 8am costs £300 + VAT per hour. Late catering fees of £300 + VAT per hour apply for service after 11pm.

Can I combine multiple rooms for larger dining events and what are the options?

Yes, multiple room combinations are available depending on guest numbers. For 100+ guests, you can book the Beatrice Webb Room for dining with the Gallery and Music Room for drinks and dancing. The Council and Barnard Rooms can be combined for events up to 70 seated guests, with the Barnard Room serving as a drinks reception space.

What Christmas party packages are available and what do they include?

The Festive Dinner & DJ package costs £145 + VAT per person with a minimum of 55 guests. This includes two rooms from 6:30pm-midnight, sparkling wine on arrival, three-course dinner, half bottle of house wine per person, unlimited mineral water, tea/coffee with mince pies, post-dinner nibbles, manned cloakroom, poseur tables, Christmas crackers, bar facilities, and DJ from Blank Canvas Entertainment.