Events

What are the venue hire rates 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. The venue comprises two townhouses - you can hire either 10 Carlton House Terrace (includes Council Room, Barnard Room, Radhakrishnan Room) or 11 Carlton House Terrace (includes Gallery, Music Room, Beatrice Webb Room with 100-guest maximum capacity). Individual rooms range from £1,400-£1,900 VAT exempt for shorter hire periods.

What are the capacity limits for different types of events?

Maximum seated capacity for ceremony and dinner is 100 guests in the Beatrice Webb Room. The Reading Room holds up to 70 guests for standing receptions, while individual rooms like the Music Room are too small for dinner and drinks combined for 40-50 people, requiring additional room bookings. Standing receptions can accommodate up to 150 guests when spread across multiple rooms like the Beatrice Webb Room and Radhakrishnan Room.

What are the mandatory catering requirements and minimum spends?

All catering must be provided by exclusive partner Searcys with a minimum evening spend of £1,000 + VAT. Christmas packages like the Festive Dinner & DJ package cost £145 + VAT per person with a minimum of 55 guests. Standard catering includes canapes from £23.50 + VAT per person (4 pieces, minimum 20 guests), bowl food from £34.00 + VAT per person, and 3-course dinners at £66.50 + VAT per person.

What are the supplier restrictions and approval requirements?

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 lists must be agreed in writing by the venue management. This applies to all external vendors including DJs, photographers, and decorators.

What booking deposits and payment terms are required?

Upon signing the hire agreement, a 50% deposit invoice is generated and must be paid before booking confirmation. You must wait to receive the official invoice before making payment as you'll need to quote the invoice number. If a PO number is required, it must be provided before the deposit invoice is generated to avoid booking confirmation delays.

Are there any seasonal offers or discounts available?

A winter offer provides £1,000 discount on venue hire for weddings taking place in October or November 2025. For last-minute bookings, up to 20% discount on venue hire may be available. December bookings operate on a first-to-confirm basis due to high demand during the busy Christmas period.

What are the access times and setup restrictions?

Standard access for organizers begins 15 minutes before the hire period (e.g., 5:15pm for 6pm events). Supplier setup access is typically from 12pm for full-day hires or 2 hours before shorter events. Earlier access like 7:30am setup may be possible but requires advance arrangement and additional fees may apply.

What additional fees should I budget for beyond the base hire?

Mandatory additions include: catering service before 8am (£300 + VAT per hour), late catering after 11pm (£300 + VAT per hour), manned cloakroom (price on request), and dancefloor for carpeted rooms (£795 + VAT). AV packages start with basic setups and can be upgraded to include stages (£350 + VAT) and additional microphones with technician support.

Can the venue accommodate specific dietary requirements and cultural catering?

Searcys can provide halal catering and South Asian inspired menus, though the venue notes they are not specialized in South Asian catering. The venue offers healthy lifestyle menu options marked with green leaf symbols. All dietary requirements and cultural menu preferences should be discussed directly with Searcys during menu planning.

What happens if my guest numbers are lower than room capacity?

Some rooms like the Music Room cannot accommodate both dinner and drinks for smaller groups (40-50 people), requiring booking of additional spaces. Christmas packages have minimum guest requirements (55 for Festive Dinner & DJ package), and you'll pay for the minimum even if fewer guests attend. Room recommendations are adjusted based on your actual guest count.