Friends House

Room hire rates vary by space and duration. Examples include: Waldo Williams 1 (16 guests boardroom) at £595 for 9am-5pm, Ada Salter Suite 1-2 (22 cabaret) at £850 for 9am-5pm, and Marjorie Sykes room (28 boardroom) at £975 for 8:30am-5pm. All venue hire is VAT exempt and includes complimentary water, dedicated screen/projector, Wi-Fi access, and flip chart.

Full day catering packages include: Premium package at £39 net per person (welcome tea/coffee/pastries, mid-morning tea/coffee/biscuits, working lunch, afternoon tea/coffee/cake, still and sparkling water), £47 inc VAT per person with deli buffet lunch, and £52 inc VAT per person with hot finger food buffet lunch. Canapes are available at £26 per person ex VAT with 4 items selected from the menu.

Capacity varies significantly by room and layout. Examples include: Benjamin Lay Suite accommodating 70 cabaret or 154 theatre with an 80 theatre/42 cabaret breakout space, Light Auditorium for up to 1,000 guests, and smaller rooms like Waldo Williams 1 for 16 boardroom style. The venue has 33 meeting rooms total with varying capacities.

Yes, some spaces have minimum requirements. The Light Auditorium is only available on a full day basis with a minimum of 110 people. Budget constraints also apply - the venue indicated they cannot accommodate events with budgets of £100-200 for room hire, suggesting higher minimum spending thresholds.

All rooms include dedicated screen or projector, complimentary Wi-Fi, and flip chart as standard. Larger spaces like Benjamin Lay Suite include projector, lectern, roving microphones, PA system, and hybrid meeting options. The venue has latest audiovisual equipment fitted throughout and can accommodate hybrid conferencing for remote participants.

No, external catering is not allowed. The venue provides freshly made seasonal catering with various packages available. They do not serve alcohol but offer a wide range of non-alcoholic options. All catering must be arranged through the venue's in-house services.

Final food orders need to be confirmed well in advance, particularly for short-notice bookings. For events with short notice, final food orders may need to be confirmed 8+ days before the event date to ensure availability and proper preparation.

Rooms are not automatically held and remain available for others to book until confirmed. You need to specifically request to hold a room in the diary. New customers must complete a new customer form to proceed with bookings. The venue requires confirmation to secure dates as spaces can be booked by others while you're considering.

The venue does not accommodate dinner events or provide dining services. Some events may be deemed unsuitable - the venue reserves the right to decline bookings that don't align with their facilities or values. They focus on meetings, conferences, and daytime business events rather than evening entertainment.

Standard access hours are typically 8:30am-5pm or 9am-5pm depending on the space. Some quotes show access from 8am-7pm for longer events. The venue can accommodate events requiring setup time and may offer extended hours, but this should be discussed during booking as it may affect pricing.