Business

What are the room hire costs for different spaces and what discounts are available?

Room hire varies by space: Grand Hall £8,000 per day, MBA Classroom £6,000 per day, Executive Classroom £5,000 per day, Collaboration Forum £3,000 per day, and 1st Floor Lounge £3,600 per day. Chicago Booth discounts of 25-50% are applied to most bookings, bringing costs down significantly - for example, Grand Hall becomes £4,000-£6,000 depending on the discount level. All room hire is VAT exempt.

What AV equipment is included with room hire and are there additional tech costs?

All rooms include comprehensive AV: multimedia projectors, built-in hybrid cameras, microphones (handheld and lapel), ceiling speakers, HDMI laptop connections, wireless presentation capability, and 1Gbps fiber-optic WiFi with backup. A complimentary 15-minute IT support session is included from 9am. Additional costs include dedicated IT technician at £600+VAT per day and digital lectern at £600+VAT per day.

What are the capacity limits for different room layouts?

Grand Hall accommodates 160 in round tables, 200-240 in theatre style, or 300 standing. MBA Classroom holds 104 in classroom style, Executive Classroom seats 52 classroom style, and Collaboration Forum fits 50 in rounds or theatre. The 1st Floor Lounge can handle 210 cabaret, 240 rounds, or 350 theatre/standing. Study rooms accommodate up to 8 people in boardroom style.

What catering options and costs are available through the venue?

Finotaste provides all catering: Continental breakfast £15+VAT per person, sandwich lunch £25+VAT, finger buffet lunch £27+VAT, fork buffet lunch £30+VAT, and tea/coffee £4+VAT per serving. All-day catering package (3 tea/coffee services plus fork buffet lunch) costs £45+VAT per person. Drinks packages with unlimited beer, wine, and soft drinks are £25+VAT per person for 2 hours.

What are the standard event hours and any restrictions on timing?

Standard event hours are 9am-5pm, though some quotes show flexibility for 8am starts or 6pm finishes. The venue appears to accommodate different timing requests, with events running as early as 8:30am and as late as 6pm. IT support is available from 9am, so earlier starts may require additional technical arrangements.

How far in advance should bookings be made and what is the holding policy?

The venue operates on a first-option basis without holding dates until contracts are signed. Multiple quotes show availability being offered as "1st option but not holding," meaning dates can be lost to other clients. For popular dates or larger events, early booking is essential, and the venue may give existing provisional bookings 48-hour notice if a confirmed booking comes in.

What additional services and their costs should be budgeted for?

Optional extras include: stage (4m x 2m) at £400+VAT per day, manned cloakroom at £25+VAT per person per hour (unmanned available free), and various AV upgrades. The venue can provide extension leads and adaptors if clients cannot supply their own. Some spaces require separate catering areas, which add to the total room hire cost.

Are there minimum spend requirements or booking restrictions?

While no explicit minimum spends are stated, the venue appears to have budget thresholds below which they cannot accommodate events. Several quotes mention being "unable to match the budget" for requests under £3,000-£5,000. The Executive Classroom offers a reduced rate of £2,500 for bookings of 10+ days minimum, suggesting volume discounts are available.

What hybrid and technical capabilities are available for virtual attendees?

All rooms are fully hybrid-enabled with built-in cameras (3-4 per room with rotating and focus functionality), Cisco video/audio-conferencing panels, and hearing induction loop kits. The venue has 1Gbps fiber-optic connection with 100Mbps backup, hard-wired ethernet ports, and wireless presentation systems for mobile devices. This makes it suitable for events with both in-person and remote participants.

What is the venue's location and transport accessibility?

Located at One Bartholomew Close, Barts Square, London EC1A 7BL, the venue is 5 minutes walk from St Paul's Central line station and 10 minutes from Farringdon's Elizabeth and Thameslink lines. The central London location provides easy access to four tube stations connecting to main rail networks, making it highly accessible for attendees traveling from across London and beyond.