Events

What are the venue hire costs for evening events and what spaces are available?

Evening hire rates (access from 17:30) are: Atrium £3,790 +VAT, Boardroom £1,010 +VAT, and Foyer and Atrium combined £4,352 +VAT (with charity discount applied). The Atrium features a suspended Lynx helicopter and can accommodate up to 150 guests for standing receptions, while the Boardroom seats up to 24 guests with views over Royal Hospital Chelsea.

What are the capacity limits for different event formats in the main spaces?

The Atrium accommodates up to 150 guests for standing receptions or can be set up with one long table underneath the helicopter for seated dinners. The combined Foyer and Atrium spaces can host up to 300 guests for seated dinners across both levels at round tables. The Boardroom seats up to 24 guests but can use round tables to allow for standing reception space.

What catering options are available and how does the process work?

All catering is provided through in-house partners Searcys, with menus including seated lunch/dinner options, fork buffet, and bowl food styles. For evening events, you work directly with their catering manager who provides quotes and handles arrangements. The venue also maintains a list of approved external caterers as alternatives to Searcys.

What equipment and services are included in the venue hire fee?

Evening hire includes basic staging, microphones, and uplighters for the Atrium space. The venue provides poseur tables, extension cables with proper taping for safety, and has some modular staging available on-site. AV connections require your own laptop via HDMI cable, though the venue has cables and Mac adaptors available.

Are there any discounts available for specific types of organizations?

Yes, registered charities receive a discount on venue hire fees. For example, the combined Foyer and Atrium evening hire is quoted at £4,352 +VAT with the charity discount already applied, compared to standard commercial rates.

What are the access times and restrictions for evening events?

Evening events have access from 17:30 when the museum closes to the public. Events can run until midnight, and the venue can accommodate deliveries on the day of the event with proper labeling including 'FAO Venue Hire National Army Museum' for security team coordination.

What additional costs should I budget for beyond the base venue hire?

All venue hire rates are quoted +VAT (20%). Additional costs include mandatory catering through approved suppliers, and potential security charges for special access requirements. For example, Monday events when the museum is normally closed require security at approximately £20 per hour for main door access.

How does the booking process work and what documentation is required?

To confirm bookings, you must complete and sign an order agreement that requires lead event contact details, full company name, complete company address and postcode. The finance team then issues invoices separately, and any additional services like security require separate agreements.

Can the venue accommodate special event features like entertainment or decorations?

The venue can accommodate various entertainment setups with available staging and microphone systems. The dramatic spaces with museum artifacts create impressive backdrops, and the venue can provide uplighters for ambiance. Specific entertainment requirements should be discussed during the planning process.

What makes the National Army Museum unique for private events?

The venue offers private museum gallery tours and views as part of event packages, allowing guests to experience the collection exclusively. The suspended Lynx helicopter in the Atrium creates a dramatic centerpiece, and the venue's location in Chelsea with views over Royal Hospital grounds provides an impressive setting that always impresses guests.