Business

Events

Film and Photo

What is the minimum number of guests required for events at The Mermaid London?

The venue has a minimum requirement of 100 guests for events. For catering specifically, there is a minimum of 100 people required for food service to be provided.

What are the Day Delegate Rate (DDR) packages and pricing?

The DDR is £98 per person plus VAT (£117.60 including VAT) and runs from 08:00-17:30. This includes venue hire, arrival refreshments, mid-morning refreshments, two-course hot fork buffet lunch, afternoon refreshments, basic AV equipment, staffing, and filtered water throughout the day. For 2025 events of 350+ people confirmed by October 31st, the rate is reduced to £88 per person plus VAT.

What are the individual room hire rates for different spaces?

Room hire rates vary by space: Auditorium £14,500 plus VAT (08:00-17:30), Newgate Suite £4,500 plus VAT, Upper River Room £2,500 plus VAT, Lower River Room £2,500 plus VAT, and Queenhithe £2,500 plus VAT. The DDR starting cost for room-only hire is £9,800 plus VAT, excluding staffing, early access, and reception costs.

What are the capacity limits for each event space?

The Auditorium seats 600 people in theatre style with a minimum of 300 for DDR packages. The Newgate Suite can be divided into 4 breakout spaces and accommodates various layouts. The Upper River Room and Lower River Room offer flexible configurations, while the venue can handle conferences for 400-600 delegates across multiple spaces.

What are the pricing options for catering and drinks packages?

Catering starts from £155 per person plus VAT for Christmas packages. Bowl food is £40 per person plus VAT for 5 items, canapes are £13 per person plus VAT for 4 pieces. Drinks packages include 2-hour unlimited house wine, beer and soft drinks at £25 per person plus VAT, or 3-hour packages at £30 per person plus VAT.

What are the costs for early access and extended hours?

Early access from 06:00 for load-in costs £2,000 plus VAT. Christmas reception packages include room hire from 6:30pm to midnight with options to extend into early hours. Standard event hours are typically 08:00-17:30 for day events.

What AV equipment and technical services are available?

Basic AV is included in DDR packages (LCD projector, screen, flipchart, lectern, microphone). Enhanced AV packages are available: Newgate Suite AV package £1,300 plus VAT includes 65" LCD screen, 2x55" relay screens, PA system, and AV technician. The Auditorium includes professional PA system, 4 handheld radio mics, 16ft x 9ft screen, and 15k HD projector.

How does the booking process work and what are the payment requirements?

For short lead-time events, 100% payment may be required upfront for confirmation. The venue operates on a first-option basis and can hold dates jointly with other venues while clients compare options. Enquiries are automatically released from the system if no response is received by end of business on specified deadlines.

What staffing and security costs should be expected?

Staffing costs are estimated at £1,798 plus VAT and include event manager, stewards, and security. For events running 08:00-17:30, staffing for stewards, manager, and cloakroom is approximately £1,425 plus VAT. These costs are typically additional to room hire and catering.

What commission rates are offered to event planners and agencies?

The venue offers enhanced 12.5% commission on bookings over 600 delegates. For 2025 bookings confirmed by October 31st, there are special rates including £10 off DDR (now £88 per person) and enhanced commission structures for qualifying events.