Upper River Room

The Mermaid London

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  • From £95 per person
  • 500 Reception
  • Blackfriars
  • From £95 per person
  • 500 Reception
  • Blackfriars
Panoramic Thames views of iconic London landmarks including Tate Modern, Shakespeare's Globe and The Shard create an inspiring backdrop for business events.
Joana Seguí Rubio
Joana Seguí Rubio

Venue Expert @ Hire Space

  • Flexible layout options
  • Central London location near Blackfriars
  • Full in-house AV and production support
  • Exceptional transport links
  • Air conditioning ensures guest comfort
  • Panoramic Thames views with Tate Modern and The Shard
  • Natural daylight throughout the space
  • High ceilings create spacious atmosphere
  • Coloured ceiling lights for ambience

Open-plan, panoramic views of the River Thames and contemporary, the Upper River Room is the ideal space for a business event with a difference. Whether you are looking for a conference, exhibition space or room with a view for the catering, look no further.




Frequently asked questions

The venue has a minimum requirement of 100 attendees for events. This applies across all spaces and event types, with pricing starting from £155 per person excluding VAT for catering packages.

The DDR package costs £98 per person excluding VAT and includes room hire, arrival refreshments, mid-morning refreshments, two-course hot fork buffet lunch, afternoon refreshments, basic AV equipment, staffing, and filtered water throughout the day. The package runs from 08:00-17:30 and includes hire of the Auditorium for groups of 300+ or the Newgate Suite for smaller groups.

The Auditorium accommodates up to 600 people in theatre style, the Newgate Suite can be divided into 4 breakout spaces, the Upper River Room and Lower River Room offer panoramic Thames views, and the Queenhithe room is available for smaller groups. Two complimentary green rooms (Castle Baynard and Workshop) are included with bookings.

Room hire varies by space and duration: DDR starting cost is £9,800 excluding VAT for room-only hire, Upper River Room costs £2,500-£3,500 excluding VAT for day hire, Lower River Room costs £2,500 excluding VAT, and Newgate Suite costs £4,500 excluding VAT. Evening hire rates are higher, with some spaces costing £6,500 for evening use.

Mandatory additional costs include staffing (event manager, stewards, security), early access fees (£2,000 excluding VAT from 06:00), AV packages (£1,100-£1,950 excluding VAT), and catering minimums. Cash bar minimums start at £2,000, and drinks receptions cost £25-£30 per person for 2-3 hours.

Standard event hours are 08:00-17:30 for day events, with evening events typically running 18:30-midnight. Early access from 06:00 is available for £2,000 excluding VAT. Load-in access can be arranged from 06:00-07:00 for events requiring setup time.

For short-notice events (within 2 weeks), the venue requires booking confirmation and 100% payment by the end of the week. Enquiries are automatically released from the system if no response is received within a few days, and joint first option holds are available while clients compare venues.

Basic AV included in DDR packages covers LCD projector, screen, flipchart, lectern, and microphone. Additional AV packages range from £1,100-£1,950 excluding VAT and can include multiple screens, PA systems, handheld radio mics, HD projectors, and dedicated AV technicians. All AV is supplied by partner company Rockit.

Catering options include standing hot fork buffet (included in DDR), bowl food packages, traditional afternoon tea, and Christmas packages starting at £155 per person. Canapes cost £13 per person for 4 items, and drinks packages range from £25-£30 per person. All catering has a minimum of 100 people.

The venue appears to accommodate most business event types including conferences, AGMs, product launches, and corporate training. External catering suppliers may be permitted (reference to 'Sands Catering' in correspondence), but AV must be provided through their partner Rockit. Specific restrictions on suppliers or event types are not detailed in available information.




More about The Mermaid London

The Mermaid London – the independent home of one-of-a-kind events, and the go-to venue for large-scale events in the City of London.

At the centre of The Mermaid London is the venue’s 600-seated Auditorium. Spacious, classic, full of mod-cons and wows clients with extraordinary acoustics and unparalleled sightlines to its stage.

Two River Rooms offer amazing views of Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe and The Shard, perfect for conferences, AGMs, dinners and parties.

The Newgate can be easily divided into breakout areas or accommodate 27 exhibition stands.