Business

Dining

Events

What are the exact hire rates for the Exhibition Hall and what additional costs should I budget for?

The Exhibition Hall costs £1,788 + VAT per build-up day and £3,575 + VAT per event/open day. You must also budget for mandatory cleaning contribution of £425 + VAT, plus staffing costs including stewarding, car park attendants, event support, and cloakroom staff at £18.50 + VAT per hour (6-hour minimum each). Security staff cost £26.80 + VAT per hour and SIA supervisors £28.30 + VAT per hour (both 6-hour minimum).

What is the capacity and layout of the Exhibition Hall?

The Exhibition Hall provides approximately 1,400m² of exhibition space on the ground floor of the grandstand. It features natural daylight and is described as a bright, vibrant, and stylish multifunctional space suitable for trade shows, consumer shows, and product launches. The venue can accommodate up to 500 delegates in theatre style when using the Premier Suite.

What are the mandatory staffing requirements and associated costs?

All staffing has 6-hour minimums and costs £18.50 + VAT per hour for stewarding, car park attendants, event support, and cloakroom staff. Security requires SIA licensed supervisors at £28.30 + VAT per hour and SIA security at £26.80 + VAT per hour. CCTV operators cost £31.50 + VAT per hour, and first aid is £185 + VAT per day (8-hour minimum). All rates are subject to annual increases from April 1st.

What insurance and liability requirements must I meet?

You must provide public liability insurance with minimum £5 million cover. The venue also requires health, safety, and hygiene certificates for all food outlets, plus licenses for any bars if you're bringing your own catering. These documents must be submitted for approval before your event.

Are there restrictions on dates or times when I can book the Exhibition Hall?

The venue operates with standard booking availability, but specific dates may already be booked out (as noted with November 8th, 2025 being unavailable). Staffing costs double on all bank and public holidays including New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. The venue appears to have standard operating hours but specific time restrictions aren't detailed.

What catering options are available and what are the minimum spends?

The venue offers internal catering with minimum spends that vary by event (quoted as POA - price on application). For large events, they can provide catering concession units with a minimum spend of £1,500 inc VAT per unit, or offer a buyout fee of £30,000 inc VAT for bringing your own catering. All external catering requires health certificates and licenses.

What AV equipment is included and what additional technology can I hire?

Basic projector and screen are included in some packages. Additional AV equipment available includes microphones (lapel mics £60 + VAT), large screens/projectors (£250 + VAT), staging (£250 + VAT), and AV technicians (£395 + VAT per day). The venue has built-in PA systems and offers complimentary Wi-Fi and flipchart facilities.

Can the venue accommodate large-scale events with thousands of attendees?

The venue has indicated it cannot accommodate certain large-scale requirements, specifically declining an event for 700 guests with 500 seated due to kitchen facility limitations. For a 5,000-person country music event, they quoted room hire at £12,000 inc VAT per live day and £3,000 inc VAT per setup/breakdown day, suggesting they can handle larger events with appropriate planning.

What parking and transport facilities are available?

The venue offers complimentary car parking and has excellent transport links including its own on-site railway station providing direct routes to and from London Waterloo. Car park attendants are available at £18.50 + VAT per hour with a 6-hour minimum if required for your event.

What are the payment terms and booking procedures?

The venue offers a 12% commission plus VAT on net rates for certain bookings. They can place spaces on hold while clients make decisions, and they work with dedicated event managers throughout the process. Specific deposit requirements and payment timelines are handled case-by-case and would be detailed in individual proposals.