Business

Events

Film and Photo

What are the venue hire costs and minimum catering spends for different event sizes?

For exclusive hire of City Garden Bar (36th floor), venue hire is £15,000 + VAT with a minimum catering spend of £12,000 + VAT for events up to 130 guests. For full venue exclusive hire accommodating larger groups, venue hire is £29,500 + VAT with a minimum catering spend of £30,000 + VAT for 140 guests, or £47,500 + VAT venue hire with £35,000 + VAT minimum catering spend for wedding receptions. All events are charged for a minimum of 60 guests even if fewer attend.

What are the capacity limits and seating arrangements available?

Sky Garden can accommodate up to 700 guests for standing receptions, 300 guests for seated dinners, or 200 guests for conferences. The City Garden Bar on the 36th floor handles smaller events with exclusive hire available for groups, while full venue hire is required for events over 300 guests standing or 100 guests seated. Round table seating for 10 persons per table is available for seated events.

What are the standard event timings and access restrictions?

Evening events typically run with setup from 6pm, earliest guest arrival at 6:30pm, pre-dinner reception on Level 37 until 8pm, then dinner on Level 36 until 11pm with all guests exiting by 11pm. For breakfast events, venue access is from 6am for setup with earliest guest arrival at 9am, events run from 9am and all guests must exit by 2pm. Events crossing into ticketed tourist hours (10am-6pm weekdays, 11am-9pm weekends) require full exclusive venue hire.

How many times per year can the venue be closed for private events?

Sky Garden is permitted to close for full or half-day private events a maximum of 26 times per year. Once this annual limit is reached, no additional full or half-day closures can be accommodated. The venue also has only 4 remaining instances available for City of London closure requirements, offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

What catering packages are available and what do they include?

Three-course catering packages start from £195-£200 + VAT per person and include 3 canapés, 3-course dinner, 1 glass of prosecco, 1/2 bottle house wine, 1 beer, 1 soft drink, and 1 water. The Platinum Package at £163 + VAT per person includes 6 canapés, 3 bowls, 1 glass of Champagne, 1 bottle of house wine, 1 beer, 1 soft drink, and 1 still or sparkling water. Outside catering is not permitted.

What booking hold options are available and when can dates be confirmed?

Dates are initially offered as 2nd hold options, meaning they are tentatively reserved but not guaranteed. Dates cannot be moved to 1st option (confirmed booking) until 8 weeks before the event date. This means final confirmation of availability only happens within 8 weeks of your event.

Are there restrictions on AV equipment and production setup?

Large LED screens cannot be accommodated due to space and setup time constraints - the venue can offer 75-inch TV screens as an alternative. Setup time for City Garden events is limited to 2 hours (6pm-8pm) before guest arrival, which is insufficient for large production installations. Full venue hire provides more setup flexibility with access from 6am.

Does Sky Garden accommodate wedding ceremonies?

No, Sky Garden does not hold a license for wedding ceremonies, so the ceremony would need to take place at another location. However, they do offer wedding reception services with full venue exclusive hire from 6am-6am including setup and breakdown, with venue hire at £47,500 + VAT and minimum catering spend of £35,000 + VAT.

What happens if my event requirements don't match available spaces?

If Sky Garden cannot accommodate your event due to format, budget, or timing constraints, they will offer to find you an alternative venue through their network. They also have a sister venue at 8 Bishopsgate (5-minute walk away) which may have suitable spaces when Sky Garden is unavailable.

What are the lift dimensions and access limitations for equipment?

There are specific lift dimension restrictions for equipment that needs to be brought up to the event floors. The venue provides lift dimension specifications upon request to ensure any equipment, staging, or large items can physically access the space. This is particularly important for events requiring special production elements or large displays.