Business

Dining

Weddings

What are the venue hire rates and what's included in the base price?

Venue hire rates start from £4,825 VAT exempt for weekday hire or £7,175 VAT exempt for weekend hire, covering 2pm until midnight with supplier access from 12pm. For business events, individual rooms range from £1,100-£3,100 VAT exempt depending on the space and duration. All rates are VAT exempt but catering and additional services carry 20% VAT.

What are the capacity limits for different event formats?

Maximum seated capacity for ceremony and dinner is 100 guests in the Beatrice Webb Room. The Council Room seats up to 70 for dinner, while the Reading Room holds up to 70 for standing receptions. Individual rooms like the Music Room are too small for dinner and drinks combined, requiring additional room bookings.

What are the mandatory catering minimums and who provides the food?

There's a minimum evening spend of £1,000 + VAT for all events. All catering is provided exclusively by Searcys, the in-house catering team. They offer standard menus plus can create bespoke options including South Asian inspired catering, though they note they are not specialized in South Asian cuisine.

What are the supplier restrictions and approval requirements?

The venue maintains detailed lists of Approved Suppliers for Audio Visual, Production, and Floristry, plus Recommended suppliers. Use of any third-party suppliers outside these lists must be agreed in writing by the venue management before booking confirmation.

What are the booking and payment procedures?

Upon contract signing, a 50% deposit invoice is generated and must be paid before booking confirmation. Full signatory details, organization information, and finance contact details are required. PO numbers must be provided before deposit invoice generation to avoid booking delays.

Are there additional fees for early setup or late events?

Catering service before 8am incurs a £300 + VAT per hour fee. Late catering after 11pm costs £300 + VAT per hour. Additional hours after standard times (like extending past 10pm) cost £500 VAT exempt per hour.

What seasonal offers and discounts are available?

Winter bookings for October or November weddings receive £1,000 discount on venue hire. Last-minute bookings may receive up to 20% discount on venue hire. December Christmas bookings operate on a first-to-confirm basis due to high demand.

What are the Christmas party package options and pricing?

The Festive Dinner & DJ package costs £145 + VAT per person with a minimum of 55 guests. This includes sparkling wine on arrival, 3-course dinner, half bottle of house wine per person, unlimited water, tea/coffee with mince pies, post-dinner nibbles, manned cloakroom, poseur tables, Christmas crackers, and DJ from Blank Canvas Entertainment.

What AV equipment and technical services are available?

Basic AV packages include up to two microphones and standard equipment. Upgrades available include stages for £350 + VAT, up to 4 microphones with sit-in technician, and various screen/projection options. All AV must be arranged through approved suppliers only.

What are the access times and building entry procedures?

Standard organizer access begins 15 minutes before hire period (e.g., 8:15am for 9am events, 5:15pm for evening events). Supplier setup access is typically from 12pm for afternoon/evening events. Earlier access like 7:30am may be possible but requires specific arrangement.