Business

Dining

Events

What is the minimum spend requirement for The Great Hall and what does it include?

The Great Hall has a minimum charge of £50,000 plus VAT, regardless of your actual usage or guest count. This appears to be a firm minimum that cannot be negotiated based on the correspondence, even when clients have significantly smaller budgets.

What are the room hire costs for the main event spaces?

Room hire varies significantly by space: The Great Hall costs £7,000-£8,000 plus VAT per day, Canoville Suite is £3,000-£5,000 plus VAT (discounted rates available), Harris Suite is £4,000 plus VAT, Tambling Suite is £2,000-£3,000 plus VAT, and Under the Bridge is £6,000 plus VAT with an £800 minimum bar spend. Prices may increase for events in the 25/26 season.

What does the Day Delegate Rate include and how much does it cost?

The DDR ranges from £65-£102 plus VAT per person depending on the space and includes arrival tea/coffee with pastries, mid-morning refreshments, working lunch buffet, afternoon tea/coffee, hydration station, and main meeting room hire. Some packages also include carpet and draping of the space.

What additional mandatory costs should I budget for beyond room hire?

Carpet and draping costs £12,500 plus VAT for weekend events in The Great Hall. AV packages start from £795 plus VAT with more comprehensive options available. Set-up fees for The Great Hall are £4,000 plus VAT, and account bar setup costs £800 plus VAT if required.

How does fixture scheduling affect event availability and what are the restrictions?

Events cannot be held when Chelsea has home fixtures scheduled, and the venue may need to release space if fixtures are confirmed later. The venue requires updates on bookings by specific deadlines or will release the space to accommodate potential match days.

What are the capacity limits for different room layouts in the main spaces?

The Great Hall accommodates up to 1,000 delegates standing only - other layouts will not work for this capacity. Canoville Suite holds up to 500 standing reception, Under the Bridge accommodates up to 550 standing, and smaller suites like Harris and Tambling work for meetings of 30-100 people depending on layout.

What is the booking timeline and when do I need to confirm my event?

The venue requires prompt responses to hold space and will release bookings if updates are not received by specified deadlines (typically end of week). For events requiring fixture confirmation, you may need to accept cancellation risk or provide updates within tight timeframes to maintain your booking.

Are there restrictions on event timing and what are the standard operating hours?

Events typically run from 8:30am-5pm for day events, with evening events possible until 1am (Under the Bridge has a 1am late license). The venue requires organizer arrival time (usually 1-2 hours before guest arrival) and specific setup/breakdown schedules must be coordinated in advance.

What catering options are available and what are the pricing structures?

Catering includes DDR packages, drinks packages (£22-£45 plus VAT per person for 1-3 hours), and dinner packages at £140 plus VAT per person including three courses, wine, and room setup. Street food options and buffet-style meals are available as alternatives to formal dining.

What AV equipment and technical support is included with room hire?

Basic AV typically includes projector, screen, microphone, and flipchart. Enhanced packages start from £795 plus VAT and can include LED screens, advanced sound systems, and technical support. The venue works with Peachy Productions as their onsite AV partner for more complex requirements.