Business

Events

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

Day hire costs £8,250 (access from 8am, events must end by 10:30pm with pack down until midnight) or evening hire from 4pm costs £5,900. The hire includes one venue duty manager, high-spec audio and visual system with wireless microphones, 4m wide screen plus 4 relay screens, and professional lighting system with stage wash and customizable color options.

What are the mandatory technical staff costs and requirements?

Sound and AV engineers are required at £320 each for an 8-hour minimum, with additional hours charged at £40 per hour. You'll typically need both a sound engineer and visuals engineer for most events. The comprehensive AV system is included with venue hire but requires these engineers to operate.

What is the maximum capacity and are there any restrictions on guest numbers?

The venue can accommodate around 550 guests maximum. For catering events, the maximum capacity drops to 300 people due to catering space limitations. Events with over 600 guests cannot be accommodated.

What are the timing restrictions and curfew requirements?

All events must finish by 10:30pm as the venue is in a residential area. Day hire provides access from 8am with pack down until midnight, while evening hire starts from 4pm. Early access from 6:30am can be arranged for £500 per early access hour.

What additional staff costs should I budget for setup and breakdown?

Event staff for setup and pack down cost £25 per person per hour. A typical 4-person team for 2 hours setup and 2 hours breakdown costs £400, while a 6-person team costs £600. For large events over 600 guests, an additional staff member is required at £250.

What are the catering options and associated fees?

The venue has a list of preferred caterers available at stmarysvenue.com/catering. If you use a non-preferred caterer, there's a £350 fee. Kitchen hire costs an additional £350 if required. The venue's commercial dishwasher is not suitable for wine glass cleaning, so wine tasting events typically need to bring extra glassware.

Are there content restrictions for events at this church venue?

Yes, as St Mary's is a living church, there are content restrictions on the types of events they host. The venue reviews event content and themes before approval, and some types of content are not permitted. You must provide details about your event's content and activities during the booking inquiry process.

What is the booking process and how far in advance should I book?

The booking process starts with providing event details including content/theme, guest numbers, layout requirements, dates and timings. Site visits can be booked via their Calendly link after initial event approval. For short-notice bookings, they prefer confirmation within 24 hours to arrange required staff.

Is there a discount available for registered charities?

Yes, registered charities receive a discounted day rate of £6,200 instead of the standard £8,250 rate. This represents a significant £2,050 discount for qualifying charitable organizations.

What AV equipment is included and what are the technical capabilities?

The venue includes a large in-house PA system suitable for conferences and concerts, 4 wireless microphone receivers (combination of handheld and headset mics), 4m wide main screen plus 4 relay screens throughout the venue, and high-spec lighting with full stage wash and customizable color options. A lectern with microphone clip is also available.