Business

Events

What are the room hire costs and minimum catering requirements for different spaces?

The Great Room costs £7,140 + VAT for 8:30am-5pm with no minimum catering spend mentioned. The Queen Elizabeth II room costs £1,150 + VAT for 8:30am-5pm with a mandatory minimum catering spend of £600 + VAT. The Prince Philip room costs £1,400 + VAT for 6pm-11pm with a £1,100 + VAT minimum catering spend. Weekend events require approximately £12,000 + VAT to open the house.

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

The Great Room accommodates 180 theatre, 80 cabaret (up to 100 with 10 tables of 10), 35 boardroom, or 200 reception. The Benjamin Franklin room holds 100 theatre, 48 cabaret, 35 boardroom, or 150 reception. The Queen Elizabeth II room fits 30 theatre, 21 cabaret, 22 boardroom, or 40 reception. The Prince Philip room accommodates 56 theatre, 40 cabaret, 30 boardroom, or 60 reception.

How long can dates be held and what are the booking confirmation requirements?

Dates can be held for up to two weeks while you decide on the venue. If they need a decision sooner, they will give you 48 hours to either confirm with a signed contract or release the date. Weekend bookings may have a shorter hold period of up to five working days.

What AV equipment is included and what are the additional costs?

The Great Room includes a built-in stage, customizable uplighters, and basic audio-visual equipment. A full AV package costs £940-£1,182 + VAT and includes data projector, screen, stage, lectern with microphone, 1 handheld microphone, surround sound, and AV technician support for up to 8 hours. Additional handheld or lapel microphones cost £68-£75 + VAT each, and wireless uplighters cost £22-£25 + VAT each (maximum 16, subject to availability).

Does RSA House allow external catering or dry hire arrangements?

No, RSA House does not offer dry hire and does not permit any external catering. All food and beverage must be provided through their in-house catering services, and venue hire always includes mandatory catering minimums.

What approval process is required for events and what information must be provided?

RSA House requires detailed information about your organization, event purpose, attendees, speakers, and whether the event aligns with RSA's vision and mission. They ask about controversial speakers, dignitaries, press coverage, streaming/recording plans, security requirements, and whether external speakers will raise the event's profile. The organizer must confirm the event aligns with RSA's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion commitments.

What are the standard event timings and access arrangements?

Standard daytime events typically run 8:30am-5pm. Evening events can run 6pm-11pm, with extensions available until midnight or 2am for additional fees. The venue is normally closed on weekends, requiring a special opening fee of approximately £12,000 + VAT. Access times for setup before events are not explicitly specified but would need to be arranged.

What additional services and equipment can be hired, and at what cost?

Additional services include flipcharts with pens from £15 + VAT each, TV screens from £200 + VAT each, armchair hire from £50-£55 + VAT per chair (limited colors available), and various microphone options from £68-£75 + VAT each. All additional audio-visual equipment is subject to availability and additional charges.

Which rooms work together and can be hired as combined spaces?

The Great Room and Benjamin Franklin room work hand in hand, with the Benjamin Franklin serving as the catering space directly beneath the Great Room. The Queen Elizabeth II room adjoins the Prince Philip room on the 1st floor. These room combinations are commonly used for events requiring both presentation and catering/networking spaces.

What are the key features and limitations of the most popular event spaces?

The Great Room is the flagship space with high ceilings, natural daylight from a skylight, six James Barry paintings, built-in stage and uplighters. However, some clients specifically request rooms without too much character or historic features. The Benjamin Franklin room is bright and contemporary with a Troika chandelier, while the Prince Philip room features three wall-mounted plasma screens and original Adam-designed elements.