Business

Dining

Events

What is the pricing structure for The Retreat summer party package?

The Retreat package costs £99.00 per person excluding VAT with a capacity range of 30 to 800 guests. This package includes diverse street food stalls, sustainable wine selection, cocktails from the London Essence bar, and exclusive Helles Lager brewed with Braybrooke Brewery. Limited dates are available for July and August only.

What are the Christmas party package options and pricing?

Christmas party packages vary by guest count and requirements. For example, a 250-guest package costs £169 per person excluding VAT, including exclusive room hire (6pm-1am), 3-course dinner, 45-minute sparkling wine reception, 5.5 hours unlimited drinks, Christmas theming, entertainers on arrival, after-dinner DJ, and complimentary cloakroom. Security guards are mandatory at £395 per guard excluding VAT.

What spaces are available and how do they connect for larger events?

The venue offers multiple interconnected spaces including the Sugar Rooms (Upper and Lower), King George III, Queen Charlotte, Smeaton Vaults, Porter Tun, James Watt, and Grubstreet Cellars. The Sugar Rooms are two interconnecting rooms where the Upper can serve as main plenary while the Lower provides separate catering area. Many spaces can be hired individually or combined for larger events.

What are the mandatory additional costs beyond the base package price?

Security guards/fire marshals are mandatory at £395 per guard excluding VAT (typically 1 per 100 guests). Minimum AV spend requirements apply, ranging from £1,000 to £35,000 excluding VAT depending on event size and technical needs. Some events require overnight venue holds which incur additional charges of £42,993-£48,000 excluding VAT.

How far in advance must Christmas events be booked?

Christmas dates cannot be held due to high demand and operate on a first-come, first-served basis. The venue explicitly states they cannot hold Christmas dates, so immediate booking confirmation is required. Alternative dates are offered when preferred dates are unavailable.

What is included in the Day Delegate Rate packages for conferences?

DDR packages range from £85-£155 per person excluding VAT and include exclusive room hire, audio PA system, food stall lunch with water and cordials, coffee breaks, complimentary snacks, iced water throughout the day, full event management support, complimentary cloakroom, Wi-Fi connectivity, LED lighting systems, and digital room signage. Additional rooms and overnight holds cost extra.

What are the booking hold and availability policies?

The venue offers dates on 1st option (confirmed) or 2nd option (provisional hold while another event is being confirmed). For popular periods like Christmas, no holds are available and bookings are first-come, first-served. Updates on 2nd option availability are provided as soon as possible.

What catering styles and pricing are available for different event types?

Catering varies by event type: canape packages from £93 per person excluding VAT with 8 canapes and 4.5 hours of drinks; dinner packages from £110 per person excluding VAT including 3-course meals with wine; standing menus for Christmas parties; and food stall lunches for conferences. All prices exclude VAT and minimum numbers typically apply.

What AV and technical support is available and at what cost?

Basic AV includes projectors, screens, lecterns with microphones, mixers, and technical support. Minimum AV spends range from £1,000 to £35,000 excluding VAT depending on event complexity. Brewery Technical Support Managers are available at £900 per manager excluding VAT for complex events requiring dedicated technical oversight.

What are the venue access and timing restrictions?

Event access typically begins from 7am with events finishing by specified times (often 5pm for day events, 1am for evening events). Setup access can be arranged from 6-7am for conferences. The venue requires rooms to be cleared by specified times, and overnight holds are available for multi-day events at additional cost.