Business

Events

Film and Photo

What is the minimum number of attendees required for events at The Mermaid London?

The venue has a minimum requirement of 100 attendees for most events. This minimum applies to catering services and general event bookings, with pricing starting from £155 per person excluding VAT.

What are the Day Delegate Rate (DDR) packages and pricing?

The DDR is priced at £98 per person excluding VAT for events running 08:00-17:30. This includes venue hire (minimum 300 people for Auditorium), standing hot fork buffet lunch, arrival and refreshment breaks throughout the day, basic AV equipment, staffing, and complimentary use of green rooms and shared spaces.

What spaces are available and what are the individual room hire costs?

Key spaces include the 600-capacity Auditorium (included in DDR for 300+ people), Newgate Suite at £4,500 excluding VAT for day hire, Upper River Room at £2,500-£3,500 excluding VAT, Lower River Room at £2,500 excluding VAT, and Queenhithe room. Two green rooms (Castle Baynard & Workshop) are complimentary, plus shared Mezzanine and Foyer areas.

What are the mandatory additional costs beyond room hire?

Staffing costs are mandatory and estimated at £1,798-£2,050 excluding VAT for event managers, stewards, and security. Early access from 06:00 costs £2,000 excluding VAT. AV packages range from £1,100-£2,340 excluding VAT depending on requirements, and all prices exclude 20% VAT.

How long can enquiries be held and what are the booking deadlines?

Enquiries are automatically released from the system if no response is received by end of day Monday after initial contact. For short lead-time events, the venue requires booking confirmation and 100% payment by the end of the week, particularly for events with less than one week notice.

What catering options and pricing are available?

Bowl food is available at £40 per person excluding VAT for 5 items. Christmas reception packages start at £155 per person excluding VAT including room hire, arrival drinks, 6-item bowl food, and unlimited beer/wine. Tea, coffee and cookies cost approximately £2.75 per person per serving, with minimum catering numbers of 100 people required.

What are the capacity limits for different room configurations?

The Auditorium seats 600 in theatre style with tiered seating. The Newgate Suite can be divided into 4 breakout spaces and accommodates up to 27 exhibition stands. River Rooms offer flexible configurations for conferences, dinners and networking, with the Upper River Room and Queenhithe able to combine via moveable walls for larger events.

What AV equipment and technical capabilities are included?

Basic AV includes LCD projector, screen, flipchart, lectern and microphone. The Auditorium features a Yamaha QL1 mixing desk, Bose line array speakers, 4 handheld radio mics, 16ft x 9ft screen, and 15k HD projector. Additional AV packages cost £1,100-£2,340 excluding VAT and include technician support, with laptop audio connections and basic Wi-Fi up to 2Mbps per user.

Are there restrictions on event types or timing?

The venue operates primarily during business hours with standard access from 08:00-17:30. Evening events and extended hours are available with additional costs. Early access from 06:00 requires a £2,000 excluding VAT fee, and overnight holds between multi-day events incur additional charges.

What is the location and how accessible is the venue?

The Mermaid London is located at Puddle Dock, Blackfriars, London EC4V 3DB, with excellent transport links just minutes from Blackfriars station. The venue is fully accessible and centrally located in the City of London, making it easily reachable for both UK and international attendees.