Business

Dining

Events

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. For catering services, there is also a minimum of 100 people required for food to be provided on-site.

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

The Day Delegate Rate starts from £98 per person (excluding VAT) and includes venue hire, arrival refreshments, mid-morning refreshments, two-course hot fork buffet lunch, afternoon refreshments, basic AV equipment, staffing, and filtered water throughout the day. The DDR includes hire of the Auditorium for groups of 300+ or the Newgate Suite for smaller groups.

What is the capacity and setup of the Auditorium?

The Auditorium accommodates 600 people in tiered theatre-style seating with excellent sightlines to the stage. It includes a full PA system with Yamaha QL1 mixing desk, Bose line array speakers, 4 handheld radio mics, 16ft x 9ft screen, 15k HD projector, stage lighting, and comes with an AV technician.

What are the room hire costs for individual spaces?

Room hire varies by space and duration: Auditorium costs £14,500 (8am-5:30pm), Newgate Suite £4,500-£6,500, Upper River Room £2,500-£3,500, Lower River Room £2,500, and Queenhithe £2,500. Evening hire typically costs more than daytime rates.

What catering options are available and what are the costs?

Catering includes DDR packages with hot fork buffet, bowl food options at £40 per person for 5 items, canapes at £13 per person for 4 items, and drinks packages starting at £25 per person for 2-hour unlimited house wine, beer and soft drinks. Traditional afternoon tea and breakfast options are also available.

How many breakout rooms are available and what are their capacities?

The venue can provide up to 5 simultaneous breakout spaces: the Newgate Suite can be divided into 4 separate breakout rooms, plus the Lower River Room. Two complimentary green rooms (Castle Baynard and Workshop) are also available for smaller meetings.

What are the standard event timings and access hours?

Standard event hours are 8:00am-5:30pm for day events, with evening events typically running 6:30pm-midnight. Early access from 6:00am is available for £2,000 plus VAT for load-in requirements, and events can be extended into the early hours with additional charges.

What additional costs should be budgeted beyond room hire?

Additional mandatory costs include staffing (event manager, stewards, security), AV equipment if not included in DDR, early access fees if required before 8am, and VAT at 20% on all charges. Enhanced AV setups, staging, and extended hours incur extra charges.

What is the booking process and payment requirements?

For short lead-time events, the venue requires booking confirmation and 100% payment by the end of the week. Enquiries are automatically released from the system if no response is received by end of business on specified deadlines, typically within a few days of the initial quote.

What are the pricing thresholds for different event packages?

Events with 350+ delegates can access reduced DDR rates of £88 per person (down from £98) when confirmed by October 31st. Christmas party packages start at £155 per person excluding VAT, and there are enhanced commission rates of 12.5% for bookings over 600 delegates.