Business

Dining

Events

What is the minimum number of guests required for dining bookings?

All dining bookings require a minimum of 50 people. Meeting spaces have a minimum of 30 people, but banqueting specifically requires 50 guests minimum to proceed with a booking.

What are the pricing options for dining events?

Day Delegate Rate starts from £53 per person for groups of 30+. All-inclusive dining packages are available at £76 per person including VAT, which covers room hire, glass of bubbly on arrival, 3-course seated meal, tea and coffee, staffing and security. Wine can be added at £18.75 per person for half a bottle.

Can I bring my own caterer for dining events?

External catering is generally not permitted as the venue does not operate on a dry hire basis. However, they work with preferred contracted caterers who can provide quotes for room hire and catering as part of their package. You must use one of their approved catering partners to use the venue.

What dining spaces are available and what are their capacities?

The Diomed suite can accommodate up to 500 people in theatre style or 224 people in cabaret style for dining. The Oaks Hall can accommodate up to 50 people. Double boxes on the top floor of the Duchess's Stand offer intimate dining with sensational views and are ideal for smaller dining events.

Are there any restrictions on guest numbers for different types of dining events?

The venue cannot accommodate very large seated dining events - they declined a request for 700 guests with 500 seated, stating their kitchen facilities in the largest halls cannot service these numbers in seated capacity. The practical upper limit appears to be around 500 seated guests.

What additional costs should I expect beyond the basic dining package?

DJ and dance floor services cost £400 plus VAT. Menu upgrades for main courses incur additional costs depending on options chosen. High-end wine bottles can be added beyond the standard half-bottle option at £18.75 per person.

What is included in the all-inclusive dining package?

The £76 per person package includes room hire, glass of bubbly on arrival, 3-course seated meal, tea and coffee, staffing and security, and complimentary car parking. This represents the complete dining experience with service staff included.

How do I proceed with booking a dining event?

Contact the events team to check availability first, as they have minimum guest requirements. If using external catering, you must select from their approved caterer list, get quotes directly from the caterer (who will include room hire), then organize show rounds with your chosen caterer rather than booking directly with the venue.

What dining room features and amenities are available?

The Diomed suite includes use of a private terrace overlooking the racecourse and connects to the Lammtarra suite for catering service. Double boxes offer sensational views of the whole area from the top floor of the Duchess's Stand, making them ideal for intimate banquets and dinner parties.

Are there any limitations on kitchen facilities for large dining events?

Yes, the kitchen facilities have capacity limitations. The venue specifically stated they cannot service very large seated dining numbers, declining events requiring 500+ seated guests due to kitchen constraints in their largest halls.