Business

Dining

Events

What is the minimum number of guests required to book the Events space?

All meeting spaces and banqueting bookings require a minimum of 30 people for meetings and 50 people for banqueting events. Groups smaller than these minimums cannot be accommodated.

What does the Day Delegate Rate include and how much does it cost?

The Day Delegate Rate starts from £53 per person and includes main suite hire for the day, arrival tea and coffee with mini Danish pastries and fresh fruit, mid-morning tea and coffee with cookies, finger buffet lunch, mid-afternoon tea and coffee, jugs of iced water, projector and screen, flipchart and pens, complimentary Wi-Fi, complimentary car parking, and a dedicated event manager.

Can I bring my own external caterer to the venue?

The venue does not operate on a pure dry hire basis and normally does not allow external catering to be brought on site. However, they do work with preferred contracted caterers who can provide catering services, and you must use one of these approved partners to use the venue.

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

The Diomed suite can accommodate up to 500 people in theatre style and up to 224 people in cabaret style seating. The venue has indicated they cannot accommodate events requiring 700 guests with 500 seated due to kitchen facility limitations.

What additional room hire fees apply beyond the Day Delegate Rate?

Room hire fees vary by space - the mezzanine area costs £1,000 plus VAT, breakout rooms range from £300-£1,800 (often discounted), and the catering space hire is £2,000 plus VAT. These are in addition to per-person catering costs.

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

Basic AV includes a projector, screen, and built-in PA system at no extra charge. Additional items cost extra: lectern and microphone £90, standalone microphone £70, and medium stage £350 (all prices exclude VAT).

Which days of the week are the sales team available for enquiries?

The National Sales Manager works Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday only. This may affect response times for enquiries submitted on Wednesdays or weekends.

What dining packages are available for evening events?

The all-inclusive dining package costs £76 per person including VAT and includes room hire, glass of bubbly on arrival, 3-course seated meal, tea and coffee, staffing and security. You can add half a bottle of wine per person for an additional £18.75, or upgrade to higher-end wine options.

Are there any restrictions on event sizes or kitchen capacity?

The venue cannot accommodate very large events - they have declined requests for 700 guests with 500 seated, stating their kitchen facilities in the largest halls cannot service these numbers in seated capacity. Maximum practical capacity appears to be around 500 people.

What spaces are available for breakout sessions and their costs?

Breakout spaces include the Downs View suite (60 people cabaret, £1,800 room hire often discounted to £1,000), Gallops (48 people cabaret, £1,400 often discounted to £800), and Double Box (24 people cabaret, £600 often discounted to £300). All prices exclude VAT.