Minimum Spend Venues for Hire in Melbourne

Minimum Spend Venues Hire Guide

There's nothing worse than shelling out your hard-earned cash just to be disappointed by a lack of seating, bad lighting, and high table heights, the list goes on. To avoid this, it's crucial to scour your options for venues with reasonable prices and the right ambience for the event you're throwing. But what if I told you that there are venues in Melbourne that are well set up and charge a fair price for the services provided and not a hefty hire fee?

The minimum spend requirement is the amount of money you need to spend with the venue in order to use its services. Think of it as a way to make sure that you get what you pay for. These venues are a great option for events where you want to be sure you can get the quality of service and food you’re expecting but don’t want to pay to hire the entire space. Here are three tips to look out for if you plan to use a minimum spend venue for your event:

• Know what’s included in the price. Most minimums spend venues in Melbourne state that you need to meet a minimum amount on drinks, food, or both during the event hours. This is a common practice, and it’s not always a bad thing. However, you should always be aware of what’s included in the price. It may not be just drinks or food; it could also include service and other fees. The cost can also depend on the time you plan to hold the event. If you want to use a venue for an evening event, you can expect a higher minimum spend than if you were planning a lunchtime event.
• Talk to your guests. Once you rent a minimum spend venue in Melbourne, calculate the price per guest and think about what you need to do to make sure that you reach the minimum spend amount. Don’t hesitate to tell your guests how it works and encourage them to spend enough (or more than enough) to meet the minimum spend requirement. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! You want as many people as possible to pay their share of the minimum spend amount, so it is important that you do everything you can to make sure each guest brings enough money to cover their portion of the bill.
• Event hours. When you rent a minimum spend venue in Melbourne, be sure to double-check the amount you will need to spend for the hours you choose. The amount will differ with every venue manager, so make sure you check the fine print. It’s crucial to know these details, as you will likely be charged extra if you exceed the time.

You may be surprised to find that some of Melbourne’s most famous venues require a minimum spend in order to reserve the space, so choose your spots wisely! Hiring a minimum spend venue in Melbourne is a great choice when planning an event because there are many different types of venues available — from fine dining restaurants and bars/lounges all the way through high-end hotels and resorts Many of Melbourne’s minimum spend venues are located in high skyscrapers and offer a great view of the city’s most beautiful sights. You will see sights like Federation Square, the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, and the Eureka Tower. Here are some examples of venues that require a minimum spend: 

• Restaurants. The most common type of minimum spend venue is a restaurant. These venues can be found all over Melbourne and are great for group events or team bonding because they provide an opportunity for you to socialise with your colleagues over food and drinks. The minimum spend at restaurants can vary from venue to venue, but it’s usually between $700-$3000 per session.
• Party Venues. If you're after something more than just food and alcohol, then party venues are the way to go! This type of venue offers everything from themed decorations to entertainment options such as DJs and live bands. Party venues often require a minimum spend of around $1000–$4000+ per session.
• Bars. Bars often have minimum spend requirements. These venues are great for socialising with friends or colleagues and they can be found throughout the Melbourne CBD and suburbs. The minimum spend at bars can be as low as $300 or as high as $1500 per session depending on the venue.
• Nightclubs. Finally, there are nightclubs with a minimum spend requirement. These venues are perfect for larger groups of people (e.g., birthday parties) because they have large capacity rooms and offer a variety of entertainment options like dancefloor, karaoke rooms and games. The minimum spend at clubs can be anywhere between $1000 and $4000+ per session.
• Pubs. Pubs are one of the most popular choices for small events like birthdays and anniversaries. They're also perfect for company parties because they offer everything you need in one place — food, drinks, music and entertainment! The minimum spend at pubs can be anywhere from $350 to over $4000 per session.

FAQs about Minimum Spend Venues in Melbourne

What does minimum spend mean when hiring a venue in Melbourne?

Minimum spend is the minimum amount of money you have to spend during your event. It's typically calculated by looking at the total cost of your event, including any food and drinks provided by the venue, plus any additional charges such as setup or cleanup fees. The minimum spend amount is usually based on the venue's capacity, so it is higher if you have more guests than the venue can accommodate. For example, if you're holding a small cocktail party with appetizers and drinks from in-house catering, their price may only be $20-40 per person. But if you're having a full-blown wedding with multiple courses and an open bar, then there could be a higher minimum spend — perhaps $3,000 per session or more depending on the venue you choose.

How much does it cost to rent a minimum spend venue in Melbourne?

The minimum spend for a venue in Melbourne depends on the location and capacity of the space, as well as what you're looking to do. If you're looking to rent out a space that sits at around 30 guests, then the price would be $300-$500 per session, give or take. If you want to go higher than that (say, about 500 guests) then your expected price would be around $4000-$6000+ per session. (All data from Tagvenue.)

Is it possible to get a venue in Melbourne for free?

What most people mean when they talk about a free venue, is one that requires a hire fee to use the event space for private use. So the use of the place itself is free as long as the minimum spend amount is reached.

Do I have to arrange catering if I rent a minimum spend venue in Melbourne?

Most likely you don't need to arrange catering. Often, a minimum spend venue in Melbourne will offer in-house catering. Simply check their menu before booking, so you know what's available and if you can customise it to suit your needs. If you do want to hire an outside caterer, make sure the venue's policy doesn't have any restrictions.