Whether you’re holding a large conference on a budget, small networking meet-up, or charity event, the first question that came to your mind was probably how much does it cost to rent a conference room? While this question is hard to answer in a few words, one thing is absolutely certain – conference hall hire in London can be more favourable than you may have expected! The key lies in knowing how to look for budget conference venues, which is made easier by our comprehensive list of cheap conference spaces. The icing on the cake? We’ve also compiled a handful of affordable conference venue hire tips for your reading pleasure:
- Focus on minimum spend venues – Free conference venue hire possible, even in central London! If you’re not really familiar with the minimum spend term, here’s a quick explanation: it means your only obligation is to spend a certain amount of money on food or beverages (or both). You don’t need to pay a single penny for hiring the conference space, just for eating and drinking. Sounds fair, doesn’t it?
- Or go the other way around and do it yourself, as much as you can - This option to keep you within your means is a dry hire conference venue. With a dry hire venue you pay for the conference space only, while the other aspects of the event (such as catering, drinks, audiovisual system) are up to you. This solution gives you more flexibility in planning your conference expenses.
- Look at all kinds of venues - Don’t be fooled into thinking you have to search only for bespoke conference venues, as there are a number of more unique conference spaces that can easily hold your event and offer you bang for your buck. Top alternative picks include university conference venues with their own lecture theatres, versatile and affordable meeting rooms that can be adapted for conference purposes, or cinemas and auditoriums with large screens and plenty of seating.
- Take the road less travelled – Did you know that there are more modern conference venues in the suburbs of London than in the centre? Hiring a budget conference venue a bit further away from the hustle and bustle of the city has plenty of advantages. Obviously, these spaces are more affordable than the centric ones, but there’s way more to them than just that. Affordable conference venues on the outskirts of London usually offer outside areas that can be used for parking or serve as breakout spaces.
- Cut down on square metres – It’s a common mistake to hire a conference venue you’re unable to fill. Nobody wants to pay for space they’re not going to use. So, what’s the solution? Wise planning is half the battle. If your budget is tight, look for a smaller conference venue that’s just the right size for the number of attendees you’re expecting.