Function Rooms for Hire in London

Function rooms are versatile spaces that can be hired for a wide range of events – they're the perfect place for training days and other corporate events. They can also be used for wedding receptions, and other private events, like christenings, engagement parties and baby showers. Function rooms are especially great for large parties and celebrations.

When sourcing a venue, keep in mind that the most sought after function rooms are often booked out months in advance, so it pays to secure your event space as soon as possible. It’s also helpful to have a few workable dates in mind to give yourself some options. Here at Tagvenue, we always recommend enquiring with multiple venues at once, so you can compare quotes and choose the best offer.

Hosting a great event takes organisation, creativity and attention to detail. The first thing to do when planning such an event should be  settling on a budget and deciding what kind of event venue you can afford. Then, you should start searching for function rooms in your desired London area. Simply use the map to search the neighbourhoods you want to search in. Tagvenue’s venue pages allow you to browse pictures, find out more info about the venue and make an inquiry that will go straight to the venue manager.

The best venue location will be largely dependent on the type of event you’re going to host. More public events and conferences should always take place in an area that is easily accessible by car, plane and public transport. For weddings and family gatherings, however, you could opt for more distant areas of London, or those close to where your family lives. When scouting the area you should also take things like parking and accessibility into account.

When it comes to organising your next big work get together, group meeting or corporate event, you’ll want to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. Take care to factor all the small things into your budget (printouts, lanyards, name tags etc.) and be aware of what suppliers you’ll need to work with. When planning an event it’s important to make sure you’ve got enough time up your sleeve – for large-scale events, begin organising four to five months in advance, and for smaller events, one to two months should do it. Once you have your venue, suppliers and guest speakers secured, you’ll need to create an event schedule that incorporates regular breaks. And remember, event planning is not rocket science, but it does require time, commitment and solid negotiation skills.

How many guests or attendees do you expect? Most function rooms are meant for a certain number of people and capacity is counted as either sitting or standing. So decide how your event will be organised to ensure that your space will be the right size. Give everyone a way to confirm their arrival or buy tickets to the event. If you don’t know how big of a function room you will need, you can do some research on how many people would be interested in attending your party, presentation or concert.

If you want to arrange a buffet or some sort of catering, it’s especially important that you work with your venue manager. Usually, venues offer food and drinks in-house or have a dedicated catering firm they work with. One of these options will usually come at a better price than ordering food separately. Smaller scale venues could possibly have a BYO policy for food and drinks, but remember to always ask about the terms and conditions before you do anything out of the ordinary.

Remember that it’s easy for miscommunications to happen when holding an event. To avoid any unwanted surprises, always reconfirm numbers and details with your venue and suppliers a few days before the event occurs, and make sure you know who’s responsible for the cleanup.

Planning a business event, fundraising night or professional association event on a tight budget? Our selection of affordable function rooms will save you a bundle on hire fees. From school halls and community centres, to dry hire spaces and conference rooms, we’re sure to have a no-frills function room that suits your specific requirements.

Tips and tricks for decorating a function room:

• Choose a colour scheme (rented coloured glassware, china or chair covers will really make your tables pop)
• Order place cards or menus that tie in with your theme. In a pinch you can even print them yourself.
• Pretty up your venue with paper lanterns, flowers or tealight candles
• Create an amazing photo backdrop with tissue paper, garlands or paper flowers
• Showcase the dessert buffet (display cakes on vintage tiered stands or eye-catching plates)
• Use chalkboard signage to direct your guests (these can be personalised by buying a second-hand frame and spray-painting it to match the rest of your décor)
• Several larger flower arrangements are often cheaper than many smaller centrepieces

Function Rooms in London FAQ

How far ahead should I hire a function venue in London?

If you are organising an event of larger scale or a corporate event, it would be best to start planning 3 to 5 months ahead of the date. Especially if your event is happening in a busy season, it might be wise to have several dates in mind while looking for function rooms. If you are organising a small event or private celebration, starting the process around 3 months before the date should give you enough time to hash out all the details.

What areas of London are the best for hiring a function venue?

London is famous for its variety of incredible venues but there are several areas around the city that are more popular than others. The City of London, Covent Garden or Farrington are all areas of London that are not only highly accessible from any other part of the city, but also offer unique and professional spaces for your event.

Can I hire a cheap function room in London?

Certainly! There are a few different ways to get a nice, but affordable function room. For example, hotels that are further away from the city centre usually offer their spaces for cheaper, without sacrificing quality. If you plan to have catering on your event, maybe you should consider minimum spend offers? As long as you spend enough on food and drinks, you get the space for free! Hiring at off-peak time frames (weekday mornings or early afternoons) will also be helpful.

How much do function rooms in London cost?

Hire fees for function rooms in London depend mainly on the size and location of the venue. Function rooms around Central London will cost you anything from £25 to £500 per hour on a dry hire model. If you want to opt for a minimum spend room or venue, offers start at around £50. (All data from Tagvenue.)