Hunting for venues with no hire fees in Edinburgh? You’ve come to the right place! Where to find your spot? Begin in The Old Town down below. The winding lanes around Cowgate and the Charles Stewart House have many pubs and bars that offer minimum spend options for whole venue or private function rooms. The nearby Scotsman Hotel here even offers some function rooms with minimum spend. Widening your search to The New Town you can find many more options along George and Frederick Sts, including some funky lounges and garden-themed bars. While minimum spend venues are a great way to score an essentially free venue, you do need to make sure you understand all the terms and conditions before you book. Check that food and drink are covered by the minimum spend and warn your guests ahead of the date. Most importantly, ensure that there are enough guests planning to attend to make reaching the minimum spend an easily achievable task. Find your spot today!
Booking costs of minimum spend venues average £600 minimum spend per event. Costs vary depending on guest capacity, popularity, location, and amenities like sound systems or bar services. Extra charges may apply for custom catering, decor, or event planning services. Packages with add-ons, such as DJs, photo booths, or other entertainment services, can also increase the overall cost. Check out the typical price ranges in Edinburgh, based on Tagvenue data from June 2026:
| From £300 | to £1500 | minimum spend per event |
| From £20 | to £45 | per person |
| From £100 | to £750 | hire fee per event |
Based on the popularity and user ratings on Tagvenue (updated June 2026), the best options include:
Raised Area at Chanter Edinburgh
in Old Town - rated 5/5
Our user said: ‘Great location, reasonable pricing and really friendly staff...’
The Other Room at Dragonfly Cocktail Bar
in Old Town - rated 4.9/5
Our user said: ‘We booked an external caterer, magician and DJ and the venue was perfect for 30 of us.’
Devil's Cut at Angel's Share Hotel
in New Town - rated 4.8/5
Our user said: ‘The bar staff were friendly and efficient and we were allowed show arounds at late notice.’
You'll find minimum spend venues in various sizes, from smaller spots to larger venues; keep in mind that the type of space and your chosen layout will affect the capacity! Below you can see the typical venue sizes in Edinburgh, together with the standard prices in each size range, based on Tagvenue data (June 2026):
| Small | up to 50 guests | prices average £300 minimum spend per event |
| Medium | between 60 and 100 guests | prices average £1000 minimum spend per event |
| Large | over 110 guests | prices average £1500 minimum spend per event |
These are the venues within 0.3 mi from central Edinburgh, available to book on Tagvenue:
Based on Tagvenue data (as of June 2026), users looking for minimum spend venues most commonly go for these venue types:
| Hotel | prices average £900 minimum spend per event | typically between 50 and 150 guests |
| Function Room | prices average £600 minimum spend per event | typically between 50 and 150 guests |
| Restaurant | prices average £750 minimum spend per event | typically between 40 and 120 guests |
| Pub | prices average £500 minimum spend per event | typically between 60 and 100 guests |
| Event Space | prices average £150 minimum spend per event | typically between 50 and 130 guests |
When you book a minimum spend venue, you don’t need to pay a fee for use of the space. You simply agree with the venue that you and your guests will spend an agreed-upon amount on food and drink during the event. If you do not reach that total by the end of the event, you must pay off the remainder. This is a great option for anyone looking to throw a memorable event without breaking the bank.
Page last updated in June 2026
To provide you with relevant information, our pages are refreshed using an algorithm that aggregates real-time data, including bookings, reviews, and venue updates.