Private Dining Rooms for Hire in London

Home to cooking icons, like Rachel Khoo, Nigella Lawson and Yotam Ottolenghi, London has one of the hottest culinary scenes in the world. It also has plenty of private dining rooms to suit group breakfasts, lunches and dinners, no matter what size party you have.

From neighbourhood brasseries to fine-dining restaurants, Londoners are spoilt for choice when it comes to private dining. Here at Tagvenue we list some of the best private dining rooms in the city. And the really nice part? We have something to fit every budget, so choose anything from a Michelin-star restaurant to a laid-back bistro.

Calling all foodies! If you’re organising a celebratory feast, Tagvenue is here to lend a helping hand. Whether you’re planning a relaxed meal with mates or a sophisticated six-course dégustation with the whole family, we’re experts when it comes to the best birthday dinner venues in London. The nicest nosh-ups are all about good food and great company, so when it comes to organising a flavour-packed birthday dinner you want to be spoilt for choice.

Keep fantastic feasting at the forefront of your mind when planning your delightful dining event. If you’re throwing a Come Dine with Me dinner party don’t forget to read up on dining etiquette and to organise some fun dinner party games as well as a scoring system. What could be more fun than hosting a Channel 4 CDWM-style mini-competition with your closest friends and family?

Planning a birthday party, corporate dining event or staff Christmas dinner? Whether you’re after a set menu or a bespoke package designed just for you, our tips and tricks for hosting a private dining event are fit for any foodie. From farm-to-table fare to next-level drinks carts, we’re here to help you plan a standout reception menu.

With the popularity of celebrity chefs and a greater emphasis on locally sourced ingredients, there’s never been a better time to host your private dining event. But what are the top food and restaurant trends you need to know about before planning your foodie celebration?

Hottest private dining trends:

• Pop-up supper clubs

• Paddock-to-plate dinners

• Tasting events and cooking classes (think cocktail masterclasses, whisky tastings, cake decorating classes, etc.)

• Food and cocktail pairings

• Make-your-own food stations (fondue carts, ice cream sandwich bars, cheese boards, etc.)

• Creative dessert displays (doughnut walls, cake pop croquembouches, retro sweets buffets, etc.)

• Sharing plates (tapas, buffet-style dinners, grazing tables, etc.)

• Come Dine with Me-style dinner parties

These restaurant and catering trends are changing the way Londoners dine out, with a shift towards more affordable, relaxed and interactive dining experiences. More and more restaurants are offering fine dining experiences in casual settings, poshed-up street food as well as dishes made from farm-to-table and foraged ingredients.

Searching for London’s best private dining room? Our selection of the capital’s top restaurants and tasting venues is guaranteed to get your mouth watering.

Most popular private dining venues:

• Restaurants and cafes

• Private dining rooms, semi-private dining rooms and private party rooms

• Bars and pubs

• Rooftop terraces and sky bars with views of the city skyline

• Luxury or unique venues (think museums, kitschy karaoke joints and iconic spaces, like the Gherkin or the Shard)

• Function rooms

• Hotels and private clubs

Dreaming of a boozy brunch, stylish post-work socials or a fabulously festive Christmas party? When you’re eating out in a big group, it’s nice to feel like you have the place to yourself. Here at Tagvenue you can explore our collection of London’s most popular private dining rooms, enquire online in minutes and compare quotes from your preferred venues.

Tips and tricks for hiring a private dining room or restaurant:

• Writing a guest list will help you create a budget and find the right-sized venue (a small private dining room for 20 people, an entire restaurant for a large group, etc.)

• Consider where you’d like the venue to be located (the most popular locations for private dining events are Chelsea, Covent Garden, Greenwich, Islington, Kensington, King’s Cross, Liverpool Street, Mayfair, Queen’s Park and Shoreditch)

• Think about the type of space that would best suit your event (a family-friendly bistro with a kids’ menu, a rooftop terrace with Thames views, an outdoor space for a BBQ party, etc.)

• Shortlist venues that will allow you to use an external caterer of your choice, or offer the style of food you’d like at your event (modern Italian, traditional British, Nordic, fusion, etc.)

• Find out if you can do a menu tasting and whether the in-house catering team can accommodate special dietary requirements (halal, kosher, gluten free, vegan, etc.)

• Make sure you know what is and isn’t included in your booking (ask about what furniture and equipment you can use, as well as who’ll provide the linen, tableware and service staff)

• Find out if there are any vendor restrictions (some venues may have noise or decor restrictions, or penalise you if the clean up is unsatisfactory)

• Think about any special requirements you have (i.e. do you need a chef’s table, baby grand piano, a stage?)

• Ask whether there are any additional costs (corkage fee, cake-cutting fee, late licence fee, etc.) and if VAT is included

• Consider whether you need a rain plan (this is essential if you intend to hold your private dining event outdoors)

Planning the perfect private dining party is far from a cakewalk, but it’s definitely a lot of fun. Whether you’re organising a seven-course degustation or a sweet afternoon tea in a leafy garden courtyard, a great foodie event is all about the details.

Ideas for your private dining event:

• Source local ingredients and make them the focal point of your food setup (you might like to serve seasonal, organic produce, artisan bread, a selection of London craft beers, etc.)

• Choose a theme and run with it (think flowing champagne towers and seafood stations with ice carvings for a Great Gatsby-themed event, or classic cocktails and retro appetisers for a Mad Men-inspired party)

• Set up a small speciality side bar that’s designated for a spirit or signature drink of your choice (a gin bar is one of the most popular options – make sure to have coloured tonic waters, juniper berry–infused ice cubes and classic garnishes, like fresh herbs and muddled cucumber, on hand)

• If you’re celebrating a meaningful event, like an engagement, birthday or bar mitzvah, include dishes with a personal story (the dish you shared on your first date, a cake based on an old family recipe, etc.)

• Have a dessert table instead of a plated dessert (think hand-painted, custom sugar cookies, macaron towers or a hot chocolate stand, complete with marshmallows, salted caramel sauce, candy canes, whipped cream and glacé cherries)

• If you’re hosting a BBQ party or picnic, popsicle cocktails are a grown-up version of a classic summer treat

• A fresh hot funnel cake cart and carnival foods, like popcorn and candyfloss, are fantastic at pop-up food events and festivals

• A chef’s station is always a great ice breaker (have a chef shuck oysters or roll sushi for your guests on the spot)

• Serve up comfort food classics with a twist (think French fries wrapped in monogrammed paper or cookies served with a shot of milk)

• Non-drinkers and designated drivers will appreciate you offering tasty non-alcoholic options, like gourmet lemonade, artisan soft drinks, coconut water or mocktails

• Give more meaning to your event by introducing flavours from your heritage or favourite places to travel (think spicy ramen noodles and Matcha tea ice cream for a Japanese-inspired menu, kimchi and beef skewers for a Korean BBQ, or tandoori salmon and lemon rice pilaf for a traditional dinner at an Indian restaurant)

Whether your guests are sitting down to a business dinner, tucking into a family-style buffet at a big birthday bash, or hitting up the food trucks at a high-impact product launch, it’s all about choosing a private dining venue that suits your specific tastes (if you’ll pardon the pun!). So what are you waiting for? Your perfect private dining venue is only a few clicks away.

Private Dining Rooms in London FAQ

How much does it cost to hire a private dining room in London?

The average cost of a private dining room in London is £710 (based on Tagvenue.com data). Most of these types of venues will charge minimum spend, which means the price will include the use of the space as well as food and drinks.

What are the best private dining rooms in London?

Some of the best private dining restaurants in London are:
Tuttons Private Dining, one of the oldest restaurants in central London with a guest rating of 4.6/5
Crusting Pipe, one of Covent Gardens most original finds with a guest rating of 4.6/5
Searcys at The Gherkin, an iconic high-end restaurant with a guest rating of 4.6/5
The Ampersand Hotel, private dining rooms that combine a sense of occasion with state-of-the art facilities, rated by guests at 4.8/5
The Chesterfield Mayfair Regency style hotel with private dining rooms with a guest rating of 4.8/5

What is included in the price of a private dining room in London?

Private dining rooms in London are generally priced according to minimum spend or via a per person charge. Minimum spend is the least amount that you agree to pay on drinks and food for using the venue and has the benefit of not requiring any upfront fees. Per person pricing is a surcharge based on the number of guests you invite and includes a predetermined selection of food and/or drink.

How can I hire a private dining room in London?

• Check out the Tagvenue platform for a range of private dining venues all throughout the city.
• Narrow down your search results by specifying the number of expected guests, the dinner date and time, and the desired location.
• In case a dining room with special features is needed, use additional filters to see only rooms with different catering options, extensive gluten-free menu, vegan menu, onsite parking, natural light, and more.
• Compare rooms prices, photos, customer reviews and create a shortlist of favourite spaces.
• Contact the venue managers and discuss your booking.