The 16 Best Pubs for Large Groups for Hire in London

FAQs about Top Pubs for Large Groups in London

How much will it cost to hire a pub for a large group in London?

Hiring a pub for a large group in London is often priced on a minimum spend basis - in this case, prices can start at around £100 per session. You can find per person hire fees starting at around £10 to £30, depending on the venue and location. Some venues may also charge by the hour - in this case expect prices beginning at around £20. To hire a venue for a session, for example an entire afternoon, be ready to pay at least £50 for the cheap pub venues for large groups, and even £15,000+ for the most exclusive venues. (All data from Tagvenue.)

How can I get the most affordable price when hiring a London pub for a large group?

When hiring a pub for a large group in London, you are generally asked to pay according to a minimum spend model. This is a price calculated by the pub based on how much they’d expect to earn during the booking time if they were open to the public. With this in mind, it’s best to ask the venue managers whether their minimum spend will decrease if you hold your event on a less popular day of the week, for instance sometime between Monday and Wednesday. If you are hiring on a per hour or per session basis, make sure to check what is included in the price. You can also use our smart filters to find the venues that match your budget!

What area of London is best for pub hire for large groups?

You can find amazing pubs that will fit a big group all around London, especially in central areas such as Soho, Covent Garden, and the City of London. If you want to move a bit further away from the city centre, we recommend you check out our hire guide for pub venues in North London, you'll find plenty of fantastic spaces ready to book there!

Which London pubs can I go to with a large group?

If you are looking to host an outdoor party with a beautiful view of the river Thames, we recommend The Rooftop Terrace Bar at Doggett’s Coat and Badge. It can fit up to 120 standing guests and is perfect especially for the summer. To create an intimate and elegant atmosphere even for a large group, we recommend the Vault Bar at Walkers of Whitehall in Westminster. The venue is available for exclusive hire for up to 65 guests seating or 100 standing. If your group is even larger, The Last Talisman in Bermondsey can host 300. The venue offers Asian grill and unique cocktails.

Tagvenue team

Your Guide to Hiring Pubs for Large Groups in London

From private rooms in historic taverns to lively beer gardens with space to spare, we've rounded up the top options to make group events easy to plan—and even easier to enjoy.

Best Pubs for Large Group Events

The Railway Tavern, near Liverpool Street – Known for group dinners and after-work drinks; offers exclusive hire on weekends
The Blue Anchor, Hammersmith – Riverside setting, perfect for summer birthdays and wedding receptions
The Prince, West Brompton – Stylish with a retractable roof, great for semi-outdoor themed parties

Can You Book a Private Room in a Pub For Group Bookings?

Absolutely! You can book a private room for a large group in a pub, and London has some top-notch options for it. You’ll find plenty of pubs across the city offering private hire with a range of capacities and price points from £100 to £3000+, depending on time, day, and session.

Here are few of our customers’ favourite pubs with private rooms for groups:

The Trading House (Bank)

Standing: 300 | Seated: 60
Price: From £3000 minimum spend per session
Why it’s great: Huge capacity, grand atmosphere, near Monument Station.

Walkers of Whitehall (Whitehall)

Standing: 100 | Seated: 60
Price: From £500 minimum spend
Perk: Iconic central location just steps from Charing Cross.

LOCKES Bar Covent Garden (Holborn)

Standing: Up to 125
Price Range: From £150 to £500 minimum spend
Multiple room options to suit group sizes — perfect flexibility.

What to Expect from London’s Group-Friendly Pubs

London’s pub scene is built for socialising, and many venues cater specifically to larger groups with:

Private function rooms for hire (ideal for birthdays, corporate events, hen/stag parties)
Minimum spend options instead of rental fees
Flexible layouts with standing and seated areas
Group menus and drinks packages (many allow pre-orders to speed up service)
Entertainment setups including DJ booths, live music licenses, and AV gear

Want something scenic? Try a riverside pub along the Thames. Need a more intimate vibe? Check out basement lounges or private nooks in centuries-old pubs. And if you're planning something during summer, beer gardens in areas like Camden, Clapham, or Hackney are always crowd-pleasers.

Tips for Booking a Pub for a Large Group

Planning for 20, 50, or even 150 guests? Here’s how to lock in the right space:

Define your must-haves: Think seating layout, private bar access, or outdoor space
Check party-friendly policies: Not all pubs allow DJs or late-night events—double-check
Look for accessible venues if needed—many pubs have ground-floor spaces or lifts
Review corkage and catering rules: Some allow BYOB or external caterers, others don't
Create a shortlist and compare deals—booking flexibility is key, especially for large groups

For big events like weddings, always confirm if the pub holds a wedding licence.

Food, Drinks & Logistics

Nailing the details can make or break a large group event. Once you’ve picked the perfect pub, it’s all about making service seamless and the experience smooth. Here’s what to sort out in advance so your guests are fed, happy, and never left guessing.

Pre-order food for quicker service, especially for large sit-down groups
Set drinks limits or tabs if you’re managing budget
Choose set menus or create themed cocktail lists for customisation
Plan arrival and signage: Especially helpful in large or multi-room pubs
Have one main contact at the pub for smooth coordination on the day

London has countless pubs ready to host your large group event—whether it's a dinner, party, or wedding reception. Use Tagvenue’s smart search tools to find and book your ideal spot in minutes.

Let the good times pour.

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Pubs for Large Groups in nearby suburbs

Soho London Bridge Covent Garden Shoreditch Camden Wimbledon Clapham Greenwich King's Cross Richmond Islington

Pubs for Large Groups in other cities

Edinburgh Bristol Leeds Birmingham Liverpool Manchester Glasgow Brighton Cardiff Newcastle

Verified Reviews of Pubs for Large Groups in London

Kat B.

Booked Whole Venue at The Union Regents

5.0

Our day was absolutely perfect and we have the staff at The Union to thank for that. Sophie and the team conducted the events effortlessly with a smile and good humour. The space looked absolutely phenomenal and the transition from day to evening was seamless. Francesca was a dream to communicate with, she is an expert at what she does and helped us feel calm because we knew she had everything under control. We were lucky with the weather so was able to take full advantage of the outside space. Photos look beautiful inside and out. Shout out to the Pizza Truck! The pizzas were incredible. Thank you for everything. We will always be grateful for your part in our special day and the beginning of our married life together.

Lianna I.

Booked The Wildwood Room at The Green Man

5.0

This is a cute, centrally-located pub. Very friendly and helpful staff. We hosted a work event for 20 people in the private Wildwood room. The food was delicious and had lots of variety. Everyone was really happy and had a great time! It was nice to have the ladies and gents on that floor just for us. We didn't get private bar so went down for drinks, but they let us have a tab. The event went very smoothly and we would definitely book there again. Thank you!

Gabrielle R.

Booked Whole Venue at Coin Laundry

4.8

From the initial point of contact with the team to the night itself, we had a wonderful with hosting our wedding reception at the Coin Laundry. It was exceptionally well organised and had great food and drink options. All our guests raved about the food and the service, and the groom and I didn't have to worry about a thing. The staff went above and beyond to make the evening great for us and ensure everything went smoothly. We had such a wonderful evening celebrating our wedding with friends and family there, would highly recommend it.

Ilka N.

Booked The Main Venue at The Saw Swee Hock Centre

5.0

We had a wonderful event at The Saw Swee Hock. It was easy to communicate and we received answers quickly. Communication was definitely high above average compared to other venues in London that we booked for similar events previously. When we arrived at the site we were met by three people that checked if everything was in place as we had imagined/ wished. They were also available during our event. So e.g when we needed more water or coffee that was fixed immediately. AV in the venue is extraordinary! Plug and play worked perfectly even though we had several presentations and everyone used their own device. AV support was on-site during the whole event. The sound system is really (!!!) good.

CLAIRE M.

Booked The Fishing Smack at Boathouse Studios, Barking

5.0

We were immediately drawn to The Fishing Smack when we saw photos of the gorgeous exposed brickwork and from the first in-person visit, we were hooked - Pun very much intended! Carole is, without question, the jewel in the crown of Boathouse Studios. She put us completely at ease and accommodated every detail of our bigger picture without ever making us feel we were a nuisance - Even when we were bothering her to come in for things like testing lightbulbs! My wife and I are experienced in various areas of the events industry but walking through the space with Carole inspired loads of new ideas for the party we were hosting. Her creativity and enthusiasm for the success of not only the venue, but our event as well, was infectious throughout our months of planning and the party wouldn't have been the same without her. The venue as a whole is well-run, very clean and very well-equipped. The behind-the-scenes details, such as free sanitary products in the toilets, didn't go unnoticed and I believe speak volumes about the kind of people working back of house - Dedicated, inclusive, efficient and experienced. The spaces are also extremely versatile. It's rare to find a 'blank canvas' style space that retains the charm and focal details that Boathouse Studios does. I highly recommend using the clean-down service. Shadene and the team took immediate charge to pack up and reset the room efficiently and respectfully. It's very reassuring to know that your belongings, decor, equipment etc are in very safe hands, while your guests can slip away on a high note. In summary: Love the vibe, love Carole and the team, and we wish Boathouse Studios every continued success.

Amanda K.

Booked Private Room at The Prince Regent

4.8

The room was cosy and attractive: just the right size for 20 or so guests. The assistant manager, Em, was delightful, helpful and worked like a Trojan, full of creative ideas, helping us to set up beforehand and checking in with us regularly throughout the evening to make sure we had everything we needed. The food was very tasty - just about enough but not a huge amount - and the chef accommodated our dietary requirements as much as possible. Altogether, everyone had a lovely evening. Would definitely come back.

Isabella M.

Booked Private Room at The Prince Regent

5.0

This was the perfect venue for my 40th birthday in every way! All the staff were so kind, accommodating, polite and patient with us, the nicest people ever - even though it was a really busy Sunday afternoon for them with all the customers. We had our own separate room upstairs so we could be as noisy and joyful as we wanted and it was safe and secure for the little ones. The best bit was the fact there was no minimum spend, and that everyone could individually pay for drinks/food at the bar, which altogether meant NO nasty bill problems at the end of the day, which has always put a downer on my birthdays in the past. I only had to pay a really small deposit of £50 to secure the booking which I received at the end with no fuss. I will certainly be booking again next year!

Dominique K.

Booked First Floor Bar at The Walmer Castle

4.8

I booked the upstairs of the Walmer Castle pub and I am more than pleased I did so. Staff was very very friendly and helpful. They were very Efficient. I helped cleared some tables at some point as they were a bit overwelmed but it does not matter. In the end, they said that we were awesome and that they had a great time. Brilliant!