Self Catering Venues for Hire in London

Self Catering Venues for Hire in London

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Top Self Catering Venues in London

Planning an event but want to keep your costs low? Alternative options to consider include self catering venues that allow for non-traditional catering (like food trucks), sponsored catering or DIY catering. It's worth remembering that town halls, libraries or other local community organisations are often much cheaper than a banquet hall, hotel or conference centre, and are ideal for self-catered events. Here at Tagvenue, we showcase a variety of alternative hire spaces, so it's easy to find a self-catering venue for your next celebration.

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1198 Self Catering Venues in London

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Map of London
1198 Self Catering Venues in London

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Self Catering Venues for Hire in London

FAQs about Top Self Catering Venues in London

This largely depends on the type of venue you hire, such as dry hire vs. wet hire venues. Some venues will have a kitchen or kitchenette food preparation or simply offer a catering or warming kitchen for you to heat up food. You should always  make sure that you have the catering supplies on hand to serve your guests.

The biggest advantage of self catering venues is the money that you can save by providing your own food and drinks. There is more work involved, of course, but you also have the enjoyment of creating a more personalised event. This is especially good for more creative types and those who love to get stuck into a project. It can also be enormously helpful for people who need to prepare a menu that takes into account allergies or intolerances.

Of course! This is always a viable option as there are plenty of ways to cater a party in London in non-conventional ways. A crowd favourite are food trucks, which are perfect for summertime parties and even wedding receptions.

Some of our favourites are:

bbodance – This is a sleek, modern studio space with enough space for 30 guests offers a very reasonable hire fee. This is a perfect place for smaller, casual parties.

Sizona – This space embodies feng shui and features minimalist design cues. This is a great venue for more relaxed parties.

Eastside Shoreditch – This is a classic studio space. You can set this venue up however you like, making it perfect for a great DIY party, conference, or art show.

Tagvenue team
Featured post · 6 min read
Guide
Event organising

Your Guide to Hiring Self Catering Venues in London

Self-Catering Venues in London: Plan the Perfect DIY Event

Venues that allow outside catering give you full control over your menu, making them a budget-friendly option for weddings, birthdays, and private parties. If you’re hiring a professional caterer or preparing the food yourself, these self catering party venues let you create a truly personalised experience. Here’s what to consider when booking one in London:

Planning & Preparation

  • Kitchen Facilities – Some venues have on-site kitchens, while others require you to bring pre-prepared food. Check what’s available in advance.
  • Serving & Storage – Aluminium trays, chafing dishes, and portable coolers make buffet-style service easy. Don’t forget utensils, plates, and serving tools.
  • Clean-Up – Opt for recyclable plates and cutlery for easy cleanup, or rent glassware for a more polished look.

Dry Hire vs. Wet Hire: Which One to Choose?

  • Dry Hire Venues – These are blank-canvas spaces where you bring everything, from furniture to decorations. Perfect for fully customised events on a budget. Many party rental companies in London offer affordable tables, chairs, and decor.
  • Wet Hire Venues – These come with basic setups like tables and chairs, saving you time and effort. You’ll still handle the catering, but setup and logistics are simplified. They’re ideal for larger gatherings.

Setting Up a DIY Bar

  • Keep it simple with a self-service bar:
    • Stock coolers with beer, wine, and soft drinks.
    • Provide ice, cups, and mixers for easy drink-making.
    • Add a signature cocktail station for a fun, interactive touch.

Self-Catering Venue Hire Tips:

  • See if the venue has a special space for preparing food – Ask about kitchens or  kitchenettes. These facilities allow you to prepare tasty, fresh nibbles and serve them right away.
  • Plan the menu carefully – Keep in mind that some of your guests may have special dietary requirements (gluten free, halal, vegetarian). Because of that, having a variety of entrees, main dishes and snacks is the key to a successful self-catered party.
  • Use seasonal produce – Think Eton mess with summer berries in June and spicy pumpkin soup in autumn. It’s not only cheaper, but much more delicious!
  • Manage your time wisely – If you’re thinking about a self-catered wedding, remember that it can be really time consuming. You can use food trucks as well as DIY food stations and dessert bars. After all, there are many different self-catering wedding venues for your big day.

The most popular self-catering venues in London include community centres, halls, and warehouses. You can also take a look at our dry hire venues, many of which are happy for you to organise your own catering. Hiring a venue that allows outside catering is one of the best ways to organising affordable wedding or party event.

Planning a party at a self catering venue does not need to be a  stressful endeavour. Enjoy exploring your creativity and bringing a personal touch to your event as you plan a menu that you love. The savings are a big plus as well. Fortunately for you, Tagvenue is an excellent resource for finding the perfect venue for your party. Browse through our selection of amazing venues and book with us today!

How to Maximise Your Budget at a Self-Catering Venue

Looking for self-catering venues near you? If you're planning a wedding, corporate retreat, or birthday party, a self-catering venue hire gives you full control over your event’s catering, decor, and setup—helping you save money while creating a completely bespoke experience.

Why Choose a Self-Catering Venue?

Also known as DIY or BYO venues, self-catering spaces offer flexibility and cost savings by allowing you to:

  • Bring in external catering that fits your budget and taste.
  • Set up a self-service bar instead of paying for an in-house drinks package.
  • Decorate and furnish the venue to match your vision—perfect for wedding venues with external catering.

Budget-Saving Tips for a DIY Event

  • Buy in Bulk – Get food, drinks, and tableware from wholesale suppliers.
  • DIY Decorations – Use rented linens, candles, and fairy lights for a stylish look on a budget.
  • Smart Table Settings – Opt for recyclable plates or rented glassware for a balance of cost and elegance.

How to Find the Perfect Self-Catering Venue in London

Whether you need a self catering wedding venue or party venues that allow outside catering for a private event, London has many options you can choose from.

Maximising Venue Use: When booking a self-catering venue, ask about the space's flexibility. Some venues offer multiple areas for different event stages,  Use courtyards for welcome drinks, rooftops for ceremonies, or banquet halls for dining. Check kitchen access and catering rules..

Budget Management: One of the biggest perks of a self-catering venue is cost control. Set a clear budget, track expenses, and compare catering options to find the best value.

Embracing the Local Charm: Choose a venue in Greenwich for riverside charm or Camden for an edgy vibe You could even incorporate local flavours by bringing in food from nearby markets or hiring a London-based chef.

Top Self-Catering Venues in London for Every Type of Event

  • The Loft: Located in East London, this is a cool space with an industrial look, perfect for birthday parties or fun get-togethers. Up to 120 people can fit here, and you can book it starting at £500. It's a flexible spot where you can bring your own food and decorations to match your party theme.
  • Studio Spaces: This venue is a versatile space with three blank canvas spaces and is great for corporate events, workshops, or creative meetings. This venue can handle groups of 1500 people, and prices start at £8000 per day.
  • The Grand Hall at Troxy: Located in East London's Limehouse area, The self catering venue is an art deco venue perfect for large-scale events. Originally a cinema in 1933, it now hosts weddings, corporate events, live shows, and more. With a capacity of up to 1,800 people, it has a high ceiling, classic 1930s decor, and great sound and lighting systems.
  • The Garden Room with Garden at The Wilds: Located in Hackney, this charming DIY venue is great for small events. It has an indoor room and a delightful private garden, perfect for up to 30 guests. The decor is rustic with a touch of modern elegance, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere. Rental prices start at £75 per hour. The venue is especially popular for small weddings, workshops, and family gatherings.
  • The Jacobean Room at Kingswood Arts: This exquisite ballroom in West London is ideal for large events, such as weddings, galas, and corporate functions, accommodating up to 400 guests. The room has ornate Jacobean-style interiors, a high ceiling, and grand chandeliers. Rental prices begin at £250 per hour, making it a luxurious yet convenient choice if you want a majestic setting for your special occasion.

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Verified Reviews of Self Catering Venues in London

SS
Samantha S.
Booked The Crypt at St Anne's Limehouse
5.0
Incredible day at the most amazing venue!! I hosted my 40th birthday at the venue because I was able to create a children's area with the sofas, an eating area, a gaming area and a dance area as well as having a kitchen area that was open so that people in the kitchen could be a part of the occasion. I will hire the venue again as it is an inspiring place where you imagine hosting alsorts of events! Lots of friends and family asked how we found it and to be honest it was the best on all levels for multi-generational gatherings!! Thank you for allowing me to create memories that will last forever for myself, my friends and family.
NW
Naomi W.
Booked Pushkin Bar at Pushkin House
5.0
Lovely venue and perfect for my intimate birthday celebration. Everyone loved the space and we were able to have an enjoyable time. Comfortable for 10 and able to seat everyone for food around the tables and reheat in the microwave. Both of the staff we met beforehand were lovely and thank you for the use of the space. Would recommend booking
EH
Edward H.
Booked The Bedouin Tent & Garden at St Ethelburga's Centre
5.0
We booked St Ethelburga's for a 21st birthday tea. Alastair was very helpful with the booking, and Nelson (the caretaker on the afternoon of the event) couldn't do enough for us. The colourful patio garden, with a wide awning to protect us from the sun, and the separate Bedouin tent provided plenty of space for different groups to chat. The internal lobby area with the glass front onto the garden gave helpful extra space for setting out the food. This tranquil spot in the heart of London was perfect for our needs.
TA
Tomisin A.
Booked The Library at The Hearth
5.0
The Hearth's Team (Angie & Vivian) were super kind and helpful! The venue is beautiful and well-equipped. We will definitely be using this venue again! They really took their time to help us understand the seating plan, and logistics --- this is something you do not usually experience. super grateful!
BB
Beatrice B.
Booked Sky Loft Thames View at Altitude London
5.0
I really wanted to write a little something to acknowledge the fact that not only was Altitude London an amazing venue with jaw dropping views and a lovely sleek feel but the staff at Altitude literally saved our wedding! My husband and I fell in love with the venue when we attended the viewing, the fact that our top table overlooked an amazing view of the River Thames embankment with the main London landmarks behind us as we raised our glasses, was already incredible, however the main star quality of the venue, and the thing that will stay with us forever is the warmth and general loveliness of the staff. My husband and I were bringing over a lot of relatives from Spain and so in order to incorporate our own Spanish touches we decided on a dry hire. We also used an external caterer as we wanted a very specific type of food. When our external caterer let us down catastrophically by arriving after our guests (over 3 hours late), we can genuinely say that Altitude´s staff´s flexibiliy, and quick thinking literally saved our wedding! We had a lovely experience from the word go! The first person who we dealt with was Aneeza from the Sales team who was lovely and really understood what we wanted, as did Jess who was our next point of contact, then when you go for the ´Dry Hire´option with Altitude they provide you with an Event Manager, ours´ was Sophie and from the onset she was an absolute joy to work with: getting back to us immediately with answers to all of our many questions regarding storage and loading bays and other logists prior to the day itself, setting up a second site visit at short notice because we had to travel, and together with other Altitude London staff members such as Patrick, Sophie and the rest of the staff went far beyond the what you could expect from them, especially on the day before the wedding, when we left all of the stuff and we were running around trying to get everything sorted, they were just fantastic and effecient and they really helped us get on top of it all, all of which was above and beyond the remit of what the were obliged to do. We can genuinely say that rather than going the extra mile for us, they really went the extra 1000 miles for us! Apart from the Event Manager with whom you liaise backwards and forth prior to the event, Altitude also provide all of their customers, (even those who have opted solely the ´Dry Hire´option) with an ´Event Supervisor´ who is on hand, on the day itself, simply to oversee things and to ´supervise´ the event. Our’s was a lovely lady called Tabata. When it became clear to Sophie and Tabata and the rest of the Altitude staff that our caterers were getting later and later and that there was an issue, they all rallied round and made sure that THEY themselves and their staff started putting out all of our welcome drinks, this, of course, not being their task at all, but rather, that of the caterer. Rather than merely supervising, the first time I saw Tabata, our Venue Superviser, I assumed that she was a member of the waiting staff as she was running around serving drinks! Together with the on-the-day wedding coordinators that we had hired to take care of the running order and décor, Sophie and Tabata were also extremelly pro-active and proceeded to plate up and take out the snacks that we had bought for later on in the evening so that our guests would not go hungry in the absense of the planned cannapés. They also contacted their own Altitude Chef, who had just finished working on another Altitude event in the building and was heading home for a family party, and he also stayed on in order to muck in and actually helped the hapless caterer when she did finally arrive and was completely out of her depth in the kitchen. Tabata then continued to help by liaising with the kitchen and helping serve the food when she saw that the caterer’s waitresses were swamped! Had it not been for Altitude, it doesn´t even bear thinking about what our wedding day would have been like! We were already well into the crisis zone, and were it not for the ingenuity and good will of Altitude there would have been no food until that evening! I think that the ultimate testimonial to the fast thinking, on the ball approach and sheer kindness of Altitude London´s staff, is the fact that, thanks to their tireless efforts, even in the thick of that disastrous scenario, our guests had no incling at all of the catering mishap that was taking place! Altitude stepped in and averted disaster so brilliantly that all of our guests actually even commented on the smooth running of the entire day!
NO
Naomi O.
Booked Whole Venue at Bellavita Academy
5.0
Friendly and helpful staff - nothing was too much to ask. Beautiful and clean setting. Mariella was very accommodating and went above and beyond the vision for my event came to life. My expectations were exceeded!
GS
Gabriela S.
Booked Wollstonecraft Room at Newington Green Meeting House
5.0
Great space, good location, it was perfect for a dinner party for ~30 people that I couldn't host in my house because I live in a small flat. It looks very home-like. Price is really good for what it offers.
MD
Michelle D.
Booked FIREBAR at ICEBAR London
5.0
I could not have had a more perfect venue for my 25th! Honestly had no idea there were even private rooms for the Ice Bar. The decor/style in there fit just right for my theme and the bar staff added just the right touch! Really happy I found the venue and they even gave me a gift for my birthday!!