Birmingham Venue Hire

What are some good venues for small parties in Birmingham?

For 15–40 guests, Birmingham's small party venues range from community rooms hired by the hour to private bar and restaurant spaces with per-person pricing or minimum spends.

• Hourly hire – Sycamore Room at The Hub on the Green, Bournville: 25 guests, from £25 per hour. You arrange catering and drinks yourself.
• Per person – Canal Club Private Room at Box Brindley Place, Brindleyplace: 30 standing, from £10 per person, with food and the room covered in one rate.
• Minimum spend – The Gallery at The Lost & Found, city centre: 25 guests, from £900 minimum spend.

A minimum spend can work well if your group is likely to spend close to the required amount on food and drinks. For groups with lower expected spend, compare hourly hire and per-person packages as well.

Which Birmingham area suits your event?

If most guests are arriving by train, start with the city centre. For guests driving, Edgbaston, Aston and the NEC corridor offer more parking options.

Which venue type matches your occasion?

Match the venue type to the practical needs of your event.

Should you choose dry hire or a package?

Dry hire gives you the space while leaving you to arrange more of the event yourself, such as catering, drinks, furniture, staffing and AV. It offers more control over suppliers and setup but usually requires more planning.

With a package or minimum-spend venue, more of the food, drinks, staffing or equipment may be handled by the venue.

Neither option is automatically cheaper. Compare the total cost based on your guest count, catering requirements and what you need included. Birmingham currently has 121 self-catering venues allowing external caterers and 271 minimum spend venues on Tagvenue. 

Before choosing, ask:

• Is external catering allowed, and is there a kitchen or prep area?

• Does the minimum spend include VAT and service charge?

• What happens if you fall short of the minimum spend?

What AV, entertainment and access should you confirm?

• AV – screens, projector, microphones, in-house PA, technician support, and what costs extra
• Music – whether you can play your own music, bring a DJ or host live music, and whether a sound limiter is fitted
• Power and layout – sockets, ceiling height, pillars, and whether furniture is included
• Setup and breakdown – access time, whether decorating time is charged, and when the space must be cleared
• Supplier access – loading bay, lift or cargo lift, and a step-free route for caterers and equipment

Confirm these requirements with each shortlisted venue, as facilities and restrictions vary considerably by space.

Can you hire an outdoor space in Birmingham?

Yes – Birmingham venues list outdoor spaces, including roof terraces, courtyards and yards attached to bars, hotels and event venues.

• The Loft and Roof Terrace at The Button Factory, Jewellery Quarter – 150 guests, from £1,000 minimum spend per session
• The Yard at Mama Roux's, Digbeth – 350 guests, from £500 per day
• The Courtyard at Hotel du Vin – 150 guests, from £1,000 minimum spend per evening

For outdoor events, confirm the wet-weather plan before booking. Ask whether an indoor backup space is reserved for your group, whether it costs extra and when you need to make the final decision about moving indoors. 

How much does it cost to hire an event space in Birmingham?

Birmingham event venues typically advertise hire fees from £124 to £595, with a midpoint of £262. Bars, pubs and restaurants often use minimum spends of £500–£1,000, while per-person and delegate packages range from around £15 to £70 per person. Community halls and studios can start from around £25 per hour.

What is the difference between a hire fee and a minimum spend?

A hire fee is a charge for the space, with food, drinks and other services usually charged separately. A minimum spendmeans there is usually no separate room fee, but you commit to spending an agreed amount on food and drinks. If you do not reach the minimum spend, you will usually need to pay the difference. Compare the total expected cost under each model before booking.

What is the cheapest way to hire a party venue in Birmingham?

For lower-cost options, compare community halls and studios from around £25 per hour with venues that use a minimum spend instead of a hire fee. Minimum spend can work well when your group is likely to spend close to the required amount on food and drinks anyway. Midweek and daytime bookings may also offer lower prices than Friday and Saturday evenings. 

Are Birmingham event venues wheelchair accessible?

Some are, and it varies by building. Filter for step-free guest entrance, accessible toilets, lift to all floors and accessible parking. Because accessibility can vary in historic buildings, converted spaces and upstairs function rooms, confirm the full route from the street to the event space with the venue directly.

Need to hire a space for your event in Birmingham, but not sure where to start?

Here are some things to keep in mind and questions to ask when choosing a venue to hire in Birmingham.

• Atmosphere – Does the venue have the kind of looks and aesthetic that you are looking for? There are many different event spaces in Birmingham that are suitable for different types of events. In this case, one size does not fit all. Make sure that the venue you pick is perfect for your event.
• Capacity – Does the venue have enough space to hold all of your guests? The last thing you want is to throw a killer party, only to have your guests crammed into too small of space, making them uncomfortable. It's a good idea to always leave about 10% free space when planning an event, in case more guests come than expected.
• Parking – Make sure to plan for parking ahead of time. You will want to make sure that everyone attending your event will know where, when and how to park at the venue. Ask the venue manager what they usually do for parking. Street parking is an option, but it often causes more headache than it's worth.
• Toilets – How many lavatories does the venue have for you and your guests to use? Are they roomy and clean? It is especially important to have enough toilets when throwing a big event (300+). We recommend having one bathroom for every 60 guests.
• Exclusivity – Is the Birmingham venue you're interested in available for your exclusive use during your event? Or will other events be going on at the same time? It's a good rule of thumb to always check on these things. You don't want to be unpleasantly caught off guard by these types of surprises.
• Equipment – Will the venue supply in-house equipment for you to use? This is an important thing to check, especially if you're looking for a budget venue to hire in Birmingham. Additional equipment, such as audio and visual equipment, stages, tables and chairs, can cost you a lot of extra money.
• Budget – How much do you have to spend on your event? The venue is likely the first thing that you will book for your function. Be careful not to tie up your whole budget on the location for your party. Although the venue will likely cost you approximately 70%-90% of your total event cost, you want to make sure you have enough funds for the remainder of expenses beyond the venue.
• Visit – It can be beneficial to schedule a visit to the venue location before booking; this can help you visualise how your party will look and feel. And even tip you off to any parts of the venue that you don't like, that might otherwise be hidden from pictures and online tours of the space.
• Cancellation – Just in case, it's a good idea to ask each venue about their cancellation policy - it's not fun having to pay thousands of dollars even if you don't host the event as planned.

Want to dig even deeper? Have a look at these frequently asked questions:

Where's the coolest neighbourhood in Birmingham to host an event?

The Jewellery Quarter! Getting its name from the fact that it is home to over 400 jewellery retailers, this neighbourhood is as hip as they come! Always on the cutting edge of the trendy bar scene and hosting plenty of indie restaurants and unique venue locations, the JQ, as it's referred to by locals, is the place to go for fresh, lively social events.

What's the weather like in Birmingham throughout the year?

Birmingham is known for its mild summers and chilly winters. In the winter months, the temperature averages rarely dip below freezing but hover right around that point. And the summer months are usually reasonably comfortable with a little humidity. All-in-all it's a mild city as far as temperature goes.

What are the most popular type of venue to hire in Birmingham?

The most popular venues for smaller events are pubs and restaurants that rent out their event rooms or dining rooms. For larger events with a lot of people, the most popular venues include banquet halls and conference centres. Birmingham is an enormous city with plenty to choose from when it comes to venue hire. We hope this page helped you narrow your search down. For further detail, go to our smart venue finder that filters all of the venues into specific types and functions for you.