The Old Library Main Space at The Old Library
Old L.
About this space
Built in 1866, The Old Library is a refurbished Victorian library and historic venue nestled in Birmingham’s vibrant city centre in Digbeth, Birmingham. The main space is light and airy, flooded with natural daylight. Full of period features including vaulted ceilings and iconic arch windows, this space will conduct a positive and warm atmosphere.
For corporate events, the adjoining Reading Room is available either as a breakout space, buffet area or cloakroom to serve your needs. You will find our venue just ¼ mile from the city centre. Why not organise a walking taxi to greet your delegates off their train and stroll in together, ready to start the day. Alternatively if you don’t fancy the walk we are just a 5 minute taxi ride down the road.
The Old Library offers a versatile space for weddings of up to 250 guests. Up to 130 guests can be accommodated for a ceremony and reception. Your ceremony will take place in the main room in front of the stunning original Victorian windows. This bright and airy room is the perfect place to say ‘I do’ in front of your friends and family. You can toast your marriage during a drinks reception in Nomad, a quirky and relaxed space ideal for enjoying drinks, canapés, and mingling. You will also be able to capture some unique wedding photographs within the building and in the gorgeous surroundings outside. The ceremony room will be transformed into your wedding breakfast space, with dedicated chefs, delicious menus and literary-themed cocktails served at the bar. Following your meal, you can dance the night away. With Birmingham’s key transport links, top hotels and attractions on the doorstep, it’s the ideal place to extend the party into a weekend, allowing you to truly relax and enjoy the celebrations.
Event offers and packages
Package per person
- Room hire from 8.30am—5.30pm
- High Speed Wifi
- Flipchart Pad with Pens
- Arrival hot drink selection with Biscuits
- Mid Morning hot drink refresh
- Cold Buffet Lunch:
Chef’s choice of deliciously filled sandwiches & wraps
Chef’s choice of two side salads
Tortilla corn chips with selection of dips
- Afternoon Hot Drink break
Christmas Party Offers
Exclusive Room hire from 7pm – Midnight.
Package includes:
• Christmas Table décor
• DJ
1. Maple Roasted Parsnip Soup (VE option & GF option)
2. Tempura King Prawns, Bloody Mary Ketchup, and Baby Leaf Salad
3. Chicken Liver and Brandy Parfait (GF option)
MAINS
1. Turkey Ballotine
2. Stem Broccoli, and Bone Marrow Gravy (GF, DFA)
3. Honey Roast Gammon (GF, DFA)
4. Market Fish, Red Curry Caramel Sauce, Roasted Baby Carrots, and Coconut Sambal (GF, DF)
5. Butternut Squash Nut Roast (V, GF, VE option)
DESSERT
1. Traditional Christmas Pudding, Brandy Sauce, and Berries (GF, VE option)
2. Spotted Dick, Bird’s Custard, Marmalade and Spiced Rum Syrup (V)
3. Winter Eaton Mess, Chantilly Cream, Crushed Meringue, Stewed Plums,
4. Tangerine, Raspberry Coulis, and Cadbury’s Chocolate Flake (V, GF)
FESTIVE PLLATTER
1. Grilled Flat Bread with Hummus
2. Sage and Onion Stuffing Sausage Rolls
3. Tandoori Chicken Skewer with Pineapple Glaze
4. Duck Rillette Crostini with Onion Marmalade
5. Roast Baby Potatoes with Garlic and Rosemary
6. Pea and Ricotta Arancini with Aioli
FESTIVE VEGAN PLATTER
1. Grilled Flat Bread with Hummus
2. Homemade Sausage Rolls
3. Kofta with Pineapple Glaze
4. Roast Red Pepper Crostini with Vegan Cream Cheese
5. Roast Baby Potatoes with Garlic and Rosemary
6. Onion Bhajis with Mango Chutney
DESSERT PLATTER: £12.50pp + VAT
1. Mini Cinnamon Donuts with Nutella
2. Lemon Posset with Meringue Crumble
3. Chocolate Brownie Bites with Cherry Compote (GF) (VG)
4. Mince Pies & Clotted Cream
Conference Offers
- Room hire from 8:30am - 5:30pm
- High speed WiFi
- Flipchart and pens
- Arrival hot drink selection with biscuits
- Mid-morning hot drink refresh
- Afternoon hot drink
DDR 1 Lunch:
Cold Buffet
- A selection of deliciously filled sandwiches and wraps
- Tortilla chips and dips
- Salad garnish
- Room hire from 8:30am - 5:30pm
- High speed WiFi
- Flipchart and pens
- Arrival hot drink selection with biscuits
- Mid-morning hot drink refresh
- Afternoon hot drink
DDR 2 Lunch:
Buffet
- A selection of deliciously filled sandwiches and wraps
- Superfood salad
- Gourmet sausage rolls
- Handmade samosas
- Tortilla chips and dips
- Room hire from 8:30am - 5:30pm
- High speed WiFi
- Flipchart and pens
- Arrival hot drink selection with biscuits
- Mid-morning hot drink refresh
- Afternoon hot drink
DDR 3 Lunch:
Hot Fork Buffet
PLEASE CHOOSE TWO OF THE FOLLOWING AND ONE TO SUIT DIETARY REQUIREMENTS
CHILLI CON CARNE
Served with Short Grain Brown Rice and Crunchy Green Bean Salad
TRADITIONAL LASAGNE
Served with Parmesan Cabbage & Parsnip Slaw and Crusty Bread
CHICKEN & CHORIZO GUMBO
Served with Dirty Rice and Southern Slaw
THAI GREEN CURRY (CHICKEN OR AUBERGINE)
Served with Creamy Mash Potato and Root Vegetables
PORK & PARMESAN MEATBALLS
Served with Short Grain Brown Rice and Chicory Slaw
CUMBERLAND SAUSAGE
Served with Mustard Mash Potatoes and Steamed Collards
TARKA DAL, GREEN LENTIL & SPINACH STEW (V)
Served with Cauliflower & Tomato Raita
WILD MUSHROOM & PEA RISOTTO (V)
Served with Garlic Focaccia
STUFFED PEPPERS (VE)
Served with raisin almond slaw & smoked chilli-tahini yogurt
ADD A SWEET from £5.00+ VAT pp
PLEASE CHOOSE ONE
BAKED NEW YORK CHEESECAKE served with Raspberry Coulis
LEMON MERINGUE served with Red Berry Compote
CHOCOLATE ORANGE BROWNIE served with Ice-cream
STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING served with Dairy Free Ice-Cream
Prices
Capacity
Catering and drinks
Facilities
Music & sound equipment
Accessibility
Rules of the space
Allowed events
Reviews and ratings
(22 reviews and ratings - )
Catering was spot in, tasty food and brilliant presentation. Timings were prompt. Staff were attentive, only a couple of times in the day when could not be found. Tables were laid out as agreed and dressed well. Venue is beautiful and our requests to open and close blinds at different times of the day were attended to. Venue was clean.
Couple of the toilets in the ladies were broken and a little dangerous. This was acknowledged when pointed out. The microphone was temperamental. The battery was dead when passed to us to use and even after being replaced it did appear to keep going on and off.
Helpful staff, easy to find and a nice spacious venue
The internet cut out, a bit cold, could hear lots of car noises from outside, the room echoed and because it was so light inside the screen wasn’t as clear as it could be, even with the blinds.
Very quick and informative responses. Highly recommend!
Swift response.
Brrilliant
About The Old Library
The Old Library is a bright, open space perfect for hosting weddings, conferences, corporate dinners, parties, charity events and more. A range of menus and drinks packages are available upon request. We can currently hold up to 130 people seated and 250 standing.
Part of the Zellig Group, the Old Library has been in operation since 1990. The original library first opened as one of Birmingham’s 5 free libraries in 1866, it is now the only one still standing.
The public library’s doors closed to the public in 1940 and remained closed until 1990 when the dilapidated space was bought alongside the Bird’s Custard Factory and lovingly refurbished by Bennie Gray. The building was then leased to another company from 2004 until August 2017 when it has been returned to its original owner.
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