Guildhall Winchester

We offer a range of rooms to suit different events; Conferences, Parties, Weddings, Exhibitions, Networking Events and many more.

The Guildhall is pleased to offer a wide range of rooms available for Private-Hire, catering for meetings through to multi-room conferences, exhibitions and large-scale festivals. The Guildhall offers a venue and services hire which means. Room hire and any services you may require as part of your booking are arranged by us using our approved suppliers. Furniture is available as part of the hire and can set-up by the Venue. It must be planned by the hirer and room layout plans provided. Access to the venue, not just the room must be considered by you to ensure safe entry for your guests/attendees. Room and services hire offers a different level of client management, and The Guildhall does not operate a Sales & Marketing team. As there is not an Events Management Service at present, we will be keen to understand who will be ‘leading’ on your meeting or event in order to ensure it is a success. Sadly, the Guildhall is not able to event-manage your booking with us.

Some smaller rooms have ‘meeting style’ furniture included. Our larger spaces will depend on your enquiry. 

Some smaller meeting room have equipment as standard, however most services are supplied by our approved AV company. Please ensure you include information in your enquiry form.

Our hire rates are the same all days of the week, and all times of the year, but minimum room hire timings do apply.

We have lift access available up to all floors. The majority of our rooms have disabled access, apart from the Mayor’s Parlour, Wykeham Room, Kingsgate Room and The Green room (at the back of the Bapsy Hall).  There is access onto our Bapsy stage via a stair-lift at the rear of the stage, but not the front (front of house).

Guildhall offers standard Wi-Fi throughout the venue. Please contact the team to ensure your service demands can be met.

We are based in the centre at the bottom of the high street, and many hotels are located within walking distance or a short taxi ride away. More information can be found through the Tourist Information Centre located on the ground floor of the Guildhall.

The Bus Station is located opposite the Guildhall, and the train station is a 15 minute walk away. There is a taxi rank located outside of the Guildhall.

Only Guide Dogs are allowed within the venue.

With regards to private hire events, children may attend, although they must be supervised by an adult at all times. As a hirer, there is guidance to adult to child ratio in our Terms & Conditions.

Our recommended suppliers only operate cashless outlets, so you will need a card or contactless payment for licensed bars. Some events may take cash so it is best to check with the events organiser first. Unfortunately we don’t have a cash point on site, but there are many located up the high street.

Other events can be held on the same day, unless you hire the venue exclusively. Please speak to a member of our  team, if you wish to exclusively hire the venue.

First, the initial deposit invoice of £500 + VAT to secure your booking – please settle this within 14 days. Six months before your event we will send you another invoice for 50% of the remaining known costs - please settle this within 14 days. Six weeks before your event we will send a further invoice for the remaining known costs - please settle this within 14 days. Failure to settle all invoices within 4 weeks prior to the event could lead to cancellation. A post event invoice will be sent should any costs be incurred during the event (including any damages) - please settle this within 14 days.

Our Courtyard room has outdoor space included in the hire subject to your events risk assessment. Abbey Gardens, or the Cathedral Grounds are located nearby, should you wish for outdoor photographs.

As a dry-hire venue, we do not supply any catering or bar services. Please get in touch to receive a list of our recommended suppliers. You are more than welcome to use your own suppliers, but we insist on having the relevant documentation for them (e.g. PLI certification).

We require you to complete a Risk Assessment for your event, which we can supply you a template for. We also require you to have PLI certification. This is something that you can supply yourself, or we can supply for you at an added cost.

We can usually offer hirers up to 6 parking spaces, depending on what else is happening on the day of your event. Please note that this is not always a guarantee, and it is best to check with the team first.

We do require some events to have hired security during their hire, something we judge on a case-by-case basis. This is something that we, as the venue, hire, and later invoice the client for. Please check with the team if your event requires security