Hotel 1843 has three event spaces in Reading town centre, from a semi-private glass room for 12 to a basement bar with AV options and a library for up to 50. Hotel 1843 is a five to ten minute walk from Reading station, in a building dating back to 1843 that was once a literary institute, a chapel, a theatre and The Great Expectations pub, and every space is catered by its own Calico Bar & Eatery.
For corporate events and team socials, the Basement Bar is the most practical of the three. It holds up to 30 guests, has its own private bar and can be set up with AV equipment, and its clean, contemporary design works as well for a presentation as for the drinks afterwards. Being downstairs, it's separate from the restaurant floor, and hire runs for four hours.
The Library is the largest space, holding 30 to 50 guests beneath high ceilings. Velvet sofas, planters and book-lined walls in a dark blue and orange scheme give it more character than a standard function room, and buffet catering makes it easy to run as a standing reception or a mix of standing and seated guests.
For smaller meetings or working dinners, the Glass Room seats ten to 12 around one table on the restaurant floor. Enclosed in transparent glass, it's semi-private: noise from the restaurant is softened rather than shut out, and bookings run for four hours.
Catering at Hotel 1843 comes from an Indo-Japanese kitchen that pairs Indian spice with Japanese technique, with sharing platters, small plates and clearly marked vegan dishes. For anyone comparing event venues in Reading, the 29 en-suite rooms upstairs and the short walk from the station keep things simple for attendees travelling in.