How much does it cost to hire a private dining room?

If you’ve considered hiring a private dining room for your next event, then of course, you’ll be wondering about the cost of it. With private dining rooms and spaces available all over the UK, hiring one might be easier and more cost-effective than you think.

For many of us, when we think of private dining we think of stuffy, boardroom-style private dining rooms or huge banqueting halls for gala dinners and such. This may have been the reality once upon a time but these days, restaurants and venues have private dining options of all shapes, sizes and prices. The difficulty, of course, is finding them, which is where SquareMeal comes in as the UK’s leading restaurant guide and directory for private dining rooms and event spaces.

Why hire a private dining room? There’s a long list of fantastic reasons why it's worth looking into a private room for your next event. Let's get the obvious out of the way - sometimes it’s just good to have a bit of privacy isn't it? Perhaps you’re having a gathering where you want to be able to chat in peace, or on the other end of the spectrum, maybe you’re a large, loud group and you’d rather not disturb other people! Either way, there are some occasions where you’re better off with a private room.

Private dining rooms have traditionally been popular with corporate bookers, as the extra privacy is appropriate for all sorts of work events, whether it’s business lunches, breakfast meets, networking events or client entertaining. The extra privacy often comes with other beneficial extras too, like AV equipment or musical entertainment - little perks that can make an occasion extra special.

Whether you’re planning a birthday celebration or baby shower, we’ve run down the average cost of hiring a private space, with all the little things you might want to consider when planning your event.

What is the average cost of private dining room hire?

Can I negotiate the price of a private dining room? How does the pricing structure work? Are private dining rooms always expensive? Find the answers to all your burning questions below. 

This is a tricky question to answer with a simple number but as a rough guide, private dining rooms can be as cheap as £50 per head for a basic package, with a more curated fine dining menu costing £150 per head and beyond. The amount you could spend on private dining is almost limitless, with the largest gala dinner locations fetching exclusive hire fees in the five figure range.

In general there are three principle types of private dining room hire.

1. Minimum spend

This is the most common style of private dining room hire. A venue will charge a ‘minimum spend’ amount, where your final bill must reach a certain amount, otherwise you’ll have to pay the difference. Minimum spends normally start around £500-£800, whilst larger events may be around the £1,000-£3,000 price point. Still got questions? Here's everything you might need to know about minimum spend - from how it works, to extra considerations to have in mind.

2. Hire charge

Some venues - generally those on the larger, more expensive side - will ask you to pay a ‘hire charge’ to hire the room. This tends not to include any food or drink costs, so you will have to pay your bill on top of the hire charge.

Mosimann’s, in Belgravia, for example, has several private dining rooms for hire, with room hire charges starting at £425. These can be waived, however, if guests pass a minimum spend on food and drink.

The Davidoff Room at Mosimann's has a room hire charge of £800, with a minimum spend of £2,500 

3. No minimum spend

These are less common, but there are some venues with private rooms that will hire them out without asking for a hire charge or a minimum spend. They tend to ask for a minimum group size, to try and guarantee that they’ll earn a certain amount from the room. This is more common in pubs with private rooms or venues with areas that can be made semi-private, for example.

It’s worth pointing out that room hire is often negotiable - venues would always prefer to have a private dining room full rather than empty, so you can often negotiate better deals on minimum spend or hire charge, especially on quieter days of the week.

What factors affect the cost of hiring a private dining room?

Whilst booking a private room can be more affordable than you might have considered, there are plenty of factors that will greatly affect the cost. These are a few to consider.

The size of your group

Consider the size of your group as this will have the greatest impact on how much you can expect to pay. Private dining rooms often come with minimum and maximum capacities. Aviator Hampshire, for example, has a whole host of private dining spaces to choose from, such as the Brasserie Private Dining Room, which can seat up to 10, or the Sky Lounge, which has space for up to 80.

Private dining at the Aviator Hampshire

Location

Private dining rooms in London are likely to come with a heftier price tag when it comes to room hire, or have higher minimum spends than those in more remote locations. Consider the spaces nearby that may be more affordable if you’re looking to save.

We've got guides for private dining across the country: with the best spots in Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds and Edinburgh.

The type of venue

Likewise, your local pub is likely to offer more affordable private dining options than a high-end restaurant. Consider the atmosphere you want for your event. If you’re really looking to impress with a jaw-dropping venue, then that will likely come at a higher cost, but if you’re happier keeping it a bit more low key then you could likely cut down costs.

To help you in your search, we've rounded up some of London's most affordable private dining rooms, as well as rounding up the most affordable private dining rooms for corporates - so you can try and keep the costs down.

The Bull, in Charlbury, for example, offers a relaxed yet refined backdrop, perfect for those looking to hire a private dining room in a gastropub. Affordable set menus that don't compromise on quality, and an intimate feel make this space perfect for private dining.

Relaxed private dining options at The Bull, Charlbury

Catering options for your dinner

Although hiring a private dining room comes with lots of perks, most restaurants will limit your options when it comes to ordering off the menu. The vast majority of restaurants and venues have group menus or set menus for larger groups, which often reduces your ordering options compared to an a la carte for example. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing (some people actually prefer it) but it’s worth knowing about before you book your favourite restaurant only to realise that you can’t order all your favourite things.

Hawksmoor Liverpool, for example, offers sharing menus for larger groups, with three different packages available as two- or three-course options. They also offer a selection of menu additions, for those looking to go the extra mile.

Private dining at Hawksmoor Liverpool

Time of event

For better deals, you might want to consider booking off-peak days, or enquiring about quieter times such as lunch, or early evening. Private dining rooms that offer minimum spend and room charge hire, may offer cheaper rates for those booking Monday to Thursday, or for those booking for lunch.

Seasonal pricing may also dramatically affect costs. Quieter periods throughout the year, such as January and February, will be cheaper than booking a private dinner in December.

Level of privacy

Although private dining is a catch-all term, not all private dining rooms are completely private. Some spaces are advertised as ‘semi-private’, which usually means that the space is somewhat secluded from the main restaurant, but isn’t completely closed off. This could be a separate space around a corner that has some privacy, or a room behind a curtain.

Some people prefer semi-private rooms as you get the atmosphere of the restaurant but you still have some extra privacy. Either way, you can always enquire as to whether a private dining space is genuinely private or if it’s semi-private. Kolamba East in Shoreditch, for example, offers a private dining space behind a curtain which you can keep open or closed. Here you can seat up to 24, and make the most of the buzzing restaurant atmosphere.

Semi-private dining room for up to 24 at Kolamba East in Shoreditch

Exclusive hire

Private restaurant hire is also a possibility for your next event, and often available for the right price! If you’re planning a larger celebration or event and you want to feed a lot of people, exclusive hire is a great way of treating guests to something memorable. It also ensures that no-one else will be in the venue, so you get the entire place all to yourself.

If you’re thinking about exclusive hire of a restaurant, the cost will have to cover the restaurant being closed for lunch or dinner; as a result this often comes with a considerable price tag, but the benefit is that you can get a great restaurant all to yourself.

Bocconcino in Soho, for example, offers exclusive hire of the main dining room for up to 80 guests

Other things you might want to consider

Just a few more things that you might want to keep in mind. Give this little list a scan before you start planning your next private dinner...

Cancellation policy

Always take a look at the venue’s cancellation policy for private hire. Many venues will take a non-refundable deposit off you when you book, so make absolutely sure that you’re happy before you do this, otherwise you could lose your money if you have to cancel.

Transport links

If you've opted for somewhere a tad more remote, then be sure that it's easily accessible with public transport links, or has enough parking spaces for your guests.

Dietary requirements

Be sure to double check that your chosen private dining room is able to cater for all your guests' dietary requirements. Group tasting menus won't always be available for vegan or vegetarian diets, with certain kitchens unable to promise that they are allergen friendly.

Hidden or additional costs to watch out for

When budgeting for a private dinner, it's worth being aware of the little extras that can sneak up on you. Here are a few common ones that you'll want to look out for.

Service charge

Most restaurants and venues will add a service charge to your bill, typically between 12.5-15%, though it can vary. This is often added automatically, especially for larger groups, so make sure you check whether it’s included before you settle the final bill.

Corkage fees

If you're looking to save some money by bringing your own wine, fizz or spirits, then it's worth checking to see whether your venue allows this, and what they charge for corkage. Fees can vary significantly - some venues charge per bottle whilst others offer a flat rate.

AV equipment and entertainment costs

If you’re planning speeches or live music during your event, you may need extra equipment such as microphones, screens or speakers. Some venues include this in the hire cost, but others will charge a small additional fee for their setup and use.

Feeling more acquainted with the costs of booking a private dinner? Time for the next step. We've rounded up our top tips for planning a private dinner, including how to deal with dietaries, decoration, menu planning and more.