There’s a stack of private dining spaces to choose from in this town – just make sure you’ve ticked all the boxes before you book.
Reasonable rates
Charges vary wildly for private dining in London, from fronting your credit card as a security deposit right through to the dreaded ‘room hire’ charge: a flat fee for the use of the space. Unless you’re booking one of the city’s hottest restaurants on a Friday or Saturday night, you can usually avoid this charge by negotiating a minimum spend. Do the maths to check it’s achievable per head.
Flexible menus
Once your party tips above 10, most restaurants will push you towards a group menu: a set option with a choice of two or three dishes at each course, or a more casual sharing menu with a spread of food for the whole group. But you should still be looking for flexibility: the option to swap dishes before deciding on your final menu, or to have the chef design a bespoke selection just for you. Keep things simple by asking for drinks and sides to be built into the package for a per-head price.
Sharp tech
You’ll want an iPod plugin for tunes and a screen for presentations. Not all restaurants will be set up with wireless connections but, at the very least, they should provide you with all the necessary cables to plug in and play. If you’re relying on seamless AV, pop in for a recce beforehand.
Room to manoeuvre
Of course, private rooms vary significantly in size – there are plenty for 50+ – but capacities might not show the whole picture. For example, does a 16-seater room have space for 16 people to mingle with drinks before dinner, or are you going to be tripping over handbags on the way to the loo? If so, you should be offered reception space too.
Dedicated staff
There’s nothing worse as an organiser than having to fill in for absent staff. Make sure the restaurant assigns at least one clued-up member of staff to be on hand throughout your event. Got a big crowd on your hands? A ratio of one waiter for every 10 guests is a good guide.
A knockout view
Maybe you’re going to be so busy hobnobbing that you’re happy just looking at your assembled guests – lots of excellent PDRs have no view at all – but as a luxury item, nothing says occasion like a killer vista. There are plenty in London: skyline, river, iconic landmarks – take your pick. Perhaps a view of the kitchen is more appealing? Bag yourself a chef’s table for the night.