12 Event & party venues near Essex

Found in South East England, Essex is a scenic county that is popular with young families, students and commuters (in some areas, trains into the capital take less than 30 minutes). The area is also a popular party destination, buoyed along by its raft of top restaurants, lively nightclubs and dedicated event spaces.

If you are thinking about planning an event in Essex, your mind might first wander to The Only Way is Essex, the long-running reality television show that has firmly put Essex back on the map. There is plenty more going on here than just catfights and people telling each other to ‘shut up’ though - Essex is also well-known for its various tourist attractions, including strawberry picking at the Tiptree jam factory and spying exotic animals including orangutans and white rhinos at Colchester Zoo. The area is steeped in history too, with visitors able to check out the Norman-era Colchester Castle and the medieval market town of Saffron Walden, while those seeking some fresh air can head out to explore the vast parklands of Epping Forest and Havering Country Park, or even take a trip to the seaside at Walton on the Naze or Canvey Island.

There are a whole host of venues for hire in Essex, ranging from casual bars to glamorous restaurants, as well as magnificent country houses and breathtaking estates. The county is also home to plenty of event suppliers, ranging from caterers and balloon specialists to florists and live entertainment, all of which make party planning in Essex much easier than securing a table at Brentwood’s Sugar Hut.

So, if you want to hire a venue in Essex, check out our list of options below.