Bar Hire in Soho
Get a tailored shortlist from an expert
Your Questions, Answered
Soho's bar hire scene scales beautifully from intimate gatherings to massive celebrations. The Mulwray above The Blue Posts creates wine-tasting magic for just 12, while 100 Wardour St can handle 900 guests across its Lounge and underground Club. Most enquiries fall into the sweet spot of 50-150 people, where venues like Nightjar Carnaby (90 capacity) or Disrepute's full venue (100 standing) deliver that perfect balance of buzz without chaos. The karaoke rooms at Lucky Voice work brilliantly for teams of 8-30, scaling up to 160 for full venue takeovers.
Minimum spends in Soho start from around £500 for spaces like De Hems' Gallery Bar on a quiet Tuesday, climbing to £50,000+ for Saturday night exclusivity at premium venues. Swift Soho typically requires £2,500-£6,000 depending on the night, while Cahoots Underground ranges from £7,000 midweek to £19,000+ on weekends. The good news? Most venues operate on minimum spend rather than hire fees, meaning your budget goes directly to drinks and food. Lucky Voice offers transparent per-person pricing at £8-15 per hour for karaoke rooms.
Night owls rejoice: Soho refuses to sleep early. Lucky Voice on Poland Street keeps the karaoke going until 3am, while 100 Wardour St's basement Club pulses until the early hours with full sound and lighting rigs. Opium Cocktail & Dim Sum Parlour on Gerrard Street combines late-night revelry with dim sum service across three themed bars. Freedom Bar on Wardour Street transitions from cocktail lounge to performance club as the night progresses, and Bar Soho maintains that party atmosphere well past midnight in its fairground-themed ground floor and Parisian Boudoir upstairs.
The Oxford Circus adjacency gives you prime access to Soho's northern venues. Mr Fogg's Hat Tavern & Gin Club sits just 4-5 minutes' walk on Great Chapel Street, offering theatrical Victorian experiences for groups up to 110. Cahoots in Kingly Court (6-7 minutes) brings post-war Underground charm with its Ticket Hall and tube carriage spaces. Simmons Bar on Greek Street delivers more casual vibes with its secret fridge-door karaoke room, while 100 Wardour St provides the full-scale option with multiple floors and configurations just 6-8 minutes from the station.
Soho practically invented the London speakeasy revival. The Vault at Milroy's hides behind a bookcase under Greek Street's oldest whisky shop, accommodating 55 for atmospheric tastings. Experimental Cocktail Club on Gerrard Street brings Parisian-bohemian mystique across two floors, while Nightjar Carnaby channels jazz-age glamour in Kingly Court's depths. Disrepute conceals private vaults behind its retro-chic facade, each seating 8-10 for ultra-exclusive gatherings. Even Opium plays the game with its three themed bars tucked away in Chinatown.
Outdoor drinking in Soho requires insider knowledge of who's hiding terraces above the streetscape. Soho Zebrano on Greek Street surprises with its 30-person roof terrace complete with retractable covering. The Little Scarlet Door grants access to their courtyard from the Basement Studio, while The Yard on Rupert Street centres everything around its heated courtyard with overlooking balconies. 100 Wardour St opens up outdoor spaces seasonally, and several venues like Ham Yard Hotel's Dive Bar connect to hidden roof gardens. Weather-dependent but worth investigating for summer events.
Lucky Voice on Poland Street remains the karaoke kingpin with nine private rooms plus a central bar, charging £8-15 per person per hour with a 3am licence. Simmons Bar on Greek Street hides a 15-person karaoke room behind a fridge door, perfect for spontaneous singalongs. Soho Zebrano combines karaoke rooms for up to 60 people with interactive darts and that roof terrace. Bar Soho's Boudoir room upstairs occasionally transforms into karaoke paradise for 30 seated singers. Most venues include basic song catalogues, but Lucky Voice's tech setup and song selection remain unmatched.
Zipcube streamlines what used to involve calling 20 venues individually. Submit your requirements (date, numbers, budget) and receive curated options within hours, complete with real availability and transparent pricing. The platform handles everything from initial enquiry through contract signing, eliminating those awkward quote-chasing emails. Unlike going direct where venues might take days to respond, Zipcube's system confirms availability instantly for partnered venues. Payment protection and backup venue options come standard, particularly valuable when booking popular spots like Swift Soho or Cahoots where dates fill months ahead.
Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club on Frith Street stands as the ultimate live music hire, though expect premium pricing for this iconic venue. 100 Wardour St's basement Club comes with full stage, professional sound and lighting for bands or DJs. Nightjar Carnaby regularly features live jazz trios that can be incorporated into private events. The Sun & 13 Cantons' basement actively encourages DJ takeovers with their no-hire-fee model. Ham Yard Hotel pairs their 190-seat theatre with the Dive Bar for screening-plus-drinks packages. Most venues accommodate DJ setups, but always confirm technical specifications during booking.
Minimum spends vary wildly based on day, time and season. Tuesday afternoon at De Hems might require just £500, while Saturday night at 100 Wardour St's Club could demand £10,000+. The Crown & Two Chairmen's upstairs lounge starts around £750 midweek, Swift Soho typically sits at £2,500-£6,000, and Experimental Cocktail Club ranges from £1,500-£3,000. December minimums often double standard rates. The sweet spot for quality venues on Thursday nights hovers around £3,000-£5,000. Remember these amounts go entirely toward food and drinks, essentially pre-purchasing your bar tab.