Christmas party venues for hire in Barbican
Get a tailored shortlist from an expert
Your Questions, Answered
The Barbican offers a unique concentration of historic livery halls alongside modern venues, all within the Brutalist embrace of the Barbican Estate. Plaisterers' Hall seats 350 for gilded banquets while The Brewery runs fully themed productions across multiple halls. The area's residential component means venues like The Jugged Hare stay lively even on weekends when the rest of the City empties. Transport-wise, you're looking at 4-6 minutes from Barbican station to most venues, with Moorgate providing backup options. The real advantage? Everything from 18-seat boardroom dinners to 1,600-guest spectaculars exists within a five-minute radius.
For premium dates at flagship venues like the Barbican Conservatory or The Brewery's themed nights, you're looking at September bookings for December Fridays and Saturdays. Livery halls like Ironmongers' Hall release their December calendars in June, with prime slots gone by August. However, January 'Christmas' parties at places like Salters' Hall offer 30% better rates with full availability. Smaller venues like Neo Barbican or Malmaison's private rooms often have midweek availability into November. Pro tip: Many venues hold provisional dates for 14 days without deposit, so secure multiple options early.
Barbican spans from £30 per person for casual group bookings at Côte Brasserie to £220+ for premium packages at the Barbican Conservatory. The sweet spot sits around £120-£150 per person for venues like Plaisterers' Hall including three courses, welcome drinks and half a bottle of wine. The Brewery's immersive experiences run £145-£169 including 5.5 hours of drinks and entertainment. Minimum spends vary wildly - The Refinery CityPoint might require £3,000 for exclusive use while Brewers' Hall starts at £1,500. Remember to factor in 20% VAT and 12.5% service on most quotes.
For groups under 50, Barbican Brasserie's private dining room seats 18 with lakeside views, while The Josephine Room at The Jugged Hare accommodates 50 with its vaulted cellar atmosphere. Malmaison's Mal Two handles intimate dinners for 16, with packages from £50 per person. Chiswell Street Dining Rooms offers the Melville Room for 30, perfect for teams wanting proximity to The Brewery without the scale. The hidden winner? Brewers' Hall Court Room seats 20-50 in wood-panelled elegance at roughly £75-£110 per person, often available when larger spaces are booked solid.
Salters' Garden transforms into a winter wonderland with the Roman Wall as backdrop, handling 300 guests for mulled wine receptions before moving inside. The Conservatory Terrace at Barbican Centre stays partially covered and heated, accommodating 200 for festive drinks. Ironmongers' Hall includes a charming courtyard for 40, perfect for arrival drinks. The Charterhouse offers dramatic cloisters and Charterhouse Square for up to 400, though December weather makes this ambitious. Most venues position outdoor spaces as pre-dinner drink spots lasting 45-60 minutes before guests move inside for warmth.
Within 5 minutes of Barbican station, you have heavyweight options. Ironmongers' Hall sits just 3-4 minutes away on Shaftesbury Place, while Barbican Centre venues are 4-6 minutes through the estate. Malmaison on Charterhouse Square takes 2-3 minutes, making it ideal for guests unfamiliar with the area. Neo Barbican on Carthusian Street is practically on top of the station at 2-3 minutes. For Moorgate arrivals, The Refinery CityPoint is just 2-3 minutes walk, while Salters' Hall sits 3-5 minutes from Moorgate's Moorfields exit.
The Brewery excels at multi-space events, linking Porter Tun, King George III and Queen Charlotte rooms for phased experiences up to 1,600 guests. Barbican Centre combines the Conservatory with Garden Room and Terrace for 650-person flowing receptions. Salters' Hall pairs its Main Hall with the Garden for drinks-then-dinner formats. The Grubstreet Cellars connects Sample Room, Pasteur Room and Cutting Room cinema for 120-person progressive parties. Several livery halls offer anteroom-to-main-hall progressions, though most cap at 300-400 total capacity. The key is booking both spaces from the start, as add-ons rarely align once initial bookings are made.
Most Barbican venues operate approved caterer lists or in-house teams. Searcys manages Barbican Centre, Barber-Surgeons' Hall and runs exceptional festive menus from £146 per person. The Brewery handles everything in-house with themed menus matching their production design. Livery halls like Plaisterers' and Ironmongers' maintain approved lists featuring Moving Venue, Create, and Harbour & Jones. ETM Group venues (The Jugged Hare, Chiswell Street Dining Rooms) focus on British seasonal menus with game features. Only dry-hire spaces like some livery halls allow external caterers, and even then from approved lists. Dietary requirements are well-handled, but communicate needs at booking stage.
The Brewery routinely runs until 2am with their immersive parties, making them the late-night leaders. Neo Barbican operates as a cocktail bar with standard 2am potential on weekends. Barbican Centre venues can extend to 1am for special events with advance arrangement. Most livery halls like Plaisterers' and Ironmongers' standard-close at midnight but can apply for extensions to 1am. Restaurant venues like The Refinery typically wrap by midnight. The crucial detail: late licenses cost extra (£500-£1,500) and need 8-10 weeks advance notice for Westminster Council approval.
The Brewery leads with full themed production including set design, performers, DJs and interactive elements built into their packages. Barbican Centre offers Searcys' production partners for lighting, sound and entertainment, with the Conservatory's tropical setting as natural theatre. Plaisterers' Hall and other livery venues provide approved supplier lists covering bands, DJs, casino tables and photo booths. The Cutting Room at Grubstreet includes a 48-seat cinema for corporate videos or entertainment. Most venues now include LED uplighting and PA systems as standard, but confirm what's included versus additional. Budget £2,000-£5,000 for meaningful entertainment additions beyond basic DJ setup.