Function rooms for hire in Northampton

Northampton's two stadiums deliver year-round function capability that surprises first-time bookers. Franklin's Gardens, home to Northampton Saints, transforms from rugby fortress to events powerhouse with remarkable efficiency. The Champions Suite accommodates 300 standing or 180 seated with panoramic pitch views, while the Directors Lounge handles 120 for more intimate gatherings. Executive Boxes work brilliantly for 12-15 person board dinners.

Over at The County Ground, cricket provides the backdrop for the impressive Arena space managing 1,200 standing or 600 banquet-style. The Curo Lounge offers medium-scale options for 300, while the Hevey Suite suits 120. Both venues include extensive parking, crucial for evening events. In-house catering teams understand corporate preferences, delivering everything from breakfast meetings at £27 per delegate to five-course dinners. The Saints Supporter Village at Franklin's Gardens even handles outdoor events for 1,000-plus during summer months.

Northampton's Cultural Quarter concentrates serious venue firepower along Guildhall Road. Royal & Derngate leads with two contrasting auditoria: the Victorian Royal Theatre seating 450 and the adaptable Derngate handling up to 1,500. Both offer VIP rooms and reception spaces for pre-show entertaining.

Next door, Northampton Museum & Art Gallery provides the Central Hall for 150 theatre-style or 120 seated dinners, with the Link space managing 200 for standing receptions. The museum's contemporary renovation means proper climate control and full accessibility, rare in regional heritage venues. Around the corner, The Old Savoy brings Art Deco glamour via its restored cinema heritage. The main auditorium seats 900, while the Doré and Glen Suites each handle 200 for receptions. This concentration means clients can view multiple options in a single site visit, comparing Victorian grandeur against 1930s style against modern museum spaces.

Delapré Abbey stands as Northampton's premium heritage option, its 900-year history providing unmatched atmosphere. The Bouverie Rooms accommodate 100 theatre-style or 90 dining, while the Walled Garden hosts up to 499 for summer receptions. The site's recent restoration included modern kitchen facilities and full disabled access, solving common heritage venue limitations.

In town, the Guildhall offers transparent pricing rare in civic venues: £111 hourly for weekday hire of the Great Hall, rising to £252 for Sundays. The Gothic interior suits formal occasions, with capacity for 440 standing or 220 seated banquet-style. The Courtyard adds outdoor space for 585 standing. Abington Park Museum provides intimacy in a Grade I setting, with the Great Hall managing 70 theatre-style surrounded by period features. These venues require approved caterers but offer flexibility on suppliers, allowing clients to match budgets with ambition.

Northampton's hotel scene covers every price point and style preference. The recently refurbished Mercure Northampton leads town centre options with its 600-capacity Buckingham Suite, divisible for smaller gatherings. Room hire starts from £250 for smaller spaces like Hertford 1, with day delegate rates around £28.

For motorway convenience, Delta Hotels by Marriott near Junction 15 offers 16 event rooms including the 200-capacity Squires Suite across 816 square metres total. The Hilton Northampton at Collingtree provides eight spaces topped by the 280-capacity Collingtree Suite. Both properties include extensive parking and experienced events teams. Budget-conscious organisers find value at Holiday Inn Northampton on Bedford Road, offering self-catered hire options for up to 70 guests. Each hotel maintains different catering policies, from strict in-house only to flexible external supplier arrangements.

The University of Northampton's Waterside Campus revolutionised the town's venue landscape when it opened its striking riverside buildings. The Learning Hub, Senate building and Creative Hub provide everything from Harvard-style lecture theatres to flat-floor spaces with moveable walls. The campus handles multi-room conferences with hundreds of delegates, supported by the on-site Sunley Hotel's 30-person conference room.

What sets Waterside apart? Purpose-built accessibility, extensive AV infrastructure, and surprising flexibility on catering arrangements. The campus sits 20 minutes' walk from the station or six minutes by car, with multi-storey parking available. King's Park Conference Centre in Moulton Park offers a different educational setting: a residential facility with the John Kirkham Hall seating 200 plus multiple seminar rooms. Note it's alcohol-free, making it ideal for focused training events or faith group gatherings. Both venues offer competitive pricing outside term time.

Northampton's two multiplex cinemas discovered their conference potential years ago. Vue Cinema at Sol Central leads on accessibility, just seven minutes from the railway station. Its 10 screens total 2,150 seats with varying capacities per screen. Vue's national conferencing programme means polished delivery: day delegate rates from £30 include refreshments, with full technical support throughout.

Cineworld at Sixfields offers similar capability with screens up to 450 capacity, though its location demands transport planning. Both venues excel for AGMs, product launches and presentations where every seat needs perfect sightlines. The tiered seating eliminates the pillar problems plaguing traditional venues. Plus cinema-grade projection and sound systems mean no additional AV hire costs. The Picturedrome on Kettering Road provides a quirkier cinema option, this Edwardian conversion managing 350 standing or smaller seated zones, complete with stage and character features.

Beyond the major stadiums, Northampton's sports clubs provide surprising function capability. Northampton Town FC at Sixfields Stadium offers the Tollers 1897 Suite and various hospitality spaces for up to 110 delegates. Christmas party packages run from £34.95 per person, indicating competitive pricing year-round.

Collingtree Park Golf Club's new Redwood Room overlooks the 18th green, managing 96 dining or 150 buffet-style with balcony access. Cheyne Walk Club brings Victorian character to Cliftonville, its private members' club opening for external events up to 120 guests. For casual occasions, Barratts Club on Kingsthorpe Road combines sports bar atmosphere with function hire options. These venues often prove more flexible on timings and catering than corporate spaces, though professional standards vary. Northampton Active at Midsummer Meadow publishes transparent pricing: £295 for all-day room hire with refreshments at £3.70 per person.

Beyond traditional categories, Northampton harbours genuinely distinctive venues. The Picturedrome stands out: an Edwardian cinema converted for events, maintaining period features while adding modern PA systems and staging. Its 350 standing capacity and dual seating zones of 30 and 135 suit everything from corporate presentations to celebration parties.

Northampton Conservative Club at White Lodge offers surprising value with free room hire (conditions apply) for up to 120 guests. The club's Billing Road location provides easy access plus parking. For daytime events, Northampton Active's riverside setting brings natural light to the 80-capacity Nene Suite or 40-capacity Waterside Suite. The venue's straightforward pricing and unlimited refreshments option appeals to cost-conscious organisers. Each unique venue requires different management approaches but delivers memorable experiences beyond hotel conference rooms.

Summer transforms Northampton's venue options dramatically. Delapré Abbey's Walled Garden becomes the town's premium outdoor space, managing 499 guests surrounded by heritage stonework. The Abbey's marquee site pushes capacity to 500, though weather contingencies need planning.

Franklin's Gardens' Saints Supporter Village handles 1,000-plus for summer festivals and outdoor corporate events, with the stadium facilities providing backup. The Guildhall Courtyard accommodates 585 for standing receptions between May and September. Several hotels activate roof terraces and garden spaces seasonally, though capacities rarely exceed 100. Waterside Campus includes outdoor break-out areas along the river, perfect for conference networking sessions. Winter pushes everyone indoors, making Northampton's covered venue capacity particularly valuable during November to March peak season.

Success in Northampton depends on matching venue personality to event purpose. Corporate conferences gravitate toward Waterside Campus or stadium venues for infrastructure and parking. Heritage venues like Delapré Abbey and the Guildhall suit celebrations demanding atmosphere over convenience. The Cultural Quarter cluster works when guests appreciate walkable restaurant options post-event.

Timing matters: avoid Saints home matches when booking Franklin's Gardens area venues, check Cultural Quarter theatre schedules, and remember university terms affect campus availability. Transport planning prevents problems: Junction 15 venues need taxi budgets, town centre locations require parking guidance, and evening events benefit from clear last train times (London services typically end around 11pm). Most venues offer preferred supplier lists, though only hotels typically mandate in-house catering. At Zipcube, we maintain real-time availability across all these venues, removing the guesswork from Northampton venue selection.