Bar Hire in Charing Cross
Get a tailored shortlist from an expert
Your Questions, Answered
The concentration here is unmatched - within 200 metres of Trafalgar Square you've got The Rooftop's retractable glass ceiling, Ochre's private dining room inside the National Gallery, and The Ship & Shovell's unique split-personality pub straddling an alleyway. Transport connectivity beats everywhere else with Charing Cross, Embankment and Leicester Square stations forming a triangle around the bars.
Most venues here cater to both tourists and office workers, so they're professionally run with experienced events teams who handle everything from Silicon Valley investor meetings at Aqua Shard to 2:30am wrap parties at Players Bar beneath Charing Cross Theatre.
Minimum spends start at £300 for a Tuesday afternoon at The Chandos upstairs room, climbing to £35,000 for exclusive Saturday hire of The Rooftop terrace. Most mid-size events (50-80 people) land between £3,000-£8,000 on Thursday or Friday nights.
The Theodore Bullfrog's Villiers Room runs £650-£2,500 depending on timing, while Walkers of Whitehall's atmospheric Vault Bar requires £5,000 minimum spend for its vaulted basement. December sees prices jump 40-60% with many venues already taking bookings for next year's Christmas parties by February.
Corporate bookings dominate at The Admiralty's Quarter Deck (60 standing) with its dedicated AV setup and Fuller's catering packages. The National Gallery's Ochre pulls in media companies for press dinners in their 19-seat private dining room overlooking Nelson's Column, while law firms favour The Clarence on Whitehall with its two polished first-floor function rooms.
For less formal team events, Notes Coffee on St Martin's Lane transitions from speciality coffee to cocktails, offering full venue buyouts for 80 guests with proper presentation facilities rarely found in bar venues.
Beyond the obvious Blind Spot London concealed behind St Martins Lane Hotel's fake tea counter, you'll find Players Bar tucked inside Charing Cross Theatre with that coveted 2:30am licence. The Tattershall Castle floats permanently moored opposite Embankment - its Stateroom hosts 200 for summer parties with Thames views no land venue can match.
The real insider pick is booking The Ship & Shovell on Sundays when you get exclusive use of both halves of this split pub, connected by an alley - perfect for flow between dancing and quieter conversation zones.
Small groups (10-25): The Admiral's Cabin at The Admiralty seats 14 for intimate dinners; ROOM at The Rooftop handles 25 for executive gatherings. Medium parties (40-80): Rockwell Bistro's botanical interior fits 90 standing; The Den at St Martins Lane accommodates 60 with terrace access.
Large events (100+): All Bar One's upstairs mezzanine takes 130 standing; The Lower Deck at The Admiralty pushes to 120. For massive celebrations, The Tattershall Castle's multiple decks combine for 400+ when you book the whole boat, though most stick to the 200-capacity Stateroom for easier management.
Thursday and Friday slots at premium venues like The Rooftop or Blind Spot typically book 6-8 weeks ahead, earlier for December when some venues are full by October. January-February offers best availability and negotiating power - Champagne Charlies might drop their usual £6,000 minimum to £4,000 for a Thursday in February.
Summer rooftop season (May-September) sees The Rooftop and Madison competing for bookings, so lock in dates by March. Last-minute Tuesday-Wednesday bookings often work at pub venues like The White Swan or Princess of Wales with 1-2 weeks' notice.
The Rooftop at The Trafalgar St. James leads with its 38th-floor terrace featuring retractable canopies for weather protection. The Den includes private terrace access rare for hotel bars, while The Tattershall Castle's Aft Deck provides 200-person capacity summer parties literally on the Thames.
Ground-level options include The Sherlock Holmes' street-side terrace for spill-out space and The Admiralty's covered smoking area that doubles as cocktail overflow. Most venues activate outdoor spaces April through October, though The Rooftop's glass protection extends usability year-round.
Within three minutes' walk: The Admiralty dominates the Trafalgar Square corner with three bookable spaces, while The Theodore Bullfrog on John Adam Street offers that reliable Villiers Room. All Bar One and Champagne Charlies sit directly on Villiers Street under the railway arches.
The closest premium option is The Rooftop at just four minutes from the station exit. For LGBTQ+ events, Halfway to Heaven on Duncannon Street is literally 90 seconds from Charing Cross, with cabaret seven nights a week adding entertainment value beyond standard bar hire.
Full exclusive hire works brilliantly at Notes Coffee (80 standing), Blind Spot (60-150 depending on configuration), and The Ship & Shovell (150 on Sundays only). Rockwell Bistro closes to the public for groups over 70, while Players Bar goes fully private for 125.
The big exclusive plays are The Rooftop terrace for 150 guests at £18,000-35,000 minimum spend, or chartering the entire Tattershall Castle boat. Most pubs resist full closure except Sundays - even The Admiralty keeps the ground floor public when hiring out upstairs rooms.
Ochre delivers National Gallery-standard dining with their dedicated kitchen serving the private dining room. The Clarence and The Admiralty both run Fuller's/Young's gastropub menus with buffet or plated options from £25-45 per head. For premium catering, Rockwell Bistro at The Trafalgar pulls from their main restaurant kitchen.
Budget-conscious groups work with Greene King properties (The Sherlock Holmes, Silver Cross) offering simpler buffets from £15 per person. The Tattershall Castle brings in external caterers for flexibility, while Blind Spot focuses on canapés and small plates designed for standing receptions. Book catering at venue booking stage - adding food later often hits capacity constraints in smaller kitchens.