Bar Hire in East London
Get a tailored shortlist from an expert
Your Questions, Answered
East London bars trade formality for character, with venues like TT Liquor offering cinema screenings alongside cocktails in converted industrial spaces. The pricing sweet spot sits around £2,000-£8,000 minimum spend for exclusive hires versus Central's £10,000+ starting points. Transport connections from Old Street and Liverpool Street stations mean most Shoreditch venues sit within a 10-minute walk, while Hackney Wick spots cluster near the Overground. The late licences here mean real business too: Rolling Stock runs until 4am with its massive covered beer garden hosting 300, while venues like Queen of Hoxton transform seasonally with themed rooftops that Central London's listed buildings could never pull off.
Budget-conscious groups find gems like Simmons Shoreditch with function rooms from £700 minimum spend, while premium experiences at Boundary Rooftop command £5,000-£15,000. Most quality venues operate on minimum spend models rather than hire fees, with weekday bookings at places like Callooh Callay's Back Lounge starting around £500-£3,000. December and weekend rates typically double, with Flight Club Shoreditch jumping from £8,000 midweek to £40,000 for peak exclusive hires. Activity bars add value through entertainment: Electric Shuffle Canary Wharf includes shuffleboard in their £12,000-£32,000 packages, making per-head costs surprisingly competitive for groups of 100+.
Corporate credibility comes naturally at venues like Boisdale of Canary Wharf, where the Hine Bar hosts 250 for standing receptions with optional live jazz from their resident musicians. For creative industries, Shoreditch delivers with Swift's marble-and-wood refinement seating 45 for intimate product launches, while Pergola on the Wharf impresses with botanical surroundings and 700-person capacity near West India Quay DLR. Tech companies gravitate towards activity-led spaces: Flight Club Shoreditch handles 400 guests with tournament-style darts, while Electric Shuffle's Biberdorf floor provides a semi-private space for 120 with dedicated bar and AV support.
Skylight Tobacco Dock dominates the rooftop scene with 600-person capacity and seasonal transformations including winter igloos and summer croquet lawns. Queen of Hoxton's rooftop changes themes quarterly, hosting up to 300 standing with DJs and immersive decorations just 7 minutes from Liverpool Street. For year-round options, Boundary Rooftop's glass Orangery seats 35 or stands 70 with panoramic Shoreditch views, while Netil 360 near London Fields offers rare 400-person exclusive summer takeovers. Canary Wharf surprises with Pergola on the Wharf's wraparound terrace accommodating 150 for semi-private zones, though the real insider pick remains Madison's Manhattan-style terrace with St Paul's Cathedral views.
Number 90 Bar in Hackney Wick maximises its canalside location with a 300-capacity interior plus private waterside terrace included in exclusive hires. Strongroom Bar boasts Shoreditch's largest beer garden alongside indoor bars and a basement dancefloor, handling 300 guests across all spaces. The Light Bar spreads across three floors of a converted Victorian power station with a hidden backyard terrace for 100, perfect for summer overflow. Signature Brew Blackhorse Road combines a 300-capacity Brew Hall with a 60-person roof terrace, while Crate Brewery offers studio rooms plus a 200-standing canal terrace that captures peak East London summer vibes.
Flight Club Shoreditch leads the activity scene with social darts across multiple oches, handling exclusive events up to 400 with dedicated Gamesmasters running tournaments. Electric Shuffle brings shuffleboard to Canary Wharf with 10 boards and 350-person capacity, while their Biberdorf floor offers semi-private play for 120. Bar Kick on Shoreditch High Street keeps it classic with table football and interactive darts in their 60-person Games Area basement. For something different, TT Liquor combines a 52-seat cinema with cocktail experiences, while Old Street Records builds live music into the package with bands and DJs included in their 300-capacity full venue hires.
Crate Brewery defines Hackney Wick's brewery scene with 500-person capacity across their pizzeria and canalside spaces, charging £2,500-£12,000 depending on areas booked. Howling Hops Tank Bar pours beer straight from enormous tanks for 200 guests, creating an authentic taproom atmosphere near Hackney Wick station. Signature Brew Blackhorse Road merges brewery credentials with event functionality, offering a 300-capacity Brew Hall with stage and PA systems. These venues excel at relaxed formats: think Friday team socials with pizza and pints rather than formal cocktail receptions, with minimum spends typically £1,500-£8,000 versus traditional bar venues.
Nightjar sits 4 minutes from Old Street tube, offering their award-winning speakeasy for 90 standing with live jazz options and cocktails that regularly top global rankings. Swift Shoreditch brings refined drinking 6 minutes from Old Street with exclusive hire for 45 seated, while Callooh Callay's wardrobe entrance leads to the Back Lounge and JubJub spaces 7 minutes away. From Liverpool Street, reach Queen of Hoxton's three floors in 6 minutes or The Blues Kitchen's Tequila Bar in similar time. The real advantage of this zone: venue density means backup options always exist nearby, with TBC, Old Street Records and Strongroom all within a 10-minute walking radius.
Rolling Stock pushes boundaries with a 4am licence, combining a covered 300-person beer garden with railway arch rooms for proper late-night parties near Hoxton Overground. Queen of Hoxton runs until 3am weekends with their basement club supporting full venue takeovers, while TBC (formerly The Book Club) brings 2,200 ceiling bulbs to late-night basement events for 250. The Blues Kitchen keeps energy high with live bands and DJs until 2am alongside their Tequila Bar and karaoke Playroom. Even corporate-friendly venues embrace late licences: Flight Club Shoreditch operates until midnight midweek and 2am weekends, letting competitive spirits run longer than traditional corporate venues allow.
Shoreditch suits creative industries and informal celebrations, with venues like Callooh Callay offering characterful spaces from £1,500 minimum spend and most spots within 10 minutes of Old Street or Liverpool Street stations. Canary Wharf delivers corporate polish at places like Boisdale with 500-person capacity and Pergola on the Wharf's botanical 700-guest potential, all within 5 minutes of tube and DLR connections. Transport defines the choice: Shoreditch works for scattered London arrivals via multiple stations, while Canary Wharf's single hub suits teams travelling together. Price-wise, Shoreditch offers more sub-£5,000 options like Apples & Pears or Bar Kick, while Canary Wharf minimum spends start higher but include more polished facilities and capacities.