Bar Hire in Wardour Street
Get a tailored shortlist from an expert
Your Questions, Answered
Wardour Street offers London's most concentrated vertical drinking experience, with venues stacked from basement clubs to first-floor lounges. Unlike Old Compton Street's street-level parade, Wardour hides its best spaces behind unmarked doors and up hidden staircases. 100 Wardour St alone spans two floors with a 900-person capacity, while The Perception at W London floats above Leicester Square's chaos. The street's proximity to four major stations (all within 10 minutes' walk) beats most Soho locations for transport access. This variety means you can book everything from The Den's 50-person whisper-quiet speakeasy to O'Neill's 400-capacity Flamingo Room on the same street.
Minimum spends vary dramatically based on day, venue size and season. Midweek, you'll find intimate spaces from £500 (Village Soho's Cocktail room) to £3,000 (Freedom Bar areas). Weekend exclusive hires jump significantly: 100 Wardour St's Lounge needs £8,000-£25,000, while their Club runs £12,000-£30,000. O'Neill's Flamingo Room ranges from £1,000 midweek to over £8,000 weekends. For full-venue takeovers, expect £30,000+ at major sites. Smart bookers target Tuesday-Thursday slots, where the same space costs 60-70% less than Friday-Saturday. December multiplies everything by 1.5-2x.
Corporate events gravitate toward The Perception at W London with its Screening Room (38 seated) and modular zones, or 100 Wardour St's Playroom for 12-person board meetings that transform into 40-person cocktail sessions. Soho Residence's three floors let you segregate presentations from parties. For looser corporate socials, Simmons Bar's 350-capacity neon playground hits the sweet spot between professional and playful. Private parties thrive at Freedom Bar and Village Soho, both LGBTQ+ venues with basement clubs and 4am licences. Birthday crews love O'Neill's Flamingo Room for its stage and screens, while sophisticated celebrations book Amici Lounge's private caves.
Four major stations encircle Wardour Street, with Piccadilly Circus closest to southern venues (3-5 minutes to The Perception, O'Neill's). Tottenham Court Road serves northern spots best (6-8 minutes to 100 Wardour St, The Den). Leicester Square hits the middle section, while Oxford Circus works for Simmons Bar near Oxford Street. Night buses converge at Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Circus. For large groups, pre-book taxis to Brewer Street (for Soho Residence) or direct to venue addresses. The new Elizabeth Line at Tottenham Court Road transformed access from East and West London. Most venues sit within 300 metres of each other, enabling progressive party routes.
100 Wardour St leads the multi-space game with its Lounge (400 standing), Club (450 standing), plus The Playroom and 100 Room for breakout sessions. You can book combinations or the full 900-capacity venue. Soho Residence offers three distinct floors: ground-floor botanical bar, first-floor Cocktail Lounge (60 capacity), basement Festival Bar (150 capacity). The Perception divides into named zones: W Lounge (100), Revolve (70), On the Rocks (60), each bookable separately or combined. Village Soho's three floors and Freedom Bar's dual levels also allow partial or progressive bookings. This flexibility helps manage budgets while maintaining exclusive feels.
Wardour Street excels at late licences, with several venues pushing past 3am. Simmons Bar tops the list at 4am Friday-Saturday, while 100 Wardour St, Freedom Bar, and Village Soho regularly run until 3am on weekends. Soho Residence and O'Neill's typically close around 2-3am depending on the night. Even on weeknights, most venues stay open until 1-2am for private hires. The Perception at W London maintains hotel hours, often extending for exclusive bookings. These late licences make Wardour Street prime territory for after-parties following West End shows or industry events. Always confirm specific closing times when booking, as they vary by season and event type.
100 Wardour St's Club features a professional stage setup with full AV capabilities, hosting live bands nightly before DJs take over. O'Neill's Flamingo Room runs multiple screens with stage and sound system suited for 400-person music events. St Moritz Club, despite being hire-only Sunday-Thursday, maintains the PA system that launched legendary nights like Gaz's Rockin' Blues. Soho Residence's Festival Bar and Freedom Bar's basement both pack proper club sound systems. For acoustic or jazz, The Den offers piano bar ambience. Most venues include basic DJ equipment in hire packages, but confirm technical specifications for live acts.
St Moritz Club hides beneath the Swiss restaurant at 161 Wardour, accessible via separate street entrance - a 1,000 sq ft basement that birthed British R&B, available Sunday-Thursday only. Friendly Society at 79 Wardour requires entering through Tisbury Court, revealing a Barbie-decorated basement perfect for alternative parties. Amici Lounge features six 'private caves' with electronic shisha capabilities. The Den exists as a secret bar within the 100 Wardour complex, bookable separately for speakeasy-style gatherings. Even established venues hide surprises: O'Neill's three-floor setup includes spaces many don't know exist beyond the ground floor.
Most Wardour Street venues operate hybrid bar-restaurant models, offering extensive catering. 100 Wardour St provides full dining from both its Lounge and Restaurant menus, with canape packages for standing receptions. The Perception leverages W London's kitchen for everything from breakfast meetings to late-night bites. Amici Lounge serves Italian-Mediterranean sharing plates with a £55 per person minimum for groups over nine. Soho Residence offers botanical-themed cocktails and bar snacks across all three floors. O'Neill's runs pub classics plus party platters. Pure bars like Freedom, Village, and Simmons typically allow external catering or focus on drinks-only events. Always clarify whether catering forms part of minimum spend.
December requires 2-3 months advance booking, with prime Friday-Saturday slots at 100 Wardour St or The Perception often gone by October. January-February offers last-minute availability even at premium venues. March-May sees steady demand requiring 3-4 weeks notice. Summer (June-August) varies wildly - tourist season fills hotels bars while Londoners flee, creating unexpected openings. September kicks off conference season, book 4-6 weeks ahead. October-November builds toward Christmas, secure bookings 6-8 weeks out. Thursday has emerged as the new Friday, booking as fast as weekends. Mondays-Wednesdays remain flexible year-round, often bookable within a week except December.