Function rooms for hire in Richmond
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Richmond venues offer something central London can't replicate: actual green space as your backdrop. Take Ham Polo Club with its 23-acre site for marquee events, or Richmond Hill Hotel's Ballroom accommodating 250 with Richmond Park views. Transport remains excellent with Richmond Station offering District Line, Overground and National Rail connections.
Pricing reflects this sweet spot too. Whilst Kew's Orangery runs £10,000-£11,000 for exclusive use, Richmond Old Town Hall's Riverside Room costs just £245 for three hours. You're essentially getting parkland settings at prices 30-40% below equivalent central London spaces, with guests actually able to park.
Booking windows vary dramatically by venue type and season. Kew Gardens' premium spaces like the Temperate House book 12-18 months ahead for summer Saturdays, whilst Richmond Library Annexe might have availability next week. The Petersham Hotel's Nightingales restaurant typically fills 3-4 months out for weekend celebrations.
December sees particular pressure across all venues. Last year, both Harbour Hotel Richmond and Bingham Riverhouse were fully committed by September. For corporate events at venues like Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club's Viscount Room, 6-8 weeks usually suffices outside peak periods. Through Zipcube's platform, you can check real-time availability across multiple venues simultaneously.
Richmond excels at mid-sized standing receptions. The Richmond Athletic Ground's Murray Judd Room handles up to 400 cocktail-style, whilst Scott's Richmond's first floor accommodates 80 with its own terrace. For intimate gatherings, No.1a Duke Street's PDR works perfectly for 30-80 standing.
Outdoor options expand possibilities considerably. Ham Polo Club's marquee site can accommodate 1000 guests (structure additional), whilst Pembroke Lodge's Belvedere hosts 200 standing with those famous Thames Valley views. Even smaller venues punch above their weight: The Tap on the Line's Atrium manages 60 standing right at Kew Gardens Station.
Professional spaces cluster around three hubs. The National Archives offers a purpose-built 150-seat auditorium with waterside setting, five minutes from Kew Gardens Station. For boardroom sessions, Richmond Hill Hotel provides 12 different meeting rooms, whilst Harbour Hotel Richmond's Parklands seats 18 board-style.
Tech-enabled options include Richmond Theatre's 840-seat auditorium for major presentations (from £10,000), and Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club's contemporary Viscount Room with built-in AV and course views. The surprise package? Richmond & Hillcroft Adult Community College's 120-seat theatre, available evenings and weekends at community rates.
Richmond Station serves as the main hub, offering District Line, London Overground, and National Rail services. Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club sits just 5 minutes' walk away, whilst Richmond Old Town Hall and Richmond Theatre both lie within 10 minutes. Kew Gardens Station (District/Overground) connects directly to The National Archives and serves Kew Gardens itself.
Parking varies significantly. Richmond Golf Club and Ham Polo Club offer substantial on-site parking, whilst central Richmond venues rely on public car parks. Evening events benefit from reduced restrictions after 6:30pm. Pro tip: Pembroke Lodge inside Richmond Park requires careful timing as park gates close at dusk.
Richmond's riverside position delivers multiple waterfront options. Gaucho Richmond occupies a prime towpath position with alfresco terrace, whilst Bingham Riverhouse's Garden Rooms open onto heated, covered terraces facing the Thames. The Petersham Hotel's River Room offers panoramic views from its elevated position above Petersham Meadows.
For something different, The National Archives sits between two ornamental lakes near the Thames, creating a campus-like waterside feel. Scott's Richmond combines river proximity with a heated first-floor terrace for 40 guests. Even Richmond Old Town Hall's Riverside Room provides Thames glimpses from its historic chambers.
Minimum spends vary wildly depending on venue calibre and timing. Premium restaurants like Scott's Richmond typically require £6,000-£12,000 for exclusive first-floor hire, whilst The Tap on the Line's Atrium might accept £500 off-peak. No.1a Duke Street ranges from £500 for their PDR to £6,000-£12,000 for whole venue takeover.
Hotels structure things differently. Bingham Riverhouse's Summer Garden Party package runs £110 per person with minimum numbers, whilst Harbour Hotel Richmond advertises corporate packages from £65 per head. Council venues like Richmond Library Annexe charge straight hourly rates (£64/hour for the large room) with no minimums.
Summer transforms Richmond's venue landscape. Ham Polo Club's marquee site accommodates up to 1000 guests on their grounds (structure additional), whilst Pembroke Lodge combines the Belvedere's private terrace with access to Richmond Park's South Lawn. Richmond Hill Hotel's Richmond Room opens onto its own terrace for 150 standing.
Restaurant terraces provide more intimate options. Scott's heated terrace handles 40 standing/25 seated, whilst Gaucho Richmond's riverside alfresco area offers prime summer positioning. For something special, Petersham Nurseries' greenhouses blur indoor/outdoor boundaries amongst their famous plantings. Even corporate venues join in: Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club's balconies overlook two courses.
Richmond's standouts transcend typical function rooms. Kew's Temperate House, the world's largest surviving Victorian glasshouse, hosts 300 standing amongst rare plants for £18,000-£19,000 plus VAT. Richmond Theatre's main auditorium places your event on a Frank Matcham-designed stage from 1899.
Petersham Nurseries creates magic in their bohemian greenhouses, seating 60-120 for atmospheric dinners. Richmond Golf Club's Grade I Sudbrook House brings Palladian architecture to your event. For pure drama, SUSHISAMBA-style experiences await at Richmond's growing collection of rooftop spaces, though nothing yet matches their Heron Tower heights.
Richmond's outdoor bias creates dramatic seasonal swings. May through September sees premiums of 20-30% at venues with gardens or terraces. Kew Gardens adds £1,000 to weekend Orangery hire, whilst Pembroke Lodge fills every summer Saturday by February. Ham Polo Club essentially hibernates November through March.
December brings different pressure. Harbour Hotel Richmond and Richmond Hill Hotel's Ballroom book solid for festive parties by early autumn. Conversely, January-March offers genuine bargains: Richmond Old Town Hall maintains flat rates year-round, but premium venues often negotiate. Weather-proof options like The National Archives' auditorium maintain steady demand regardless of season.