Full Venue Hire at Butchers Hall

Five event spaces across multiple floors, a rooftop garden with Central London views, and a 2019 refurbishment that brought the interiors firmly into the present — Butchers’ Hall is the livery hall for organisers who want heritage depth without the museum feel. The Worshipful Company of Butchers traces its origins to 975 AD, making it one of the oldest of the City of London’s livery companies. But the venue itself, at 87 Bartholomew Close in the Barts Square development near Barbican, feels current. The complete 2019 restoration preserved period character while modernising facilities to a standard that most livery halls simply haven’t reached — state-of-the-art AV and lighting throughout, dedicated fibre optic broadband, and full wheelchair accessibility on every floor via lift access.

The Great Hall at Butchers’ Hall

The Great Hall is the centrepiece: wood-panelled, bathed in natural light, and large enough for 160 seated dinners, 180 theatre-style conferences, or around 150 delegates in conference layout. It’s a genuinely beautiful room that photographs well and creates the right impression for awards ceremonies, gala dinners, and client-facing presentations without needing heavy dressing. The complete AV and lighting installation means presentations, live streaming, and hybrid events work out of the box — no external suppliers required for standard setups.

Butchers’ Hall Court Rooms and Breakout Spaces

The Court Rooms sit below, offering 120 seated for dinner or 80 in conference setup. A noise-cancelling partition lets them divide into two separate spaces — useful for breakout sessions during conferences or for splitting a drinks reception from a dining area. The Mezzanine overlooks the Great Hall, adding a gallery-level perspective that works well for drinks receptions or registration. The ground floor is genuinely multi-purpose: registration, breakout areas, or a bar space depending on what the event needs.

Rooftop Garden at Butchers’ Hall

The rooftop garden holds 70 guests and is available independently or as part of a wider event. For a livery hall, outdoor space at this level is rare — most offer nothing beyond a courtyard. The rooftop extends the venue’s appeal well beyond traditional formal dining, making summer receptions, networking drinks, and post-conference wind-downs a natural part of the programme.

Catering by Bovingdons

Bovingdons hold the exclusive catering contract, bringing over 30 years’ experience and a reputation that sits comfortably within the Butchers’ Company’s meat-focused heritage. Menus run from working lunches and conference catering through to formal multi-course dinners and wedding breakfasts. The venue’s famous Carvery Lunches are a regular fixture and give a flavour of the kitchen’s capabilities.

Practical Details for Butchers’ Hall Events

A single venue hire fee includes all five spaces plus the rooftop terrace — there’s no room-by-room pricing to navigate, which simplifies budgeting considerably. Barbican station is the closest tube, with St Paul’s also within walking distance. The venue is licensed for weddings, and dedicated event planners work with organisers from initial enquiry through to the day itself. For events from 14 to 180 guests, it covers conferences, dinners, weddings, product launches, and corporate receptions with a level of flexibility that the livery hall category rarely offers.