Basement at The Folly

Where the ground floor runs on natural light and botanical airiness, The Folly’s basement trades all of that for something more enclosed and atmospheric. Curved leather booths create intimate seating zones, a private bar anchors the space, and the botanical theme from upstairs translates into a warmer, more cocooned version of itself. The shift in mood between floors is deliberate — events that book both levels get two distinct atmospheres without changing venue.

The Folly Basement — Layout and Atmosphere

Standing capacity reaches 300, with seated arrangements for 100 in dining or cabaret configurations. The curved leather booths are the defining feature, creating natural pockets for conversation that work equally well for Saturday night parties and corporate meetings where smaller groups need their own space within a larger event. The vaulted, compartmentalised structure gives the basement a sense of discovery — arched spaces and separated zones rather than a single open room. A Private Dining Room at this level seats 20 boardroom-style or holds 50 standing, positioned away from the main bar area for presentations, private meetings, or VIP breakout use.

Basement Events at The Folly

The intimate scale and bar setting make this a natural fit for Saturday night parties, birthday celebrations, cocktail receptions, and Christmas gatherings — events where the atmosphere should feel social and energised rather than formal. The cocktail service and private bar mean drinks quality matches the setting, and the booth seating gives guests options beyond standing all evening. Corporate events work well in the booth layout — team drinks, departmental socials, and after-work client entertaining all find appropriately scaled space that feels considered rather than a default bar booking. The Private Dining Room adds a quieter option for presentations or smaller meetings within the same venue.

The Folly Basement — Scalability and Access

The basement operates independently for events up to 300, but the real flexibility lies in combining it with the ground floor above. Whole-venue hire reaches 1,100 standing, and the contrasting atmospheres — light and botanical upstairs, intimate and booth-lined below — give multi-floor events natural variety. The alcohol licence runs to 23:00 with extensions available, and late licences on Thursdays and Fridays push into the early hours. Gracechurch Street’s position opposite Monument station and walking distance from Bank provides the transport access that large City events require. No venue hire fees apply — bookings run on minimum spend, keeping budgets focused on the guest experience. Drake & Morgan’s seasonal British menu and cocktail offering run through the basement bar, and bespoke packages can be tailored for events that want a curated food and drink experience rather than a standard bar menu. The in-house events team manages coordination between floors for combined bookings.