Full Venue Hire at The Refinery Bankside

Hiring all of The Refinery Bankside gives you a single open-plan venue that flexes between bar, restaurant, lounge, mezzanine, and outdoor terrace — 600 standing or 236 seated across spaces that feel distinct without being disconnected. The industrial-contemporary interior works as one flowing room with enough architectural variety to create natural zones for different parts of an event.

The Refinery Bankside’s Open-Plan Layout

The ground floor centres on the main bar and open kitchen, where chefs work in full view. That live preparation becomes built-in entertainment during receptions and dinners — food emerging from visible kitchens carries more energy than trays appearing from behind closed doors. The space around the bar accommodates large standing receptions with room for guests to circulate, while the restaurant floor converts to seated dining across multiple configurations. To one side, the lounge provides a distinctly different feel — armchairs, leather sofas, and intimate booths create a zone suited to VIP groups, quieter conversations, or pre-dinner drinks. It connects directly to both the bar area and the terrace, giving guests a natural route between indoor comfort and outdoor atmosphere.

Mezzanine and Terrace at The Refinery Bankside

The semi-private mezzanine overlooks the restaurant below, seating up to 15 for private dining or small meetings. It’s elevated enough to feel separate while maintaining visual connection to the main event — useful for client dinners during larger receptions, or as a VIP area during parties. The alfresco terrace extends the venue outdoors from June through August, handling 120 standing or 60 seated. A built-in screen supports presentations or ambient visuals during summer events. The terrace sits a short walk from the Thames, and guests arriving from Blackfriars walk past the Tate Modern — the cultural quarter setting adds context that commercial districts don’t offer.

Event Formats and Capabilities

The open-plan design means furniture can be rearranged to suit anything from a breakfast meeting for a handful of people through to a full-venue evening reception with dancing. Cocktail masterclasses work particularly well here, using the bar as a working stage. Birthday parties, engagement celebrations, Christmas events, and corporate receptions all fit the layout, and the industrial aesthetic photographs cleanly for corporate content capture without requiring additional styling. Drake & Morgan provides in-house catering with a seasonal menu spanning nibbles, sharing boards, gourmet mains, and brunch options. The Enomatic wine system offers global wines by the glass — a detail that adds genuine interest during receptions. Weekend DJs are part of the venue’s regular programming, and private events can bring their own music.

Getting to The Refinery Bankside

Southwark station is the closest tube, with Blackfriars a short walk north towards the river. The Blue Fin Building sits on Southwark Street in SE1, surrounded by the media and creative businesses that define the Bankside neighbourhood. The alcohol licence runs until midnight with extensions available, giving evening events room to develop beyond the typical bar-closing squeeze.