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Chelsea Physic Garden
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Current location: Venue Hire > Hiring the Garden

Hiring the Garden

photo of an evening event
Midsummer Party

Chelsea Physic Garden is a magical and unusual venue in the heart of London. It has a variety of function rooms in addition to the Garden available to hire. From summer drinks parties on the lawn and weddings to meetings, AGMs and lectures, Chelsea Physic Garden is a perenially desirable and adaptable venue for any event.

Booking an Event

We suggest that you make a provisional booking to ensure your chosen date is available. This date is then reserved for two weeks. Please note that we will only provisionally book one date per client. Your date is confirmed once we receive your completed Booking Form and non-refundable deposit of 50% of the total fee. A written confirmation and receipt for the deposit will be sent to you. You will be invoiced for the remainder of the fee two months before your event.

If making a booking within two months of your event date, the full fee would need to be paid immediately. We recommend that all prospective clients make an appointment to visit the Garden prior to booking to discuss individual requirements. Appointments to view our facilities are available from 9.15am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday (apart from on Bank Holidays) with the Head of Marketing, telephone +44 (0)20 7352 5646 (extension 221).

Download a booking form here (25KB Word doc). This needs to be signed and sent by fax (020 7376 3910) or by post to: Hiring, Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4HS.

Download the comprehensive Hire Pack (PDF/2.7MB ) for information on our approved caterers, conditions of hire, prices, frequently asked questions and more

The Garden
The Garden has the capacity for 400 people for a standing reception. Most events are centred around the lawn (90 feet by 77 feet) in front of the main building. Guests are allowed to wander freely throughout the Garden, although access to the glasshouses is not permitted. A marquee or awning is optional, but any required marquee configuration must be arranged with Claremont Marquees. There are two ponds and some poisonous plants in the Garden so children need to be closely supervised.

View of Marquee through GardenView of Lawn from TerracePicture of Main buildings and lawn

The Reception Room
The Reception Room is situated in our main building and has a capacity of 120. This can be used as a reception room or as a place where caterers prepare for an outside event. Hire of the Reception Room is free with hire of the Garden, without hiring the Garden there is a fee. The room has a partition that can be drawn to separate the room in half if required. Amongst others It has been used as a break-out room for lectures, for winter receptions and product launches.

The Lecture Room
The atmospheric lecture room is an ideal place for a lecture or meeting. The room is located above the Reception Room and holds up to 100 people. It has a raised stage, two projector screens and a blackboard. All presentation equipment will need to be hired, please liaise with the Marketing Team if items such as extension leads are required. Please note, unfortunately, there is no access to this room for wheelchair users.

Picture of the lecture roomLecture Room set up for presentation

Rates and Availability

The Garden, Reception Room and Lecture Room are available for hire on most evenings throughout the year. Sunday daytime hire is also occasionally available between November and March. The Garden, Reception Room and Lecture Room are also available for weekday daytime hire on limited days in the year. N.B. Hire of the Lecture room is included with Garden hire.

All weekday & Sunday evenings:
  • Oct – April & August: £3,150
  • May – July & September: £5,250

Saturdays:

  • October – April: £4,200 for the afternoon (up to 17:30) or evening (up to 22:30-23:30 with extension) £5,250 for both
  • May – September: £5,250 for the afternoon (up to 17:30) or evening (up to 22:30-23:30 with extension); £6,300 for both

Chelsea Flower Show Week (week commencing 24th May 2010):

  • Mon £16,275
  • Tue £15,225
  • Wed £14,175
  • Thu £13,125
  • Fri £12,075
  • Sat £11,025

Late evening extension: £1,050 for 22:30 – 23:30.
It is not possible under the terms of our Premises License for events to end later than 23:30

Cost for hiring our function rooms:

We have two rooms that are available to hire, the Lecture room and Reception room
N.B. Hiring of the Reception or Lecture Room does not permit access to the Garden except for access.

£1,050 per room for all or part of 09:00 – 17:30*, these rooms are not available to hire after 17:30 without also hiring the Garden.

*If time required is 4 hours or less, and between 09.00 and 17.30, £580 per room.

We also hire the education room for special purposes, please contact the Head of Education with your enquiry.

Filming


 Please contact the Head of Marketing for rates.

Catering

Please choose from our list of approved caterers.

Marquees and Lighting

The lawn is an ideal setting for a marquee to accommodate larger garden and wedding parties up to a maximum of 325 people seated or 400 people standing.

An awning over the gravel terrace area next to the Reception Room is also an option.

The price of the marquee or awning is not included in the Garden hire charge and your specific requirements in this regard are arranged directly with Claremont Marquees. We do not allow any other marquee companies into the Garden.

Marquees and awnings are usually erected the day preceding the hire and must be removed by 13.00 on the following day, unless different arrangements are made with permission of the Head of Marketing.

The Garden has its own limited electric lighting; any further electric lighting must be arranged via Claremont Marquees. We do not allow any other lighting contractors into the Garden.

For marquee or lighting hire, contact:

Robert Atkins
Claremont Marquees
Fishers Hill House
Hook Heath Road
Woking
GU22 0QF

Tel: 01483 720472
Fax: 01483 720472
www.claremont-marquees.co.uk

Measurements of gravel path are 18 feet wide by 77 feet long and the lawn area is 90 feet by 77 feet

Further information