Frequently asked questions.
We have 4 amazing and unique venues in our portfolio, 3 of which are Grade II listed. Please find here a list of useful FAQ’s which we hope will assist you in planning for your event. If your question is not answered here please feel free to contact the team at any time venuehire@hackney.gov.uk
How do I book?
Firstly email us at venuehire@hackney.gov.uk with your date, event details and timings, we can then put together your venue hire proposal which also doubles as a contract. If you are happy to confirm you sign and return this to us. If you require a registrar for wedding ceremony you will need to book them separately here.
We do ask you do this before signing and sending back your hire contract.
How do Payments Work?
For wedding ceremonies we take payment for the full balance on the phone once we receive the venue hire contract. For larger events with minimum hire we take a non refundable deposit of 33% of the total balance once we receive back the signed and completed venue hire contract. The remaining balance invoice will be issued at least 28 days prior to the event, details of how to pay the invoice will be on the document itself. On larger events with a minimum hire, a damage deposit is also required. This will be added to the final balance invoice and is for £1000 for Hackney Town Hall and £500 for Clissold House, The Glass House & Abney Park Chapel. The damage deposit is fully refundable after your event when no damages occur.
What is included in the Venue Hire?
The private venue hire price includes the venue furniture and set up of this prior to your arrival time. It also includes the pre and post cleaning of the space. There is a basic speaking PA system in Hackney Town Hall Assembly Rooms suitable for speeches and playing background music on a smart device with audio jack and bluetooth connection. This must be requested in writing prior to your event. All venues have bluetooth speakers also suitable for background music. For a full list of extras we can supply on request please see here.
What furniture do you have?
At Hackney Town Hall we have 6ft round tables, 6ft trestle tables, a few poseur tables and grey chairs. We can also provide mobile bar units in the assembly hall. At the Glasshouse we have 5ft 8 round tables, 5ft trestles tables and padded cross back chairs. At Clissold House we have 4ft round tables, 5ft trestle tables, a few poseur tables and padded cross back chairs. At Abney Park Chapel we have 60 chiavari chairs and a small ceremony table. Table Cloths are not included at any venue, your caterer can provide these.
Any furniture you may wish to hire into the venues must be first agreed in writing with your event coordinator as due to lack of storage for our own furniture at some of our sites we are not always able to accommodate this request. We also will require a risk assessment from the handler to ensure that they deliver, set up and take away without any damages to the venue. Furniture can only be delivered and collected within your hire period.
Is there any parking?
There is no guest parking at any of our venues unfortunately. There are 4 bays at Hackney Town Hall for suppliers at larger events with minimum hire. As Clissold House and The Glass House are both located in public parks vehicle access is severely limited and suppliers bays are just 2. Please agree which suppliers are allocated to those bays with your event coordinator. Abney Park Chapel due to its location in a cemetery and it being home to a diverse range of wildlife and ecology does not have any parking and vehicle movement is severely limited. We can allow a pre arranged delivery and collection of event equipment but no parking on site. There is a pay and display car park locally, called Wilmer Place.
If you require disabled access parking for a blue badge holder please contact your event coordinator ahead of time to discuss this.
When can I deliver/collect my item?
All deliveries must be within your venue hire time and collections should be on the same day. We aren't able to store items outside of your contracted hire period due to us hiring the spaces to others.
Can I set up the day before?
Unless you have hired the space on the day before as well you aren't able to come in the day before to set up. We recommend 3 hours prior to the start of your event for setting up and we offer this at a discounted rate which can be found on the extra’s price list.
Can we decorate the space?
Yes you can and we love to see it!
All decor is to be run by your events coordinator first. However as a rule of thumb we allow most free standing items. No screws, nails or adhesives can be used on walls, floors and furniture. No removal of the venue's fixtures & fittings, no open flames/candles and helium balloons are unfortunately also not permitted due to high ceilings. All decor needs to be set up and broken down within your hire period.
Can I bring my own Caterer?
We work with a trusted team of professional catering companies see here.
All of which have been vetted and have insurance & hygiene documents. They also importantly have the experience to manage and run events successfully. For more information please refer to our food & drinks policy.
Can I bring my own drinks & do you charge corkage?
Yes you can bring your own drinks and we do not charge any corkage. However for licensing reasons we can only allow this for alcoholic drinks when an agreement has been made with your caterer, from our accredited list, to set up, serve and clear away at the end. All caterers on our list are licensed to serve alcohol. Guests are not permitted to bring their own drinks into the venue. For more information on this please refer to our food and drinks policy.
Can we have Confetti?
Of course, it wouldn't be a wedding without it! All confetti has to be outside of the venue not inside and in the interests of sustainability and protecting the environment this should be dried or fresh natural petals & plant based only. Please do not use rice however as this is dangerous for wildlife. Confetti cannons are strictly prohibited as they are not biodegradable and can be considered as littering which carries a fine.
Do we have to clean after the event?
No cleaning required! Your venue hire includes a post clean so no need to mop floors at the end. We do however have to insist that all food and drink waste be removed from the building and taken out at the end. This is a job and responsibility for the caterer and our list of approved caterers are all aware of. If you have brought in your own caterer they need to be made aware of this otherwise the responsibility will fall to you as the hirer.
Can I bring my dog to my event?
Dogs are not permitted in any of our venues with the exception of Abney Park Chapel. Please refer to our dog policy for more information. Registered guide dogs are welcome at our venues.
I've booked a ceremony only, what are the timings?
Ceremonies are on the hour at all of our venues, with the exception of Saturdays at Hackney Town Hall - they are on the half hour.
Ceremony hire is 50 minutes and an example of timings are below for a 2pm ceremony
1.45 - Guest and couple arrival
2.00 - Ceremony start
2.25 - Ceremony finish, confetti and photos outside
2.35 - Venue clear
As we will likely have another ceremony following yours, there is a 10 minute buffer to clean in between.
Any flowers and musician setup must be in the 15 minutes before your ceremony start time (1.45 in this scenario) so elaborate decor or set up isn't possible with standalone ceremony hire.
Couples will have full information sent to them by way of a ceremony planning questionnaire 6 weeks prior to their ceremony and have a venue coordinator allocated to assist in planning and arrivals.
Will there be someone to help on the day?
You will be allocated a venues and events coordinator in the lead up to your event who will be available to answer any queries, help you with planning your time at the venue, assist with floor plans, ensuring suppliers are compliant, that licensing and H&S regulations are being met and to request all the information required to ensure your event runs smoothly with no surprises on the day. While we aim for the same person to be there on the day, this is not always possible due to the team managing events across 4 venues. However a full function sheet is produced and a handover will take place, all of our team are experienced in event management. On the day, the coordinator will meet with suppliers, assist with access and direction, manage security, ensure the venue is clean and in good repair, deal with any venue related issues or questions, uphold licensing and H&S requirements. The event coordinator will also be on hand to assist the couple during their legal wedding ceremony from start to finish.
The event coordinator is not a wedding planner however so isn't responsible for decorating the venue, clearing away waste, ushering guests and managing external suppliers. It is advisable to have help with these duties to avoid stress on your big day and if you don't have a wedding planner you can typically agree these will be upheld with your chosen caterer but do check and ask in advance.