Funky Venues

Venue Review

Character: Historic and majestic grand palace decorated in Baroque and Tudor style.

Funky Features: Idyllic location, beautiful grounds, over 1,000 historic artworks, view of River Thames, famous maze, fabulous tapestries and paintings.

Location and History

Situated on the bank of the Thames, a 35-minute rail ride from central London, Hampton Court Palace is a short stroll from the BR station of the same name. It is also close to the M3, M25 and M4 motorways with parking available within the grounds. Independent river launch operators serve the palaces and can provide a variety of boats for private hire. Independent operators can also provide luxury coaches or buses.

Since its early days as Henry VIII’s flamboyant ‘pleasure palace’, Hampton Court has always been a centre of hospitality and entertainment. The first buildings date back to the 11th Century. It was Thomas Wolsey who transformed the Palace, adding sumptuous private chambers for his own use, as well as three suites for the new royal family: one each for King Henry VIII, Queen Katherine of Aragon and their daughter Princess Mary. So much did the king like it that in 1628 he appropriated Hampton Court and spent the equivalent of £18 million in today’s money restoring and expanding it. All of Henry’s six wives came to the palace.

Interior

There are two main themes that run throughout this majestic palace. The first is the aw inspiring Tudor Palace of Henry VIII, with it’s amazing hammer beam ceilings, dressed in gold leaf and fabuloulys famous flemish tapestries of Abraham adorning the walls it makes any event feel special against such truly manifiencient opulence. The second is English Baroque or Stuart. In the late sixteen hundreds King William III and his Queen Mary, commissioned Sir Christopher Wren to rebuild Hampton Court, adding a new layer of baroque architecture and style. In 1694 when Mary died, Wren and Talman completely transformed the east and south facades, replacing Tudor towers and chimneys with the grand baroque exteriors that dominate the formal gardens today. Inside, Grinling Gibbons carved elegant fireplaces and architectural mouldings and Antonio Verrio painted triumphant and colourful ceilings. Hampton Court Palace has over 1,000 rooms and over 1,000 artworks are on display throughout the palace.

Spaces For Hire

Hampton Court Palace is offering special seasonal reductions of up to 33% on all events which are booked and take place at Hampton Court Palace before 31 March 2008. They are also offering special reductions of up to 15% on venue hire fees for all events taking place during any Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday at Hampton Court Palace between 1st April and 31st December 2008. The versatility of the Palace is one of its greatest attributes as a hire venue.

For a truly spectacular event the whole of Hampton Court Palace can be hired on an exclusive basis (if required) for an evening. This booking includes supervision by a senior member of the management team before, during and after the event, use of a State Apartment for a reception, plus access to a selection of State Apartments for guests to view. The fee also includes State Apartment Warders, Security, Car Parking, Cloakroom Attendants, and a Qualified First Aid medic, plus, a large floral display within the chosen reception area. in addition, costumed Interpreters (maximum 3) will greet, escort and circulate with guests (if required) are all included in the facility fee. At present the Main Palace is available for receptions and dinners only. Dancing facilities are a short stroll away in the Garden Room or in specially erected Marquees.

The 18-hole golf course is also available for hire and can be included in packages and Ghost Tours, Golf Days, Morning Brunch Tours and Early Morning Sunrise Tours.

Many of the palace’s magnificent staterooms are offered as regal backdrops for prestigious receptions, banquets, conferences, events, performances, corporate functions or weddings. In addition, 60 acres of formal gardens and parklands around the palace offer opportunities for bespoke events in marquees for up to 1000 people. The three Grand Courtyards can be lit with lasers or lanterns.

Hampton Court works closely with a selection of caterers who are able to offer the finest food and wines. The chosen caterer will arrange all furniture, crockery, cutlery and glassware, together with menus and flowers (if required).

The beauty of Hampton Court is that you can choose a venue to suit the mood of the event, from the pretty Garden Room of the palace itself to William III’s Orangery and Privy Garden on the baroque East Front. For a more dramatic setting there is the magnificent Banqueting House, with its lofty Palladian-style architecture and wondrous Rubens ceiling.

The Garden Room: Set within its own secluded garden in Hampton Court Palace, the Garden Room is an enchanting venue in which to host a wedding reception. This light and airy 1920s Orangery-style room offers versatility and the opportunity to have live music and dancing in an amazing historic setting. French doors open out onto paved terraces and lawns, where guests can stroll among the trees and enjoy reception drinks and canapés. Capacity: Reception 300 / Dinner 230 / Dinner and dancing 200 / Cabaret 72 / Theatre style 200

The Great Hall: The splendour of Henry VIII’s Great Hall acts as an inspiration on a grand scale. Originally a dining room for members of the King’s court, it regularly seated 600 people for two meals a day. The Great Hall’s treasures include the magnificent 16th-century Flemish tapestries commissioned by Henry VIII, which depict scenes from the Story of Abraham, and a stunning hammer-beamed ceiling richly decorated with mouldings, tracery and intricate carvings. The Great Hall makes an impressive setting for prestigious banquets and receptions, concerts and award dinners. Overlooking the room, the Minstrels’ Gallery, is a perfect setting for welcoming and entertaining guests. Continuing a prestigious history of playing host to conferences of European leaders. Capacity: Reception 400 / Dinner 280

The Great Watching Chamber: This intriguing room, which adjoins King Henry VIII’s Great Hall, was where royal bodyguards kept watch over the King. The Great Watching Chamber was originally the first of King Henry VIII’s State Rooms, and was used for entertaining the most prestigious members of court. It is the last room of all the King’s many residences that still exists in its original form, so it is a a unique venue for a special dinner or reception. The Great Watching Chamber is reached via the Haunted Gallery and can be used on its own or in conjunction with the Great Hall to accommodate larger numbers. Capacity: Reception 150 / Dinner 100

The Public Dining Room: Situated in the heart of the Queen’s State Apartments and reached via the imposing Queen’s Staircase, this room is hung with paintings from the Royal Collection and features as its centrepiece a magnificent marble chimney piece carved by Grinling Gibbons. The Public Dining Room overlooks the charming topiary and fountains in the East Front Gardens and is a great setting for receptions and smaller dinners. Capacity: Reception 150 / Dinner 50

The Queen’s Guard Chamber: This chamber, completed in 1717, once housed Queen Caroline’s bodyguards – the Yeoman of the Guard – who controlled access to the Queen’s Apartments. Today, two larger-than-life figures – marble Yeomen carved by Grinling Gibbons – remain to keep a watchful eye over the many and varied events which take place in this versatile venue. The 18th-century architectural features and views of the beautiful Fountain Court will intrigue and delight guests to an awards’ ceremony, a reception or a dinner. Capacity: Reception 175 / Dinner 150 / Theatre 70

The King’s Guard Chamber: This awe-inspiring room celebrates William III’s assertion of power and dominance over his court which is evident through the breathtaking display of nearly 3,000 swords, bayonets, muskets and pistols completed in 1699 by his gunsmith. Hosting a reception or dinner here enables guests to walk freely throughout the other state rooms with the option of costumed interpreters on hand to further enhance the experience. Capacity: Reception 200 /Dinner 150

The Cartoon Gallery: Originally used as a meeting room for the Privy Council, the Cartoon Gallery is one of the largest of the palace’s Georgian Rooms and overlooks the fountain and colonnades of Fountain Court. It was originally hung with Raphael’s 16th-century cartoons, which were later given by Queen Victoria to the V&A Museum. The images today are 17th-century copies, probably painted in the gallery in the 1690s by Henry Cooke. The gallery offers the perfect setting for large receptions and can be used alongside the King’s State Apartments. Capacity: Reception 300 / Dinner 220

The King’s Eating Room: It was once considered an honour to witness the sovereign eating; this room is where William III would occasionally dine in the presence of important courtiers. The King would sit at one large table; everyone else would stand respectfully and watch! Today all guests are seated and the room is perfect for an intimate dinner or reception. Capacity: Reception 40 / Reception and Dinner 24 / Dinner 40

The Orangery and Privy Garden: Designed as a private greenhouse for William III, the Orangery opens onto the Privy Garden. The summer receptions and dinners held here, in conjunction with the Orangery, are among the most awe-inspiring you can experience at Hampton Court Palace. It’s possible to arrive by boat and enter the Privy Garden through the fabulous Tijou Screens, strolling up to the palace in the footsteps of past kings and queens. Capacity: Reception 300 / Dinners (in the Privy Garden) 200

The Garden Room: This large, light and airy 1920s room, set in a secluded spot in the Hampton Court Gardens, is a versatile venue for many types of function, relaxed or formal, including conferences, training days and team-building events, elegant weddings and exclusive private functions. Delegates and guests can enjoy the beautiful surrounding lawns and gardens at their leisure. The Garden Room can also be used in conjunction with a reception or dinner in the palace. Capacity: Reception 300 / Dinner 230 / Dinner and dancing 200 / Cabaret 72 / Theatre style 200

The Tudor Kitchens: These lofty, robustly-built kitchens were once the scene of frantic activity, as a team of chefs, servants and kitchen boys raced to prepare food for around 600 people, twice a day! From 1530 to 1735, the Tudor Kitchens were central to palace life when the court was in residence. Today, the huge roasting fire is still lit daily, evoking memories of times gone by. These ancient rooms make a marvellous location for a really memorable and unusual drinks reception, or for pre- or post-dinner drinks. Capacity: Reception 100

The Banqueting House: Set in an idyllic location, within its own private walled gardens on the banks of the River Thames, the Banqueting House is the most intimate of historic settings within the palace grounds. Built as William III personal entertaining space, the Banqueting House provides a peaceful setting for lunches and dinners. Guests have the option of arriving by a picturesque boat ride along the River Thames, or a short walk through the relaxing Privy Gardens. The main room, with its magnificent wall and ceiling paintings by Antonio Verrio, is a flexible venue which can be used either for formal dinners and receptions or as a fabulous conference venue.Capacity: Reception 80 / Lunch and Dinner 50 / Caberet 24

Marquees: Within the 750 acres of land surrounding Hampton Court there is a variety of locations suitable for Marquees. : Receptions up to 1500 / Dinner up to 1000 / Dining/Dancing Up to 1000