Southbank Centre is a 21-acre site situated on the south bank of the River Thames next to the popular London Eye, Southbank Centre is at the heart of an arts quarter stretching from the National Theatre to Tate Modern and Shakespeare's Globe.
Southbank Centre consists of the Royal Festival Hall (newly reopened after its two-year transformation), The Hayward, Queen Elizabeth Hall (containing the Purcell Room), and the Saison Poetry Library. Our wide-ranging artistic programme – classical & world music, rock & pop, jazz, dance, literature and the visual arts – attracts the most diverse audience of any UK venue.
As well as being a world-class arts venue, Southbank Centre has a variety of auditoria, rooms and spaces that can be hired for a wide range of events, including conferences, AGMs, product launches, graduation ceremonies, receptions, dinners and weddings.
From the grandeur of the Royal Festival Hall auditorium, to the intimate surroundings of the Sunley Pavilion, Southbank Centre has a venue to meet your needs. As well as the three Halls (Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room) we have a wide variety of meeting and reception rooms to accommodate everything from AGMs to award ceremonies, wine tasting to weddings.
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is the centrepiece of Southbank Centre, hosting events from orchestral and pop concerts to conferences, film screenings and graduation ceremonies. The main focus of the recent 2-year refurbishment, the Hall benefits from a state-of-the-art stage and rig, a large number of back-of-house areas and many of the original 1950s features.
Queen Elizabeth Hall
In a separate building is our mid-size auditorium, the Queen Elizabeth Hall which seats 900 in stall seats and benefits from a large stage and a number of back stage areas.
Purcell Room
Located in the same complex as the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Purcell Room is an intimate auditorium space that is ideal for lectures, debates and meetings. An extended stage can be put in for performance.
The Purcell Room shares a foyer with the Queen Elizabeth Hall. The foyer is ideal as a registration, catering or exhibition area if you are using either Hall for a conference. Equally, it can be hired for cabaret style events, dinners and receptions.
As well as the auditoria, Southbank Centre has a number of other private rooms available for hire that can accommodate between 20 and 250 guests.
St Paul’s and Weston Roof Pavilions
Both located on the sixth floor of the Royal Festival Hall building and commanding exceptional views over the City or over the London Eye or Houses or Parliament, these stunning rooms are exceptionally light and has access to an outside courtyard and balcony. They are both licensed for weddings and civil partnership ceremonies.
Level 5 Function Room
The Level 5 Function Room is an ideal location for conferences, meetings and workshops but can also be set for receptions and dinners. With stunning views of the London Eye and Houses of Parliament, this space is also licensed for weddings and civil partnership ceremonies.
Sunley Pavilion and Level 3 Function Room
Located on the third floor of the Royal Festival Hall either side of Skylon restaurant, these intimate spaces are ideal for break-out groups, small meetings, receptions and private dining.
Spaces with limited availability
In addition to the main meeting/reception rooms, there are a number of spaces within Southbank Centre that are available to hire on occasion. These include the Green and Blue Interval Bars in the Royal Festival Hall, the Clore Ballroom, the Level 5 Prom and Balcony, and the Waterloo Sunset Pavilion at The Hayward.
Our in-house Production team are here to provide all your technical requirements, whether you are organising a televised awards ceremony, your annual AGM or you simply need a microphone for the groom’s speech. Professional, courteous and flexible in their approach, our Production Managers will advise you on how to get the best from your venue, whatever size event you are running.
Wi-fi is provided in some areas of the Royal Festival Hall, please ask your event manager for more information.
