Venue hire frequently asked questions

Weddings and Suite Hire

Who is the onsite caterer?

Award winning caterers, Aramark, are the contracted caterers on site. They are expert at crafting delicious dishes for prestigious events, and have created menus especially for the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. However, if you’re looking for a unique or themed menu Aramark would love to work with you to create your own bespoke menu and package.

Can we use alternative caterers to Aramark?

For Indian/Asian cuisine all inquiries are referred to one of our exclusive Asian Events Partners who have the exclusive contract to deliver Asian catering and events at the Botanical Gardens. Our caterers will provide a quotation which includes the hire of one of our banqueting suites, your catering, décor, and event management, therefore please contact them directly.

For other styles of cuisine please contact the Aramark team to discuss your requirements.

Please note, that we do not allow any other third-party caterers to cater for events at the venue.

Do you offer the banqueting suites for events that do not require catering?

All pricing is based on events with a substantial catering element. If your event does not require catering please contact us for a bespoke quotation for the room hire only.

Can we come to view the suites?

Viewings are available by prior appointment. This is to ensure that a member of the sales team is available to discuss your event, and that the suite is not in use by another client. We can accommodate appointments between 10am and 4pm Monday – Friday, and approximately 1 – 2 weekend days per month. We aim to be holding a date provisionally for your event prior to arranging an appointment to view.

Is there a bar?

Our three banqueting suites all feature a built in bar serving a range of local and international soft and alcoholic beverages. Please note, the Loudon Suite serves only bottled beverages (not draught).

What time does the bar close?

For most events the bar will close at 11pm. A late licence allowing the bar to open until 1am can arranged (charges apply). The bar closes a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the end of an event.

Can I bring my own wine?

 If you have a particular wine that you would like to enjoy at your event we are more than happy to prepare and serve it for you. Our corkage charges cover wine waiters, glassware, ice buckets, logistics and refrigeration prior to your event, and disposal of bottles at the end of the event. Please enquire with us for current corkage charges.

Can we get married at the Botanical Gardens?

All of our suites are licenced for civil ceremonies. These are conducted by registrars from Birmingham Register Office.

Can we get married outside in the Gardens?

We are unable to offer weddings in the outdoor spaces at this time.

Are there any restrictions?

All naked flames are prohibited within all of the suites. We can provide LED candles (such as in candelabras), where candles are required for your event. For Hindu weddings, we do allow one T-light candle to be used as long as it is in a covered jar or holder. We cannot allow fireworks, Chinese lanterns, confetti, or dry rice on site.

What would be my timings?

Timings for your wedding reception are flexible, however, for civil ceremonies without a wedding reception at the venue we offer 10am or 11am, and for civil ceremonies with a wedding reception we usually offer any time after 2pm.

Who books the registrar?

Legally you are required to book the registrar, and the registrar’s fees are not included in any of our prices. For more details, please see the Birmingham Register Office guide for ceremonies at Approved Premises.

Can we hire the venue exclusively?

The banqueting suites and facilities can be hired for exclusive use, meaning no other private or corporate events will take place during your event. The external space and gardens themselves cannot be hired exclusively during the hours they are open to the public.

Can the outdoor Terrace be used during our event if we hire the Garden/Terrace Suite?

The outdoor terrace is available for guests to use on the condition that there are no other outdoor events taking place within the Gardens at the same time. Please check with our sales team at the time of your booking.

Can we have a Hindu Blessing/Fire Ceremony?

A Hindu Fire Ceremony can be incorporated into events organised by our Asian Partner Caterers. Please be Sunny Events: 07917 300005 or Sukhdev’s Catering:0121 3141247

Facilities and accessibility

Where is the venue located?

We are 1.5miles from Birmingham City Centre, located in a leafy residential area. The venue is easily accessible from the M6, M5 and M42, and a few minutes by taxi from New Street Station.

Is the venue accessible by public transport?

Yes, we are accessible by bus, train and plane. For further details click here or contact the sales office on 0121 450 4607.

Do you have car parking?

The on-site car park has space for 120 cars, 10 bicycles and 3 coaches (evening only). These spaces are available on a first come first served basis, we cannot guarantee availability of parking for your event or reserve any spaces. The car parking is free of charge, however, guests must enter their vehicle registration in the touch screen stand in the banqueting reception. The car park is monitored with ANPR, and failure to enter the correct registration will result in a penalty notice. These cannot be waived after the event.

Local on-street and pay and display car parking is available. A list of local public car parks is available from the sales team, call 0121 450 4607.

Can our guests leave their cars overnight?

No, the ANPR system validates for 12 hours of parking.

Are the banqueting suites accessible for guests with limited mobility or wheelchair users?

All of our suites are DDA compliant, meaning they are accessible for wheelchair users. For a full accessibility statement please click here. Please make us aware if you are expecting guests with limited mobility as some of our suites require the use of portable ramps.

Equipment and entertainment

Do you supply audio visual equipment, or can we bring our own?

We do have some basic in-house AV and sound equipment that can be hired for your event. We also work with an external supplier where there are more complex audio-visual requirements. This ensures equipment is always set up correctly and fully functional, avoiding any disappointment or delays on the day. You are welcome to bring your own AV supplier or equipment for your event, subject to confirmation of PAT testing where appropriate and public liability insurance.  Please speak to one of our team who will be able to advise you on the best option for your event.

Do you have DJs and entertainment?

We are able to source a wide variety of entertainment on your behalf, from DJs and bands, to magicians and acrobats. Please enquire with the sales team on 0121 450 4621.

Is the venue licenced to play music?

Yes.