Venue hire

About us

The gallery boasts a range of stunning spaces for hire, including the grand Marble Hall and elegant Collection Display Gallery. There is also a fully equipped function room for up to 60 guests set in the heart of the gallery, within easy reach of the Laing’s permanent collections and special exhibitions. 

Our dedicated events team can help you choose the right location for a number of occasions. We can help you to celebrate anniversaries, engagements, weddings and much more. If you have an event coming up and would like to discuss your ideas with our team then please contact us.

The Laing Art Gallery is a Grade II listed Edwardian building, situated in a prime city centre location close to transport links and a variety of accommodation. 

To find out more about hiring the Laing Art Gallery for an event please contact us on:

Telephone: (0191) 277 2303 or use our contact form to get in touch.

Address: Laing Art Gallery, New Bridge Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8AG

Catering 

We work with a range of catering suppliers to provide a service bespoke to your catering needs including canapés, buffets, three-course dining and drinks. 

In-house catering menu (PDF)

Menu - Jacksons Catering and Jacob and Tori (PDF)

Drinks Tariff 2026-27 (PDF)

Contact us 

To find out more about hiring Laing Art Gallery please contact us by telephone: (0191) 277 2303 or use our contact form to get in touch. 

To see a map of the Gallery, click here.

Find out about hiring our other museums and galleries >>

Room capacities

General information 

How do I contact you about hiring a space? 

Contact the Sales & Events Team by filling out our contact form here or emailing us at VenueHire@northeastmuseums.org.uk. Telephone: (0191) 277 2303. 

What kinds of events do you host? 

We host a wide range of events, including weddings, dinners, corporate events and meetings, networking events, drinks receptions, landmark birthday parties, Christmas gatherings and filming. Please note, that we reserve the right to decline events at our discretion. 

What is included in venue hire fee? 

• Exclusive use of the chosen venue hire space on your event date and time.* 

• The full operational support from the Sales & Events Team in the run-up to your event.

• Tables, chairs, crockery, cutlery and glassware. 

• Venue staff support. 

When booking the Function Room at the Laing Art Gallery, you are more than welcome to request our handy user guide for the Teams enabled TV screen. 

*Please note that hiring a space within the museum for a wedding or private event does not grant exclusive access to the entire museum. Guests will only have access to the specific area(s) hired for the event, during the times specified in the booking agreement. The rest of the museum will remain open to the public and other visitors during regular operating hours. We do not provide an AV technician within this fee. 

Do you offer a Day Delegate Rate? 

We can’t offer a delegate day rate because we work with several caterers and suppliers. Venue hire and catering costs are therefore quoted separately. 

What are the minimum numbers required to hire the venue? 

Minimum numbers will depend on your confirmed numbers, we do not impose a minimum spend on catering and all final numbers are due 14 days prior to the event date.

Is your venue accessible?  

Yes, our venue is accessible, but please note that only the small front lift is currently available and has the following dimensions: 140cm long x 170cm wide. If you currently use a mobility aid that is larger than the dimensions listed, we have two self-propelling wheelchairs available. For more detail visit Laing Art Gallery’s accessibility page here. 

For any specific accessibility questions, please email info@laingartgallery.org.uk.   

Can I visit the venue before booking?  

 Yes, we can arrange for you to have a show-around with our Sales & Events Team. 

Can we hold our preferred date? 

Yes, we can hold a date for up to 14 days while you decide. If another customer enquires about booking the same space and date, we will send you an email to offer you a first refusal. You will have 24 hours to respond to this email and either confirm your booking or release the date. 

Do you have any restrictions?   

Yes, we do have some restrictions. The restrictions we put in place are there to preserve the building and collections. Laing Art Gallery restrictions include: 

• No external catering/food or drink. 
• No smoking – cigarettes, e-cigarettes or vapes. 
• No naked flames, candles or candelabras (LED candles and battery-operated candles are permitted). 
• No glitter or confetti. Biodegradable confetti can be used outside the venue’s entrance. Confetti cannot be thrown inside the venue. 
• No dry ice. 
• No smoke or haze machines. 
• No sand. 
• No animals may be admitted, except for assistance animals. 
• No planted greenery. The gallery contains delicate collections which can be affected by pests. Therefore, plants in pots must not be brought into the gallery. Cut flowers/greenery will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 
• No red wine or berries. 
• No staining foods or drinks in any of the galleries. 
• No popcorn, candy floss, waffles or anything that requires the use of hot oils. This catering is permitted in the gallery but must be pre-made off site. 
• Helium balloons are not permitted in the venue. Only weighted balloons are allowed as decorations. 
• Please contact us if you wish to bring wooden items or furniture into the museum. 
• Please note, the artworks are subject to change from time to time. The gallery staff cannot remove any exhibits or change lighting in the rooms where exhibitions are on display. 

Are there timing restrictions for my event? Can I leave something overnight? Can I bring something in early? 

Please arrive at the start of your specific hire period. If you need additional set-up time, please indicate this on booking and your event coordinator will be able to quote you appropriately. It may be possible to drop off items the day before your event if there are no other bookings in the space. All items must be taken offsite at the end of your event. 

Do you have a cloakroom? 

We do not have a specific cloakroom, however we do supply coat rails on request. 

Food and drink  

Can we bring our own food and drink? 

We do not allow any external catering, corkage or drinks on consumption. All our catering is provided in house. 

For bookings up to 100 people, our catering is provided in-house. View our menu above. For bookings over 100 people (and any hot food bookings), we work with a panel of catering suppliers to provide a service bespoke to your catering needs including canapés, buffets and three-course dining options.  

Food and drink is only permitted on the first floor Rotunda area outside the galleries, Marble Hall and Café Laing. 

What happens if some of our guests have dietary requirements? 

We require all dietary information at least two weeks prior to the event date and they will be catered for with an appropriate meal.  

Can you provide a bar?  

We do not have a mobile bar in the Laing Art Gallery. We do however have a café bar area on the ground floor, which you can hire for your event.  

Please note, we do not offer drinks on consumption or corkage. 

Room decoration and set-up 

Do I need to hire crockery, glassware and table linen? 

All crockery, cutlery and glassware is included in the venue hire price, along with black or white linen for tables.  

Please state your preferred colour of black or white when booking table linen.  

Where can my suppliers load in equipment? 

There is a loading bay situated at the side of the gallery, which is accessible via Higham Place. Suppliers can park at the loading bay to loan in and out via the Higham Place entrance of the gallery.

If you require assistance loading in, please use the bell button on the side of the Higham Place entrance. Alternatively, if you are loading in during the gallery’s opening hours, you can find a member of staff on the shop floor at the main entrance of the gallery.   

Inside the gallery you'll find lifts and stairs providing access to all floors. 

Audio-visual and Wi-Fi access  

Do you have Wi-Fi in your museum?   

Laing Art Gallery does not have its own Wi-Fi network, however, there is a free public Wi-Fi network accessible throughout the museum called Newcastle Free WiFi, which is available to use for your event. No password is required to connect to Newcastle Free WiFi. 

What AV equipment do you offer?  

We can set up audio-visual equipment in the Function Room, Marble Hall, Café Laing and Collection Display Gallery: 

The following equipment is included in the venue hire fee:

Function Room: 

• TV screen (HDMI connection) with built-in sound bar 

• Lectern and lectern microphone 

• Teams Hybrid Meeting functionality  

Portable (can be positioned throughout the gallery spaces): 

• 1x speaker – music can also be played from a mobile phone or iPad. The connection is a 3.5mm headphone jack/socket. Please ensure you bring the correct adaptors and connection leads along with you. 

• 1x handheld microphone 

All AV equipment must be booked in advance of the event taking place.  

Can I hire an AV company to install AV equipment for my event? 

Yes, if you require any further AV equipment, you are welcome to hire this in. Please note all suppliers must be covered by adequate commercial insurance that should include public liability insurance to the minimum of £5 million during the event. Your power requirements must be discussed and cleared with your event coordinator at least 14 days prior to the event date. Relevant and up to date PAT certificates must be made available if requested by your event coordinator for all electrical equipment brought into the premises. 

Entertainment  

Can I hire entertainment? 

Yes, examples of entertainment could include; DJ, band and/or singer, dancefloor, photo booths, artificial flower walls, and magicians. 

Please note all suppliers must be covered by adequate commercial insurance that should include public liability insurance to the minimum of £5 million during the event. Suppliers must provide the venue with relevant and up-to-date PLI and PAT certificates before the event. 

We reserve the right to refuse the use of any entertainment or equipment at our discretion. 

Preferred suppliers  

How to get here and parking  

Do you have onsite parking available? 

There is no public parking on site. There are parking meters to the side of the gallery, including two disabled parking bays for blue badge permit holders. There is also an NCP car park under the New Bridge Hotel to the right of the building and one on Saville Row, which has stepped access to the gallery. 

The nearest car parks to the gallery are: 

• Saville Place Car Park, Saville Row, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8AG 

• NCP Car Park, John Dobson Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8HL 

• Oxford Street Car Park, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8QH 

Is there public transport close-by? 

Yes, The Laing Art Gallery is less than a five minute walk from Monument Metro Station. The Gallery is well signposted from the station. All buses stopping at the Haymarket are approximately 10 minutes’ walk away; buses stopping at Pilgrim Street are approximately 3 minutes’ walk away. 

The nearest drop-off point by taxi, car, or coach is on John Dobson Street alongside the gallery. There is another drop-off point on Oxford Street. 

For more information on how to get to the Laing Art Gallery, visit: https://laingartgallery.org.uk... 

Booking process and payments 

Can I make a provisional booking? 

Yes, a booking is considered provisional until a signed Function Sheet, Acceptance of Terms and Conditions Form, and the deposit are received. 

If another client requests the same date, you must confirm your booking and pay the deposit within 48 hours, or your provisional booking will be released. 

Do we have to pay a deposit? 

Yes, a 30% deposit will be requested at the point of confirmation. The payment must be paid within 14 days of confirmation. If a month or more has passed since you received the deposit invoice, you must confirm your booking and pay within five working days, or the provisional booking will be released. All payments must be made in Sterling. 

How many other payments will be needed? 

After the deposit, we require the final balance 14 days before the event date. 

Cancellations to venue hire 

If you want to cancel a booking, you must do so in writing (and for these purposes notice by email to North East Museum’s Catering and Hospitality Manager is acceptable subject to confirmation of successful delivery).    

In the instance of cancellation, North East Museums retain the non-refundable deposit of 30% plus VAT of the venue Hire Fee.  

You will be also be required to pay a Cancellation Fee (less the 30% Deposit paid) to North East Museums. 

The Cancellation Fee shall be calculated according to when North East Museums receives written notice of cancellation, as follows: 

• If more than six months before the Event Date: 50% of the Hire Fee 

• If between six months and two months before the Event Date: 75% of the Hire Fee 

• If less than two months before the Event Date: 100% of the Hire Fee 

A Catering Cancellation Fee for catering pre-orders will also apply. 

We may cancel a booking if the event is deemed inappropriate or payment timings are not met. In such cases, deposits are refunded, but North East Museums is not liable for any incurred costs.