Venue Hire

Once part of the largest pit village in the world, Woodhorn Museum represents the North East’s last remaining coal mining built heritage. The museum provides the perfect backdrop to host a meeting, conference or special occasion.

Woodhorn Museum benefits from plentiful free parking and spacious outdoor areas that can be used for alfresco events and marquees. 

With first class event support from our team you can focus on your event while we look after the details. Whether you're planning a corporate event, wedding or conference, our friendly and experienced team will ensure everything runs smoothly, from venue hire to catering. 

By hiring our amazing spaces, not only will you have an unforgettable event, but you’ll also be contributing to the long-term sustainability of our museums and galleries, helping to keep them free to enter for future generations to enjoy.  

We offer generous discounts for local charity and community groups wishing to use our spaces, acknowledging our role as custodians of these amazing spaces for our local communities and supporting our mission to use our places to improve equality and social mobility.  

Please contact our Sales & Events Team to bring your ideas to life: Contact form Email: VenueHire@northeastmuseums.org.uk Telephone: 0191 277 2303

We're located just off the A189 Coastal Route, east of Ashington, Northumberland. It's approximately a 25-minute drive from Newcastle in the south, and Alnwick in the north. 

The Winding Room

This is a spacious, light, top floor room situated in the historic Winding House. The space offers delightful views of the Cheviot Hills and North Sea. 

The Workshop Galleries

This space retains its original architecture and striking features from its colliery workshop past. The flexible space can easily be divided into distinct areas and benefits from a bar area and fully equipped catering kitchen. Perfect for larger weddings and fully accessible. Available to hire seasonally from May-November. 

Room capacities

Please see the table below detailing maximum room capacities.

Catering

From tea and cake to a full banquet, we can provide you with a delicious catering offer to suit your requirements and budget. 

For smaller events we can provide in-house catering including drinks, light refreshments and lunches. For larger events or hot cooked food, we use a range of preferred suppliers giving you flexibility and options around the catering provision for your event.  

In-house catering menu (PDF)

Menu - Jacksons Catering and Jacob and Tori (PDF)

Festive Menu - Jacksons Catering and Jacob and Tori (PDF)

Drinks Tariff 2025-26 (PDF)

Audio-visual and Suppliers

With in-house expertise and trusted suppliers for bigger events, we can meet your audio-visual needs. Be it a simple presentation to share with your team, right up to a multimedia interactive offer, we can accommodate your AV requirements. We are happy to discuss your specific needs and we will be on hand to make sure your event runs smoothly.  

Preferred suppliers (Word doc)

Licensing

All our venues are fully licensed.

We can provide a full bar service (cash or card) for your event. 

Find out more about accessibility at Woodhorn Museum.

At North East Museums, we’re committed to reducing the environmental impact of our activities, including venue hire. We ask that all hirers follow these simple guidelines:   

• Please ensure that any waste from your event is placed in an appropriate bin (plastic, cardboard and glass can be recycled) 
• Please avoid single use plastics – cutlery, crockery, and packaging where possible
• Please consider the environmental impact of decorations, choosing items that can be reused or recycled and omitting plastic where possible
• Please think carefully when planning the food and drink at your event; finding alternatives to single use plastic, thinking about where your food comes from and making sure that you cater in quantities that avoid food waste once your event is finished. If you aren’t using the preferred suppliers, please choose local suppliers where you can 
• Encourage your guests to use public transport – we are approximately a 25—30 minute walk to the museum from Ashington Train Station and Ashington Bus Station

Download a copy of the Frequently asked questions (364KB)

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, proms, dinners, conferences, corporate events, Christmas parties, away days, board meetings, and team-building activities. Please note, that we reserve the right to decline events at our discretion.

What is included in the venue hire fee?

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

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

Audio-visual equipment.

Tables, chairs, crockery, cutlery, and glassware.

Front of house staff support.

*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 before the event date.

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. Woodhorn Museum’s restrictions include:

• 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 museum contains delicate collections which can be affected by pests. Therefore, plants in pots must not be brought into the museum. Cut flowers/greenery will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• No red wine or berries.
• No popcorn, candy floss, waffles or anything that requires the use of hot oils. This catering is permitted in the museum 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.

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

What happens if some of our guests have dietary requirements?

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

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. Table linen is priced at £11 + VAT per cloth. Please state your preferred colour of black or white when booking table linen. 

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?

Yes, we have onsite parking at Woodhorn Museum.

Our car park is split into two areas - a tarmacked area to the right of the museum, which is best for visitors with mobility needs, wheelchairs, pushchairs and buggies. The car park is a short distance from the museum site, with a level concrete path leading to the main Cutter Building. 

Find out more about available car parking.

Is there public transport close-by / directions to venue? 

Woodhorn Museum is an approximately 25—30 minute walk to the museum from Ashington Train Station and Ashington Bus Station. 

For specific directions to our venue please click here.

Booking process and payments

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.  

How many other payments will be needed? 

After the deposit, we require the final balance 14 days prior to 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.