Function room hire with approved caterers
Hire out a hall by the event and let clients choose from a list of local caterers, so you skip running a kitchen.
- £8k-35k
- Part-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
1,354 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 68202 “Letting and operating of conference and exhibition centres”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A hall or function room hired by the day or evening for celebrations and dinners. Clients bring in caterers from your approved list, so you focus on the space, bookings and setting up.
Your first three steps
- Find a suitable hall to lease or manage, and ask what use and licensing restrictions already apply
- Set prices for weekends, weekdays and part-day hire, and write clear booking terms with a deposit
- Contact local caterers, florists and DJs to form an approved supplier list, and photograph the room for your listings
Who pays
Families, couples and community groups planning parties, weddings, christenings and wakes.
How it makes money
A hire fee per event, with add-ons such as tables, linen, cleaning, a bar or a set-up and clear-down service. Caterers may also pay a referral fee, if you agree one.
Skills that help
- Organising and scheduling bookings
- Customer service and showing people round
- Basic marketing and social media
- Building relationships with caterers and suppliers
Watch out for
- If you sell alcohol you will need a premises licence, and one-off events may need a Temporary Event Notice: check with your council
- Fire safety, capacity limits and accessibility duties: check what applies to your building
- Public liability insurance, and check what cover caterers and hirers must hold
- Noise complaints from neighbours and any restrictions on opening hours in your lease or planning permission
- Music licences (for example PPL PRS) may be needed, so check
- Quiet weekdays and winter months: bookings can be uneven
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: function room hire with approved caterers
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a function room hire business?
Startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £35,000, depending on the premises, furnishing and how much you spend setting up the space. Treat this as an estimate and cost your own venue carefully.
What do I need to check before hiring out a function room?
Check whether you need a premises licence if you sell alcohol, and whether one-off events need a Temporary Event Notice. Also check fire safety, capacity limits, accessibility, insurance, music licences and any lease or planning limits on hours.
How much can I earn hiring out a hall?
Estimated monthly revenue is typically around £2,000 to £10,000, depending on how often the hall is booked and your hire prices. Weekdays and winter months can be quiet, so bookings may be uneven.
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Photo: Kleinheinz on Pixabay