Private Hire Terms

Private hire bookings are subject to an agreed Minimum Spend Guarantee.

The minimum spend will be confirmed as part of your individual quotation and will vary depending on factors including:

• The date and day of the week
• The time and duration of the event
• The space required
• Whether exclusive use of the venue is requested
• Expected venue trade for that period
• Entertainment and other services included within your package
• Seasonal demand and special events

Any prices advertised as “from £500” represent starting prices only and do not guarantee that this minimum spend will apply to a particular booking.

The minimum spend agreed in your final quotation will apply to your booking.

An initial deposit of at least £500 is required to secure your booking.

Depending on the value and nature of the event, The Birdcage may require a higher initial deposit. The amount required will be confirmed before payment.

Your booking is not confirmed until the initial deposit has been received.

By paying the initial deposit, you confirm that you have read and accepted these Terms & Conditions.

The remaining balance of the Minimum Spend Guarantee must be paid no later than 7 days before your event.

For example, if your Minimum Spend Guarantee is £2,500 and you have paid a £500 initial deposit, the remaining £2,000 will become payable 7 days before the event.

Failure to make the final payment by the due date may result in the booking being cancelled.

During your event, all qualifying food and drink purchased by you and your guests will count towards the agreed Minimum Spend Guarantee.

At the end of the event:

• If your guests meet or exceed the minimum spend, the full guarantee paid will be refunded to you.
• If your guests partially meet the minimum spend, we will retain only the difference and refund the remaining balance.
• If no qualifying spend is made, the Minimum Spend Guarantee will be retained.

Example: If your Minimum Spend Guarantee is £2,500 and your party spends £2,200 on food and drink, The Birdcage will retain £300 and refund £2,200.

There is no additional charge for exceeding your minimum spend; guests simply continue purchasing food and drinks as normal.

All food and drink purchased directly from The Birdcage during the agreed event period will count towards the minimum spend.

Pre-arranged food and drink packages may also count where confirmed as part of your booking.

The following do not count towards the minimum spend:

• Tips
• Gratuities
• Discretionary service charges
• Damage or cleaning charges
• Other charges specifically identified as being outside your agreed package

Where your quotation includes entertainment such as drag performers, hosts, DJs or other performers, this will be clearly set out in your booking confirmation.

Any entertainment specifically included within your agreed package and quotation will not attract an additional charge unless you subsequently request changes or additional entertainment.

Any additional services requested after confirmation may be subject to additional charges, which will always be agreed with you beforehand.

We will calculate the qualifying spend following your event and arrange any refund due within 5–7 working days.

Refunds will normally be returned to the original payment method.

We understand that plans sometimes change. Our cancellation policy is:

More than 28 days before your event — you may cancel your booking and receive a refund of your initial deposit, or transfer it to another available date.

Between 14 and 28 days before your event — your initial deposit is non-refundable, but we will allow you to transfer it to another available date, subject to availability and any applicable repricing.

Between 7 and 14 days before your event — your initial deposit is non-refundable. We will nevertheless do our best to accommodate a date change where possible, at our discretion and subject to availability and repricing.

Less than 7 days before your event — the full Minimum Spend Guarantee will have become payable and is non-refundable.

Where exceptional circumstances arise, please speak to us. We will always try to be reasonable and find a solution where we can.

You may request to move your booking by providing at least 14 days' notice.

Any change is:

• Subject to venue availability
• Subject to our agreement
• Subject to the pricing applicable to the new date and time

If the new date would ordinarily carry a higher minimum spend, you will be required to pay the difference.

Final guest numbers must be confirmed at least 7 days before your event.

A reduction in guest numbers does not automatically reduce the agreed Minimum Spend Guarantee.

For example, if a booking is made for 90 guests with a £2,500 minimum spend and the final attendance reduces to 60 guests, the £2,500 minimum spend will continue to apply unless we expressly agree otherwise.

Please let us know as early as possible about significant changes to your expected attendance.

Your agreed start and finish times will be confirmed as part of your booking.

Arriving late or choosing to finish your event early does not reduce the Minimum Spend Guarantee.

If you would like to extend your event, please discuss this with us. Extensions may be possible subject to venue availability, licensing requirements, staffing and any additional minimum spend or charges agreed with you.

Private hire events at The Birdcage are 18+ as standard.

Guests under the age of 18 may only attend where this has been specifically discussed and agreed with The Birdcage in advance.

Any such arrangement will be subject to the nature and timing of the event, appropriate supervision and all applicable licensing requirements and permissions.

Please do not assume that under-18s can attend unless this has been confirmed by us in writing.

You're very welcome to make the space your own. Customers may bring their own:

• Birthday or celebration cakes
• Balloons
• Table decorations
• Appropriate venue decorations

Decorations must be discussed with us where they require installation, fixing to walls or ceilings, or significant changes to the venue.

For safety and cleaning reasons, the following are not permitted:

• Confetti
• Glitter
• Large candles or other items that may present a fire hazard

Standard birthday cake candles may be permitted at our discretion.

Customers are responsible for removing any decorations they bring into the venue unless otherwise agreed.

Celebration cakes may be brought into the venue without an external catering charge.

Any other external food or catering must be approved by The Birdcage in advance and may be subject to an external catering charge.

The applicable charge will be confirmed before the event.

External catering must also comply with any food safety, allergen and operational requirements specified by The Birdcage.

If you would like to bring your own DJ, performer, entertainer or other external supplier, this must be agreed with The Birdcage in advance.

We reserve the right to request relevant information regarding equipment, insurance, technical requirements or other arrangements before approving an external supplier.

Additional technical, staffing or operational charges may apply where appropriate and will be agreed in advance.

We want everyone to have a brilliant time at The Birdcage, but the safety and wellbeing of our guests and team always comes first.

The Birdcage reserves the right to refuse service or require any guest to leave the premises where appropriate, including in circumstances involving:

• Excessive intoxication
• Threatening, aggressive or abusive behaviour
• Harassment or discrimination
• Illegal drug use or possession
• Damage to the venue
• Behaviour that places guests, performers or staff at risk

Our team will always operate in accordance with our licensing obligations and responsible service requirements.

Removal of an individual guest, refusal of service or early termination of an event as a result of serious guest misconduct does not reduce or cancel the agreed Minimum Spend Guarantee.

The person making the booking is responsible for ensuring that their guests treat the venue, its fixtures, equipment and team with respect.

The Birdcage reserves the right to charge the booking organiser for:

• Damage caused by guests
• Damage to equipment, furniture or fixtures
• Missing property
• Exceptional or excessive cleaning
• Damage caused by external suppliers engaged by the customer

These costs are separate from the Minimum Spend Guarantee and may be charged following the event.

We will provide details of any such charges where they arise.

In the unlikely event that The Birdcage is unable to host your event, we will work with you to offer either:

• An alternative suitable date; or
• A refund of payments made to The Birdcage for the booking.

Where cancellation results from circumstances outside our reasonable control, we will work with you in good faith to find the most appropriate solution.

The Birdcage cannot accept responsibility for consequential costs incurred by customers or guests, such as travel, accommodation or third-party supplier costs, except where required by law.

Any significant changes to the agreed booking, including the date, timings, entertainment, guest numbers, catering requirements or format of the event, should be discussed with us as soon as possible.

Changes may affect the Minimum Spend Guarantee or other charges where they materially alter the original booking.

We will always discuss and agree any revised pricing with you before confirming the change.

Payment of your initial deposit confirms:

• Your acceptance of these Private Hire Terms & Conditions
• Your acceptance of the agreed Minimum Spend Guarantee
• Your acceptance of the date and timings shown on your booking confirmation
• That you are authorised to make the booking and accept these terms on behalf of the booking party

Please make sure you have read these Terms & Conditions before making payment.

If anything is unclear, we'd much rather you ask us before booking — our team will be happy to help.