Venue Hire
Here you will find a listing of as many topics as we have thought of, and additional topics are added as and when questions arise. Feel free to suggest additional topics. We do get asked sometimes about the very unusual, so please get in touch if your requirements are something different.
Access Time is the start time stated on your terms and conditions and the quotation. If you want to arrive earlier please ask for a quotation for earlier access, subject to availability.
Address is 12-13 New Wharf Rd N1 9RT
Air Conditioning. There is an air cooling system on the first floor which reduces the temperature on hot summer evenings.
Bah Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah celebrations. See Parties. As family occasions these are also similar to weddings!
Bar. The bar is set up using tables. See also Cash Bar
Birthday Parties See Parties with Music and Drinks Parties
Blind and Visually Impaired Guests are well catererd for. See Visually Impaired Visitors page in the Visit section
Bus Services See Location. Also see Travel Information on the Visit section of the site
Bus hire - see boat and bus charter
Canal Trips - see boat charter
Candles are allowed on dining tables if stable, and elsewhere subject to our approval on safety grounds.
Cash Bar Services
Coat Rails - see Cloakroom
Cocktail Reception - See Business Reception or Drinks Party
Coffee Service. A coffee/tea service is offered for meetings and conferences. For small meetings it is generally self-service and included in the charges. For conferences your quotation will include an offer of this service.
Commission. We pay 5% to intermediaries who have introduced the client to us. This is not paid if the client has introduced the museum to the agency.
Concerts. We don't host rock or pop concerts. Chamber music or choral music events can be hosted, the acoustics of the first floor are good for this. See also Noise Control Policy.
Conferences - see Monday Conferences and Evening Meetings. We do not host large conferences on Tuesdays to Sundays, but we do host small meetings every day.
Corkage. There is no corkage charge
Corporate Events. Try also looking for the type of event you are planning.
Credit and Debit Cards - we accept Mastercard, Visa, Maestro, Diners Club and American Express are not accepted.
Decoration. There are minimal restrictions on decorating. You cannot use nails, screws, pins or staples to fix things, or attach anything to the lighting tracks. There are always other ways to fix things using string or adhesive putty etc. Decorating must be generally done during the hire period but we may sometimes allow limited decoration earlier, provided that normal museum visiting is not affected.
Deliveries must take place during the times that you have hired the venue or storage facilities, unless otherise agreed. Delivery personnel will be required to take supplies, equipment etc to the first floor for storage - if they are not willing to do so the delivery will be refused. Nothing can be stored in the exhibition galleries during opening hours.
Deposit. The deposit is payable on booking. Usually it is £30 for small meetings and £150 for parties etc or some other convenient sum £75 - £125 for smaller functions
Disk Jockey. You can use any DJ, or see DJ List
Electricity. Single phase 13A power points are located convenient to most parts of the building and there are plenty of them. The building does have a three-phase supply but if this was required for an event we would need to make special arrangements at extra cost.
Exhibitions. We can host commercial or artistic exhibitions but unless related to canals or industrial history, only outside our normal public opening hours.
Fireworks. Sorry these are not allowed (safe indoor fireworks may be considered).
Floor plan - see downloads
Food - see Caterers. You can use any caterer of your choice. The museum does not offer food.
Fortune Teller. You can have a fortune teller inside the narrowboat Coronis.
Funerals. We only host daytime events other than small meetings on Mondays. We can do short-notice daytime events on Mondays if the museum is not already booked. Short receptions 1630 to 1830 may be possible at short notice. Any event ending later than 1830 must be booked 6 days in advance, at least. See also Memorial Receptions
Gay and Lesbian events - See Civil Partnerships or the type of event being planned.
Ghost hunting - see Paranormal Investigation
Heating. There is a powerful gas-fired heating system. The small meeting room has electric heating.
History of the Building - see downloads
Ice. You or your caterer can order ice for chilling drinks. We may be able to offer freezer storage for ice if space is available, otherwise have it delivered when needed. Three tubs to use as ice baths are provided free.
Ice cream. We sell ice cream in the museum shop and would be pleased to discuss your special order.
Internet Access is available in almost all parts of the building using The Cloud, a leading Wi-Fi service. Hard-wired Internet connections for special events may be possible, please discuss the detailed requirement.
Invitations We stock cards in the museum shop that are suitable for use as invitation cards
Karaoke. Sorry, this is prohibited.
Late nights - see availability guide
Lifts. There are lifts for the use of disabled and elderly guests and these can be used to a limited extent for equipment ensuring that overloading does not occur.
Live Music. Permitted subject to controls. See Noise Control
Lost Property. We keep lost property for a reasonable time and it may be collected during opening hours.
Lunches. We can host formal and informal lunches on Mondays only, where there are more than 20 delegates. Small lunches can be hosted any day
Manager see staffing
Map to include in invitation - see downloads.
Minicab - see Taxis
Mooring. Private boats may be moored free of charge at private events by prior arrangement. Maximum two boats
Music - see Noise Control Policy
Naturist Events. Privacy can be arranged, please get in touch to discuss requirements.
Outside space. The wharf is available within the curtilege of the museum but not after 2200. Furniture must remain inside the building.
Paranormal investigations. We make no claim that the museum is haunted but a psychic workshop has been held in the museum before. If they go on into the night they are limited to a maximum of 20 people including the leaders.
Parties. These range from a sherry reception to a dinner dance and disco. See drinks parties and music parties
Payment - We accept major credit cards, bankers drafts, and cheques, provided there is time for the latter to clear. Cash payments of more than £50 are not encouraged but may be accepted by prior arrangement.
Payment Terms. Private clients must pay in full before the date, but not a long time in advance. Established organisations are usually allowed credit terms.
Phone - see Telephone
Pictures - private events and parties etc
Pictures - business meetings and conferences etc
Postcode. It is N1 9RT
Projector - see audio-visual equipment
Psychic workshop - see Paranormal Investigation
Public address - see audio-visual equipment
Refuse. We deal with a reasonable amount of refuse after the event
Recycling. We recycle glass and cardboard and are planning to recycle much more shortly.
Refreshments. See coffee service. We can also supply fruit juices, (notice may be required)
Restaurants nearby. There are several nearby of various types. We can help you find the one that suits you.
Screen - see audio-visual equipment
Smoke Generators must be agreed with us in advance and permission to start using one obtained from the duty manager on the night.
Staff. There is always a duty manager at events outside public opening hours. Other staff can be arranged for you at extra cost if required, e.g. cloakroom attendant, receptionist, barperson, porter, but we do not arrange or provide staff to serve or handle food.
Sound system - see audio-visual equipment
Supermarket nearby. The nearest is Tesco, Caledonian Road, about 3 minutes' walk. A larger store is Sainsbury's, Islington, about 15 minutes' walk.
Table Cloths. Either your caterer can supply these (usually linen on hire) or we can supply good quality disposable cloths if required, at extra cost.
Tea Service. See Coffee service
Team-building days. We may be able to help with the planning as well as the venue, and suggest activities with a waterways theme.
Telephone Number. Wait! It is better to use the online enquiry form than to telephone and we can usually give a faster response that way. If you telephone there may not be someone available to help you, and you will be asked to give TWO ways of contacting you. If you must telephone the number is 020 7713 0836 or use voicemail to 0870 1366630 24 hours per day.
Terms and Conditions - see downloads
Tours of the museum - available on request during private functions free of charge.
Trains. See Location. Also see Travel Information on the Visit section of the site
Tube - See Location. Also see Travel Information on the Visit section of the site
Underground - See Location. Also see Travel Information on the Visit section of the site
Video Diary. The cargo hold of the narrowboat Coronis is sometimes used for recording a video diary.
Viewing. It is best to make an appointment. Use the Enquiry Form
Visually Impaired Guests are well catererd for. See Visually Impaired Visitors page in the Visit section
Vehicle access. You can park or unload outside the door subject to parking restrictions.
Wharf - see Mooring
Wheelchair access. See Wheelchair Users page on the Visit section
Wi-Fi - see Internet access
Windows. There are opening windows on the first floor and a door on the ground floor. Windows have to remain closed when loud music is playing.
Wine. Clients make their own arrangements to supply wine from wherever they wish to purchase it.
