Event Venues in London, Ontario: Capacity and Pricing Compared

The venue is the first booking for almost any event, because it fixes your date, your guest limit and a large share of your budget. It's also the hardest to compare. One venue quotes by the hour, another by the hall, and a third bundles in food and drinks, so the cheapest-looking quote isn't always the cheapest night.

This guide compares event venues listed in London, Ontario on the things that change your total cost: how many guests they hold, what they charge to start, and what's already included.

Start with three numbers

Before you contact any venue, write down:

• Your guest count, with a realistic range rather than a single number. A room that seats 140 at dinner might hold far more for a standing reception, and far fewer once you add a dance floor and a head table.
• Your date, and one or two backups. Saturdays in peak season go first everywhere. A Friday, Sunday or winter date often opens up better rooms and better rates.
• Your all-in budget for the space: rental, staffing, cleaning, bar service and any required add-ons, not just the headline price.

London venues side by side

Brookside Banquet Centre — up to 400 guests

Brookside Banquet Centre has been operating in London for 62 years, near the Thames River. It has four halls, full AV and plenty of parking, so it can handle anything from a small gathering to 400 guests. Listed pricing starts from $425.

Good fit for: large weddings, cultural celebrations and milestone parties where you need one hall now and the option of a bigger one later.

100 Kellogg Lane — 35 to 1,000 guests

100 Kellogg Lane bills itself as Canada's largest entertainment complex, with event spaces for 35 to 1,000 guests. Dining and drinks are on site, and there's a Hard Rock Hotel for guests staying the night.

Good fit for: corporate events, galas and big celebrations where out-of-town guests need somewhere to stay, and where built-in entertainment keeps people around after dinner.

The Blank Room — up to 140 guests

The Blank Room on Blue Heron Drive rents from $115 per hour and holds up to 140 guests, depending on how you set up the room. Tables, chairs, a bridal suite, a bar and a kitchenette are included, and you're free to bring your own vendors.

Good fit for: showers, birthdays, networking events and smaller weddings where you'd rather style the space yourself than choose from a venue's packages. If you'd like help with that, planning, coordination and décor are available through Plan To Remember Events.

Hourly, per-hall or all-inclusive: comparing quotes fairly

The pricing models above aren't directly comparable, so turn every quote into the same thing: total cost for your event, from setup to teardown.

• Hourly rentals look cheapest, but count every hour you're in the room, including setup, décor and cleanup. A five-hour party is often a seven- or eight-hour booking.
• Hall rentals usually cover a fixed block of time. Check what happens if you run late, and whether you can get in early to decorate.
• Venues with food and drinks on site can look expensive up front, but they may replace your caterer, bar service and rentals. Compare them against the rental plus those three separate bills.

Questions to ask before you sign

• What's included in the price: tables, chairs, linens, AV, staff, cleaning?
• Can we bring our own caterer, bar service and décor? Are there outside-vendor fees?
• What's the deposit, and what happens to it if we change the date?
• When can our vendors get in to set up, and when do we have to be out?
• Is there a minimum spend or minimum guest count on our date?
• Where do guests park, and is the space accessible?

Compare them yourself

You can put any of these venues side by side with our comparison tool: pick up to four and see capacity, pricing and what's included in one table. Or browse every venue and vendor in London, or narrow it down by occasion, like weddings or corporate events.

Ready to start planning?