Central Hall Westminster
/ About
Central Hall Westminster opened in 1912 as the Methodist church's centenary monument to John Wesley, and has hosted public meetings and events since its opening. The Grade II* listed building stands on Storey's Gate, directly opposite Westminster Abbey. Its Great Hall sits beneath the largest self-supporting domed ceiling in Europe, with a stage that extends to sixty feet, a VIP balcony looking out at the Abbey, and a 4,731-pipe organ behind the platform. The inaugural meeting of the United Nations was held in this room, and both Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr spoke from its stage.
Twenty-five rooms and spaces run over six floors. On the lower ground floor the Wesley Suite has been reworked into 919 square metres under vaulted ceilings and skylights, divisible into the Susanna Wesley, Aldersgate and Epworth rooms and served by its own foyer. The Lecture Hall and Library share a triple-height Level 1 floor with a built-in stage, sound-proof partitions and natural daylight, and combine for a reception of 900. Below those sit a dozen smaller rooms, from the circular George Thomas down to syndicate rooms for ten.
One house rule matters before anything is planned: the building is still a working Methodist church with regular services, and no alcohol may be brought into or served in the Great Hall or its reception area and staircases, though it is served elsewhere in the building. Catering comes from an in-house partner and technical production from the venue's resident audio-visual company, with a purpose-designed PA system and a flexible lighting rig in the Great Hall and a house sound system in the Wesley Suite. The events team runs more than eight hundred events a year and lets the building in self-contained zones.
/ Rooms Available
The Great Hall
PrivateThe flagship room, spanning floors three and four beneath a self-supporting domed ceiling that remains the largest of its kind in Europe. An adaptable stage extends out to sixty feet, with a large backstage area, two stage-access points and wings for production management. A VIP balcony looks out over Westminster Abbey, and two circular rotundas at either end give breakout space for up to sixty each. Permanent features include natural light with blackout, a purpose-designed PA system and a 4,731-pipe organ. Alcohol is not served in this room.
The Lecture Hall and Library
PrivateThe two Level 1 rooms opened into one 584 square metre floor with a triple-height ceiling, a built-in stage and natural daylight through the length of the space. Flexible sound-proof wall partitions divide or combine it, blackout is optional, and lighting is customisable. Access is straight off the foyer.
The Wesley Suite
PrivateA reworked 919 square metre suite on the lower ground floor, under vaulted ceilings and decorative alcoves with skylights bringing daylight down to the level. It opens as one room or divides into the Susanna Wesley, Aldersgate and Epworth rooms, with the adjoining Westminster Foyer serving arrivals, breakout, networking or catering. It carries its own house sound system.
The Lecture Hall
PrivateThe Library's twin on Level 1, the same 292.4 square metres and triple-height ceiling, with a built-in stage, customisable lighting, optional blackout and sound-proof partitions.
The Library
PrivateA 292.4 square metre Level 1 room with a triple-height ceiling and natural daylight, optional blackout and flexible sound-proof wall partitions. It combines with the Lecture Hall next door for larger receptions.
The Aldersgate room
PrivateNamed after the street where John Wesley had his Aldersgate experience, and now one of the three rooms inside the Wesley Suite. It works on its own or opens into the Susanna Wesley and Epworth rooms alongside it.
The Susanna Wesley
PrivateThe largest of the three rooms inside the Wesley Suite, named after John Wesley's mother. A contemporary space under the suite's vaulted ceilings and skylights, used alone or opened into Aldersgate and Epworth for a larger floor.
The Donald English room
PrivateA mid-sized room on the same floor as its neighbours, taking a seated dinner or a standing reception.
The George Thomas room
PrivateA circular corner room on Level 1, named after a former Vice-President of the Methodist Church. Plenty of natural daylight with optional blackout, air conditioning, and a shape that shows off the building's architecture.
The Robert Perks room
PrivateA mid-sized meeting and reception room, set up flat for dining or opened out for a standing drinks reception.
The William Sangster room
PrivateA mid-sized room laid out for dining, cabaret or a standing reception according to the event.
The Dinsdale Young room
PrivateA small room for a private dinner or a compact reception, set up in a range of styles.
The John Tudor room
PrivateA small room of the same scale as the Dinsdale Young, used for private dining, meetings and small receptions.
The Maurice Barnett room
PrivateA small room for intimate dinners and meetings, flexible in layout like the rest of the building.
The President's room
PrivateThe smallest of the named rooms, laid out for a single long or round table.
Syndicate rooms
PrivateBreakout rooms for small groups, used alongside a larger booking elsewhere in the building.
/ Perfect For
/ Features
AV Equipment
- – Sound System
- – PA System
- – Stage
- – Lighting Rig
Catering
- – In-House Luxury Dining
- – Bespoke Menus
Licensing
- – Full Alcohol Licence
Venue Specs
- – Wheelchair Accessible
- – Dedicated Events Team
- – Outdoor Terrace
/ Getting Here
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