Chatham House
/ About
Three prime ministers lived at 10 St James's Square before the Royal Institute of International Affairs took the house over in 1923: William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, whose title the building now carries, the Earl of Derby and Gladstone. The house was built in 1736 by Benjamin Timbrell under Henry Flitcroft's supervision, one of three raised as a uniform block, and it is Grade I listed. The Grade II* house next door at No. 9, bought in 1943, has been joined to it, and the two work as a single venue under Chatham House Enterprises.
Nine rooms are let across the two buildings. The ground-floor Neill Malcolm Room was Pitt's ballroom and takes a reception of 120 or a dinner of 56 beneath its windows onto the square; the William Pitt Room on the first floor was the Earl of Chatham's own office. The Joseph Gaggero Hall is the largest space, purpose-built for conferences and rebuilt in 2008, with a raised platform and sound-proof partitions that divide it into two rooms, each with its own entrance. The newer meeting spaces sit in the refurbished Asfari wing and on the institute's Stavros Niarchos Foundation Floor, which holds a simulation centre built for scenario exercises.
Catering is in-house, with sample menus and wine lists on request. One condition is worth knowing before booking: the institute asks that invitations and publicity carry the address alone, without reference to Chatham House itself.
/ Rooms Available
Joseph Gaggero Hall
PrivateThe main conference hall, rebuilt in 2008 and purpose-built for conferences, meetings and seminars. A raised platform of roughly 2m by 8m carries the speakers, and sound-proof partitions divide the hall into two units, each with its own platform and entrance. Approximately 18m by 7.5m, with a 14m by 5m extension. Split, the front half seats 96 theatre-style and the back half 40.
Neill Malcolm Room
PrivateOnce William Pitt's ballroom, on the ground floor with windows onto St James's Square. It links to the adjoining rooms and is used for receptions, cocktail parties, dinners and buffet luncheons. Approximately 6m by 11.5m, with a 6m by 6.3m extension. Wedding ceremonies to 60.
Astor Room
PrivateA quiet room on the lower ground floor with natural light, suited to dinners, board meetings and theatre-style presentations. Approximately 8.5m by 7.5m. Roundtable seating for 20, dinner for 22.
Henry Price Room
PrivateOn the ground floor, overlooking St James's Square, set up for presentations and board meetings. Approximately 6.5m by 8m. Roundtable seating for 22, dinner for 32, wedding ceremonies to 40.
Asfari Centre
PrivateA roundtable room in the refurbished Asfari wing, seating 16 at the full table or eight at a half table.
Duke of York Room
PrivateA secluded room on the ground floor, set up for meetings. Approximately 5m by 5m.
William Pitt Room
PrivateThe Earl of Chatham's own office, on the first floor overlooking the square. Approximately 5m by 5m, laid out boardroom-style for 12.
Meeting Room 2
PrivateA smaller room in the refurbished Asfari wing, equipped for audio-visual presentations. Roundtable seating for eight.
Simulation Centre
PrivatePart of the institute's Stavros Niarchos Foundation Floor, built for scenario planning and simulation exercises.
/ Perfect For
/ Features
AV Equipment
- – Projector
- – Stage
Catering
- – In-House Luxury Dining
- – Bespoke Menus
Venue Specs
- – Wheelchair Accessible
- – Air Conditioned
- – Dedicated Events Team
/ Getting Here
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