
/ About
Denys Lasdun's National Theatre has stood on the South Bank since 1976, a run of board-marked concrete terraces stepping down towards the Thames. The building was designed to be walked through rather than only sat in, and its events business now works the whole of it: a rooftop room, two restaurants, a riverside bar, the front-of-house foyers and, on a handful of days each year, the three auditoriums themselves.
The Buffini Chao Deck is the room most private parties want. It sits on the roof, wraps a flexible indoor space in an outdoor riverside terrace, and looks across the water towards St Paul's and the City. Lighting and AV were designed and installed by the theatre's own Sound and Video and Lighting departments. It takes 200 standing, or 100 at dinner.
Downstairs the register changes. Lasdun, the Modern British restaurant from the team behind the Marksman, is listed in the MICHELIN Guide and hires whole or in part, with a twelve-seat private dining room off the main floor. Forza Wine runs a restaurant and wine bar with a covered, heated outdoor private dining area. The Understudy is the riverside bar, licensed to 1am at the end of the week and able to hold 300 across its main room and covered terrace. Above and around them the foyers take up to 800 guests across several spaces.
/ Rooms Available
Front of House Foyers
Exclusive HireThe ground and first-floor foyers, the public rooms of Lasdun's building and the largest hire proposition on the estate. The theatre puts them at up to 800 guests across several spaces, with bars available and a range of set-ups possible. They can be taken with a terrace for an all-weather arrangement.
The Understudy
Exclusive HireThe riverside bar at the foot of the building, with a long copper counter, a wall of production posters and a large covered terrace facing the Thames. Street food comes from KERB traders and the bar runs cocktails on tap alongside craft beer. It hires whole or in part: an area inside or on the terrace for small groups, the main bar on its own, or the main bar and covered terrace together for up to 300. The licence runs to midnight Monday to Wednesday, 1am Thursday to Saturday and 10pm on Sunday.
Buffini Chao Deck
Exclusive HireThe theatre's rooftop events venue, opened as a dedicated hire space and now the estate's flagship room. A flexible indoor floor is wrapped by an outdoor riverside terrace, with glazing on three sides looking north across the Thames towards St Paul's and the City. Lighting and AV were designed and installed by the National Theatre's own Sound and Video and Lighting departments. Layouts run from a seated dinner for 100 to a standing reception for 200, and the room is licensed for wedding ceremonies.
Forza Wine
Exclusive HireThe rooftop restaurant and wine bar, serving Italian-leaning sharing plates and natural wine with a south-facing terrace over Waterloo Bridge and the river. Available for exclusive hire at 120 seated or 200 standing, and the room keeps its own service and drinks list for private events.
Lasdun Restaurant
Exclusive HireThe Modern British restaurant named after the building's architect, from the team behind the Marksman, and listed in the MICHELIN Guide. Exposed concrete, a long bar and deep banquettes under a coffered ceiling. Exclusive hire takes 100 seated or 200 standing; partial hire runs to 60, and semi-exclusive use of the main room to 50. Canapés and bowl food are offered for standing receptions and plated menus for seated dinners.
Terraces
Semi PrivateThe building's open-air terraces, available for seasonal hire and looking out over the Thames towards the London Eye, Waterloo Bridge and St Paul's. They hold over 100 for a standing reception and can be taken alongside a foyer space so an event has somewhere to go if the weather turns.
Cottesloe Room
PrivateOne of two rooms in the Clore Learning Centre, beside the Dorfman Theatre on the east side of the building. It measures 7.4m by 8.8m and holds 100 standing. A large 4K screen with hybrid functionality, tracking cameras front and rear, live streaming, a wireless audio system and radio microphones are installed, and staging can be brought in.
Duffield Studio
PrivateThe larger of the Clore Learning Centre's two rooms at 7.4m by 15.5m, holding 100 standing. It carries a lighting truss on three overhead bars, a projector and motorised screen, a wireless audio system and moveable work benches, and takes staging on request.
John Lyon Education Studio
PrivateA workshop room at the National Theatre Studio on The Cut, a short walk from the main building and next to the Old Vic. It measures 8m by 9.6m, holds 100 standing, and has large windows with anti-glare and blackout blinds, a private kitchen and its own toilets. Fully accessible by ramp.
Forza Wine Outdoor Dining Room
PrivateA covered and heated outdoor table on the Forza Wine terrace, set apart from the main room. It holds 24 seated or 40 standing, and works as a private dining area with the restaurant's own kitchen behind it.
The Foyle Room
PrivateA small room on the top level of the building with floor-to-ceiling windows over the river and the skyline. It seats 20 around a boardroom table or holds 35 for a standing reception, and takes a screen for presentations and calls.
Lasdun Private Dining Room
PrivateA room for twelve tucked to the side of the main restaurant floor, with warm contemporary joinery against the building's concrete and a dedicated waiter for the duration. Feasting menus, with wine pairings and cocktails arranged to the table.
Dorfman Theatre
Exclusive HireThe flexible black-box theatre on the east side of the building, seating up to 450 across three levels and reconfigurable for unusual formats. Available on selected days, with specifications on request.
Lyttelton Theatre
Exclusive HireThe proscenium house, seating 890 across two levels. Like the Olivier it is released for hire on selected days only, and suits a staged presentation or a ceremony. Specifications on request.
Olivier Theatre
Exclusive HireThe largest of the three auditoriums, an open amphitheatre seating up to 1,150. Released for private hire on a small number of days each year, for presentations and award ceremonies rather than parties. Technical specifications are given on request.
/ Perfect For
/ Features
AV Equipment
- – Sound System
- – Lighting Rig
- – Projector
- – Microphone
- – Wireless Microphone
- – Stage
Catering
- – In-House Luxury Dining
- – Private Bar
- – Bespoke Menus
- – Canape Service
Licensing
- – Late Licence until 1am
- – Full Alcohol Licence
Venue Specs
- – Wheelchair Accessible
- – Dedicated Events Team
- – Outdoor Terrace
/ Getting Here
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