Poogan's Courtyard hosts weddings, rehearsal dinners, corporate events and private parties for up to 125 guests standing, 80 seated or 50 for an on-site ceremony. The venue opened in 2019 at 12 Cumberland Street in Charleston's French Quarter, a few blocks from Poogan's Porch, the restaurant that the same hospitality group established in 1976.
Seminars and company events
For companies, the venue takes meetings, holiday parties, client receptions and team dinners. A rental runs for 4 or 8 hours, plus one hour for setup and breakdown, and extra hours can be added. The technical setup is built in: an in-house sound system with wireless microphone capability, an 80-inch HD television with HDMI connection and venue-wide WiFi. Breakout spaces are listed among the amenities, and corporate menus come from the on-site kitchen. A dedicated event lead and service team run the day, and planning happens through 3D event diagramming software and a client portal for documents, discussions and payments.
Weddings and receptions
A wedding can hold both ceremony and seated reception on site for 50 guests, with a small interior dance space. Up to 80 guests can be seated for a reception alone, without an interior dance floor. Ceremonies take place indoors or in the courtyard. Couples get complimentary tastings, signature cocktails, cake cutting and flexible payment plans. The venue also hosts rehearsal dinners, showers, birthdays and reunions. Live music and DJs are allowed, with possible limits on amplification, power and space, and dogs are welcome.
Rooms and capacities
Inside, the venue has exposed brick walls and original heart-of-pine floors. Outside, a courtyard strung with bistro lights is used for ceremonies and cocktail hours. Capacity is 125 for a cocktail reception, 80 seated and 50 for a ceremony. Furniture and tableware are included: 80 X-back chairs, ten 60-inch round tables, seven cocktail tables, standard linens with floor-length tablecloths, silverware, china and glassware. The venue and its private restrooms are accessible to guests with reduced mobility.
Catering
Catering is in-house. The culinary team prepares Lowcountry menus in the on-site catering kitchen, from buffet dinners to cocktail-hour food, with dedicated menus for corporate groups. The on-site bar runs on drink packages or a cash bar, served by trained bartenders. Decor, entertainment such as a DJ, band or photo booth, printed goods and accent lighting can be added.
History and setting
The group's story starts in an 1891 Victorian townhome on Queen Street, which became Poogan's Porch in 1976. The restaurant was named after the neighborhood dog who greeted diners on the porch. Poogan's Hospitality Group, which also runs Poogan's Smokehouse, opened the Courtyard in 2019 as its full-service event venue. The French Quarter location puts Rainbow Row, Charleston City Market and Waterfront Park within walking distance, which helps guests who stay downtown.
Getting there
The venue is at 12 Cumberland Street, Charleston, SC 29401. The closest paid lot is at 26 Cumberland, and a garage stands at 82 Cumberland. Metered street parking is also available and is free on Sundays. Hotels within reach for guests include The Palmetto, The Mills House and The Ryder Hotel. Charleston International Airport is the nearest airport.
