Raven's Ait is a private two-acre island on the River Thames in Surbiton, Surrey, hired for corporate events, private dinners and weddings for up to 250 guests. Guests cross by boat. The island is close to London and Heathrow, and it can be booked as a whole, so one group has all the rooms and lawns to itself.
Seminars and company events
The corporate offer covers meetings, seminars and conferences, summer parties, team-building days, sports days and award ceremonies. The venue describes exclusive, private spaces with river views for meetings and presentations, and flexible rooms for small gatherings and larger events. Dinners and parties are listed for up to 250 guests, with bespoke menus. The island setting takes a team out of the office without a long journey, and the outdoor space suits activities and sports days.
The site does not list equipment, room sizes or a seminar layout, so ask the team about screens, sound and breakout rooms when you enquire.
Weddings and receptions
Weddings are a main use of the island, with a general island wedding page and a cultural wedding page. A couple who hired the whole island in 2023 reported in a review that rain moved the ceremony from the lawn to an indoor room. That was easy because the group had every room to itself, and the boat service carried guests to and from the island on time. The venue also hosts anniversaries, birthday parties, baby showers, christenings, Christmas events and celebrations of life.
Rooms and capacities
The site names a Grand Banquet Hall and a Riverside Marquee as the main event spaces, with indoor rooms that have river views and outdoor lawns by the Thames. The largest stated figure is 250 guests for corporate dinners and parties. The pages do not give capacities for each space, so ask for the room plan and the numbers for a seated meal, a theatre layout and a standing reception.
Catering
Catering is provided by the island's own chefs, who work with seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Menus range from classic British dishes to Mediterranean and international cuisines, with multi-course meals and buffets. The team handles decor, table settings, custom menus and wine pairings, and sommeliers can propose wine and spirits to match each menu.
History and setting
The ait is a two-acre island dedicated to private events. It sits on the Thames in the Kingston upon Thames area, and the site adds live entertainment and music, photo and video services and customizable event packages. In summer the island also shows major sporting events such as Wimbledon tennis on screen, according to its menu of summer events.
Getting there
The address is Raven's Ait, Portsmouth Road, Surbiton KT6 4HN. The island is reached by boat from the bank, and the boat runs guests across the river and back during the event. The venue also lists a where-to-stay page for overnight guests, so ask for the current list of nearby hotels if your delegates need rooms.
