The Libertine can host a private dinner for 10, a dinner for up to 200 or a full venue party for up to 450 guests, in the vaults beneath the Royal Exchange, moments from Bank station in the City of London. It is a restaurant and bar open from lunch until late, and every one of its spaces can be booked privately.
Seminars and company events
The Libertine is built for company dinners, client entertaining, drinks parties and Christmas events rather than daytime meetings. Groups can book a private dining room, a semi-private area or the whole restaurant, or take the full venue. Dinners for up to 200 can follow a set menu, à la carte service or a package built for the event. For a large standing reception, the Royal Exchange gives the vaults a capacity of 450 guests.
Restaurant exclusivity and full venue hire are subject to a minimum spend on food and drink that varies with the date, not with the number of guests. DJs and entertainment can be arranged. In the semi-private areas the venue's own playlist or DJ plays through the evening, while groups in the Private Dining Room can play their own music.
Weddings and receptions
The venue hosts weddings, from a five-course dinner to canapés and cocktails on the dance floor, with a dedicated wedding menu. Couples can book group dining, a semi-private area or the whole venue, seated, standing or both. The website does not say whether a ceremony can take place on site, so most couples will use it for the reception after a ceremony elsewhere.
Rooms and capacities
The Whiskey Vault seats 10 or takes 30 standing, for private drinks and dinners. The Private Dining Room seats up to 18 and suits groups of 14 to 18, including for sports screenings. The Restaurant, Gresham's and The Bar can be booked as semi-private areas or together. The whole vault takes up to 450 guests.
Catering
All food and drink comes from the venue's own kitchen and bar. The menu is seasonal and served from lunch until late, backed by a well-stocked cellar. For events the team writes custom menus and offers signature bowls and canapés for standing parties. Corkage may be agreed case by case for an exclusive hire.
History and setting
The vaults sit beneath the Royal Exchange, a Grade I listed building and one of the oldest trading addresses in the City, first founded by the merchant Thomas Gresham in the sixteenth century. The venue states that the site is where Britain's first royal alcohol licence was granted. Above ground, the Royal Exchange courtyard houses shops and restaurants, and other venues in the building can be booked when a program needs more space.
Getting there
The entrance is at 1A Royal Exchange, Cornhill, London EC3V 3LL. Bank station is moments away, and Liverpool Street and Cannon Street mainline stations are within walking distance. London City Airport is reached by DLR from Bank. Opening hours are noon to midnight Monday to Friday, 4 p.m. to midnight on Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
