Hunting for venues with no hire fees in Edinburgh? You’ve come to the right place! Edinburgh is known for its rich history, stunning architecture, vibrant cultural scene, and breathtaking natural beauty. It also has many wonderful minimum spend venues where you can host your next function without breaking the bank! Whether it’s a luxurious restaurant, funky pub or quaint cafe, you will not be disappointed with what you can find here. And here at Tagvenue, we made sure to list all the top spots the city has to offer. Use our smart and easy-to-use venue finder to discover the perfect site for your upcoming birthday party, anniversary dinner and much more!
Edinburgh Castle looks over the city most majestically, however, those ancient stone walls are definitely not the place to start your search for free venue hire. Instead, begin in The Old Town down below. The winding lanes around Cowgate and the Charles Stewart House have many pubs and bars that offer minimum spend options for whole venue or private function rooms. The nearby Scotsman Hotel here even offers some function rooms with minimum spend. Widening your search to The New Town you can find many more options along George and Frederick Sts, including some funky lounges and garden-themed bars.
While minimum spend options are a great way to score an essentially free venue, you do need to make sure you understand all the terms and conditions before you book. Check that food and drink are covered by the minimum spend and warn your guests ahead of the date. Most importantly, ensure that there are enough guests planning to attend to make reaching the minimum spend an easily achievable task.
Edinburgh's minimum spend may start as low as £150, but most tend to hover around £300 minimum spend per session. Minimum spend can grow as high as £4,500 or even higher for larger venues. The price may depend on the size of the venue and the date and time of the hire. (All data from Tagvenue.)
When you book a minimum spend venue, you don’t need to pay a fee for use of the space. You simply agree with the venue that you and your guests will spend an agreed-upon amount on food and drink during the event. If you do not reach that total by the end of the event, you must pay off the remainder. This is a great option for anyone looking to throw a memorable event without breaking the bank.
Sure, have a look at some of our favourite minimum spend venues in the city: