Please help me find a london city wedding reception venue

[Ahara]

Hi all
planning to get married in Marylebone old town hall next June. For the reception I’d like somewhere for the evening not a sit down meal more bbq/hot buffet vibes for around 70
people that will also let us have a singer/dj. I’m finding it impossible without having to spend a minimum spend of like 7k! I’d ideally like to spend 5 max.

anyone have any recommendations I’d really appreciate it.

Search on google maps for “hall to hire” or “garden to hire” in that area. I think there is a lovely community garden near King’s Cross that can be hired for weddings but not sure on the size.

But it is a tough ask.

We got married at Marylebone town hall years ago, followed by a reception at the Canal Museum in Kings Cross. It’s not in the City, but was a lovely venue.

Lots of restaurants in the City [financial district] don't open at weekends. That might be a place to start. They'll open if it's financially worth it to staff it. In practice you're not paying for a venue but the food and drink.

I came across this recently but looks like it's £3k to hire the smaller space and then food etc on top.
www.postalmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Venue_DryHire_Apr2025.pdf

Look at the various Inns in the City .... Butchers', Merchants, Skinners' etc. Usually empty at weekends. We held our reception at Skinners' Hall by Cannon Street.

Have you tried some of the nice pubs? I went to a London wedding reception in a pub garden it was really nice, that was east London though so not suitable for your location.
The actual pub was open to anyone but the garden was reserved for the wedding guests, had a nice covered area and a lawn lots of tables and an outside bar, lots of pretty fairy lights and they had a BBQ it was lovely.

Not in the city but I once went to a wedding at The Albion in Islington which was so pretty, amazing garden out the back and you can hire the entire premises.

https://hannahmia.com/islington-town-hall-albion-islington-london-wedding-photography-hannah-dave/ found this example of a wedding here

If I were invited to this as a guest I’d love a reception in a pub or community garden or museum. Or one of the guilds/halls. Sorry not very helpful but just to reassure you (in case you’re worried) that this sounds really nice.

Not sure if it would be in budget but
Circolo popolare is gorgeous!!!

The Electric Barge www.electricbarge.co.uk/

has paella cooked on board as one of its options and is at Paddington so pretty near Marylebone … https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5bdf308f697a98c05dd6f46c/t/67af6757f9629833f9e1a163/1739548505601/Marlon%27s+Kitchen+Paella+Menu.pdf

It would come in on budget but has a max capacity of 60.

also DMing you…

https://www.calthorpecommunitygarden.org.uk/

https://www.london.ac.uk/about/services/conference-event-hire/event-spaces/senate-house

https://www.stethelburgas.org/

https://www.londonzoo.org/about-us/venue-hire/weddings-and-receptions-london-zoo

https://coramsfields.org/facility-hire/hall-hire/

Phoenix Community Gardens in Soho is lovely but too small if you want everyone to be seated together in one sitting. I have been to large parties there where the (fork and finger food) buffet was refilled so there was food available throughout the party. TBF the weather was wonderful both times so some people chose to eat sitting in the garden or in the gazebo. It’s a bargain at £2k though!

https://www.thephoenixgarden.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/The-Phoenix-Garden-Wedding-Brochure-1.pdf

St Ethelburga’s Centre for Peace & Reconciliation, a converted church in Bishopsgate, is a lovely venue with good acoustics for your singer! Hire costs are £720 for 4 hours, then £70-100 per hour.