Most people asking about a private room want one number first: what will it cost? The honest answer is that it depends on the room, the day and how many of you there are. This page does the sums so you can see the range before you get in touch.
How the price works.
There is no room charge. Each room has a minimum spend on food and drink instead, and it depends on the day and the time of year. If your party spends more than the minimum, there is nothing extra to pay for the room. If the bill comes in below it, the difference is added as room hire.
A smaller party can take a room as long as it meets the room’s minimum spend.
The figures.
| The 1982 | The 1945 | |
|---|---|---|
| Guests | 8 to 16 | 12 to 20 |
| Lunch, until 31 March 2027 | from £500 | from £750 |
| Dinner, until 31 March 2027 | from £800 | from £1,200 |
| Lunch, from April 2027 | from £600 | from £900 |
| Dinner, from April 2027 | from £1,000 | from £1,500 |
These are starting points. Tell us your date and we’ll confirm the figure for that day in writing.
What that means per guest.
The minimum spend covers food and drink for the whole party, so the more of you there are, the less it works out at each. A few examples at this winter’s starting figures:
A minimum of £500, about £63 a guest across food and drink. Deposit £160.
A minimum of £800, £50 a guest. Deposit £160, because it is taken on the room’s minimum of eight.
A minimum of £1,200, £100 a guest. Deposit £240.
A minimum of £1,200, £60 a guest. Deposit £240.
Before you set a budget, decide whether drinks are in it. Agreeing that with your guests early saves an awkward moment when the second bottle arrives.
The deposit.
A deposit of £20 a guest, on the room’s minimum numbers, confirms the booking. It comes off your bill on the day, and it is refunded in full if you cancel 14 days or more before.
December is different.
Festive bookings are paid in full when they are confirmed, with nothing to settle on the night but the drinks. The dates, the festive menu and the private rooms for December are all on the Christmas page, and the Christmas party guide goes into more detail.
The rest of the arrangements.
- When the room is yours. Lunch bookings from noon to 5pm. Dinner bookings from 6pm to midnight, with everyone away by 12.30am.
- Menu choices. We need everyone’s choices seven days before, and can print name cards with each guest’s choice if they reach us in time.
- Paying on the night. Bills can be split up to two ways, unless the booking is paid in advance.
- Access. Both rooms are on the lower ground floor and there is no step-free access. Please talk to us before booking if anyone would find stairs difficult.
Which room for your party?
Numbers usually decide it. Eight to eleven guests fits The 1982 only. From twelve to sixteen, both rooms work: The 1982 has a window onto the kitchen, which gives a table something to watch, and The 1945 has its own bar for a party that likes to get up and move around. For more than sixteen, it is The 1945, and the two rooms together seat up to 36.
For the occasion itself, there is more in our guides to client dinners, milestone birthdays, small wedding meals and the chef’s table.
Questions we get asked.
Is there a room hire charge?+
No. Each room has a minimum spend on food and drink, which depends on the day and the season. If the bill comes in below it, the difference is added as room hire.
What is the minimum spend for private dining in Ryde?+
Until 31 March 2027, from £500 at lunch and £800 at dinner in The 1982, and from £750 and £1,200 in The 1945. From April 2027, from £600 and £1,000 in The 1982, and from £900 and £1,500 in The 1945. We confirm the figure for your date in writing.
How much is the deposit?+
£20 a guest on the room’s minimum numbers: £160 for The 1982 and £240 for The 1945. It comes off the bill on the day and is refunded in full if you cancel 14 days or more before.
Can a smaller group book a private room?+
Yes, if the party meets the room’s minimum spend.
How does it work at Christmas?+
Festive bookings are paid in full when they are confirmed. The Christmas page has the dates and the detail.
