We are open as usual: Tuesdays to Fridays 10am-5pm and Saturdays 10am-4pm.
Contact us:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Venue hire

We have a range of elegant historic rooms for hire - please click on the link below to see our Venue Hire Information Pack

Download A Copy Here –  Venue Hire Pack 

With our Next Chapter capital works completed, we are pleased to offer our stunning spaces for hire.

Venue hire provides vital income to help us deliver our charitable causes.

Our beautiful rooms are available for hire Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays  (other times upon request). Minimum hire period is 2 hours.  We take particular care to work closely with every client hiring our spaces, to ensure that we provide a service that is tailored to your requirements. Our pricing structure reflects this individual attention.  Our booking process is straightforward and you can be assured of a quick response to any enquiries.

Please note that with hire requests from larger organisations, we normally require a purchase order number.

 

Upstairs, the two rooms overlooking the Cathedral Green have been merged into one stunning space, opening the room up to its original 1813 layout. We call this The Blue Room.

The cupola has been reinstated and we have uncovered some Georgian niches we did not know were there, both of which were boarded over when the room was divided in 1898. The 1970s decor and strip lighting have been removed, and the striking new lighting scheme, air source heating, and fibre WiFi are a huge improvement. There is a new upstairs lavatory, as well as a small service kitchenette and a lift providing access for everyone.

Downstairs, we have three new spaces available to hire: the two front reading rooms – The Green Room and The Parlour – both of which face out onto Cathedral Green and have period features from the early 19th century; and our new Garden Room, which opens out onto our tranquil courtyard garden.

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Library is available for evening hire for special events, ceremonies, and awards, and can also be offered as a location for filming and photo shoots. Various documentaries and BBC TV programmes, including the BBC Two series ‘Empire’, and the BBC One series ‘Who do you think you are?’, have used our library as a location. For more details about filming at our library please see our Film Hire Pack.

If you are thinking about hiring us, we welcome and recommend a site visit to discuss your requirements, so that we can arrange the best possible experience for you. Please see our Venue Hire Pack for images of our rooms for hire and details of prices. You can download the pack at the link above.  If you would like to enquire about a booking, please fill in the form below, or email us at: [email protected]  

Please note: The hire of our Venue does not carry with it any implied endorsement from the Institution and the client is not permitted to make any claim for endorsement.

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Venue Hire Booking Form

New form for venue hire bookings - post development

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Please provide the times for your booking. You will need to include some time for arrival, setting up and leaving. Access to the room is not permitted before the start of your booking time. Our rooms are available from 9.30am and we close at 5.00pm. Evening bookings can have access from 5.00pm until 10.00pm.
Please indicate the number of attendees for the event.
Please select which room you would like to book.
Select your preferred set up style. Please note not all styles are available in each room.
Extras
Catering options
If you are having caterers on site, please select use of kitchenette. If you are providing your own food or caterers are dropping off pre-prepared food and you would like to hire crockery, glasses, or white table cloths, please select as appropriate.
Accessibility(Required)
Our Next Chapter project, which is now completed, has greatly improved accessibility at our Grade II* listed building. We are now pleased to have smart new toilets upstairs and downstairs, and a lift to the first floor. We can offer onsite parking to blue badge holders. Caterers can have access to our premises via our back gate for dropping off catering supplies. If you would like any further information about accessibility please get in touch.
Please provide any additional information relevant for your booking or ask any questions you have here.
Terms and condititons of hire(Required)
The Devon and Exeter Institution was founded in 1813 and is a Grade II* listed building. The library is of national importance as an intact collection in its original setting and to ensure that its unique and vulnerable nature is protected, we ask that the following hire conditions are adhered to: • All hirers must complete a booking form and agree to the conditions of hire • We reserve the right to refuse any booking that we deem unsuitable, in order to protect the delicate nature of our building and collection, or that does not align with our charitable objects • No furniture or any other item in the building or collection should be moved or handled without prior arrangement • Any damage or breakage occuring must be reported to the staff member onsite and damages must be paid for in full • Hiring hours for meetings are within our working hours 9.30 - 5.00pm weekdays (morning 9.30 - 1.00pm and afternoons 1.30 - 5.00pm). Evening hire events are available between 5.00 - 10.00pm. Timings should be specified on the booking form • All catering arrangements must be agreed in advance (including tea/coffees) • If hiring the kitchenette for an event it must be left as found - clean and tidy • Full payment is required in advance to secure the booking • Invoices will be issued around 2 - 3 weeks ahead of the booking date.