The Ashmolean Museum Venue Hire
Image: External Museum Shots 005
"The Ashmolean is by far the most unique museum we work in, a blend of The
National Gallery and The British Museum. For us, the caterer, it offers a remarkable entertaining space, tables can be dressed elegantly and highlighted with atmospheric lighting. Each space has its own signature; you can have a cocktail party amongst priceless treasures or dine with statues. This is one of our very favourite museums."
Alison Price
Alison Price and Company
Information
The Ashmolean Museum is a fine example of nineteenth century neo-classical architecture designed by C.R.Cockerell and located in the heart of Oxford. With collections spanning over four millennia from east to west, we can offer unique opportunities for entertaining and events. All profits from the venue hire go to the
Museum. For more information contact the Events Officer, Paula Falck.
Venues
The four following spaces are available:
(Links)

The Randolph Sculpture Gallery

The Mallett Gallery

The Headley Lecture Theatre

The Vaulted Café
Weddings (Link)
Image: A5004
An ideal location to have your wedding, the Ashmolean is the first museum in Oxford to be granted a wedding license by the Oxford Registrar. We can accommodate both the ceremony and the reception.
The wedding license is for marriages and other civil ceremonies. We can tailor the event to suit your needs.
Corporate Events and Private Parties
From business breakfasts and conferences, to drinks receptions and gala dinners, including guided tours of the collections, the Museum is unique venue to host corporate events.
Image: Fellowship Dinner 019

The Ashmolean can accommodate a range of parties to suit any occasion from birthday and Christmas celebrations, to christenings and wedding receptions.
Catering
In association with Digby Trout Restaurants , who manage the Ashmolean Café , we can provide catering and expert management for any event.
Other Services
If further equipment or services are required, the Museum has preferred suppliers:
Lighting Company: Tower Productions www.tower-productions.com
Audio Visual Company: City AV www.cityaudiovisual.co.uk
Photographers Neil Montgomery www.the
picturehouse.biz
Hotels Malmaison
The Hotel Malmaison Oxford will give a donation to the Ashmolean Museum when any group accommodation bookings are made by clients of the Ashmolean. On booking please inform the reservation team at Malmaison Oxford that you have been referred by the Museum.
Terms and Conditions

Red wine and naked flames are not permitted in any of the galleries. There are some restrictions on food served in the Randolph Sculpture Gallery.

The Museum reserves the right to charge a fee for late cancellations, damage and additional clean-up as required

The Museum reserves the right to change displays of art and objects at any time.
 During the Ashmolean’s major development programme, some of the artworks may be temporarily taken off display. You will be informed of any major changes prior to booking.
 All bookings must be confirmed in writing on the Museum’s booking form.
The person who signs the booking form shall be considered the hirer.

A 50% deposit is required 3 months before the event, which will be held as security against cancellation. The customer will be invoiced after the event and payment is due in 30 days.

All profits from the venue hire go to the Museum.

The Randolph Sculpture Gallery
Image: Randolph 18
The Randolph Sculpture Gallery contains Greek and Roman classical sculpture. It is a stunning venue in which to hold a drinks and canapé reception or a gala dinner.
The Gallery can hold up to 200 guests for a drinks reception, or 50 for a formal dinner. Exclusive guided tours of the collections are available on request.
The Gallery is available for hire outside Museum hours. Please contact the Events
Officer, Paula Falck, for a quote for venue hire charges and bespoke packages:
Tel: 00 44 (0)1865 288299
Fax: 00 44 (0)1865 288363
Email: paula.falck@ashmus.ox.ac.uk
The Mallett Gallery
Located on the first floor, the recently refurbished Mallett Gallery can accommodate up to 80 guests seated and 150 standing. This space is ideal for a drinks reception, it is also licensed for a civil ceremony. With red silk damask walls, chandeliers and Old
Master paintings by Poussin and Lorrain, amongst others, this magnificent space emulates an Italian seventeenth century palazzo interior.
To access the Gallery, guests are guided up the grand staircase through the Founders
Gallery and the Renaissance Painting Gallery. During a drinks reception additional galleries can remain open for guests to enjoy the Majolica, Silver and Ceramic collections.
The Gallery is available for hire outside Museum hours. Please contact the Events
Officer, Paula Falck, for a quote for venue hire charges and bespoke packages:
Tel: 00 44 (0)1865 288299
Fax: 00 44 (0)1865 288363
Email: paula.falck@ashmus.ox.ac.uk
The Headley Lecture Theatre
Image as on present web page
The Headley Lecture Theatre is a light, spacious, modern room, built in 1996. It is ideal for meetings, seminars, company presentations and lectures. A flat-bed room

with non-fixed seating, it can be arranged in any style to suit your needs. Up to 100 people can be accommodated theatre-style, 30 workshop-style and 20 meeting-style.
The Lecture Theatre is on the lower ground floor of the Museum, next door to the
Ashmolean Café. Coffees, teas and lunches can be served in this room. Please contact the Café Manager, Ashleigh Eaton, to discuss details:
Tel: 00 44 (0)1865 288183,
Fax: 00 44 (0)1865 288183
Email: ashmolean@digbytrout.co.uk
Disabled access is available via lift to the Headley Lecture Theatre. Access through the Museum Shop is an option, and it may be opened for your delegates/guests by arrangement.
Equipment:
The Headley Lecture Theatre is well equipped with adjustable lighting, blackout blinds and a large, integral screen and lectern.
The following equipment is available on request at no extra charge:

Twin, simultaneous, remote-control operated 35mm slide projectors

Radio microphone and PA system

OHP and a whiteboard

Freestanding coat and umbrella stands
To use the data projector with laptop, DVD and video link there is an additional charge of £100 plus VAT per day, or £50 plus VAT per half day
Charges:
 £100 per hour during Museum hours
 £110 per hour outside Museum hours
 £500 per day

We offer a 30% discount for University departments
Bookings and enquiries
If you would like to make a booking, please complete and return a booking form:
(download a booking form as a word document.)
For further information or to see the venue, please contact the Events Officer, Paula
Falck:
Tel: 00 44 (0)1865 288299
Fax: 00 44 (0)1865 288363
Email: paula.falck@ashmus.ox.ac.uk
The Ashmolean Café
Image: DSCN1952

The Ashmolean
Café is a perfect venue for private events, such as formal dinners, wedding receptions, birthdays and drinks parties. We can accommodate dinner for 90 persons and canapé receptions for up to 200, tailoring any event to suit your personal taste and needs.
To book a table, or make an enquiry regarding an event, please call 00 44 (0)1865
288183 or email ashmolean@digbytrout.co.uk
Current function menus and prices can be found in the Café Function Pack 2006
(Download word document)

Weddings (link)
Image: Cake
Weddings at the Ashmolean
The Ashmolean is an ideal location for a wedding. Situated in the city centre against the backdrop of a stunning model of neo-classical architecture, the Museum can accommodate both the ceremony and the reception.
Contact the Events Officer, Paula Falck, to make an appointment to see the venue.
Two of the Ashmolean’s galleries are licensed for civil ceremonies.
The Mallett Gallery (link)
Located on the first floor, the recently refurbished Mallett Gallery is licensed for up to
80 guests for a civil ceremony and 172 for a drinks reception. With red silk damask walls, chandeliers and Old Master paintings by Poussin and Lorrain, amongst others, this magnificent space emulates an Italian seventeenth century palazzo interior. To access the Gallery, guests are guided up the grand staircase through the Founders gallery and the Renaissance painting gallery.
The Randolph Sculpture Gallery (link)
On the ground floor, the spectacular Randolph Sculpture Gallery is licensed for 60 guests for a civil ceremony and up to 156 for a post ceremony champagne reception.
Housing the major collection of Roman and Greek marbles formed by the Earl of
Arundel in the early seventeenth century and Athenian ceramics, this Gallery provides a unique classical setting.
The Ashmolean Café
(link)
The Ashmolean Café is situated on the Museum’s lower-ground floor. It is a light, pleasant space, combining the 19th century vaulted ceiling with neutral modern décor, perfect for a wedding reception dinner. Managed by Digby Trout Restaraunts, the
Café can accommodate dinner for 90 and canapé receptions for up to 200, tailoring the event to suit your taste and needs.
Following your booking you will be invited to meet the Chef to discuss the menu.
Disabled access is available through the Museum.
Photo Opportunities
The Ashmolean is the perfect backdrop for the wedding photographs. Suggested locations include the Museum’s forecourt, the grand staircase, the Randolph Sculpture
Gallery, and the Mallett Gallery. Further galleries are available on request.
Ceremony – terms & conditions

As the Museum is open to the public until 5pm, civil ceremonies start at
5.15pm.

The celebratory ceremony of the renewal of vows can begin later in the evening. Civil ceremonies must be followed by a reception at the Ashmolean.

Clients must make arrangements with the Oxford Registry Office and provide confirmation of this, before booking the ceremony at the Museum.


The Museum reserves the right to change displays of art and objects at any time.

During the Museum’s major development programme, some of the artworks may be temporarily taken off display. You will be informed of any major changes prior to the day.

All bookings must be confirmed in writing on the Museum’s booking form.

The person who signs the booking form shall be considered the hirer.

A 50% deposit is required 3 months before the event, this will be held as security against cancellation.

The customer will be invoiced after the event and payment is due in 30 days.

Red wine and naked flames are not permitted in the galleries.

There are some restrictions on food served in the galleries.

The Museum reserves the right to charge a fee for damage and additional clean-up if required.
Prices
All prices include the services of an event manager, invigilation, security, gallery furniture and rehearsal opportunities.

Civil ceremony - hire of the Mallett gallery/Randolph Sculpture gallery:
£1,500

Champagne reception - hire of the Mallett gallery / Randolph Sculpture gallery: £800

Champagne reception / Dinner - hire of the Café: £300

To hire the above three options: £2,000
(There is no hire charge for the vaulted café if a gallery is hired.)
Oxford Registrar (link)
All arrangements with the Registrar must be made prior to booking the venue and confirmation must be supplied in advance.
Please contact the Events Officer, Paula Falck, for a quote for venue hire charges and bespoke packages:
Tel: 00 44 (0)1865 288299
Fax: 00 44 (0)1865 288363
Email: paula.falck@ashmus.ox.ac.uk