The best private dining rooms in London for 50 people

An iconic London restaurant famous for generous fruit de mer platters and gorgeous marble-decked interiors, Bentley’s also has a hidden gem of a private dining area - the Swallow Street Rooms - which boast a private street level entrance, private bar, piano, state-of-the-art sound system and room for 100 standing guests.

An independent waterside restaurant in Canary Wharf, No. 35 Mackenzie Walk offers gorgeous light-filled interiors, bottomless drinks, and several canape, set and sharing menus. This flexibility makes it perfect for all manner of occasions from social celebrations to corporate dinners.

TSQ’s mood lighting and quirky, idiosyncratic decor make it a unique choice for a private gathering. Throw in mixologists who know how to make a good cocktail, and TSQ is ideal for fun parties where you want to impress your guests with something a bit different.

Riding House is well known for its easy-going all-day fare and epic brunch menus, and this Fitzrovia institution can be yours exclusively - the dining room at Riding House Fitzrovia is available for private hire and fits north of 50 guests, offering trendy, welcoming interiors and delicious food.

Floor-to-ceiling windows and a highrise view over London make Shangri-La The Shard an intriguing prospect for an event. Large parties can head to the hotel’s amazing ballroom, Ren, which has room for up to 140 standing guests for receptions and parties.

Sister to the acclaimed Scarpetta in New York, Sette is all about authentic, chic Italian dining, and the location on the ground floor of the Bvlgari Hotel makes perfect sense. As well as exclusive hire of the main dining room, groups of 50 can also enquire about Nolita Social - a versatile, private area that seats 50 exactly and can be hired for private dinners.

Glamorous Park Chinois takes inspiration from 1930s Shanghai, and whilst some of the private dining spaces are on the cosy side, you can hire the Salon de Chine or the Club Chinoir for up to 110 or 120 people respectively. Or, ask about 33 Dover Street - the secret venue hidden behind the restaurant.

One of London’s most impressive venues, Grade-I listed 10-11 Carlton House Terrace was once home to Prime Minister William Gladstone. Now this Georgian townhouse can be home to your event, with a host of medium to large spaces that are perfect for private dinners, meetings, drinks receptions and more.

Historic Glaziers Hall in London Bridge has numerous large private dining spaces spread across its three floors, some of which come with up-close-and-personal views of the River Thames. The 300-seater Banqueting Hall is the largest space, but groups of around 50 should look at the restored Georgian brick archways of the London Bridge Arches room, or the panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows of The River Room.

Blessed with views over the River Thames, the River View Lounge at Park Plaza is one of the best 50 person private dining rooms out there. From award-winning formal dinners to cocktail and canape receptions, each event can be bespoke.

This beautifully renovated Fitzrovia pub has an upstairs floor that is available for exclusive hire across two dining rooms and a cosy private bar. The menu, meanwhile, is staunchly classic pub grub, but brilliantly executed - get ready to eat your weight in scotch eggs, pies, and sticky toffee puddings.

28-50 has a fantastic reputation for wine, offering a huge range of great wine by the glass, carafe or bottle, as well as a ‘Collector’s List’ full of rare vintages. That makes 28-50 By Night the perfect choice for a private dinner of wine obsessives, and the modern European menu is excellent too.

This lively Argentinian restaurant and bar is right in the heart of Clerkenwell, and offers an accessible menu of tapas and sharing plates that has something for everyone. The ground floor dining room is available to hire for 50 people exactly, and you can always escape to the basement jazz bar afterwards.

What more can you say about Mansion House? The 18th century, Grade-I listed home of the Lord Mayor of the City of London features a few larger spaces for private dinners, including the magnificent Old Ballroom, which fits up to 80 seated guests under its arched ceiling.

Beyond its chic interiors and mouth watering menu, The Railway Pub in Putney also boasts space, and lots of it. With three floors available for hire, you can opt for anything from exclusive use to just the middle floor which makes the perfect backdrop for a sizeable get together.

YOPO at the Mandrake is packed with amazing, Instagrammable spaces, including the scarlet red private dining room and the extravagant Masha Hari Theatre. The best for larger groups is the main restaurant, where Amazon-inspired plants and plush seating join a stunning ceiling mural.

One of London’s most respected Spanish restaurants, Sagardi serves up Basque delights across a spacious dining room in East London. You can hire the whole space out for up to 120 seated guests, or for smaller events there’s always the basement private dining room which seats 48 and is completely soundproof, boasting an LCD projector and screen.

Colonel Saab’s gorgeous, elaborate interiors are a mix of Persian rugs, Indian antiques and gorgeous embroidered textiles. Exclusive hire of the whole space gives you the keys to one of London’s most unique restaurants, alongside a classy menu of classic Indian cooking.

Hard Rock Cafe started right here at Piccadilly Circus, and the rock-star inspired interiors and American diner classics make this an easy choice for a big party. Only the largest parties need apply - you can hire the lower ground floor for up to 300 guests, or, yes, the entire restaurant can be yours, with capacity for a whopping 650 people.

One of London’s more unique private dining spaces, 3 Henrietta Street is a townhouse in Covent Garden that boasts spaces and restaurants across multiple floors. Larger parties should check out private hire of the whole venue, which opens up all the unique spaces from top to bottom of the townhouse, as well as giving you a huge range of food options.

This glamorous Marylebone hotel boasts a number of versatile event spaces, but if you’re looking for private dining for 50 people, then The Gallery could be the spot for you. Immerse yourself in this neutral yet stylish backdrop, surrounded by unique artwork and state-of-the-art tech.

Home to one of the finest medical science libraries in Europe, booking The Royal College of Surgeons means dining in the company of groundbreaking history. The Lumley Library seats up to 80 guests, and the venue handles all the catering in-house across multiple menus that champion British produce.

Bolton’s simple, unfussy Italian cooking has made it a roaring success since it opened in the 80s, and there are a couple of areas for groups of 50 plus, including the 100-seater main restaurant, and the Front Area which seats up to 56. Meanwhile, the team can lay on everything from buffets to full sit-down banquets.