Hold your event here

Looking for an interesting or unusual venue for your event, Away Day or Conference?

Holding your event at the MERL means you have access to unique spaces ideal for hosting your drinks reception, garden party, break-out session, presentation or display. The benefits of our site mean you can offer your guests the chance to visit our museum or relax in the garden.

We can tailor our offer to meet your requirements, so please get in touch to find out more about our options and charges.

Meeting rooms

Our three meeting rooms of various sizes can be hired together to enable multiple sessions to take place during a conference. See our page about hiring rooms, or download this PDF.

The garden

Take a break during a busy conference and relax in our spacious garden, or hire the space out of hours for your company’s reception event.

Learning Studio

Expanded and equipped with the latest technology for giving presentations, this light, airy space can seat groups of up to 50 people. It can also be set up as a bar or refreshment point during a conference.

The WELCOME SPACE

Our new Welcome Space is home to the MERL shop and cafe, which can be cleared to host groups large and small. This space has access to the garden. Access to the museum galleries can also be arranged. Hire this space out of hours to host your company’s reception event.

Staircase Hall

The foyer of the Victorian part of our Grade-II listed building leads to the meeting rooms and the Special Collections reading room. It is host to a number of archive displays throughout the year and can be used out of hours to host a reception or display as part of an event.

BOOKING

Contact merlevents@reading.ac.uk or call 0118 378 8660 to discuss your requirements.