The Assembly RoomsEST. Prior to 1930

The Ball Room
Bath's biggest Georgian room, perfect for the larger wedding, party or business event.

The Ball Room is the largest eighteenth century room in Bath and has often been described as the finest in the country. High columns, intricate plasterwork and five original Whitefriars crystal chandeliers make this a spectacular space. The high ceiling was designed with ventilation in mind; on crowded ball nights up to 1,200 guests would use the room for dancing.

The room is now suited to larger events such as weddings, awards dinners, conferences and exhibitions.

The Tea Room
Wonderfully light and well-proportioned, this graceful room features original fireplaces, a double columned balcony and three stunning Whitefriars crystal chandeliers. In the eighteenth century the Tea Room was used for concerts and refreshments and the price of interval tea was included in the cost of a ball ticket. The elegant simplicity of the room ensures that it is one of our most popular venues, making it a particularly memorable setting for weddings, parties and dinners.

The Great Octagon
Octagonal in shape and housing four original marble fireplaces and eighteenth century portraits, this room began life as a card room where parties gathered at tables to play whist and other games of chance. At the centre of this sunny yellow room is a particularly spectacular Whitefriars crystal chandelier, the largest in the building. Today the room is most frequently used for drinks receptions and ceremonies or for conference exhibitors, registration and refreshments.

The Fashion Museum
One of the world's great museum collections of historic and fashionable dress, this is an inspiring venue for a drinks reception.

Designated as a collection of outstanding national significance, the Fashion Museum was recently listed by CNN as one of the world's Top 10 fashion museums. Only available for private hire when the museum is closed, this is a charming choice for a drinks reception for up to 100 guests from 6.30 pm in the evening, allowing visitors to reflect on bygone eras in fascinating surroundings.

Designed by John Wood the Younger in 1769 for entertainment, tea drinking and dancing, the Assembly Rooms were at the heart of fashionable Georgian society. When completed in 1771, they were described as ‘the most noble and elegant of any in the kingdom’. Guests would gather in the rooms in the evening for balls, concerts and other social functions, or simply to play cards and socialise.

Scenes such as this feature in the novels of Jane Austen, who lived in Bath with her parents and sister from 1801 to 1805. Her two novels set in Bath, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, both mention the Assembly Rooms, which she called the “Upper Rooms”. Charles Dickens visited Bath on several occasions. He gave public readings in the Assembly Rooms and mentions them in the Pickwick Papers (published in 1837): “In the ball-room, the long card-room, the octagonal card-room, the staircases, and the passages, the hum of many voices, and the sound of many feet, were perfectly bewildering. Dresses rustled, feathers waved, lights shone, and jewels sparkled”.

The Assembly Rooms:
– is a Grade II listed Georgian event venue
– are adorned with Whitefriars crystal chandeliers, each valued at over £1 million
– offers a stunning backdrop to any event
– offers a range of experiences from smaller parties to grand gala dinners
– are part of the World Heritage city of Bath 'Experience’