Here you'll find answers to questions we're often asked about our conference room hire and meeting room venues.
If you have any other questions and wish to speak to us, please do contact us.
From your first enquiry to the day of your event, our Venue Hire Team is on hand to support you every step of the way. We can arrange venue viewings, help with planning and coordinate catering for your event. Delegates benefit from complimentary Wi‑Fi and presentation technology, while presenters can easily connect their own devices using HDMI or USB‑C connections. If you have any specific requirements, including accessibility needs, please let us know and we'll be happy to help.
Our in-house catering team offers a range of options to suit your event, from tea and coffee breaks to buffet lunches and day delegate packages. We can accommodate a variety of dietary requirements and work with you to create a catering package that complements your event. To ensure a consistent experience for all guests, catering for events is provided exclusively by ARU.
For some hires you can book at short notice, but this depends on the room, your requirements, other events that may be going on on campus and at what point in the academic year we are in. Availability for venues used for teaching beyond the current academic year is confirmed once university timetabling has been finalised, though some spaces can be booked further in advance.
Please note that certain events, for example those covering political, religious, social or other potentially sensitive topics, may require extra approval and this can take up to 20 working days.
If any attendee may require additional support during an emergency evacuation, we can work with you in advance to agree a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan.
Gender-neutral toilets are available.
We have no dedicated cloakroom or storage facilities. Your Event Manager can book an additional room for your event for use as a cloakroom or storage, subject to availability and at an additional charge.
Yes, you can take photographs and film in your hired spaces only. It is not permitted to photograph or film people without their permission. If you plan to photograph or film as part of your event please make your Event Manager aware. If you wish to invite media representatives to cover your event please give at least 72 hours' written notice as you will need permission to do so.
Smoking and use of electronic cigarettes is not permitted within buildings. There are designated smoking areas around the Cambridge, Chelmsford and Writtle campuses.
See our standard terms and conditions. We usually invoice after an event has taken place. However, for high-value events, or for new customers with no credit history we may ask for a deposit or full pre-payment. We may also vary the cancellation terms for large or high-value events. Please check with your Event Manager for details.