Host your Event
The BookCellar’s basement is a private, bookable space beneath our bookshop and reading room on Stokes Croft. It seats up to 24 around tables or 30 theatre-style, and is available for exclusive use across six hire types.
Whether you’re running a book club, hosting a community gathering, or putting on a literary event, we’d love to have you.
Small groups of up to 8 people are welcome to book a table in the main shop free of charge. We just ask that everyone buys a drink or two.
How booking works
The basement is booked in four slots across the day: morning (10:00–14:00), afternoon (14:00–17:30), early evening (17:30–20:00) and late evening (20:00 to 30 mins before close). If your event runs past a slot’s end time, it simply takes the next one too, at the same rate.
Parties book both evening slots together as one package. See below.
Book Groups
Free for groups of up to 12 · £150 minimum spend for groups of 13 or more
For book clubs and reading groups. Bring your group to a dedicated meeting space, with drinks on hand and a bookshop to browse on your way in and out. If your group has a particular theme or you’d like us to put together a wine pairing to match your next title, just ask. It’s one of our favourite things to do.
Groups of up to 8 will be sat at our large table at the back of the shop.
Groups of 9–12 use the basement on a non-exclusive basis at no charge. We’ll pencil you in and confirm straight away if it lands alongside one of our own book clubs or otherwise lock it in two weeks ahead of your date.
Groups of 13 or more get the basement to themselves for a £150 minimum spend, paid as a deposit at the time of booking and redeemable against books, food and drink on the day.
- We ask that the group’s next title be ordered through the BookCellar. Let us know in advance and we’ll get it in
- Each attendee is expected to buy at least one drink during the session
Community Groups
£100 minimum spend per slot
For not-for-profit organisations, the basement is a high-quality, private, quiet space for passionate people to develop their voluntary initiatives in central Bristol, with a bar and bookshop upstairs to spark inspiration and creativity.
- Paid as a deposit at the point of booking, redeemable in full against food, drink and books on the day
- Booked by the slot. Additional slots have the same minimum spend rates
Parties, Celebrations & Launches
£250 hire fee or £400 minimum spend for the whole evening
For private parties, celebrations and launches with invited guests, the BookCellar is the perfect venue for book lovers and literary events.
- Your booking includes both evening slots, running 5:30pm to close
- You can also pre-book food and drink, and we are happy to arrange custom wine pairings for your books
- Wi-Fi and a small PA system available
- We’re happy to arrange the furniture to suit your needs
Courses & Workshops
£60 + VAT per slot (morning, afternoon or late evening), or £120 + VAT for early evenings
For taught courses and workshops open to the public, our basement is available, day or evening.
- Wi-Fi and a small PA system available
- We’re happy to arrange the furniture to suit your needs
Public Events
£150 + VAT per evening
If you’re an organiser or promoter looking for a venue with genuine character, the basement is available for ticketed literary and cultural events, such as poetry nights, author readings, launch parties and similar.
Hire the space outright and it’s your event: you promote it and bring the audience, we take care of the bar.
Prefer not to take on the risk yourself? Pitch it to us instead. If we think it will sell and we can find the audience, we’ll co-promote it with you at no hire charge.
- We can find the perfect paired wine for your book
- Promote your event on our social channels and event calendar
- Seated events only (capacity 30 theatre-style)
- A structured interval is typically required for performances longer than an hour
- If you prefer, you can pitch the event to us where we take the ticket revenue in lieu of a hire fee
Corporate Hire
For meetings and training. £120 + VAT half day · £200 + VAT full day
A relaxed but fully functional space for meetings, staff training and away days. Rather better than a serviced office, and the coffee is considerably nicer. And wine is available if you prefer.
- Exclusive use of the full basement meeting room
- Half day and full day available during business hours
- Extend into the evening for an extra £200 + VAT
- Tea and coffee included, with biscuits
- Refreshment and lunch packages available on request
Deposits & cancellation
All paid bookings are confirmed on payment. Minimum-spend bookings are paid as a deposit, redeemable in full against your spend on the day; hire fees are paid in full up front.
Cancel with a week’s notice and we’ll refund you in full. Cancel with 24 hours’ notice and we’ll refund 50%. Inside 24 hours, or on the day, there’s no refund.
Nothing is confirmed until we’ve confirmed the slot, booking type and price with you in writing and, where applicable, payment has been received.
Book the space
To enquire about availability or make a booking, contact us directly at the shop.
We’re happy to move furniture around to suit your layout, and the basement has Wi-Fi and a small PA system with microphones available for use. If you have questions about any of the above or want to talk through what you’re planning, just get in touch and we’ll do our best to make it work
Please note that our premises licence means we cannot host parties with dancing. All events at The BookCellar need to be primarily seated. Please also note that the basement is not wheelchair accessible.
All book and merchandise sales must be through the shop. If you provide your own stock, we take a 25% margin. For published books, we can manage stock ordering and returns directly with distributors on our standard terms. Food and drink must be sourced via the shop at menu prices.
