The Complete Birthday Party Venue Rental Guide
Hip hip, hooray—it's time to blow out the candles and celebrate another wonderful year. A birthday party is a wonderful opportunity to get together with friends and family, enjoy some good food and good times, and generally just have a blast.
But if you've been given the tough job of party planner, we know that finding the right birthday party venue is at the top of your to-do list. The good news is that we've got special venues to suit birthday celebrations of all styles. From underground speakeasies to rooftop bars, laser tag venues to restaurant private dining rooms, penthouse apartments to sprawling private estates, we've got the perfect venue for whatever sort of celebration you're planning.
Add a user-friendly online booking system into the mix and you've got all the key ingredients to help you find the best birthday party venue. So don your party hat, slip on your dancing shoes, and start searching our selection of awesome venues. A Traditional London Pub w/ Roof Terrace & Private Room may be just the right place!
Birthday Party Venues Curated by Giggster
Giggster is your go-to site for unique birthday party venues. No matter whether you're planning a small and intimate gathering or a lavish feast for hundreds, you'll find special venue ideas galore with the Giggster app. Let's take a closer look at some of the unique, interesting, and exciting venues that could be the perfect fit for your next event.
- Picture yourself in a cozy rooftop bar with city skyline views. There's an acoustic musician setting the tone, the drinks are starting to flow, and you and your friends are celebrating another great year for someone special in your life. Sounds pretty great, huh?
- Leave the hustle and bustle of the city far behind on a secluded countryside estate. With acres of space and the whole venue all to yourselves, you and your guests are sure to enjoy making the most of what the property has to offer.
- Light, bright, and airy—a loft is a fabulously versatile venue that can be tailored to suit your birthday celebrations. And with high ceilings and large windows, it's a special setting for intimate birthday parties.
- Love the great outdoors? An outdoor space such as a private patio or courtyard allows you to enjoy the sun on your skin and the wind in your hair while celebrating a special occasion.
Plan an Amazing Birthday Party Starting at Just £15/hour
Exceptional Variety & Quality: Every property on Giggster is designed to offer a unique and versatile setting for your event. Whether you want a humble suburban backyard, a magnificent mansion, a welcoming pub, or just about anything else you can imagine, you'll find it with Giggster.
Hassle-Free Booking: Booking amazing venues is simple and stress-free with Giggster. Whether you're online or on our app, it's easy to compare properties and prices, review detailed venue information, and communicate directly with the host to have your questions answered.
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: You can book a special space with Giggster for just £15/hour. And with the flexibility to cancel your booking fee-free within 24 hours of receiving your confirmation, you're covered if you have to change your plans. Book at least 48 hours in advance of the party to be eligible for the policy.
Platform Protections: For extra peace of mind, our optional insurance packages will help you rest easy. So you can add damage and liability protection to cover unexpected mishaps, plus cancellation protection if there's a last-minute change of plans.
The Best Type of Venue for Your Birthday Party
Finding the best birthday party venue has never been easier, thanks to the Giggster app. And with 10000 fantastic options to choose from, your ideal birthday party is so much closer than you might think. Check out these birthday party venues when searching for your perfect space.
Bars – Something For Everyone. The factor that makes bars great venues for birthday parties is that there are locations to suit a huge range of styles. Dive bars, live music venues, cocktail lounges, beer gardens, clubs—no matter what sort of ambiance you want for your special occasion, there's a bar venue to suit.
Rooftop Lounges – Take Your Party to the Next Level. Why choose a rooftop lounge as a birthday party venue? Well, when you combine an intimate and exclusive vibe with a great view and the stars above, it's almost impossible not to host a memorable celebration.
Private Dining Rooms – Exclusive and Elegant. These sophisticated settings provide a cozy and secluded setting where you can celebrate a birthday with your friends and family. This gives you the perfect chance to spend some quality time with your nearest and dearest, savor some delicious cuisine and fine wine, and of course tuck into some birthday cake too.
Mansions – Luxe Lifestyle. Some private events call for something a little opulent, a little luxurious, and a little likely to wow your guests. And when you host your birthday party at a mansion, whether it's in a waterfront setting or on a private estate, you easily acknowledge just how special the occasion truly is.
Private Gardens – Peaceful and Private. Invite your guests to join you for a great time at your very own garden party. With beautiful foliage and flowers around you, the sun shining brightly, and a string quartet setting the mood, you'll offer a party experience no one will want to miss.
Top Features to Look for in a Birthday Party Venue
Before deciding on the best birthday party venue for the big day, stop and ask yourself what you really want in an event space. These are the key boxes an event location needs to tick to make it your perfect match.
The Right Ambiance. Decide on the party experience you want your guests to enjoy, the ambiance you want to create, and whether there will be a theme. Think about how many guests you're inviting too, as this will be critical to determining the space you choose.
The Right Price. Your budget should always be a key consideration throughout the planning and hosting process. Shop around to find a birthday party venue that offers all the features you need at an affordable price.
A Convenient Location. Once you've got your guest list sorted, consider where all your invitees will be traveling from. Make sure to choose a birthday party venue your guests can easily get to with minimal travel time.
Essential Facilities. What are the key amenities you need for a fun celebration? Is it free parking, arcade games, an outdoor space, a stage for entertainment, on-site catering, a playground for kids, a bar area, or anything else? Make a list of must-haves before you start comparing birthday party venues.
How to Plan a Birthday Party
These steps should help you stay organized and hopefully stress-free during the planning process.
Choose the Experience – Decide what sort of experience you want to offer to your guests? What sort of ambiance or theme will you offer?
Set Your Budget – Calculate how much spending money you have to work with and how much you think your event will cost. Be as detailed as possible so you can work out exactly how much you can spend.
Book a Venue – Compare properties to find birthday party venues that offer everything you need—whether that means a pool, bar, indoor and outdoor space, or anything else.
Book Catering and Entertainment – Work with a local caterer to put together a delicious food menu for your event, and don't forget about drinks. Hiring musicians and kids entertainment, not to mention ordering a cake, will help ensure a fun and successful party.
Add the Finishing Touches – Add whatever else your space needs to be the ideal birthday party venue. So if you need to rent extra furniture or equipment, add decorations, or change the layout of the room, do that now.
Birthday Party Expenses to Plan For
Don't blow your budget on hosting a birthday party. Remember to leave enough space in your budget to spend on the following expenses.
- Plan your venue hire with thought.
Awesome birthday parties call for equally awesome birthday party venues. Unfortunately, the best venues can come with a high price tag, so you might need to allow more room in your spending limit than expected. Birthday party venues start at just £15/hour on Giggster. Compare locations in your city to get an idea of average costs, and you may need to consider changing the date from the weekend to a weeknight if you really want to cut costs.
Great food is a must-have for a successful party. Compare catering companies in your area that offer affordable menus for parties and can accommodate any special requests.
- Choose your party vendors.
What other vendors do you need for your party? A florist for decorations, a photographer to capture photos of the event, or a bartending service to dispense drinks? If you're planning a birthday party for a child, you might want to hire arcade games or entertainers. Make a detailed list of expenses to ensure that you don't break the bank.
Plan Your Birthday Party with Giggster
The Giggster app makes it child's play to find the ideal setting for your next party. Start browsing and comparing our wonderful birthday party venues today—your dream space is just a tap away.
7 things you need to know about throwing a milestone birthday party
Celebrating another trip around the sun should always be a memorable occasion. But as the years pass, people tend to treat their birthday like any other day. When it comes to milestone birthdays, though, there's no excuse not to dream a little bigger and be surrounded by family, friends, and loved ones.
Milestone birthdays are what you make them. There's no right or wrong way to celebrate, and no celebration is too small. Milestone birthdays typically include when you turn 1, 15 or 16, 18, 21, 30, 40, 50, and so on. They also vary by culture. Countries like Mexico celebrate when someone turns 3 years old—it's called "presentación de tres años" or "presentation of three years." Turning 15 in many Latin American countries is also an important year marked with a "quinceañera." The first, 10th, 60th, 70th, and 80th birthdays are special in China. Turning 60, in particular, is considered a milestone. At that point, the celebrant has completed the full 60-year cycle based on Chinese astrology (comprised of 12 signs, each with five natural elements) and embarking on a new one.
Wherever you may find yourself, and however you choose to celebrate, one thing's for sure—milestone birthdays are a special occasion and mark a shift to the next stage of your life. According to a 2022 YouGov poll that surveyed 1,000 Americans asking them how they felt about their birthdays and how they spent them, half of the respondents spent time with their family almost every year. Four in 10 had a special meal. One out of 5 threw a party or get-together. And 1 in 10 celebrated with a trip.
Milestone birthdays can come with pressure and planning (and money), but it doesn't have to be a hassle. Giggster compiled seven pointers for throwing the most memorable birthday celebration, using tips and tricks from around the web.
Set an intention
Before sending out invites, set an intention for your special day. According to the YouGov poll, nearly every year, 54% of people spend their birthdays thanking God for being alive, and 38% spend their day reflecting on life. When asked how they usually feel on their birthday, 48% said they feel happy, while 24% said they feel excited. Those feelings can influence and translate into your big celebration.
If you're turning 21, you'll likely be reflecting on stepping into adulthood. If you're facing your 30th birthday, you may be mourning the loss of your roaring 20s behind, but looking forward to a new decade. Let those feelings guide the type of celebration you plan.
Once you set your intention, you can let that influence your theme. If you're leaving behind a tumultuous 20s, perhaps celebrating your 30th will be a more lowkey celebration to welcome a new era. Movies can provide a little inspiration. For example, turning 30 can mean celebrating it a la "13 Going on 30," or a 40th birthday party can look like a blast from the past and partying as if it were the '80s all over again.
Ultimately, your intention and theme will be your north star, helping you put some guardrails in place.
Make a budget and cross off the big items first
It all begins with a budget. Amanda Hudes, a creative event and wedding planner, shared with AARP that once you figure out how much you're comfortable with spending—you should start with the big-ticket items and work your way down to the smaller lower-priority items.
If you're thinking of organizing something more intimate with a close group of friends (think 6-12 people), perhaps you'll have more money to spend on things like food, travel, or party favors. But if you're looking to throw a lavish party that calls for booking a venue—then it would be wise to spend less on more to accommodate the bigger guest list.
Ultimately, remember how much you want to spend on invitations, food (including a cake or dessert), party favors, a DJ, or outsourcing any extra help if you're considering throwing a big soiree.
Get a feel for your VIP guests
Everyone leads busy lives, whether they're parents, work, or have other personal engagements—it will be nearly impossible to choose a date and location that will work for everyone. To simplify that process, identify the guests that matter the most to you and use their input to help shape your event specifics.
This smaller list of guests can help in two ways. First, it will help set the dates. Narrow your birthday celebration to two or three dates that work for you. Then, before sending out your invitation, send important guests date options to choose from, and based on your responses, figure out an ideal date. Second, if you're stuck for ideas, perhaps floating two or three preliminary celebration ideas with these VIP guests can help you narrow your choices.
Get personal, creative, and detailed with the invitation
You've got your date and location. Now it's time to send invitations. Send them out as soon as you know what you're going to do, when you're going to do it, and who you will do it with. Don't sleep on sending out those invitations—remember, it's a joyous occasion, and you want to give your guests plenty of time to plan.
Send out any type of invite you prefer, whether an e-invite or a physical one sent in the mail. Be as detailed as possible in your invitation. If you're traveling to a different city, state, or country for your milestone birthday, remind guests to buy their flight, pack their passports, and ensure they have the necessary identification and paperwork.
If you plan to be outdoors at the beach or the woods, remind your guests of the proper dress code or additional items to pack. For example, do they need to pack sunscreen? Do they need to pack extra shoes or a change of clothes? If you're going camping, will they need to provide their own tent or sleeping bag? Get your FAQs down pat. And most importantly, make sure you highlight the date and time in big, bold letters!
Buy it or (even better) DIY it: food, music, and decor
If you're throwing a party, it's time to figure out what type of food you'll serve, what music you'll play, and what vibe you'll go for when it comes to decor. Often, a DIY approach can add that personal touch that makes celebrations memorable.
When it comes to food, if you're throwing a party with dozens of people—you may get the most bang for your buck for a caterer who can whip up tacos for a couple of hours, or you could order finger foods like sandwiches, sliders, mini wraps and so on to keep the atmosphere casual.
According to Roaming Hunger, the caterer you hire will depend on the type of event you're throwing. For small events (10-40 people), drop-off catering may cost an average of $12-20 per person; buffet-style catering will cost you $25-50 per person on average; food struck catering or mobile catering will be about $20-40 per person; and private chefs or custom catering will be on the pricier end at about $120 or more per person.
For those with guests who are more skilled in the kitchen, consider a potluck and ask your guests to bring an entree, side, or dessert. Even better, their dish can have a theme based on the party, or it can be something that reminds them of you. These dishes could then double as conversation starters.
Hiring a DJ might be your best bet if you book a venue or throw a backyard shindig, but it may also use a significant portion of your budget. According to The Knot, the average cost of a DJ starts at $1,500. If you're trying to save money, investing in a loud party speaker, whether purchasing one online or renting it out, might be a good option.
The decor is where you can get creative. Buy flowers in bulk, for example, and make your floral arrangements, or hit up a thrift store and scour for unique vases or glasses to use at your birthday celebration. If you want to make even more memories, invite your guests to help you create birthday decorations, such as photo booth backdrops or balloon arches.
Appoint your personal paparazzi
Save yourself money on a professional photographer (which can cost an average of $100 to $250 per hour, according to Fash) or a videographer (which could cost $75 to $350 per hour or $700 to $2,000+ per day)—and let your friends capture the best, unguarded moments of the day.
Provide Polaroid cameras, extra packs of film, or disposable cameras people can use to snap photos throughout the celebration. Or, set up a shared folder where everyone can drop in their cellphone photos at the end of the party. Be sure to let your guests know ahead of time where to upload their pictures or contribute their snapped shots. Looking through their photos at the end of the party will surely give you a new perspective on your big day for years to come.
