Wet hire vs Dry hire guide

October 16, 2025

Choosing a venue space for your event can be a difficult task – there are so many options out there that it can be hard to decide which one would work for you. If you need some help narrowing down your options, one way to consider venues is through whether they are wet hire or dry hire spaces.

What does dry hire mean?

The dry hire meaning is straightforward; it refers to a venue that only provides the use of the space that they have, such as a hall or room.

While this could seem like an easy decision to choose between to begin with, we’d like to explain the benefits and drawbacks of each venue type so that you can see why a wet hire venue may be better for your event than a dry hire venue.

Advantages and disadvantage of Wet Hire Venue Spaces

In comparison to wet hire, hiring a dry hire event space will only allow you the use of the space itself without any services. Everything else you need for your event you would have to provide yourself. This can seem a disadvantage but not having provided services means that you can be flexible about what providers and businesses you’d like to use in conjunction with your event, and you have control over how they are organised.

However, while you will have a greater choice of suppliers with a dry hire venue in London, these suppliers will often have a lot less experience working at your chosen venue since they don’t work there all the time. This can mean that a lot more responsibility falls on your shoulders to make sure everything runs smoothly, and any issues may take longer to sort out.

In terms of cost, hiring the venue itself will most often be cheaper than a wet hire alternative, however, the cost overall will be higher since you will have to pay for all the suppliers yourself

What does Wet hire mean?

‘Wet hire’ allows you to not only use the venue space but also their caterers, drinks, event designers and audio-visual services.

Advantages and disadvantage of Wet Hire Venue Spaces

When you hire a wet hire venue space, you don’t just get the use of the room or hall you’re hiring, but also a host of other services. You can benefit from the venue’s catering services, their event design team and any audio-visual services that they provide.

The benefit to this, especially with catering, is that using the venue’s regular suppliers can make the running of your event much smoother. These suppliers will be familiar with the layout and access restrictions of the venue, so the event will be able to run much more slickly, and they will be more prepared to deal with any issues that come up.

However, there are moments when using a wet hire venue could also be seen as a potential restriction, depending on how you wish to run your event. While you do get the use of the venue’s caterers and other service providers, it means that you can’t use your own. So, unfortunately, if you had one specific service that you wanted to use, such as a specific event designer, you may not be able to use them with a wet hire venue. What you should remember though, is that because the services that the venue provides know the venue better, they may be able to better realise the vision you have for your event than the services that you may want to bring in.

The final point regarding wet hire venue spaces can be considered as either positive or negative, depending on your budget. The cost to hire the venue and its services may be more expensive than the cost of hiring a dry hire venue space, but a wet hire will most likely cost less overall as you don’t have to hire any additional services beyond what is already provided.

Dry Hire vs Wet Hire Wedding Venues

When it comes to planning your dream wedding, the choice between dry hire and wet hire is a big decision; below are some of the considerations you’ll need to factor in when choosing between dry and wet hire for your wedding at The Brewery in London.

Opting for dry hire means you have the freedom to select and bring in all your own suppliers, including caterers, decorators, and equipment suppliers. This flexibility allows you to curate every aspect of your wedding, however, it also requires meticulous planning and coordination on your part so that all the elements come together seamlessly.

This can cause unnecessary stress around your wedding and you may spend your time worrying about details instead of enjoying your big day. Taking a wet hire approach simplifies the planning process and alleviates some of the logistical burdens, as our experienced team will take care of everything. While this may limit certain aspects of customisation, it will allow you to be present during the day and focus on your wedding and being with your loved ones.

When taking a wet hire approach, you'll have a team of experienced professionals who will work closely with you to understand your vision, coordinate with vendors, and manage the setup and execution of your wedding. Their expertise and familiarity with the venue can streamline the planning process and give you peace of mind on your special day.

From a cost perspective, dry hire can be more budget-friendly as you can shop around and negotiate prices with a number of external vendors. However, you’ll need to factor in the additional costs of hiring individual vendors, as well as any extra equipment or staffing requirements. Wet hire at The Brewery provides the convenience of having most services included in a single package, which can make budgeting and planning for your wedding easier. While the initial cost may be higher compared to dry hire, it often includes essential services such as catering, staffing, and audiovisual equipment. This can help streamline your expenses and provide more certainty in your wedding budget.

In the end, whether you choose dry hire or wet hire for your wedding at The Brewery, it's important to weigh the advantages and considerations carefully. Consider how much you’d like to customise your wedding as well as budget constraints, logistical preferences and the amount of time and effort you're willing to invest. The Brewery offers both options, ensuring that you can create the wedding of your dreams, tailored to your unique vision and requirements.

Wet Hire and Dry Hire FAQs

What is wet hire?

Wet hire is where you hire the venue space as well as the services, for example; the caterers, drinks, event designers and audio-visual services.

What is a dry hire venue?

Dry hire is where you hire the space on its own and provide the services for your event yourself or hire third-party suppliers.

Why wet hire is better than dry hire

Hosting an event can be stressful – wet hiring gives you peace of mind knowing that everything is being taken care of. Wet hire also often turns out to be cheaper than dry hire, so it saves you time and money.

We train our sales team with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust to ensure they help you select the most appropriate wines, cocktails or beers for your event. We'll make the right choice based on your guests and event type.

We hand-pick all the wines we serve, from both old and new worlds. We work with suppliers of different sizes to ensure global reach and also access to smaller boutique growers.

Why Choose us to Host Your Wet Hire Event?

The Brewery, located in the historic East End of London, is the ideal venue for wet hire events, offering versatility, sophistication, and top-tier service. Housed in an 18th-century brewery, it combines historic charm with contemporary design, featuring exposed brickwork, high ceilings, and modern lighting and sound systems.

With a variety of unique spaces, from The Porter Tun to intimate lounges, The Brewery can accommodate any event size or style. Our experienced team ensures flawless event execution, while our skilled chefs provide exceptional cuisine using locally sourced ingredients.

Conveniently near Liverpool Street Station, The Brewery offers easy access for all guests, making it perfect for corporate galas, weddings, and product launches.