All Laid Out: Room Layouts

Theatre

A Theatre-style layout features rows of chairs facing a stage or screen, maximising capacity within the available space. It’s ideal when the focus is on a speaker or panel, and interaction between delegates is minimal. This style works well for events such as awards ceremonies, company updates, guest speakers and annual conferences.

Some venues have a dedicated theatre space with fixed cinema‑style chairs and easy viewing of a main screen or projector. The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple has just this! A professional lecture theatre, able to host up to 120 delegates, as well as a range of other spaces for breakouts, dining and more.

Cabaret

Cabaret-style uses round tables with chairs arranged facing the front, leaving one side open toward the speaker. It blends presentation with participation, allowing delegates to easily collaborate in small groups. Cabaret is an excellent choice when you want both engagement and clear sightlines to the presenter for events such as team building, networking events and development days.

The Grand Hall at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms features arched, ornate ceilings, elegant wood panelling, and striking chandeliers, providing a hugely impressive backdrop, accommodating up to 400 guests in a cabaret layout.

Banqueting

A banqueting room layout features round tables evenly distributed across the room, designed for dining and social interaction. Ideal for gala dinners, awards nights, charity events and corporate celebrations, a banqueting layout creates an atmosphere that feels celebratory and inclusive.

St. Mellion Estate has an excellent reputation for hosting large-scale events, able to host banquets for up to 350 guests, in their St. Mellion Suite. The suite also has its own separate adjoining bar area with a large balcony. It’s an inspiring countryside conference venue, just 15 minutes from Plymouth.

Boardroom

Boardroom layout places delegates around a single large table, encouraging discussion and decision-making. It creates a professional, focused environment, ideal for planning sessions, leadership meetings, negotiations, and financial reviews. An inspiring and comfortable space can make all the difference in encouraging collaboration, creativity, and great ideas.

Dedicated exclusively to meetings and events, the first floor of The Grand Hotel Birmingham features eight boardrooms and event spaces. Each room blends original period architecture with contemporary technology, while benefiting from abundant natural daylight and an impressive sense of space.

U-Shape

In a U-shape layout, tables are arranged in a horseshoe formation, allowing a presenter to engage directly with
participants while keeping visibility across the room. This layout works best for small to medium-sized groups, offering a balance between structure and interaction. Training sessions, workshops, and presentations benefit from this type of layout.

Able to accommodate up to 50 delegates in a U-shape setup, Mosborough Hall Hotel is a great venue choice. It’s conveniently located on the Derbyshire and Sheffield border, only three miles from Junction 30 of the M1 and six miles from Sheffield Centre.