Dining in France · practical guide
Private restaurant or bar hire: define the space, capacity and included service
Private hire can cover a table, room or the entire venue. Define the actual area and exclusivity before comparing proposals.
English edition published on · Lire en français
The essentials
Obtain a written proposal separating space, setup and guest hours, food, drinks and options. Confirm capacity for the intended format, costs and the deadline for changing numbers.
- Name the exact exclusive space.
- Separate seated and standing capacities.
- List the included services.
Define the event format
Ask for a description or plan and its access. Standing capacity does not establish capacity for a seated dinner. Explain circulation, dancing or presentation requirements.
Ask whether other customers share the bar, toilets or terrace. A partly reserved venue may still have public areas.
Break down the proposal
Compare the room, meals, drinks, additional staff and equipment separately. A minimum spend is different from a fixed room-hire price.
Clarify how drinks outside the formula are counted and who authorises them. For a business event, provide the invoicing information before accepting the proposal.
Plan before and after guest arrival
Guest arrival may differ from equipment delivery, decorating time and collection afterwards. Agree on furniture, power sockets, music and coat arrangements.
Ask permission for outside suppliers. An image of a screen does not establish that it is available for the event.
Keep one usable agreement
Bring together date, space, minimum and maximum numbers, services and deadlines. Clarify change and cancellation conditions before committing and name a reachable event contact.
If the terrace is essential, agree on a fallback. Record changed conditions through the venue’s channel rather than relying on an old proposal.
- Exclusive space
- Seated or standing capacity
- Inclusions
- Setup and departure
- Written conditions
Common questions
Does partial private hire close the venue to everyone else?
No. Confirm reserved and shared areas and how the bar and toilets operate.
Use these criteria for your visit
This guide concerns dining in France. Current availability, menus and accepted requirements must be confirmed with the venue. A missing directory field remains unknown.
Continue preparing
All practical guides in English · French menus, water, payment and useful phrases