Frequently Asked Questions

• Who will look after my event?
• Sunbeam's dedicated venue manager will be there to help from your initial enquiry right through to your event.
• How do I arrange to come and view the venue?
• Simply email or call us and we will arrange for you to come and visit us. As we are a working photographic studio we have to work around the times our photographic clients are in but rest assured we can always find a time that's convenient for everybody. To make the most of your site visit we recommend reading our events brochure before you visit us, it should help organise any questions you may have regarding the venue.
• How do I decide between dry hire and package prices?
• If you are looking for a simple way to plan an event with plenty of assistance from us then the packages are your best option. If you have suppliers already lined up and you want to plan your event from beginning to end then dry hire will suit you best.
• How do I book Sunbeam for an event?
• After you come and visit the studios to ensure the space is the perfect choice for your particular event we will send you a Reservation Form which should be signed and returned along with a 20% Holding Deposit in order to reserve the date. Bookings are then confirmed once we have approved your event plan and you have approved final costs. The remaining balance must be paid at least 28 days before your event date and will include a 20% Contingency Deposit.
• What is the Contingency Deposit for?
• Our other name for the Contingency Deposit is the 'Whoops! Deposit'. It is paid on top of the venue hire fee but is fully refundable if your event goes to plan. However in the case your timing goes awry or a guest decides that your choice of red wine was wrong and dumps it on the hired sofas we have something to cover extra charges including cleaning, damage or overtime. If there are no additions to your event this deposit is refunded to you in full.
• What about my music?
• We like to boogie as much as anyone and are fully licensed until Midnight. We do however need to balance this with the council's audio restrictions which means we have to be sensible with just how loud it can go. Rest assured its loud enough for a great party and we can have DJ's, your uncle Jim singing, or simply a playlist on your ipod. That said unfortunately live band performances are not permitted. Our venue manager can talk you through how to get your music into Sunbeam.
• Can I bring my own caterer?
• Although we have an extensive and varied list of preferred caterers we are happy for you to bring an outside caterer, however if you need use of our kitchen we hire it out at £700 per day which gives you exclusive use of our kitchen from 3pm until the end of your event.
• Will I have to pay corkage?
• No. Many venues will either insist that you buy from their limited house list or will charge you a tariff per bottle that you supply. At Sunbeam we think this is outdated and we encourage you to find the right drinks for your event and avoid charges that could easily add up to over £1000. If you would like someone to assist you in selecting a great wine or a trendy cocktail, our caterers are here to help. They have extensive partnership agreements with drinks suppliers and it's their job to offer you great ideas when it comes to entertaining your guests.
• Can we use the garden?
• When hiring the Main Hall or Rootes Hall the garden at the rear of the building is included in your hire until 9pm. After this smokers can use our portico entrance which is a private covered area at the front of the building and is accessed through Talbot Hall.
• Can I park at Sunbeam Studios?
• We have a few parking spots that are free and on-site. Usually suppliers use this for loading in and out. Once an event begins however we only have two spots so if you need free parking for certain folks you'll want to prioritise.
  There are many metered parking bays around the studios available at 50p per hour. These, along with single yellow lines and resident bays are all free after 6.30pm on weekdays, 1.30pm on Saturdays and all day Sundays. If you would like to see a map of the parking available in the Sunbeam area you can download it here or from the About Us section of the website.
• Is Sunbeam in the congestion zone?
• Nope!
• What does Sunbeam do to help the environment?
• Check out our sustainability page on this site to see what we're currently up to.
• Does Sunbeam have a cloakroom?
• There is a cloakroom area set up inside the main doors in Talbot Hall. Most guests organise this as a self service cloakroom. The choice is yours, we are happy to arrange an attendant for an additional fee.