Hire outdoor spaces

up to 1,800 people | outdoor | electric hook-ups | parking | indoor spaces available

Tonbridge Castle sits in the centre of our historic town. With excellent transport networks and nearby car parks, as well as shops, pubs and restaurants, this is an ideal location for all types of public and private events. See the layout of the lawn at Tonbridge Castle.

We’ve hosted everything from outdoor cinemas and music festivals to markets and dog shows. Our main space, the bailey lawn, is an oval area that can be cordoned off, allowing you to run ticketed events. This space also benefits from pop-up power supplies, so you’ll be able to run your electrical equipment. This means it's perfect for both day and nighttime events.

Smaller events can be held on the cannon lawn and along the river side.

You can also book our indoor spaces at the same time. You can include one or more of the following rooms:

If your event needs both indoor and outdoor spaces, please let us know at the time of booking. See how to book.

Prices

Commercial events

Contact the castle event's team direct uding details listed below.

Charity or Community events

Admin fee - per booking

Maximum attendees (at once)	Admin fee
Less than 200	£29
Between 200 and 1,000	£58
More than £1000	£116

Event fee – per day

Maximum attendees (at once)	Charge (if free to attend)	Charge (if charging to attend)
Less than 100	£20.00	£50.00
Between 100 - less than 500	£116	£150
Between 500 - 2,000	£150	£180
Between 2,001 and less than 5,000	£200	£500

Note: where events or activities require the production of bespoke legal agreements we will charge legal fees based on a rate of £217 per hour.

How to book

All outdoor events need a written event management plan and will probably need to be supported by an events organiser. If you need advice on how to do this, contact us.

Phone: 01732 844522
Email: events@tmbc.gov.uk

If you want to book both indoor and outdoor spaces, please let us know at the time of booking or when you make your enquiry.

Outdoor events booking

Facilities

electric - 16 event sockets on the lawn, two double household standard current sockets
water - drinking water is available from outside taps. Large events should provide their own water supply
toilets - there are no toilets on the castle lawn but portable toilets can be used. For open gated events, public toilets are available in the local area
disabled toilets - it may be possible to arrange access to a disabled toilet from the Green Room. You need to arrange this separately
indoor space - use of additional rooms or spaces within the castle may be possible. Please ask about these when booking
parking - search for parking
event staff parking - limited parking in the castle grounds. Some parking places can be booked before the event but may incur a charge
deliveries - vehicle access for delivering generators/portable toilets and so on by arrangement
emergency access and egress - two emergency access points

Refuse and waste water

There are no refuse facilities on site, so all waste, including wastewater must be removed from site at the end of the event. You can agree in advance to arrange delivery of additional refuse bins. Waste should be recycled where possible. Materials used must be sustainable.

Accessibility

The lawn is accessible from two entrances. It is a flat grassed surface, with a tarmac pathway around the outside. There are two sets of steps to the lawn from the castle side of the lawn, and a gentle slope to the lawn from the far side. Wheelchair or walking frame access is by a ramp inside the castle gate entrance, although travelling across the grass could be a little difficult and may require some assistance. A disabled viewing platform could be easily installed to one side of the lawn against a bank to allow for easy access for live concerts.

You'll find disabled parking bays at:

Permitted activities

children’s activities
nature groups, youth organisations such as Cubs, Guides or Explorers carrying out challenges
outdoor exercise, yoga, circuits, and personal training
licensed activities with prior approval from the correct departments such as live music, entertainment and sales of alcohol and food
festivals, fetes, fayres and exhibitions
re-enactments, historical celebrations and memorial days
outdoor cinema
parades
live bands, jazz afternoons, children’s displays and parties
pyrotechnics and fireworks may be launched from the Castle Mound with prior permission from TMBC and Tonbridge Castle Management. All pyrotechnics must be approved by TMBC before use at events

Not permitted

fires, BBQs or camping stoves unless approval granted (caterers may use BBQs if approved before the event)
drugs or illegal substances
overnight camping within the castle grounds or in the car park
banners or signs to be attached to the castle. (There are some railings that can be used with permission)

Notes:

all waste must be taken from site
all events must have Public Liability Insurance for a minimum of £5 million
any event with licensable activities such as alcohol sales, live music or regulated entertainment must have a temporary event notice licence
due to the sensitive surroundings of the castle, you may be asked to have additional security or marshals to ensure that no damage occurs
access to the lawn by vehicle is limited. Please bear that in mind when arranging vehicle deliveries
the lawn is generally in good condition from spring to autumn but may be a little wet for outdoor events over the autumn and winter months if the weather has been particularly wet