Discover Venue Hire Christchurch Options

Christchurch doesn’t just look good on a postcard, it delivers in real life. Known as the Garden City, it offers a laid-back, green cityscape with a walkable layout that makes hosting events surprisingly easy. From riverside gardens to repurposed warehouses, the city offers a diverse mix of venues, all within a short drive (or even a walk) of each other.

One of Christchurch’s biggest advantages is its convenience. The airport is only 15 to 20 minutes from the city centre by car, and slightly longer by public transport. That means less time commuting and more time enjoying your event. With direct flights from over a dozen cities across New Zealand, getting your guests here is rarely a hassle.

Christchurch is a city that balances old and new. There’s enough scale to host big corporate events, but enough charm to make it feel personal. So if you’re planning a workshop, wedding, birthday or launch, you’ll find a venue that fits with the room to make it your own.

Here’s a look at the main types of venue hire in Christchurch, and where you’ll typically find them.

Hotels with Full Services

If you’re looking for a fully serviced function venue in Christchurch, hotels around Cathedral Square and Victoria Street are ideal. These central locations offer fully serviced function rooms complete with AV equipment, in-house catering, and convenient on-site accommodation. They're ideal for conferences, corporate events, or hosting out-of-town guests who appreciate seamless convenience.

Casual Bars with Private Spaces

For a more relaxed vibe, head to the bustling suburbs of Addington or Sydenham. These areas are packed with breweries, rooftop bars, and local pubs that offer private hire rooms. Perfect for birthday parties, farewell drinks, or casual get-togethers, these spots are generally easy to book and provide flexible food and drink options to suit your budget.

Upscale Private Dining

Planning an exclusive dinner for 10 to 30 guests? The private dining rooms in Riccarton, Merivale, or the central CBD are exactly what you need. Many of these elegant spaces feature custom menus and intimate, tucked-away settings, making them ideal for intimate celebrations, crucial business dinners, or engagement parties where atmosphere and bespoke service are key.

Blank Canvas and Creative Spaces

Need a venue you can truly make your own? Explore the blank venues in Woolston and Ferrymead. These areas often feature renovated industrial spaces that are perfect for pop-ups, brand launches, art exhibitions, or any creative event where you want to bring your unique vision to life. 

Outdoor and Garden Settings

Christchurch, the "Garden City," lives up to its name with a wealth of outdoor venues and stunning garden backdrops. From the classic charm of Mona Vale to the expansive greens of Hagley Park or the picturesque countryside spots near Tai Tapu, these locations are tailor-made for open-air ceremonies, relaxed picnic-style parties, and refreshing wellness retreats.

Warehouse Venues

For an event that's modern yet unpretentious, check out the industrial venues in Sydenham and Addington. These spaces typically feature concrete floors, high ceilings, and an urban edge, making them fantastic for cocktail events, art installations, or exhibitions. Many offer a BYO (Bring Your Own) vibe, adding to their flexibility.

Winery and Countryside Escapes

Dreaming of an event that feels like a mini escape? Consider the beautiful winery estates and homesteads out in Tai Tapu, Ohoka, or Lincoln. These venues are excellent for full-weekend weddings, significant milestone birthdays, or even brand retreats, offering a picturesque countryside setting without being too far off the grid.

Whatever you’ve got on: work function, wedding, long-overdue birthday blowout, you’ll find something in Christchurch. Big spaces, garden escapes, rooftop beers, wineries just out of town. It’s all here, and it’s all surprisingly easy to pull off.

How much do venues in Christchurch cost for events?

Based on VenueNow's historic data, on average, Christchurch venues cost between 65 to 95 NZD per person for functions. For example, an event for 100 people could cost between 0-0 NZD. Costs may differ based on your food and beverage requirements, AV requirements, event date and time and the type of venue you decide to book.

What should I consider when comparing Christchurch venues for events?

There are a number of different factors you should consider when comparing Christchurch venues for events. Firstly, you should review the standing and seated capacity of the venue to see if they can fit your attendees. Next you should review the costs associated with hiring the venue such as venue hire fees, food & drink packages, additional costs such as audio-visual equipment, and whether there is a minimum spend to hire the venue. Other important factors include the location, aesthetic, amenities and facilities of the venue to understand if the venue fits all of your requirements. A great way to do this is review the venue's listings on VenueNow and review their function packs attached to the page.

How do I find and book Christchurch venues for events?

Finding and booking Christchurch venues for events is easy with VenueNow. Simply follow these steps: (1) Enter your location, event type and number of people into VenueNow's search engine. (2) Narrow down your search results by adding filters such as your event date and time, preferred room layout and budget. (3) Once you've found some venues you're interested in, visit the venue listings and send your enquiry via VenueNow. The venue will receive your enquiry immediately and respond to you within 24 hours via email. We recommend contacting 3-5 different venues to ensure you get the best price. (4) Venues will respond with a quote via email based on your requirements, and may suggest alternate dates when they can host your event. (5) Once you're happy with the quote, you can confirm your booking with the venue, pay your deposit and start planning your event.

How far in advance should I book Christchurch venues for events?

On average, VenueNow customers book a venue 90 days in advance of the event. In some cases you are able to find venues that are available at short notice, however, availability for your preferred date and time may be limited. For large corporate events or weddings, we recommend booking your venue at least 3-6 months in advance, to ensure plenty of venues are available and you can lock in the best price for your requirements. Larger events also typically require additional planning with your attendees as well as any suppliers that may be required for the event.

Can VenueNow help me find Christchurch venues for an event?

We sure can! Not only can you find and book venues via on VenueNow yourself or using our Match AI feature, our team of Venue Booking Experts can help you find the perfect venue, collect quotes from multiple venues on your behalf, negotiate the best price with venues and book venues, all for free. Simply send us your event brief and our team will be in contact with venue recommendations within 24-48 hours.