Room Hire

Our extensive Grade II*- listed building has a number of fabulous rooms, halls and theatres available for hire.

By hiring a room in our building, you are also contributing to the BMI’s charitable aims; revenue raised from room hire contributes to our cultural programme.

Located in a Grade II* listed building, the BMI has a thriving programme of cultural and educational activities, which includes a wide spectrum of arts and science lectures, exhibitions and concerts.

The building is also a venue for many externally-organised events and can be booked for conferences and meetings. Situated on Margaret Street beside the Birmingham School of Art and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, we are within walking distance of local and national travel networks, including tram, bus and train; our building is conveniently located just 5 minutes from Snow Hill station. Each room in the BMI is fitted with AV equipment and there is free Wi-Fi throughout the building. We have spaces suitable for small and large scale events such as meetings, training days, conferences and performances. We also boast two large auditoria which seat up to 240 people. We have in-house caterers who can provide delicious food and refreshments for your event.

Contact Us

Opening hours:

Monday: 8am - 5pm
Tuesday: 8am - 9pm
Wednesday: 8am - 9pm
Thursday: 8am - 5pm
Friday: 8am - 5pm
Saturday: 8am - 5pm
Sundays and Bank Holidays: Closed

Café times are 10am - 3pm Mon - Sat.

Accessibility (disabled) is currently limited but staff are happy to be of assistance. Please call in advance to discuss your specific needs before visiting.

  • The Lyttelton Theatre

    Named in honour of our long association with the Lyttelton family, many of who have been Presidents.

    Accommodates up to 240 people. Accessible to wheelchair users.

    No natural daylight. Grand Piano available to hire in this room.

    £395

  • The Charles Dickens Hall

    Charles Dickens was our 16th President and gave talks to raise money to build the original Institute building.

    Accommodates up to 100 people (theatre style). Accessible to wheelchair users. Grand piano available to hire in this room.

    £425

  • The John Peek Room

    Accommodates up to 60 people. Accessible to wheelchair users.

    £365

  • The George Dawson Room

    Accommodates up to 10 people. Accessible to wheelchair users.

    £198

  • The Sir Arthur Sullivan Hall

    Sir Arthur Sullivan was our 35th President in 1888. This new room built in 2022 can accommodate up to 80 people.

    Accessible to wheelchair users. Grand piano available to hire in this room.

    £425

  • The Guglielmo Marconi Hall

    Named after our 68th President, Guglielmo Marconi, the winner of the 1909 Nobel Prize for Physics and inventor of radio.

    Accommodates up to 80 people. Accessible to wheelchair users.

    No natural daylight.

    £265

  • The Sir William Blake Richmond Gallery

    Named after Sir William Blake Richmond, our 55th President and prominent artist, who is noted for his mosaics in St Paul’s Cathedral.

    Accommodates up to 20 people. Accessible to wheelchair users.

    £198

  • Dame Rachel Waterhouse Room

    Accommodates up to 20 people.

    £198

  • The Ryland Room

    The Ryland Room is named after one of our founding members, Arthur Ryland (an ancestor of the suffragette Bertha Ryland who slashed a painting in the BMAG to protest women's suffrage).

    It's a great room for a meeting in central Birmingham, with seating for 18 people theatre-style or up to 12 board-room style, a large flatscreen for presentations and wheelchair access via the lift.

    Contact for Hire

The Library

Featuring over 120,000 books

The BMI Library, traces its origins back to 1779, when button manufacturer John Lee, founded it. This private lending library was categorised in 1781 by Dr Joseph Priestley.

Learn more