If you’re searching for private hire venues, you might have come across the term “dry hire.”
What Does Dry Hire Mean?
Dry hire (or “dry venue hire”) means you’re booking the space only - without any extras like catering, staff, furniture, or bar services. It’s just the venue itself, giving you total freedom to bring in your own suppliers. This is popular for weddings, brand events, or cultural celebrations where hosts want full creative and logistical control.
Dry Hire vs Wet Hire: What’s the Difference?
With wet hire, the venue includes more services: such as in-house catering, drinks packages, bar staff, or even DJs and entertainment. You’re paying for the convenience of a full-service experience. With dry hire, you’re essentially renting the blank canvas - and the rest is up to you. You’ll need to arrange your own catering, drinks, staff, décor, and equipment (if not already included).
When Is Dry Hire a Good Option?
Dry hire is perfect for thing like DIY weddings with custom vendors, cultural events with specific food and traditions, brand launches or pop-ups that need complete creative freedom, event planners who want to bring in their own team and suppliers It can sometimes be cheaper, but it often requires more planning and organisation on your end.
Booking a Dry Hire Venue Through VenueFuel
Not all venues offer dry hire - but VenueFuel can help you find the ones that do. Whether you’re planning a self-styled wedding or a custom event, we’ll connect you with the right space.
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