Assembly Rooms Cafe By Searcys

We had a delightful guided tour in September while the building was undergoing extensive renovation. The tour guide was fantastic, friendly, and knowledgeable, despite the background noise of construction. The highlight for me was the breathtaking chandeliers. I highly recommend a visit, especially once the renovations are complete.

What a wonderful experience! I was taken on a guided tour of the rooms, which was supposed to last for 1 hour, but ended up going on for almost 2 hours because the entire group was so fascinated by the history and stories behind them. The rooms and decorations were absolutely beautiful. I am excited to see what they have planned for it when it reopens in 2026!

This restaurant is incredible and stunning, and it's free for National Trust members. There are several impressive rooms to explore. The opening hours are currently limited due to renovations, but it's definitely worth a visit. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable.

The limestone building has a slate hipped roof. It is rectangular with a projecting doric portico entrance and an extension to the rear. The interior is laid out in a U shape, with the larger Ball Room and Tea Room along either side with the octagonal Card Room at the end. The rooms have Whitefriars crystal chandeliers. The Ballroom has five chandeliers and capacity for up to 500 people. It is over 100 feet (30 m) long and nearly 45 feet (14 m) wide. The ceiling is 42 feet (13 m) high. The Tea Room holds up to 250 people. It was the location for a banquet attended by The Prince of Wales for the BBC television series the Great British Menu. It is 60 feet (18 m) long and 42 feet (13 m) wide. The Octagon is named for the shape of the room and has four fireplaces. It is 42 feet (13 m) across. It originally held an organ in the musicians gallery. In 1777 the Card Room was added. If you're a national trust member, then it's worth a look, but for non-members it is £9 and there are only empty rooms to see at the moment, national trust are still working on it, and are still making discoveries, they have just discovered more down in the cellars. You must book on the web- site to see it as well.

Fascinating historic assembly hall, demolished by the Luftwaffe in WW2, painstakingly rebuilt in the 50s. Really well worth a visit. We were very lucky to be offered a guided tour we didn't expect one!