History

The Colosseum was constructed in 1938 as the Watford Town Hall Assembly Rooms. It was built by Charles Cowles-Voysey to a design by the acoustician Hope Bagenal, who famously refurbished the Royal Albert Hall and configured the Royal Festival Hall.

It has been deemed 'the finest recording venue in the world' and the auditorium has been used to record the soundtracks of such epic blockbusters as Lord Of The Rings, The Sound Of Music and Star Wars. In 1995 Luciano Pavarotti immortalised Verdi's Inno delle Nazioni with the Philharmonia Chorus there, and the BBC Concert Orchestra have often played at the venue in later years.

You can exchange rings and vows in the same room where Elton John, Genesis, Robbie Williams, One Direction and more have appeared over the years and, as a leading music venue, it is quite certain there will be more big names there in years to come.

Facilities

Able to accommodate wedding celebrations of literally any size - with room for up to 1400 evening party guests - two rooms in the theatre are licensed for civil ceremonies and can host receptions. Both spaces can be set up in a number of different ways.

The Auditorium

The main Auditorium at Watford Colosseum is where all the magic happens, and the impressive space is ideal for huge theatrical civil ceremonies and perfect for the largest wedding receptions. The sheer size of it means it is very popular for Asian weddings.

Civil Ceremony Capacity - 1280 Guests
Wedding Breakfast Capacity - 600 Guests
Evening Reception Capacity - 1400 Guests

The Forum

This considerably smaller function space is located adjacent to the Auditorium, and is ideally suited to more modest-sized events.

Civil Ceremony Capacity - 160 Guests
Wedding Breakfast Capacity - 120 Guests
Evening Reception Capacity - 200 Guests

Catering

Enjoy fresh, seasonal dishes served by the in-house caterers at Watford Colosseum. The menus are wonderfully adaptable with lots of vegetarian options, and are ideal for those with special dietary requirements. A wide array of meat and fish is also offered, as well as hot and cold canapés. However, bespoke ideas will be welcomed, and a menu-tasting is offered to the wedding couple.

Accommodation

Watford Colosseum has no accommodation, but a local hotel, The Grove, can offer discounted group rates for wedding parties. Both Watford train stations, with excellent connections to Central London and other parts of the UK, are within walking distance.

To get in touch with the wedding events team at Watford Colosseum, please use the contact details below this listing.