Butchers’, Founders’ and Watermen’s halls open lunches to the public from £42.50

Anyone can book lunch at three City of London livery halls, Butchers’, Founders’ and Watermen’s, which are normally kept for their members or rented out for events. Guests are generally expected to dress smartly.

Butchers’ Hall carvery lunch

Butchers’ Hall serves a three-course carvery. The day starts with drinks on the ground floor from 12.15pm. At 1pm everyone moves upstairs for the meal itself, which is served in the Great Hall. It costs £75 a head, with drinks charged on top, and bookings are taken through the hall itself. Barbican and Farringdon stations are both a short walk away.

Watermen’s Hall and Founders’ Hall dates and prices

Watermen’s Hall on St Mary at Hill is small. No other hall in the Square Mile survives from the Georgian period in its original form. It sometimes holds afternoon teas, though lunches are more common, and its 2027 dates have now been released. Every one falls on a Friday apart from the September lunch. The price is £95 per person with wine included.

All Watermen’s bookings go through The Cook & The Butler, for groups of up to eight, on 020 7620 1818. Monument Tube station is a few minutes away on foot.

Founders’ Hall is a modern building for an old company. Meals are informal, served bistro style, and there is a full bar. For 2026 it charges £42.50 for two courses or £47.50 for three, and a four-course festive menu on 9 December costs £57.50.

Prices go up in 2027 to £45.50 for two courses and £49.95 for three, with four-course festive lunches at £59.95 on 8 and 15 December 2027. Like Butchers’ Hall, it is close to Barbican and Farringdon stations.