7 Melbourne Bayside Venues For Under 50 Guests

With Covid-19 restrictions easing and the Christmas party season happening within mere months, it's time to book venues for your summer entertaining. Whether you're seeking a space for your staff party or a VIP client thank you dinner, here's a range of options in bayside Melbourne. Let's make our way down bayside...

Mr & Mrs P, North Brighton
An instant hit with locals seeking a sophisticated space since it opened in 2017 [editorial admission: it is a personal favourite of My Event Decor], Mr & Mrs P offers its patrons an inviting, grown-up wine bar with the most gourmet bar menu you've ever tasted.

One minute's walk from North Brighton train station, fronting onto Bay St, North Brighton, the narrow exposed brick wall features a towering industrial-decor bar shelving unit to the right, a tiny area at the front for a solo artist or duo act and bar tables.

Upstairs is an intimate dining space complete with lush faux foliage wall. Book out the entire venue for up to 100 guests for cocktails, upstairs for up to 36 seated, 55 for drinks or the courtyard for up to 30 cocktail guests.

The Deck, North Brighton
Three minutes walk down Bay St, North Brighton from Mr & Mrs P, The Deck has been renovated during Covid-19. The Deck offers both an undercover section which opens out on the street-facing timber deck for up to 60 guests seated, or up to 150 people for a cocktail party and its unexpectedly large function space at the back, The Aviary Room which seats up 75 guests or 150 for a cocktail party.

Note: for HR managers trying to accommodate all their employees' food preferences, The Deck offers a "paleo menu" free of gluten, grains, wheat, dairy and refined sugar.

White Rabbit, Middle Brighton
Clearly, this is the place you've got to book if you want to book a fun sit-down dinner event with an Alice in Wonderland theme for your guests. Right next to the Middle Brighton train station (for ease of transport options), White Rabbit with its etched images of the busy White Rabbit and his timepiece, seats up to 70 guests inside for a sit-down staff or Christmas party dinner.

Please note: they do not cater for cocktail parties.

The Button Factory, Cheltenham
This is the only bayside Melbourne warehouse venue listed here but it does offer smaller, more intimate spaces within.

The Button Factory, a 13-minute walk from Southland train station on the Frankston line features The Studio Space for up to 70 people. Perfect for cocktails, if you've got someone talented with tinkling on the ivories it features a black Yamaha C3 piano. This area opens up to the 90-person capacity covered Garden Space lined with tropical plants and centred around the wood-fired pizza oven which could be a favourite spot should Melbourne put on one of its notoriously sudden chills in summertime.

The Gallery Space, adjacent to the Garden, suits art gallery showings of up to 70 guests. Upstairs covering the entire floor is the massive MaxArt space which has 250-person capacity, disabled access, kitchen facilities, change room and makeup area, 3-phase power and AV equipment.

S Lounge, Black Rock
In view of the Clock Tower roundabout on Beach Road at Black Rock is S Lounge.

This venue exclusively supports local bands, jazz musicians, solo artists and pianists; while there is even a karaoke bar, you cannot bring in your own DJ or band.

With its palm leaf wallpaper it has a summery feel. Please note: The S Lounge cannot be booked exclusively for events Thursday-Sunday nights but you can have a dedicated area set aside for your group. Once Melbourne is allowed to have bigger events, S Lounge can accommodate up to 120 guests.

 

Gin Dispensary, Beaumaris

Keep driving down Beach Road from S Lounge and on the site of the old Beaumaris Hotel is the Gin Dispensary.

Beaumaris locals have been crying out for a new venue since the hotel closed for redevelopment in 2014, and Gin Dispensary, which opened June 2020 has already been booked for a number of functions throughout 2021.

The modern venue features a wraparound blonde wood bar on street level and, downstairs, a cosy Chesterfield lounge area with an attractive wooden-panelled courtyard. 

You can sample their own range of gin, and the boutique Victorian wines and beers, and enjoy the delicious pizzas (the chilli prawn one is amazing) and pastas from next-door cafe, Vincent's, delivered to your table. Upstairs capacity is for 60 people including outside seating, downstairs can seat 26 or up to 40 people for drinks.

The Corner Store, Mentone
The double-fronted Corner Store is just one minutes' walk from Mentone train station on the Frankston line (and it has a free car park underneath), and being one-level, it's wheelchair-friendly.

Popular with locals for brunch, lunch and dinner daily, the glass-fronted, blue-timber-panelled venue, mildly historical/industrial in feel, with its panoramic sepia photos of Mentone, display of antique metal scales, and giant glass cage lanterns, can be booked exclusively for 40 people for a sit-down dinner to up to 120 for a cocktail party.

Book The Scale Room (38 seated, 100 standing), The Nook (40 seated, 60 for cocktails) or The Bar (50 for dinner, 80-person cocktail party).

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