The best event venues in Blenheim range from a vineyard barrel hall to a purpose built theatre, with function rooms, catering, audio visual gear and accommodation attached. Whether you are planning a wedding, a company conference, a product launch or a milestone birthday, these venues hire out spaces sized from a boardroom of eight to a hall of several hundred. Wither Hills and Scenic Hotel Marlborough sit at the top of the list.
1Wither Hills
Wither Hills is a working winery on New Renwick Road at Burleigh, a short drive from central Blenheim, with a restaurant and cellar door built around a barrel hall and an elevated courtyard looking over the vines to the Richmond Ranges. Its own site describes it as one of Marlborough’s finest function venues, with spaces that run from a private meeting for eight guests through to a multi themed cocktail event. It suits weddings, day conferences and private dining where the winery setting is part of the occasion.
Services
- Exclusive wedding ceremonies in the barrel hall and outdoor courtyard
- Wedding receptions and private dining in the tasting room
- Day conferences, meetings and boardroom sessions
- Cocktail parties and private dinner functions
- Restaurant dining and wine tastings for event guests
Highlights
- Six hireable spaces: barrel hall, tasting room, pavilion, courtyard, lounge and boardroom
- Barrel hall with vaulted arches and native timber ceilings, lined with maturing oak barrels
- Pavilion framed with schist stone archways and panoramic views to the west
- Certified B Corporation
- Event management team that runs each function from conception to completion
Location & Contact
Name: Wither Hills
Address: 211 New Renwick Road, Burleigh, Blenheim 7272
Phone: 03 520 8284
Website: witherhills.co.nz
2Scenic Hotel Marlborough
Scenic Hotel Marlborough sits on Alfred Street in the middle of Blenheim and runs two purpose built conference rooms alongside its restaurant and bar. The larger Marlborough Room takes 130 guests theatre style or 150 for a cocktail function, and the hotel handles catering, equipment and accommodation for delegates in house. It is the practical choice for a conference or wedding where guests need to stay on site and walk to town.
Services
- Conferences, seminars and business meetings
- Wedding ceremonies, receptions and special occasions
- Banquets and private dinner functions
- Onsite catering and beverage service from the hotel food and beverage team
- Guest accommodation and leisure activity bookings for delegates
Highlights
- The Marlborough Room, 14.5m by 11.5m on the ground floor with a built in sound system
- The Chart Room, a smaller daylit space with doors opening into the bar and courtyard
- Savvy Bar off the main lobby for casual daytime functions of up to 20 guests
- Published conference and wedding information packs covering delegate packages, catering and equipment hire
Location & Contact
Name: Scenic Hotel Marlborough
Address: 65 Alfred Street, Blenheim 7201
Phone: 03 520 6187
Website: scenichotelgroup.co.nz/blenheim/scenic-hotel-marlborough
3Spy Valley Wines
Spy Valley Wines is a vineyard venue at Lake Timara Road West in the Waihopai Valley, on a rural Blenheim address reached from Waihopai Valley Road. The function room and cellar door hold 80 guests for a cocktail party or 50 seated, and the adjoining lawn takes a marquee for up to 150. Guests bring their own caterer to work in the commercial kitchen, which makes it a flexible option for couples and organisers who want to shape the day themselves.
Services
- Wedding ceremonies on the tasting room lawn and cellar door area
- Wedding receptions and celebration lunches in the function room
- Marquee events on the lawn for up to 150 guests
- Board meetings and theatre style meetings in the upstairs boardroom
- Cellar door tastings for event guests
Highlights
- Award winning architecture and landscaping with views across the vines to the Richmond Ranges
- Function room with an open fire in winter and sliding doors onto the lawn in summer
- Boardroom overlooking the Waihopai Valley, seating 12 at the board table or 40 theatre style
- Commercial kitchen available to a caterer of your choice
- Projector, screen and whiteboard available, with wines supplied at cellar door prices on a per bottle consumption basis
Location & Contact
Name: Spy Valley Wines
Address: 37 Lake Timara Road West, RD6 Blenheim, Marlborough 7276
Phone: 03 572 6088
Website: spyvalleywine.co.nz
4Carnmore Chateau Marlborough
Carnmore Chateau Marlborough, previously known as Chateau Marlborough, is a five star hotel on High Street in the middle of Blenheim with three conference rooms that can be used separately or opened into one larger space. Alongside the meeting rooms it offers private dining, poolside alfresco areas and the Quench restaurant and bar for functions. With 80 rooms under the same roof it works well for corporate groups and wedding parties who want everything in one place.
Services
- Business meetings, workshops and team planning sessions
- Conferences, corporate presentations and product launches
- Private dining, celebrations and intimate weddings
- Work functions and Christmas parties in the restaurant, bar and poolside areas
- Group accommodation, block bookings and delegate rates
Highlights
- Three conference rooms that combine into one large space with adjoining catering facilities, and boardrooms seating up to 35
- Every conference room fitted with a data projector and screen, TV with HDMI, casting facilities, whiteboards and wireless broadband
- 80 hotel rooms and suites on site for delegates and wedding parties
- Free onsite parking, ten minutes from Blenheim airport and a short walk from the town centre
Location & Contact
Name: Carnmore Chateau Marlborough
Address: 95-117 High Street, Blenheim Central, Blenheim 7201
Phone: 03 578 0064
Website: marlborough.carnmore.co.nz
5Whitehaven Theatre Marlborough and Marlborough Events Centre
Whitehaven Theatre Marlborough, formerly the ASB Theatre, is a purpose built venue on the Taylor River in the Blenheim CBD that opened in March 2016, and the same team operates the adjoining Marlborough Events Centre on behalf of the Marlborough District Council. Between the theatre and the events centre they host conferences of up to 500 attendees, along with performances, exhibitions and school functions. Because the events centre is a council owned facility rather than a private venue, hire runs through the theatre’s booking team and dates work around the performance programme.
Services
- Conferences, keynote addresses and seminars
- Banquets, dinners, award presentations and cocktail functions
- Trade exhibitions and product displays
- Live performances, concerts and school functions
- Ticketing and box office services for public events
Highlights
- McLauchlan Family Auditorium, a 700 seat purpose built lyric theatre with split level seating
- Marlborough Events Centre with acoustically designed movable walls, set as one grand hall or three separate rooms
- Events centre capacity of 400 theatre style, 250 banquet style, or 40 trade stands
- Whitehaven Wine Room overlooking the Taylor River, with a fully removable wall into the main foyer
- Anderson Theatre for breakout sessions, small concerts and intimate gatherings
Location & Contact
Name: Whitehaven Theatre Marlborough and Marlborough Events Centre
Address: 2 Hutcheson Street, Blenheim 7201
Phone: 03 520 8558
Website: whitehaventheatre.co.nz
Event Venues in Blenheim at a Glance
| Business | Based in | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Wither Hills | Burleigh | Six hireable spaces |
| Scenic Hotel Marlborough | Blenheim | The Marlborough Room |
| Spy Valley Wines | RD6 Blenheim | Award winning architecture and landscaping with views across the vine... |
| Carnmore Chateau Marlborough | Blenheim Central | Three conference rooms that combine into one large space with adjoini... |
| Whitehaven Theatre Marlborough and Marlborough Events Centre | Blenheim | McLauchlan Family Auditorium |
How to Choose the Right Event Venue in Blenheim
- Match the room to the format, not just the headcount. A space that seats 130 theatre style will hold far fewer at banquet tables, so ask for the capacity in the layout you actually want.
- Check whether catering is in house or brought in. Hotels and the theatre supply their own kitchens, while some vineyard venues expect you to bring a caterer to work in theirs.
- Work out where guests will sleep. A venue with rooms on site removes the transport problem for an evening function, which matters more once wine is being served.
- Confirm the audio visual list in writing. Projectors, screens, sound systems and casting facilities vary between rooms in the same building.
- Think about the season. Outdoor lawns, courtyards and marquee sites need a sheltered wet weather option, and indoor spaces with an open fire or good natural light make a difference in winter.
Frequently Asked Questions About Blenheim Event Venues
What kinds of event venues can you hire in Blenheim?
Blenheim covers four broad types: hotels with dedicated conference rooms, winery and vineyard venues with barrel halls and lawns, a purpose built theatre and events centre in the CBD, and restaurants with private dining spaces. The right one depends on whether your priority is capacity, catering, accommodation or setting.
Which Blenheim venue can hold the largest event?
The Marlborough Events Centre, operated alongside Whitehaven Theatre Marlborough, is the largest of the venues listed here. It takes 400 guests theatre style or 250 for a banquet, and the adjacent McLauchlan Family Auditorium seats 700 for a performance or keynote.
Do I need a licence to serve alcohol at my event?
If alcohol will be sold at your event, including where the cost is built into a ticket price, you need a special licence from the Marlborough District Council. Applications must be lodged at least 20 working days before the event, and larger alcohol focused events may need someone holding a current manager’s certificate on site. Details and forms are on the council’s special licence page. Licensed venues such as hotels and cellar doors will usually handle this as part of the booking.
Can I bring my own caterer?
It depends on the venue. Spy Valley Wines has a commercial kitchen that a caterer of your choice can work in, while hotels such as Scenic Hotel Marlborough and Carnmore Chateau Marlborough cater from their own kitchens and restaurants. Ask early, because it shapes both the budget and the menu.
Are there vineyard venues near Blenheim for weddings?
Yes. Wither Hills at Burleigh offers ceremonies in its barrel hall and courtyard with receptions in the tasting room, and Spy Valley Wines in the Waihopai Valley has a tasting room lawn for ceremonies and space for a marquee holding up to 150 guests.
Do Blenheim event venues have accommodation on site?
Several do. Carnmore Chateau Marlborough has 80 rooms and suites with group rates and block bookings, and Scenic Hotel Marlborough combines its conference rooms with guest accommodation. Vineyard and theatre venues do not, so out of town guests will need rooms nearby.
What audio visual equipment is usually included?
Most conference spaces here come with a data projector and screen, whiteboards and wireless internet. Carnmore Chateau Marlborough also lists HDMI connection and casting facilities in each room, the Marlborough Room at Scenic Hotel Marlborough has a built in sound system, and Spy Valley Wines can provide a projector, screen and whiteboard for boardroom meetings.
How far ahead should I book a venue in Blenheim?
Book as early as you can, particularly for weekend weddings and for dates around the region’s wine and food events, when hotels and vineyard venues fill first. If your event needs a special licence, allow for the council’s 20 working day application window on top of the venue booking itself.
How We Chose the Best Event Venues in Blenheim
Every business in this guide was found by searching for event venues in Blenheim, then checked against its own website. Names, addresses and phone numbers are taken from the business’s own site rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what they publish themselves. We also check that each one is actually based in or genuinely serving Blenheim, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business with no website of its own is not listed, because there is no primary source to verify it against.