Conferences & functions
Hilgard Hall takes up to 150 people, ten minutes from O.R. Tambo and well away from traffic. Delegates who are flying in can sleep here too — which is usually the reason companies choose us.
Full-day conferences
A conference here is a straightforward thing: one room, one point of contact, and food that arrives when it should. We seat up to 150 delegates, and because we cook everything ourselves, dietary requirements are a conversation rather than a surcharge.
Delegates flying in can stay over — 17 en-suite rooms on the same property, with airport transfers available on request.
A conference day includes
- Arrival tea and coffee
- Mid-morning tea with something baked
- Lunch
- Afternoon tea and coffee with snacks
- Notepads, pens, water and mints on the table
- Ample on-site parking
Conference and function pricing is quoted per event, based on your numbers, menu and how long you need the room.
Everything else we host
The hall does not much mind what the occasion is. These are the ones we do most often.
Weddings
Ceremony in the garden, reception in the hall, or both in one place.
Conferences
Full-day corporate conferences with catering, up to 150 delegates.
Year-end functions
Company year-end parties, awards evenings and staff celebrations.
Christmas parties
December bookings fill early — enquire well ahead.
Birthday parties
Milestone birthdays, from a long lunch to a full evening.
Baby showers
Daytime gatherings in the hall or out in the garden.
Matric farewells
Matric dances and farewell dinners for local schools.
Memorials and wakes
A quiet room, tea and something to eat, arranged at short notice.
Venue and catering
Function pricing is quoted per event — the hall, your menu, and how long you need the room — so we do not publish a fixed price list. This is what is included once you book.
Hall hire includes
- Waiters and cleaners
- Manager on duty for the day
- Bridal table with frill, seating up to 10
- Draped cake table
- Draped gift table
- Draped sherry table
- Buffet display
Not included
- Drapes and fairy lights
- Flowers and table decorations
- Serviettes
Crockery, cutlery, glassware and linen can be hired from us too, and all catering is made fresh on site — buffet, spitbraai, brunch or a cocktail menu, whichever suits your day.
Tell us your date, rough numbers and what kind of day you have in mind, and we will come back with a clear quote.
Request a quoteHow we run a function
All catering is ours
We do all the cooking, so outside caterers cannot work on the property. Your menu is confirmed with us 14 days before the day. We cater generously and make provision for second helpings, though we cannot allow food to be taken away afterwards.
The bar is ours too
We run a cash bar with a barman, and guests may not bring their own liquor onto the property. The one exception is champagne, which must be delivered to the venue before 10:00 on the wedding day. The bar closes at midnight; after that the barman charges R300 an hour. If you run a tab, we ask for a 10% tip for the barman.
Music is yours to arrange
You book your own DJ or band — we have no restrictions on who, and music can start at any time of day. Do remember to count your DJ, photographer and their helpers in your guest numbers, since they need a chair and a meal too.
Decorating and taking down
Decorations can go up from 09:00 the day before, or from 09:00 on the morning itself if there is a function the night before. We need your table layout at least a day ahead. Everything comes down the day after — please arrange collection with us in advance.
Candles need protection
Open flames must sit in something fire-safe. Any damage from an unprotected candle comes off the breakage deposit.
Children are welcome, with an eye on them
Children are welcome at functions but must be supervised — we cannot take responsibility for them while they are playing on the property, and damage to the garden or irrigation comes off the breakage deposit. We ask that children play indoors after 21:00.
Smoking
Both the hall and the guest house are non-smoking, in line with national legislation. There are designated areas outside.
Parking
There is ample parking on the property and we arrange a car guard for functions. Vehicles are nonetheless parked at their owner’s risk.
Viewings
Come and see the venue by appointment, weekdays between 07:30 and 16:00, or on a Saturday if that suits you better. We do not host viewings during a function or on a wedding day — the couple whose day it is deserves our full attention.
Tell us what you are planning
Give us the date, rough numbers and what kind of day you have in mind, and we will come back with a quote.