Venue at a glance
Metropolitan Bushey is a not-for-profit events and sports venue set across 36 acres in Bushey, near Watford. Originally built in 1967 by and for the Metropolitan Police as a sports and social club, the venue now welcomes everyone. It combines four function rooms with football pitches, cricket grounds, padel courts, a bowls green, a gym, bars, outdoor event space, and flexible function rooms ranging from a self-set-up studio through to a 300-capacity Ballroom.
The venue is particularly strong for community-focused events, conferences with parking, celebrations, sports-linked gatherings, and flexible private hire close to the M1 and M25. It offers up to 300 guests in the Ballroom and up to 700 total indoor capacity across the venue.
Why choose this venue
The venue sits within 36 acres and includes 200 standard parking spaces, with overflow parking for 400+ additional vehicles on the adjacent sports fields. This is unusual for venues this close to Watford and the M1, and it makes the venue especially attractive for conferences, sports events, and larger celebrations where guest parking matters. Parking is monitored by an ANPR camera system, and spaces are not guaranteed for events unless pre-arranged and paid for in advance.
Buyers can combine function rooms with patios, gardens, and outdoor sports grounds. The venue actively promotes grounds hire for festivals, concerts, team-building activities, and sports events.
The venue offers four function rooms ranging from a 300-capacity Ballroom through to a flexible dry-hire Studio, making it adaptable for both corporate and private use. It also offers a separate Masonic Temple for specialist private hire.
The venue positions itself on packages to suit every budget, with day delegate rates aimed at being accessible compared with many conference venues in Hertfordshire, particularly given the parking and catering options. Specific rates should be confirmed directly with the venue.
The Ballroom and the Glindon Room are licensed for civil ceremonies (confirm with venue), and the venue permits external catering, which can be particularly appealing for multicultural weddings and bespoke celebrations.
Planning details
Best for
- Weddings
- Conferences and training
- Community events
- Sports-related functions
- Team building
- Parties and celebrations
- Wakes and memorial gatherings
- Barmitzvahs and Batmitzvahs
- Outdoor festivals and fairs
- Networking events
Less suited to
- Luxury five-star hospitality events
- Large-scale city-centre conferences requiring rail-first access
- High-production concerts needing arena-level infrastructure
- Events requiring detailed published accessibility specifications
- Ultra-modern design-led launches
Catering
- Model The venue offers in-house catering alongside flexibility for external caterers. It references catering for weddings, conferences, children's parties, baby showers, and celebrations, and Monty's Bar & Kitchen offers all-day breakfasts, Sunday roasts, and afternoon teas. Detailed catering menu styles should be confirmed directly with the venue.
- External Outside caterers are welcomed for weddings and private events.
- Bars Fully stocked dedicated bars in the principal event spaces. Monty's Bar & Kitchen is open to the public daily from 9am.
- Dietary Allergen and dietary information should be requested directly from the venue.
Accessibility
- Features Large on-site parking provision with 200 standard spaces plus overflow
- Details Blue Badge holders acknowledged within the parking tariff terms
- Details Step-free access to the main clubhouse and playing fields
- Caveat The venue publishes an accessibility page, but detailed operational accessibility guidance was not fully confirmed in this review. Buyers should confirm lift access, step-free routes within event spaces, hearing loop availability, and accessible bathroom arrangements directly with the venue before booking.
Sustainability
- Details Metropolitan Bushey operates as a not-for-profit organisation and positions itself as a community-focused venue supporting sports clubs, local associations, and community groups. Formal environmental or sustainability policies are not currently published on the website. Confirm with the venue.
Space combinations
- Ballroom + Gardens Weddings and summer celebrations
- Ballroom + Aldenham Conferences with networking breakout
- Glindon + Patio Networking, dinners and receptions
- Studio + Outdoor Grounds Team building and activity days
Wedding notes
- Ceremonies Metropolitan Bushey is licensed for civil ceremonies and offers wedding packages ranging from intimate celebrations through to large seated receptions. The Ballroom is licensed for civil weddings and partnership ceremonies and seats up to 250 without a dancefloor. The Glindon Room is also referenced as licensed for civil ceremonies, which should be confirmed with the venue.
- Scale The Ballroom holds up to 300 standing, 250 seated without a dancefloor and 200 seated with a dancefloor.
- Notes Wedding inclusions referenced include civil ceremony licensing in the Ballroom and the Glindon Room (confirm with venue), outdoor photo opportunities across the grounds, a dedicated Ballroom bar, evening reception options and external catering flexibility. Outside caterers are welcomed, which can be particularly appealing for multicultural weddings and bespoke celebrations. Wedding package names and inclusions should be confirmed directly with the venue.
Compare event spaces
The Ballroom
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The Aldenham
A social event space with a private bar overlooking the grounds. The Aldenham combines booth seating, private bar access, and views across the grounds, creating a more relaxed…
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The Glindon
A flexible private function room with patio and garden outlook. The Glindon is a private function room suited to both private and business events, combining a stage and…
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The Studio
A bright, flexible dry-hire room for classes, parties, and meetings. The Studio is hired flexibly by the hour as a self-set-up dry-hire space, with affordable three-hour packages that…
Masonic Temple
A specialist lodge space within the venue grounds. The Masonic Temple is a Hertfordshire Freemason lodge available for private hire. Best for Masonic eventsSpecialist private hire Capacities Layout:…
Capacity matrix
| Space | Theatre | Cabaret | Reception Standing | Buffet | Sit Down Without Dancefloor | Sit Down With Dancefloor | Booth Seating | Seated Delegates | Layout | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Ballroom | 250 | 100 | 300 | 250 | 250 | 200 | - | - | - | Ask |
| The Aldenham | - | - | 120 | - | - | - | 60 | - | - | Ask |
| The Glindon | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 70 | - | Ask |
| The Studio | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 60 | Ask |
Facilities and services
Facilities & Amenities
Getting there
Metropolitan Bushey is located on Aldenham Road in Bushey, close to Watford and major motorway routes.
AddressBushey, Hertfordshire
PostcodeWD23 2TR
AreaBushey, East of England
Nearest stationBushey Station (West Coast Main Line) — around 5 minutes by car
Good forAwards and galas, Christmas parties, Conferences, Corporate events, Exhibitions, Meeting rooms
- Just off the M1, Junction 5, within around half a mile
- Close to the A41 and around 3 miles from the M25
- Bushey Station approximately 5 minutes by car, on the West Coast Main Line, with connections into Central London and Watford
- Served by local bus routes 306A, 602 and 833, with stops close to the venue entrance
- 200 standard ANPR-monitored parking spaces plus overflow parking for 400+ additional vehicles on adjacent sports fields
- Parking payment by kiosk or via the Evology Parking app — spaces not guaranteed for events unless pre-arranged and paid for in advance
Frequently asked questions
Is Metropolitan Bushey good for conferences and training days?
Yes. The venue offers four function rooms, free Wi-Fi, flexible catering, and 200 standard parking spaces with overflow available.
Does the venue have outdoor event space?
Yes. The 36-acre grounds can be hired for outdoor events, team building, concerts, festivals, and sports-related activities.
Can outside caterers be used?
Yes. The venue welcomes outside caterers for weddings and private events.
Is there parking on-site?
Yes. The venue has 200 standard ANPR-monitored parking spaces, with overflow parking for 400+ additional vehicles on the adjacent sports fields. Spaces are not guaranteed for events unless pre-arranged and paid for in advance.
Which room is best for large weddings or awards events?
The Ballroom is the venue's largest and most fully equipped event space, with capacity up to 300 standing and 250 theatre-style.
Is the venue licensed for civil ceremonies?
Yes. The Ballroom is licensed for civil weddings and partnership ceremonies. The Glindon Room is also referenced as licensed for civil ceremonies (confirm with venue).