Derby’s iconic Silk Mill stands on the site of what is widely regarded as the world’s first factory and is the gateway to the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site. Grade II listed and soon to be opened as the Museum of Making, this impressive 18th Century building offers a stunning industrial backdrop for your event on the banks of the River Derwent. The centrepiece of the Civic Hall is a Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine suspended above your head!

We have a range of premier meeting rooms, gallery spaces and halls available to hire for large events. We also offer a variety of catering packages from our very own River Kitchen.

The River Kitchen celebrates rich Derbyshire heritage within their ingredients and inspiration and have created some fantastic menus to inspire your palate, they will use these as a starting point for you to then tailor the menu to suit your tastes and budget.

Testimonials:

A former silk mill reborn as a contemporary cultural hub, the Museum of Making is a symphony of exposed brick, iron beams, glass walkways, and soft northern light—a space that feels as if it were curated for the pages of Vogue itself. There’s a quiet grandeur in its industrial bones, a raw romance in its textures. This isn’t a blank canvas—it’s a canvas with soul.

Read the full blog post from Alilophoto here.

Thank you so much for making Sunday night the best it could have been under the circumstances. When I first met you, you said that you would try your best to fulfil what I wanted for the evening and you surpassed that. I have had lots of feedback from guests and they all said the same as I felt. The staff were very friendly, helpful and courteous. The food was outstanding. The room was beautiful, you both were very helpful on the night and the planning towards it. Richard Murphy 

Please contact our Venue Hire team on venuehire@derbymuseums.org for more information. We look forward to hearing from you!

Image © Jenny Appleton