Private hire at Rumour (formerly Tabu) means taking over one intimate Mayfair room of about 200 guests, built around booths, for a corporate night, a private party or a launch. Because the club is a single room rather than several, a takeover is a realistic option for a company or a big celebration, and its no-photography policy is a reason discreet corporate and private events choose it. Rumour opens Wednesday to Saturday, 11pm to 4am, as of October 2026. We arrange hire enquiries at no cost to you, and the venue quotes the terms on request.
The Room You Are Hiring
Rumour is at 1 Dover Street, Mayfair, London W1S 4LD. Green Park is a few minutes away, and Piccadilly Circus and Bond Street are both walkable, so guests can arrive from most of the West End without a car.
It is one room of around 200 capacity, built around booths: deep red velvet, dark panelling, a chandelier and low, warm lighting. On a normal night it fills early by design. The music is open format, hip hop, RnB and house, read to the room on the night.
Why One Room Suits a Takeover
Three things make Rumour a natural choice for a takeover rather than a section of a bigger club.
Everyone is in the same room. Your guests are never split across floors or lost in a back bar: the whole event happens in one space, which is what most hosts want from a party.
The booths give it shape. A room built around booths gives a corporate night or a birthday its own structure. Teams, clients or groups of friends can each take a booth, without the formality of a seating plan.
The size is realistic. About 200 is a number a company party or a big celebration can actually fill, where a much larger club would need far more guests to feel busy.
The No-Photography Policy
Rumour does not allow photos or video in the main room or on the dance floor, and the floor team enforces it. On a normal night it is the clearest difference between Rumour and the rooms around it. For a private event it is often the reason to choose the room:
- Corporate events where senior staff, clients or partners would rather the night stayed off social media.
- Private celebrations for hosts and guests who value discretion.
- Any event where the host wants people talking to each other rather than filming.
If your event depends on photography or filming, tell us at the enquiry stage, because the policy is part of what the room is.
Corporate Nights, Birthdays and Launches
Corporate nights. A takeover gives a company the whole room. The door is 18+ with photo ID, so make sure every guest brings it. If the company is paying for its annual party, HMRC's rules on staff parties can make it exempt from tax and reporting when it is annual, open to all employees and within a set cost per head, so check the venue's quote against that limit.
Birthdays. A milestone birthday with a long guest list suits a takeover. A smaller one is usually better served by a booth on a normal night, covered below.
Launches. The room's intimacy and the no-photo rule suit a launch built around the people in the room rather than the content they post. If your launch needs filming, raise it first.
Nights, Terms and What to Send Us
Rumour opens Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11pm to 4am. Wednesday and Thursday are the more relaxed nights; Friday and Saturday fill out and are worth arranging well in advance. Other nights, other timings and the terms of exclusive hire are on request.
Private hire is quoted per event: the minimum spend or hire terms, the hours, and the deposit and cancellation terms all depend on the date and your numbers. The venue presents itself as a members' club, but you do not need to be a member to book through us: we book tables and guestlist for non-members and arrange private hire enquiries.
To get real terms quickly, send us:
- The date, plus an alternative if you have one.
- Your numbers: how many guests you expect.
- Your budget, as a total or per head.
- The occasion: corporate, birthday, launch or private party.
- Anything specific: the start time, the music, and whether photography matters to your event.
Booth Booking or Private Hire
A booth booking is a reserved booth on a normal night. Booths start from £1,000 minimum spend and cover entry for the whole group, which works out at roughly £125 each across eight people. A booth is also the way in for men and mixed groups, because men are not added to the guestlist. Booths are booked through our Rumour table page.
For ladies, the Rumour guestlist runs from free to £20 on the door, depending on the night and how busy it is.
Private hire gives you the room on terms quoted for the event. As a rule of thumb, if your group fits in a booth or two and is happy to share the room, book booths; if you want the room to yourselves, ask about a takeover. Our Rumour review describes the room in more detail, and for December parties our Mayfair Christmas party guide compares tables and private hire across the clubs we book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you hire Rumour privately?
Yes. Rumour is a single room of about 200 that suits a full takeover for corporate and private events. We arrange the enquiry, and the venue quotes the terms on request.
How many people does Rumour hold?
Around 200, in one room built around booths.
How much does it cost to hire Rumour?
Terms are on request for your date and numbers. For comparison, a booth on a normal night starts from £1,000 minimum spend, covering entry for the group.
Can guests take photos at an event at Rumour?
The venue's policy is no photos or video in the main room or on the dance floor, enforced by the floor team. If photography matters to your event, tell us when you enquire.
Which nights is Rumour open?
Wednesday to Saturday, 11pm to 4am. Wednesday and Thursday are the more relaxed nights, and other nights are on request for private hire.
Is Rumour the same club as Tabu?
Rumour is a full rebrand of Tabu under the same ownership, with a new design and concept, in the same Dover Street space. It opened in October 2026.
Start a Private Hire Enquiry
Send us the date, your numbers, the budget and the occasion through our private hire page, or message us on WhatsApp, and we will come back with what Rumour can offer for your event.