Legal maximum occupancy always overrides this calculator

Every public venue in the UK has a legal maximum occupancy figure set under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, based on fire escape capacity, not floor area alone. This figure is usually displayed on a certificate near the entrance or available from the venue manager, and it always takes precedence over any area-based estimate like the one this calculator produces, since it accounts for exits, corridors, and fire risk that a simple m²-per-person ratio cannot.

Round tables versus long tables changes the true capacity

The "banquet rounds" ratio used here assumes standard 1.5 m round tables seating 8-10 guests each, which is the most space-efficient formal layout. Long rectangular tables (common for a British wedding top table or a family-style dinner) generally seat fewer people per square metre than round tables of the same total area, since more space is lost to the table ends and aisle access.