Conference and events venue hire


Welcome to the Ray Dolby Centre, the home of the Cavendish Laboratory.

Situated in Cambridge West, the location of world-changing research and innovation, the Ray Dolby Centre with its modern facilities and a history of scientific discovery offers a unique setting to hold your event, whether it’s a weeklong conference, a training workshop, or a networking and drinks reception.

Our conferencing facilities are set over three floors around a central light-filled atrium and with six rooms available to hire, the RDC can accommodate everything from a 400-person conference to a boardroom meeting for 10.

Complete our event enquiry form or contact us at events@phy.cam.ac.uk and we’ll be in touch to discuss your requirements.

For more details about our exceptional spaces and room hire rates please view our conference and events brochure.

Quick Links

Meeting rooms and lecture theatres

The RDC has six rooms available to hire. Use of integrated AV equipment, and Event Spaces for catering and networking are included in the room-hire fee.

Ray Dolby Auditorium

Our main room is a spacious auditorium, with fixed raked seating for 407 people. It spans two floors of the Ray Dolby Centre.

Lecture Theatre

A more intimate space than the main auditorium, the Lecture Theatre can seat up to 120 delegates in fixed raked seating.

Cluster Room

The Cluster Room has unique tiered classroom style seating accommodating up to 80 people. Perfect for collaborative workshops or training.

Seminar East

This flexible space offers a choice of meeting set-ups and the option to have catering served in the room.

Seminar West

Flexible space allowing for a choice of meeting set-ups, with the option to have catering served in the room.

Seminar East and West

Both rooms can be combined to accommodate a maximum of 120 people theatre style. Booked alongside the Ground Floor Atrium, this combined event space provides the perfect space for networking, exhibitions, poster displays, and catering.

Seminar North

Seminar North is set classroom style for 40 people, with an option of a boardroom layout.

Event spaces

Servicing all meeting rooms and lecture theatres, and with the possibility of being hired separately, our event spaces offer opportunity across three floors of the atrium for catering, networking, and poster exhibitions.

Ground Floor Atrium

A large open area on the ground floor ideal for catering and poster exhibitions.

Exhibition Space

The first-floor catering area, and home to the main display cabinets of Cavendish Museum, providing opportunities for delegates to learn about the history of the Cavendish during refreshment breaks.

Ray Dolby Auditorium Support Space

A bright and airy space which extends around the auditorium on the second floor. It offers great views over Cambridge West and is well suited to poster exhibitions.

Central Courtyard

Second floor breakout area with access to the outdoor courtyard, ideal in the warmer months.

Catering

Every great event deserves great experiences – exceptional food along with inspiring spaces. Our in-house partners, Cambridge Dining Co., craft seasonal menus for every occasion, from coffee breaks and buffet lunches to elegant dinners. Together, these offerings can make your event at the Ray Dolby Centre truly unforgettable.

Cambridge Dining Co.

Delivering seasonal fresh food within iconic spaces Cambridge Dining Co. pride themselves on creating memorable event experiences. Working alongside local suppliers their chefs create fresh, exciting food to suit your brief.

Cavendish Café

Located on the 3rd floor of the centre with panoramic views of the city, the Cavendish Café provides the perfect retreat for busy professionals, researchers, and Cambridge locals alike. Open Monday – Friday 8:30am – 3pm