Sustainability

Make a sustainable choice by hosting your event at the National Theatre

People stand on a modern concrete building’s balcony with frosted glass panels, reflecting the colours of sunset. The architecture features sharp angles and minimalistic design, set against a cloudy sky.

At the National Theatre, sustainability is built into the fabric of everything we do, from how we make theatre to how we host events. Our South Bank home is not only a landmark of London’s cultural life but also a space committed to environmental responsibility.

When you choose to host your event at the National Theatre, you are making a more sustainable choice. We have significantly reduced our carbon footprint in recent years, switching to a zero-carbon electricity tariff, eliminating most single-use plastic from our cafés and bars, and working with local suppliers to reduce food miles across all our catering. In all our event spaces, the lighting is LED and locally controlled, ensuring energy is only used when needed.

A large, angular concrete building with multiple storeys and exposed structural supports; people walk nearby and plants are in the foreground. The sky is cloudy and the area looks urban.

Building design

Across the building, thermal insulation helps reduce heat loss in colder months, and heating and cooling is actively managed through our building management system to ensure efficient energy use.

In the Buffini Chao Deck, natural ventilation plays a key role, with fresh air drawn through the building and circulated using low-energy ceiling fans, whilst glazing is treated to deflect sunlight and minimise heat gain.

Food and drink

Our approach to food and drink is equally considered. Menus are built around a minimum of 80 per cent British seasonal fruit and vegetables, with high-welfare British poultry and pork, and sustainably sourced fish.

We are working towards a 50 per cent reduction in beef consumption, offering lower-carbon alternatives like venison, and we take a plant-forward approach to menu design, with at least 30 per cent of our offering now plant-based. It is all part of delivering food and service that reflect the National Theatre’s wider sustainability goals.

Plates with colourful gourmet food, including various vegetables and small white spheres, are arranged on dark and gold surfaces in a well-lit indoor setting.

Our ambition

We are aligned with the National Theatre’s target to reach Net Zero and are currently working towards the Green Meetings Standard – a robust framework built on UN Sustainable Development Goals, setting high benchmarks for truly responsible events.

With multiple versatile spaces available to hire, from riverfront terraces to intimate meeting rooms and rehearsal studios, the National Theatre is an inspired setting for your next event and a step towards a greener future.