The Carlu

The Carlu opened in 1930 as Eaton’s Seventh Floor and was designed by French architect Jacques Carlu.

About the venue

It is a National Historic Site of Canada and an example of Art Moderne architecture. The venue reopened for events in 2003 after a restoration. It has two full-service kitchens; outside food is limited to celebration cakes and outside alcohol is not permitted. The Round Room contains a Lalique fountain and the Sky Room has skylight windows.

On EventPlans.ca it is listed as a banquet hall and unique venue in Toronto, at 444 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2H4.

Event spaces

The venue lists these spaces. Capacities are the venue’s own figures and change with the layout you choose.

• Concert Hall: 600 seated, 1,100 theatre, 1,500 reception (with West Foyer)
• Round Room: 300 seated, 400 reception
• Sky Room: 210 seated, 275 theatre, 300 reception
• Clipper Room: 50 seated, 70 reception

Capacity

The venue publishes a maximum of 600 seated, 1,500 standing reception, 1,100 theatre style. Those are top figures for an empty room. A dance floor, a stage, a buffet or a photo booth each take space, so plan on fewer guests than the maximum once your layout is drawn.

A useful rule: a seated dinner at rounds of ten needs about 1 to 1.2 square metres per guest, a standing reception about 0.7, and theatre seating about 0.6, before you add a stage or dance floor. The venue capacity calculator does the arithmetic for your room.

Events it hosts

According to its own event pages, the venue hosts weddings, corporate events, galas and fundraisers, conferences and meetings, holiday parties and private social events.

For timelines, budgets and checklists, start with the wedding planning hub, corporate holiday party hub, gala planning hub.

Questions to ask on your site visit

Bring these to your walk-through. Get the answers in writing before you sign.

• Which room or combination of rooms fits your guest count, and can another event run in the next room on the same night?
• What is included in the per-person package, and which items are extra (cake cutting, chair covers, late-night food, coat check)?
• Is there a built-in stage and dance floor, and what size are they?
• Can the kitchen handle the cuisine and dietary needs you have, including halal, kosher-style, vegetarian or nut-free menus?
• What time must music stop and the room be cleared?
• How many parking spaces are there, and is there a charge?

Planning entertainment here

Banquet halls usually have the ceiling height and floor space for most acts, from a strolling magician at cocktails to a stage show after dinner. Ask whether the stage has steps and power at the front, and how far the head table sits from it.

Send every performer’s technical needs to the venue before you book: floor space, ceiling height, power, sound and changing room.

Getting there

Check the venue website for directions, parking rates and accessible entrances, and send the details to guests with the invitation.

Official website: oliverbonacini.com/event-venues/the-carlu