Shared space booking gives you access to a venue alongside other guests, while exclusive venue hire means your group has the entire space to itself. The right choice depends on your group size, the nature of your event, and how much control you want over the atmosphere and experience. Below, we break down the key differences across pricing, format, and use case so you can book with confidence.
What does exclusive venue hire actually include?
Exclusive venue hire means your group takes over the entire venue for a set period, with no other guests sharing the space. You get full use of all ping pong tables, bars, seating areas, and entertainment features, along with dedicated staff, on-site catering, and a tailored event schedule built entirely around your group.
At an interactive entertainment venue like ours, exclusive hire goes well beyond simply reserving a room. It includes access to our full 10,000- to 18,000-square-foot space, Olympic-grade ping pong tables with premium Stiga equipment, two full-service bars, a chef-driven food menu, and rotating DJs who set the tone for your event from start to finish. Our dedicated event planners handle logistics from the first inquiry to the final goodbye, so you can focus entirely on your guests.
Private hire also unlocks some of our most distinctive features. SPIN Pros can be on hand to run mini-tournaments, give coaching tips, or simply keep the energy moving in a way that passive entertainment simply cannot replicate. The result is an event that feels cohesive, curated, and genuinely memorable rather than a generic gathering in a generic space.
How does shared space booking work at a venue like SPIN?
Shared space booking means you reserve one or more ping pong tables within the venue while other guests enjoy the space at the same time. You get access to the same Olympic-grade equipment, bar service, and atmosphere, but the venue remains open to the public for the duration of your booking.
This is the standard table reservation model at most active social venues. At SPIN, table reservations accommodate groups of up to ten guests and can be made online up to seven days in advance for weekends and three days in advance for weekdays, with walk-ins accepted when space allows. You are not locked into a fixed schedule or a private catering arrangement, which makes it a genuinely flexible option for smaller groups.
Shared space bookings work especially well when the open venue atmosphere is part of the appeal. The buzz of other players, the music, the bar crowd, and the general energy of the room all contribute to an experience that feels social and spontaneous rather than formal. For date nights, casual friend groups, or impromptu outings, this format delivers everything you need without the planning overhead of a private event.
Which option is better for a corporate event or team outing?
For most corporate events and team outings, exclusive venue hire is the better choice. It gives your group privacy, a controlled environment, and the flexibility to structure activities, catering, and entertainment around your specific agenda, which is difficult to achieve in a shared space setting.
That said, the right answer depends on group size and intent. A team of eight grabbing drinks and playing a few rounds after work fits comfortably into a shared space reservation. A company of fifty celebrating a product launch or running a structured team-building day needs the dedicated attention, branded experience, and logistical support that only a full venue hire provides.
Unique entertainment venues like ours are particularly well-suited to corporate events because ping pong naturally breaks down hierarchy. It is competitive enough to be engaging but accessible enough that no one feels excluded, which makes it one of the most effective formats for genuine team connection. When you add private catering, a dedicated event planner, and SPIN Pros facilitating activities, you get a team outing that people actually talk about afterward.
What’s the price difference between shared space and exclusive hire?
Shared space table reservations are significantly less expensive than exclusive venue hire. Table bookings are priced per session and per person, making them accessible for small groups with straightforward needs. Exclusive hire involves a higher investment that reflects the full use of the space, dedicated staffing, catering, and event planning support.
The pricing gap reflects the difference in scope rather than just access. A shared table reservation covers the table and equipment for a set time. A private hire covers the entire venue, all staff, a bespoke food and beverage program, entertainment, and the planning work that goes into making it all run smoothly. For larger groups, the per-person cost of exclusive hire often becomes more competitive than it first appears when you factor in what is included.
It is worth contacting our events team directly for a custom quote, since pricing for venue hire varies based on the day of the week, time of year, group size, and the specific configuration you need. What looks like a premium option on paper frequently turns out to be excellent value once you account for everything bundled into the experience.
When should you choose shared space over a private hire?
Choose shared space when your group is small, your plans are informal, and the open venue atmosphere adds to the experience rather than working against it. Shared space is the right call for groups of two to ten people who want to enjoy the venue without committing to the scale and structure of a private event.
Shared bookings are ideal for:
- Date nights and casual social outings
- Small friend groups looking for an active alternative to a bar or restaurant
- Networking meetups where the open venue energy supports organic conversation
- First-time visitors who want to experience the venue before planning a larger event
- Spontaneous plans that do not require advance logistics
One of the underrated advantages of a shared ping pong party venue is the ambient energy. Being surrounded by other players, hearing the music, and feeling the general buzz of the room contributes to an atmosphere that a private hire with a small group sometimes cannot replicate on its own. If you are a group of four looking for a fun weeknight out, a table reservation delivers exactly that without overcomplicating it.
Can you mix shared and private space at the same venue?
Yes, many venues offer hybrid configurations that combine a dedicated private area with access to the broader shared venue. This approach works well for mid-sized groups who want some exclusivity without committing to a full venue buyout, and it is one of the more flexible options available at social venues near me searches that lead to larger multi-table venues.
At SPIN, our event planners can work with you to find a configuration that fits your group size and goals. A semi-private setup might reserve a section of the venue with a designated table cluster and a dedicated bar area while the rest of the space remains open to other guests. This gives your group a sense of cohesion and a home base for the evening without the full cost or planning requirements of an exclusive hire.
Hybrid arrangements are particularly popular for milestone birthdays and mid-sized corporate gatherings where the group wants to feel like they have their own space but also enjoys the energy of a lively venue around them. The key is communicating your priorities clearly when you reach out, so the events team can match the right format to your needs.
How SPIN helps you find the right booking for your event
Whether you are planning an intimate outing or a large-scale celebration, SPIN makes it straightforward to find the format that fits. Here is what we offer across both booking types:
- Table reservations for groups up to ten, bookable online with flexible advance windows
- Semi-private configurations for mid-sized groups who want a dedicated space within the venue
- Full venue hire with exclusive access, two full-service bars, chef-driven catering, rotating DJs, and SPIN Pros
- Dedicated event planners who handle every detail from first inquiry to final toast
- Locations across eight cities including New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Boston, Seattle, Washington, DC, and Toronto
Ready to book? Reach out to our events team to discuss your group size, date, and goals, and we will help you find the option that makes your event one people will be talking about long after the last serve.
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