Birthday Party Venues in Ascot Vale

Choosing the Right Birthday Party Venue

Two quite different settings handle Ascot Vale birthdays. Riverside Kitchen & Bar is the bistro up on the hill at Riverside Golf Course on Newsom Street, with a function room wrapped by a balcony over the greens. The Laurel Hotel, at 289 Mt Alexander Road, is a local with a party room upstairs and a dining room on the ground floor.

One looks out over a nine-hole course; the other is a local pub with an open fire.

Which Ascot Vale room for which birthday:

Long lunch for a 60th or 70th – Riverside's room set with round tables, white cloths and flowers, seating up to 120
Cocktail-style 30th – Riverside's wicker lounges and stools, with the balcony for fresh air, for 150
18th or 21st – welcome at The Laurel Hotel, which passes the cost of security on to the client
A crowd that wants its own bar – Level 1 at The Laurel, beside its own bar, for 100 standing
A big family crowd on one level – The Laurel's ground-floor dining room, booked exclusively for 200 standing

Riverside's set menus start from $45 per person, and canapé packages at The Laurel from $38 per person.

Floor-to-ceiling windows and the wrap-around balcony let guests step outside between courses
There is space to dance, and an overhead speaker system plays your own music
A slideshow of old photos of the birthday guest can go up on the room's projector and screen
Wheelchair access, an accessible toilet and plenty of parking on site help with older relatives

Along Mt Alexander Road at The Laurel

The cake, the decorations and your own DJ or musician are all allowed in
Level 1 is up a flight of stairs, so anyone needing step-free access is better downstairs
For a seated birthday, The Laurel Feast starts with entrées to share, then each guest picks a main
Woodfired pizzas can be added, and diets such as vegan or gluten-free are catered for

Common Questions About Venues for Birthday Parties

Which Ascot Vale venue has outdoor space for a birthday?

Riverside Kitchen & Bar's function room has a balcony that wraps right around it, looking over the golf course greens, so guests can step outside between courses.

How are drinks handled at Riverside Kitchen & Bar?

Either on a bar tab with a tailored list, or on a package of sparkling, white and red wine, tap beer and soft drinks for three, four or five hours.

Does The Laurel Hotel charge to hire its party rooms?

No hire fee applies upstairs or downstairs; a minimum spend may, depending on the booking. Riverside's functions coordinator also confirms any minimum spend at enquiry.

Can a guest in a wheelchair attend at both venues?

Riverside has wheelchair access and an accessible toilet. At The Laurel, Level 1 is reached by stairs only, so plan on the ground-floor dining room.