Karaoke Cost Guide in London: Room Hire, Drinks, and Minimums

Want to belt out your favorite song in London without getting hit with a surprise bill? You’re not alone. Karaoke is huge here - from basement bars in Shoreditch to glitzy venues in Soho - but the costs can sneak up on you fast. One night out can cost £30 or £150 depending on where you go, what you order, and when you show up. This guide cuts through the noise. No fluff. Just real prices for room hire, drinks, and minimum spends across London’s top karaoke spots in 2025.

How Karaoke Room Hire Works in London

Most karaoke venues in London charge by the hour for private rooms, not per person. That means a group of four pays the same as a group of ten - if you hit the minimum spend. Rooms usually start at £25 per hour on weekdays before 8 PM. On weekends, especially Friday and Saturday nights, expect £40-£70 per hour. Some places, like Karaoke Box a popular chain in London with locations in Camden, Shoreditch, and Canary Wharf, offering private rooms with professional sound systems and LED lighting, even charge £90/hour for premium rooms with VIP service.

But here’s the catch: many places don’t let you book a room unless you hit a minimum spend. That’s not a room fee - it’s a food and drink guarantee. For example, a room booked for 2 hours at Singing Pub a mid-range karaoke bar in Soho known for its loud acoustics and wide song library might cost £60 in room hire, but you’re also required to spend £120 on drinks and snacks. So you’re really paying £180 total, even if you only order two beers.

Drinks: What You’ll Actually Pay

Drinks are where most people get shocked. A pint of lager in a regular pub? £5.50. At a karaoke bar in central London? £8-£12. Cocktails? £12-£18. Even a simple bottle of water can cost £4.50. Why? Because you’re paying for the experience - the lights, the sound system, the staff, and the fact that you’re in a room with strangers singing along to Adele.

Some places offer drink packages to help you budget. KaraFun a newer karaoke venue in Brixton with a focus on tech-integrated song selection and flat-rate drink deals has a 2-hour drink package for £25 per person that includes unlimited soft drinks, house wine, and beer. That’s a steal if you’re planning to stay a while. But if you go à la carte, a group of six could easily spend £150 on drinks alone in a 3-hour session.

Pro tip: Ask if they have happy hour. Most karaoke bars in London offer 50% off drinks between 4 PM and 7 PM on weekdays. That’s when the rooms are cheapest, the crowds are smaller, and the singing is less drowned out by noise.

Minimum Spend Rules - What They Really Mean

Minimum spend isn’t optional. It’s enforced. If you don’t hit it, they’ll charge you the difference. At The Karaoke Club a long-standing venue in Leicester Square with a reputation for strict minimums and loud parties, the minimum for a room of 4-6 people is £100. For 7-10 people? £150. For 11+? £200. That’s not a suggestion - it’s a contract.

Some places hide the minimum until you’re already seated. That’s why you should always ask: “What’s the minimum spend for this room size?” before you book. Don’t trust the website - call them. One group in Peckham got charged £80 extra because they thought the £120 minimum was per person, not total.

Minimums are higher on weekends. Friday and Saturday nights often double the weekday minimum. Holidays? Forget it. Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Eve, and even the day after the Euros final? Minimums go up 50-100%. If you’re planning a birthday or anniversary, book early - and confirm the minimum in writing.

Where to Find the Best Value

Not all karaoke spots are created equal. Here’s where you get the most bang for your buck in 2025:

• Carry On Karaoke (Wandsworth) - £28/hour room rate, £80 minimum for 4 people, drinks from £6. No hidden fees. Great sound system.
• Karaoke Box (Camden) - £45/hour, £100 minimum for 4-6. Includes free snacks and unlimited water. Good for groups who want to chill.
• Singing Pub (Soho) - £60/hour, £120 minimum. Best song selection - over 10,000 tracks. Loud, fun, and worth it if you’re serious about singing.
• KaraFun (Brixton) - £35/hour, £90 minimum. Flat-rate drink package available. Best for casual groups who don’t want to track every drink.
• Bar 12 (Hackney) - £30/hour, £70 minimum. No frills, no fuss. Just a room, a mic, and a decent sound system. Perfect for students.

These spots all have online booking and real-time pricing. Avoid places that don’t list prices upfront. If you can’t find the room rate or minimum on their website, call them. If they’re vague, walk away.

Hidden Fees and Traps to Avoid

There are a few sneaky things that can blow your budget:

• Service charges - Some places add 12.5% automatically. Check the fine print.
• Booking fees - A few venues charge £10-£20 just to reserve a room online.
• Deposit requirements - Some ask for £50-£100 deposit to secure the booking. Make sure it’s refundable if you cancel 24 hours in advance.
• Extra mic fees - Rare, but some places charge £5 per extra microphone. Bring your own if you’re planning a duet.
• Room cleaning fees - If you spill food or leave trash, they’ll charge you £25-£50. Keep it clean.

Always ask: “Is there a service charge? Is the deposit refundable? Are there any hidden fees?” Write it down. Don’t rely on memory.

When to Go to Save Money

Timing matters more than location. Here’s the cheat sheet:

• Best deals: Weekday afternoons (2 PM-7 PM) - Rooms half price, drinks half price, no minimums at some places.
• Good value: Weekday evenings (7 PM-10 PM) - Still decent rates, but minimums kick in. Book early.
• Avoid: Friday and Saturday nights after 10 PM - Prices spike, rooms fill fast, and you’re paying for chaos, not singing.
• Hidden gem: Sunday afternoons - Some venues offer “Family Karaoke” from 2 PM-5 PM with kids’ menus and no minimum spend. Great for mixed-age groups.

One group of friends in Clapham saved £180 by switching from a Saturday night booking to a Sunday afternoon. They sang for three hours, had pizza and beer, and didn’t feel like they were robbed.

What to Bring (and What to Skip)

You don’t need much. But a few things make the night smoother:

• Bring: Your phone (for song requests), a group payment app (like Splitwise), and a sense of humor.
• Don’t bring: High heels - floors get sticky. Fancy clothes - you’ll sweat. Expectations - you’re not going to sound like Beyoncé. That’s not the point.

Some venues let you upload your own playlist ahead of time. Use that. It saves time and avoids awkward silences while the staff searches for “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Final Tip: Book Early, Ask Questions, Track Your Spend

Karaoke in London is fun - if you know what you’re paying for. Don’t wait until the last minute. Book at least 3 days ahead, especially on weekends. Call the venue and ask for the exact room rate, minimum spend, and any extra fees. Write it down. Use a budgeting app to track your group’s spending as you go. Most people go over budget because they lose track of drinks and snacks.

At the end of the night, ask for a breakdown of your bill. If something looks off, ask for clarification. You’re not being rude - you’re being smart.

Now go sing your heart out - without the sticker shock.