The Cookery's Event Venue Amenities

Boasting exposed brick walls, distinctive metalwork salvaged from Durham landmarks, a Front Room with ceilings stretching 20 feet high, an outdoor cobblestoned garden and a courtyard, The Cookery's grounds in downtown Durham are the perfect setting for a myriad of private celebrations, corporate functions, and public events. Our unique space is a quintessential venue for:

weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners, and post wedding brunches
private celebrations such as birthday parties, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and retirement parties
corporate parties
daytime seminars and luncheons
university functions
food shows, fundraisers, trade shows, and other community events

CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE A PERSONALIZED TOUR OF OUR VENUE AND GET A CUSTOM QUOTE FOR YOUR EVENT!

Amenities include:

The Cookery grounds expand over 12,000 sq. ft., and can accommodate seated dinners and wedding ceremonies for up to 400 guests*.

*For cocktail style events that do not include a wedding ceremony, we can accommodate 500 guests.

Our rental package includes much more than a beautiful space!

When you rent The Cookery, you gain access to over $3,000 worth of rentals and services for free!

Dressing Suite / Private Room
Weekend valet parking (~$500 savings!)
1 hour access for wedding rehearsals
Tables and chairs for up to 200 guests
Cocktail glassware
Cocktail tables and more (see below)
A/V system
6 Bottle Wine Tasting

Learn More About Us:
+ Rent The Cookery | + Photos | + History | + FAQ

FRONT ROOM

Our Front Room boasts 20 foot high ceilings, a beautiful bar and mezzanine. Perfect for gathering guests for cocktails before your meal in the ballroom, and for continuing the celebration on the dance floor after you dine. This 2,500 sq. ft. space is also ideal for smaller, more intimate events.

Indian wedding with people dancing on dance floor and market lights overhead

Industrial event space with ceremony seating arrangement and cocktail tables

Wedding ceremony with guests surrounding brides in front of industrial style windows

Guests mingling in industrial style space with exposed brick walls

Black and white checkered dance floor in industrial style space with exposed brick walls

String lights over a long table setting with flowers and linens

Industrial metal bar with bartender in a vest and collared shirt. Man seated at bar seat.

Arrangement of cocktails on a bar counter

BALLROOM

The ballroom is the ideal dining space for 256 guests. This 5,000 sq. ft. space features original brick walls, vintage lighting, and large entrances to both the courtyard and our private garden.

Table set with white linens and flowers in an industrial style room

Wedding ceremony with two brides in white dresses with exposed brick backdrop

Large reception space with linened tables and flowers

Table set with modern colorful backdrop in an industrial space

Bride and groom dancing on black and white checkered dance floor

Woman in a dress giving a speech to a room of seated people

Reception room bar with black panels and glassware on shelves

Vintage velvet furniture arranged in industrial event space with exposed brick walls

DRESSING SUITE

A private dressing suite connects to the ballroom, allowing the wedding party to have easy access to all of the festivities. The room includes running water, sonos music system, and a clothes steamer.

Woman doing another woman’s make up surrounded by brown leather couches

Man sitting in a brown leather chair with a woman in a white dress sitting on the armrest

Groom and groomsmen getting dressed in front of mirrors

GARDEN

Tucked away behind The Cookery is a lush cobblestoned garden. Space is available to seat up to 400 guests, or provide extra dining area. The garden can be tented.

Outdoor wedding ceremony set with rows of chairs and flowers

Colorful outdoor Indian wedding ceremony with bride and groom

Outdoor ceremony with guests seated in rows of chairs

Outdoor tented reception space tented with linened tables

Groom and groomsmen in front of an industrial style building with exposed brick

Seats arranged in circular rows in a courtyard with ferns and greenery

Man reading to a group of people seated in an outdoor courtyard

COURTYARD

Market lights twinkle above your guests as they gaze up at the stars. Both the Front Room and the ballroom open up to the courtyard.

Bride and groom wedding entrance to outside courtyard

Wedding sign with cocktail tables with blue linens in outside courtyard

Velvet sofa and lounge chairs set up in outdoor courtyard

Bride with strapless dress dancing in outdoor courtyard with market lights overhead

Vintage velvet sofa and chairs arranged in outdoor courtyard with coffee table and rug

Wedding table seating sign written in calligraphy on mirrors in outdoor courtyard

Additionally:

We are located less than 5 minutes from Duke Chapel, Duke Gardens, and downtown Durham, with easy access to Highway 147.
A full bar is available, featuring local NC beers on tap, hand crafted cocktails and professional bartenders.
The Front Room's mezzanine allows guests and photographers to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the room.
Outdoor grounds include two private spaces: our courtyard and the garden.
Valet parking is included in our Full Grounds weekend pricing as a courtesy to your guests (~$500 value!).
Our audio/visual system in the Front Room includes a 15' projector screen
Dining tables, cocktail tables, chairs and cocktail glassware are included in the price of renting The Cookery.

please click here to inquire about renting The Cookery