Birthday Parties

FAQs

• Where is The Story Museum?
  The Story Museum is located in the centre of Oxford, between St Aldate's and St Ebbe's Street. Our address is 42 Pembroke Street, Oxford OX1 1BP. For more information about getting here, click here. Please note that parking in central Oxford is very limited.

• What is included in the party?
  Each birthday party is led by two experienced Story Guides and lasts two hours. Guests enjoy a selection of stories and games based on your chosen theme, followed by a themed craft. They then explore the Enchanted Library before returning to the party room for a party tea and final game.

• What is included in the party tea?
  The party tea includes ham and cheese sandwiches, a fruit snack, Pom-Bear crisps, a sweet treat and a fruit drink. Jugs of tap water are also provided. The ham sandwiches and the cheese sandwiches are served on separate plates and the children are encouraged to choose their sandwiches on the day.

• What is included in the party bag? Can I add/order items?
  Each child receives an age-appropriate book and a Story Museum bookmark. Additional items can be pre-ordered through our shop. Please see our Adult Refreshments and Party Bag Add Ons download above.

• What is the minimum and maximum number of guests?
  Minimum: 10 children including birthday child.
  Maximum: 18 children including birthday child.
  The birthday child's ticket includes admission for two accompanying adults. Each child guest receives admission for one accompanying adult.
  Siblings aged 1+ must be included in the final numbers.
  Under 1's are free and do not count towards the final number unless they are joining in the party (including the party tea) in which case, they will be included in the final number.

• How many adults can come to the party and what is their role?
  We ask that a minimum of three adults remains in the party room, with a maximum of 19 adults overall so as not to distract from the party celebrations. While the Story Guides lead the party games and activities, parents are responsible for supervision and behaviour.

• Do you offer joint parties?
  Yes! We think joint parties are a great idea provided that the children are of a similar age and choose the same theme for the party.

• How do I book?
  
  • Step 1 – Enquiry: Complete our Birthday Party Enquiry Form. On receipt of your enquiry, we will email you and let you know whether we can accommodate your proposed party date/time. Subject to availability, we will reserve the proposed date/time for you for a period of one week to give you time to discuss arrangements with your family and party guests.
  • Step 2 – Booking Form and deposit: Once you decide you wish to go ahead with the party, we will send you a booking form to complete. Upon return of the completed booking form, we will raise an invoice for the minimum number of 10 children. Please note, it can take 7-10 days for us to raise an invoice and send this to you. If there are more than 10 children and/or you order additional items such as refreshments etc. we will issue a further invoice prior to the party.
  • Step 3 – Final details: A fortnight before the party we require your final details. This includes the number of children and adults, information about dietary requirements, and any requests for adult refreshments or party bag add-ons. We cannot guarantee any changes requested after this date and we reserve the right to charge a £15 administration fee if changes are requested. Please note, once we have received the final details form, we are unable to offer refunds for no-shows. For more information, please see our terms and conditions in your booking form.
  • Step 4 – Party week! We will be in touch during the week of your party with some final information about arrangements for the party.

• When should I contact you to book a party?
  The perfect time to enquire and book a party is 4-6 weeks before your intended date. We recommend enquiring earlier around key dates/holidays to avoid disappointment. Party enquiries within the 2–3-week period can be explored, and we will do everything we can to make it work! However, we cannot always guarantee rooms and staff availability at such short notice. Contact us and we’ll see what we can do!

• What is the cancellation procedure?
  A non-refundable deposit for the minimum number of children (10) will be required on return of the booking form and confirmation of the party booking.

• Can you accommodate dietary requirements?
  We can cater for a range of dietary requirements and have designed our party tea to be easily adaptable so children with dietary requirements do not have too many substitutes.

Please read our allergy statement and share with your guests before the party:

If you suffer with an allergy or intolerance, please make us aware as our menu may not list every ingredient. All dishes are prepared in a kitchen where allergens are handled, this means we may not be able to guarantee our food will not contain traces of a specific allergen. Upon request, we will be able to supply further information regarding the ingredients of our food and cooking methods so you can make your own informed decision as to whether a specific product is suitable for you.
Customising your food by adding or swapping items may change the allergens contained.
Fish and meat may contain small bones.
Please always check with us each time you visit us as due to ongoing supply chain issues, things may have changed since your last hire.

• Can I bring my own food?As a registered charity, all proceeds from our tickets, café, shop and venue hire business support our work to enrich lives through stories. We therefore require all catering orders to be made through our café. Exceptions can occasionally be made in the case of stringent dietary requirements and babies - please discuss this with us in advance.

• Can I order a bespoke cake?
  Absolutely! For more information on bespoke birthday cakes baked by our in-house baker, please enquire at least a month in advance. To speed up the cost estimate, it helps to have the following information:
  • 3-5 pictures for inspiration.
  • Approximate number of portions – this helps with the sizing.
  • Sponge flavour/type.
    
  • Date of the party.
    

• Can I bring my own birthday cake?
  Yes, you can! You can bring this with you on the day and display it in the party room or leave it as a surprise for later during the party tea. Our Story Guides will present this to the birthday child/children to sing the happy birthday song. They will then take it away to be cut in our kitchenette, where they can slice it up for consumption during the party or wrap it in napkins to be given out at the end with party bags.

• Can we bring candles and party decorations?
  Candles are not permitted on site. Due to the risk to our buildings, we can’t allow naked flames, smoke or haze machines, dry ice, internal fireworks, party poppers, crackers, or similar items. This list is not exhaustive, and our Duty Manager has the right to refuse anything that they believe may pose an unacceptable risk to our building, visitors and staff. If you have any concerns about this, please contact us in advance.

• Can I order additional refreshments for adults?
  Yes, please refer to the Adults Refreshments download above.

• Is parking available on site?
  There is no parking available on site. We are located in central Oxford and are easily accessible by public transport. City centre parking is limited, and we strongly recommend using Oxford’s Park and Ride system where possible. The nearest public car park is located at the Westgate Shopping Centre. More information about Blue Badge parking for disabled visitors can be found on the Oxfordshire County Council’s website here: Blue Badge guidance | Oxfordshire County Council. A list of local car parks can be found here: Parking - Google Maps.