Graduation Party Venue
Lexi Foster Photography
Graduation Parties at the Hawthorn
Years of hard work deserve a celebration to match, and The Hawthorn gives a graduation the sense of occasion it earns. Whether you are honoring a high school senior, a college graduate, or an advanced degree years in the making, our venue offers a polished, grown-up setting for the whole family to gather. Set within the warm brick walls of a reimagined 19th century brewery in Portsmouth's West End, the space brings elegance to the milestone. With an open floor plan, a sweeping curved bar, and a comfortable lounge, The Hawthorn adapts to a seated dinner, a cocktail-style reception, or an afternoon celebration. It is a space where multiple generations can come together to toast the graduate's achievement. Whether intimate or grand, traditional or contemporary, a Bar mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah at The Hawthorn is shaped around your family's vision, a day that reflects your values, your story, and the remarkable young person being celebrated.
Tailored Ways to Celebrate
At The Hawthorn, hosts shape the celebration around their own vision. Reserve the space and bring in your preferred caterer and vendors, or lean on our optional catering, bar, and linen package to keep planning simple. With built-in surround audio and room for audio-visual presentations, it is easy to run a slideshow of the graduate’s journey or share a few words to mark the moment.
Our event team works alongside you from the first conversation, coordinating the details so you can focus on the guest of honor. Explore our private events options to see how the space comes together.
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The Venue
At a glance
- Exclusive use of the venue for the entire day and evening.
- 6,000 total square feet of space
- 3,800 square feet of event space, subdividable for smaller events
- Available for both ceremony and/or reception
- A Gatsby style lounge and sweeping, curved bar with seating for 18 overlooking the event space.
- A mix of 60β round and rectangular farm tables paired with our signature black wooden willow chairs
- Full catering prep kitchen
- Ability to supply your own beer, wine and liquor
- Built-in surround audio
- Ideally positioned in Portsmouthβs West End with easy access to plentiful restaurants, ceremony options, and guest accommodations
let us be a part of your story
Steeped in Portsmouth's rich past, The Hawthorn is more than a venue, it is a living chapter of the city's unfolding story. Once part of the legendary Frank Jones Brewery, once one of the largest ale producers in the country, the building has been thoughtfully reimagined for the modern host while keeping its original architecture, exposed brick, and hard-won character intact. A space built on hard work and craftsmanship is a fitting place to celebrate an achievement earned. When the party winds down, downtown Portsmouth is just steps away, full of restaurants, boutique hotels, and things to explore. Every gathering here adds new meaning to old walls, and your family's celebration will be no exception. This is a space where your story helps write what comes next, in a house built on belonging.
Letβs craft the perfect Graduation Party together
Planning a graduation party in Portsmouth or the New England Seacoast? Our team is ready to help you honor the graduate in style. Get in touch to start planning.
