Venue for small-ish wedding reception? At short notice?

Hi,
I'm posting this re: a friend's wedding, and hoping you can give us some help/ideas.

My friend is getting married in a couple of months, and she's trying to organise something at relatively short notice. It will be midweek, registry office, then something afterwards for circa 40-60 guests.

She wants it relatively "traditional" (ie hotel dinner/dancing), so is reluctant to go for a restaurant then bar I think, even though I think that might be the best idea. I'm just afraid that a small-ish group in a standard hotel function room (if it's too big) might be a bit grim looking..

She's having trouble finding somewhere that would do a late bar - a couple of hotels say they won't do it for a small group. Is that common for a hotel to not offer it, even if they're willing to pay extra? (I have no idea!)

She's firing out emails to random trying to get prices/options, but I thought some folk here might have some ideas

If anyone has any thoughts I'd love to hear them. It's happening in Dublin - ceremony in city centre, and then reception somewhere central or northside.

Thanks!