Rehearsal and performance space
Find out how Islington community groups, schools and colleges, arts and cultural organisations can get free hire of Islington Assembly Hall, Town Hall meeting rooms and community centre spaces.
Each year, we offer twelve Islington community groups, schools and colleges, arts and cultural organisations free hire of Islington Assembly Hall, Town Hall meeting rooms and community centre spaces.
There are three different packages depending on the nature of the event and the number of guests and audiences. We reserve the right to decide on the option most suitable for your event.
Application dates
The Free Hire Scheme round 2 2025 applications open on Monday 20 January for hires from June to mid-September 2025 (Assembly Hall) and June to December 2025 (Town Hall rooms and community centre spaces).
If your event takes place after December 2025, applications for Round 1 2026 will open in July 2025. See the table below for future application dates.
| Year and application round | Application dates | Event period at Assembly Hall | Event period at Town Hall |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 - round two | Monday 20 January 2025 to Friday 14 February at 12 noon | June to mid-September 2025 | June to December 2025 |
| 2026 - round one | July to August 2025 | January to mid-March 2026 | January to May 2026 |
| 2026 - round two | January to February 2026 |
June to mid-September 2026 |
June to December 2026 |
How to apply
To apply for round two 2025, please complete the Free community hire scheme application form by 12 noon on Friday 14 February.
Please only apply if you're an Islington based organisation or an organisation who works with Islington residents.
If you would like a copy of the questions in advance of completing the online form, or a more accessible version sent to you via email or post, please contact Laura Worsley at culture@islington.gov.uk.
If you require further information or have a question about the scheme, please contact Laura Worsley at culture@islington.gov.uk.
Eligibility and guidance
Organisations must demonstrate a commitment to provide events and activities that support the council’s strategic priorities of:
- Community cohesion
Supporting and celebrating local culture and strengthening how we connect as a community. Fostering a sense of local pride and belonging, investing in cultural activities that enhance social ties and support connection. - Promoting health and wellbeing
Helping people improve their health and wellbeing through cultural and creative activities, to be able to find something that makes them feel happy and healthy. - Tackling inequality
Providing opportunities for those who are often underserved and might miss out on cultural and creative opportunities. We particularly welcome applications that consider how they will engage with local people who define as D/deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent, people of Global Majority Black heritage and of South, East and South-East Asian heritage and/or people who identify as LGBTQ+. - Developing creative skills
Developing creative skills for all ages, providing opportunities for pathways into employment as well as developing skills for life such as self-expression, innovation and problem-solving.
Applications should also be able to demonstrate that your event achieves the following:
- has a borough-wide impact
- demonstrates a commitment to good practice (events that are viable, of high quality, well-managed and evaluated)
- promotes good use of the council’s high quality facilities in its civic spaces
You must also be able to demonstrate how your organisation will cover any associated costs (if any) alongside the free hire.
The scheme will not support:
- groups that are not based in Islington
- events or activities from commercial organisations
- events that charge entry fees
- organisations that don't have the funding in place to support their event at the time of application
- more than one hire per applicant, per year
- applications from organisations who have previously cancelled a slot after being accepted
- applications from departments of Islington Council.
Cancelling or postponing your event
We can cancel or postpone your event at any time due to exceptional circumstances without incurring liabilities for any losses or damages to the hirer as a result of cancellation.
If we cancel your booking for reasons other than an extraordinary event outside of either party’s control within two weeks of the date of the event, we will at our sole discretion try to help the hirer find alternative accommodation for the event.
Organisations who cancel their free hire with less than 2 months’ notice may lose the opportunity to apply for future free hire rounds.
About the venues
Option 1 - Islington Assembly Hall
The Assembly Hall is suitable for
- fairs, conferences and networking events with an audience of over 100 people
- musical performances with a small number of performers
- other simple performances.
Islington Assembly Hall is not suitable for a full theatrical performance (with multiple acts, props, sets, complex lighting or audio-visual effects) on a limited budget and other venues might provide a better, cost-effective alternative.
Email AssemblyHall@islington.gov.uk if you would like to check if this is the right venue for you.
We will offer:
- two free hires of the Assembly Hall
- for a maximum of five-hours
- on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays
- between June to mid-September 2025 (round two).
What is included in your hire
The five-hour free hire of the Assembly Hall will include:
- access to Islington Assembly Hall for you and your suppliers for your event
- set-up to meet your needs and furniture, as agreed before the event
- an events coordinator leading up to the event
- at least one duty manager during your event
- one member of the Assembly Hall security team
- a small public address (PA) system that you can use without support from an engineer
- a sound engineer (if needed) for five hours only
- jars of drinking water and three hot water urns
- parking for up to four cars, two vans OR one tour bus from load-in and up to load-out
- free Wi-Fi for production team only
- projector.
Security at Islington Assembly Hall
All events at the Assembly Hall need a risk assessment. We will book security staff based on the risk assessment, but any extra staff we need (one per 100 attendees) you will have to pay for.
Extra security staff start from £210 per member for up to five hours, then £42 per hour after that.
Security requirements are at the discretion of Islington Assembly Hall to ensure the safety of all attendees at the venue.
Items and services you must pay for
We will bill all other items and services to you. Extra costs for using the Assembly Hall may include, but are not limited to:
- hire of the hall for more than five hours in a row, from £360 per hour
- use of the balcony - £420 for a five-hour hire
- white tablecloths - £12 per tablecloth
- refreshments - costs available on request. You can bring catering in depending on approval from Islington Assembly Hall.
Other free facilities
- Accessible facilities: the hall has a step-free entrance and step-free bathroom facilities. The hall also has a hearing loop.
- Dressing rooms: there are three large dressing rooms available on request. Let us know your dressing room requirements when booking.
Option 2 – Community Centre Spaces
Our community centre spaces are suitable for events with an audience between 15 and 100 people depending on layout of the room, and whether attendees are seated or standing up.
Example of spaces on offer are Vibast Community Centre , Andover Estate Community Centre and Jean Stokes Community Centre.
You can book a Community Centre space for:
- workshops
- collaborative working sessions
- networking
- small get-togethers for residents and community groups.
- exercise classes
- cooking activities.
We will offer:
- two free hires of a community centre space per round
- for a maximum of five hours (all in one block of time)
- on working days from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
- between June and December 2025 (round two)
- we will make offers depending on availability.
What is included in your hire
The five-hour of a community centre space includes:
- access to one of our Islington Council run community centre spaces for you and your guests
- furniture, tables and chairs for you to set up the room the way you want
- at least one duty facility officer during your event
- use of kitchen, hot water urns and some basic crockery as agreed with the venue
- large plasma LED monitor
- free Wi-Fi.
Other costs may include, but are not limited, to:
- hire of extra stationery such as flipcharts, flipchart paper, and pens
- hire of extra technical equipment like projectors
- any other services that are outside normal working hours
- refreshments – you will need to arrange your own.
Option 3 - Islington Town Hall rooms
The Town Hall rooms are suitable for events with an audience between 25 and 80 people depending on layout of the room, and whether attendees are seated or standing up.
You can book the Town Hall for:
- workshops
- collaborative working sessions
- networking
- small get-togethers for residents and community groups.
We will offer:
- two free hires of Town Hall rooms
- for a maximum of five hours (all in one block of time)
- on working days from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
- between June and December 2025 (round two).
We will make offers depending on availability.
What is included in your hire
The five-hour Town Hall free hire will include:
- access to Islington Town Hall spaces for you and your guests
- setting up the room the way you want
- at least one duty facility officer during your event
- our furniture, tables and chairs
- large plasma LED monitor
- free Wi-Fi
- access to hot water urns, jugs of drinking water, cups and mugs.
Other costs may include, but are not limited, to:
- hire of extra stationery such as flipcharts, flipchart paper, and pens
- hire of extra technical equipment like projectors
- any other services that are outside normal working hours
- refreshments -you will need to provide your own.
Related information
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Rates reduction and relief
Find out what rates relief or discounts your business could be entitled to claim and how you can apply for them
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Meanwhile Space resources
A website with useful advice and resources for artists and arts groups looking for temporary vacant space
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Meanwhile space
Advice and information for artists and arts organisations looking for temporary vacant space in Islington
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Islington assembly hall
The venue’s website has details of upcoming events, how to hire the hall and the free hire scheme.