CAFE-BAR FAQ'S ABOUT THE HACKNEY
VENUE FAQ's
Are all the plants and flowers included in the hire?
All the hanging plants and decorations in the venue are permanent and included as part of the hire. Hanging floral installations and flower walls that you may see in our photos are custom commissions for different events and available to purchase through our florist.
Is parking available?
We have an on-site parking bay reserved for supplier deliveries.
Parking directly outside the venue on Hackney Road is allowed from 7pm - 8am. Metered parking is available before 7pm on nearby roads.
There is a loading bay outside the venue which operates from Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm.
Are you dog friendly
Yes, we are happy for you to bring your well behaved dogs to the venue.
Are children allowed?
Yes
Are highchairs available?
Yes
Is the furniture included?
Yes
Are there any restrictions to what we can do in the venue
Noise restrictions - We have a DJ & Live music policy (please ask us to send this to you)
No Confetti - This damages the tables/floor with dye
Terrace closes at 9pm
WEDDING SPECIFIC FAQ'S
Can I bring my own decorations / confetti?
We are a confetti-free venue and ask our guests to not to bring confetti as the dyes can damage our tables and floors.
You are welcome to bring your own flowers or balloons.
Please help us to meet our sustainability goals by sourcing plastic-free or recyclable decorations.
Can we access the garden terrace?
We can host afternoon and early receptions in the garden but the space must close to guests at 9pm.
Can I drop off decorations or other supplies prior to the event day?
Yes. Please speak to our event manager and agree timings in advance as we have limited storage space and often have back-to-back events happening.
Can I leave decorations, presents or other items at the venue after the event ends?
Yes. Please speak to our event manager and agree timings in advance as we have limited storage space. Items must be collected within 2 days of the event to help us manage our storage space. You are welcome to arrange a courier to collect the items.
Can we host our ceremony at the venue?
We are not a venue that is licensed to host legal wedding ceremonies. However, many guests do choose to host a 'blessing' with us. This usually only works well with smaller weddings as it involves moving furniture.
Is the venue licensed for ceremonies?
No. Many of our couples get married in the civil registry office and come to the venue after. Here are some local recommendations: Hackney town hall, Islington town hall, Marylebone town hall. Also Cissold House.
What type of photobooth do you use??
Tripod
FOOD & DRINKS FAQ'S
Can I use my own caterer?
We have an in-house catering team that caters for all our events and we do not generally allow outside catering.
In the case of corporate events (PR/Press events, launches, etc) our in-house team is happy to collaborate with external chefs.
Can I bring my own drinks?
We do not generally allow any drinks to be brought into the venue and do not offer corkage.
Where there is special bottle or a traditional spirit or similar that you would like to serve, we can generally source this from our suppliers or if it is simply 1 bottle we are happy to allow this.
We have an extensive range of 2500+ from which to choose.
Can I put a tab on the bar?
You are welcome to put a budget behind the bar, after which we can charge your guests directly if you wish.
MUSIC FAQ'S
Can I bring a live band?
Due to the close proximity of neighbours living above us we do have sound restrictions placed on us.
We only allow certain types of musicians / instruments in the venue. These are as follows:
- Acoustic groups, no bigger than a quartet.
- small amplification no higher than 10W or with no amplification. Slightly larger amplification can be allowed depending on the style of music but please speak with us first.
Instruments allowed
- Singers / acapella singers
- Acoustic guitar and other similar instruments (e.g. Ukulele, banjo, sitar, etc)
- Double Bass, Violoncelo, Violin
- Small percussion sets (e.g. one snare drum or Cajon or congas/bongos) but only one percussion instrument allowed.
- Harp, Piano, Keyboard
Instruments not allowed
- Electric Guitar, Electric Bass
- Brass instrumentswind/Pipe instruments
- Grand piano/organs
- Drum sets and other big percussion instruments and sets
Click here for a list of approved musicians we have previously worked with
In all cases the live music sets must finish by 10pm.
Please do not book any musicians without first checking with us.
Can I bring a DJ?
We do allow professional DJ's from our pre-approved list.
We can provide a list of approved DJ's for your event.
Please note that whilst we can play music to a good level for dancing and general background music, we are not able to create a 'danceclub' level of music.
We do not allow external DJ's in the venue who are not pre-approved and all suppliers must have valid public liability insurance.
Is dancing allowed / how loud can the music be played?
We have sound restrictions on how loud we can play music and have set an upper limit on our sound system. We're happy for you to visit us and listen for yourselves how loud the volume is permitted.
The volume level is perfectly good for dancing and many of our guests are very happy with the sound level. It is not, however, at the level of a 'danceclub' and different areas of the venue around the bar are played lower to allow guests to talk.
Can I play my own music playlist?
Our Spotify account plugs directly into our integrated music system. You are welcome to provide us with a Spotify playlist in advance to be played during the event.
Each month we release our own playlists you can view here
CAFE-BAR FAQ
Is there parking nearby?
There is no customer parking on-site. Parking on Hackney Road is allowed from 7pm directly outside the venue, and metered parking is available before 7pm in nearby roads.
Hackney Road straddles both Tower Hamlets and Hackney Councils. Below are links to the respective website's for further information on parking in the area.
Tower Hamlets Parking - Zone A
There is nearby metered parking on
Do you have disabled access?
Unfortunately due to the age of the building and the protected nature of the original facade we do not have step free access to the venue.
A small step of 15cm separates the threshold from outside. Due to the narrow pavement outside it is not possible to deploy a ramp effectively. The door is wide enough to allow access with a wheelchair or buggies (with help)
There are no accessible toilets on-site currently.
What's the nearest station?
Cambridge Heath overground station is a 1 minute walk or Bethnal Green tube on the Central line is around 5-7 minutes.
HIRE OUR VENUE
Planning a big event? Our versatile venue in East London regularly hosts events such as weddings, private dinners, birthday parties, bridal showers, christmas parties, summer parties, breakfast meetings, off-site days and other celebrations.