Centre 151 is a community arts and events centre at 151 Whiston Road in London, near Haggerston Park. It rents out a main hall with a stage and a sprung floor, two classroom-size studios on the lower level, a kitchen and a garden tea house. The official site lists conferences, meetings, presentations, networking events, seminars, training days, parties and community events, and the whole building can be hired.
Seminars and company events
The centre describes its spaces as suited to workshops, conferences, meetings, presentations, networking events, seminars and training days. The main hall works for both seated functions and standing networking. It has high ceilings and windows on all sides, so rooms stay light during a day session. For a day with a plenary and breakouts, the two lower-level studios can host smaller groups while the hall holds the main session.
It is also possible to hire the whole building, which includes the Main Hall and Studios 1 and 2. This suits an organizer who wants one team to have the premises to itself. Enquiries go to the centre by phone or email, and the team handles bookings directly.
Weddings and receptions
The site does not present the centre as a wedding venue. It lists parties and functions, social gatherings and community events among the uses of the Main Hall, so a private reception may be possible. Ask the team what they allow before you plan one, since no wedding offer or guest figure is published.
Rooms and capacities
The Main Hall is a large, spacious room with a sprung floor. It has a stage measuring 4.8 m deep, 5.5 m wide and 3.5 m high, and the venue holds 15 tables. For dance and rehearsal use, a 12 m by 7.5 m dance floor covering and four mirrors on wheels are available on request. The hall has been used for performances, creative research, photo shoots and film recording.
Studios 1 and 2 are two classroom-size rooms on the lower level, each measuring 7 m by 6 m with a 3 m ceiling. The site presents them for lessons, small group research, meetings and intimate gatherings. The garden has a tea house of 3.1 m by 6.4 m, with a ceiling height of 2.1 m. The garden is open to everyone during community events on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The centre also has a therapy room of 3 m by 6 m, but it is let to qualified and insured therapists and is not an event space. The site publishes room dimensions rather than guest capacities, so confirm the number of people each layout can hold with the team.
Catering
The centre has full kitchen facilities. The kitchen next to the Main Hall can be included in a hire if you arrange it when booking. The site does not mention an in-house caterer, so plan on bringing your own catering or asking the team what is allowed.
History and setting
Centre 151 is a registered charity that runs a programme of community events, performances, classes and a low-cost acupuncture clinic with therapists on site. It sits near Haggerston Park in east London, on Whiston Road.
Getting there
The centre is at 151 Whiston Road, London E2 8GU, near Haggerston Park. The site does not give transport details, so check the route with the team or a journey planner. For booking questions, the centre can be reached on 020 7739 3650 or at info@centre151.com.
