Weddings, civil ceremonies, meetings, conferences and community events for up to 150 guests can be held at The Glass House, a new venue with two rooms, a private terrace and a courtyard in Springfield Park, Hackney, in northeast London.
Seminars and company events
The Sky Room is listed for conferences, meetings and ceremonies, with 150 seats in theater style. The Orchard Room also seats 150 in rows and can be divided with its partition, which lets one booking run a plenary session and a smaller workshop side by side. Equipment includes a PA system with handheld microphones, a projector and screen suited to audiences of up to 150, a Bluetooth speaker and Wi-Fi. Bookings are exclusive, so a team day, a training session or an awards evening has the building to itself. The venue runs all year, and community classes are part of its program alongside private and business events.
Weddings and receptions
The Glass House holds weddings and civil ceremonies. One option is to use the Sky Room for the ceremony, with up to 150 guests in rows, then move to the Orchard Room for the wedding breakfast, with 150 at banquet tables and the terrace for drinks. There is no late license, so evening celebrations need an earlier finish, and pets are not allowed.
Rooms and capacities
The Orchard Room takes 150 standing, 150 at banquet tables or 150 in theater style. It has skylight windows, a partition and glass doors onto an exclusive terrace, and booking it gives private access to the courtyard. The Sky Room takes 150 standing, 60 at banquet tables or 150 in theater style, under a large skylight. In both rooms the retractable skylights open at the push of a button, giving an open-air feel while guests stay under cover. The building is wheelchair friendly.
Catering
Food and drink must come from the venue's list of accredited suppliers, which covers both catering and the bar. Organizers choose a caterer from that list and agree the menu and service with them directly.
History and setting
The building stands in Springfield Park, on the site of the park's original Victorian glass house, and replaces it with a modern structure designed as a community venue. The park slopes down toward the River Lea, which gives the terrace and the courtyard a green setting for photographs and for breaks between sessions. A 360-degree virtual tour of the interior is available on Google Maps, which helps when comparing layouts before a viewing.
Getting there
The postcode is E5 9EF, in Upper Clapton. There is no parking at the venue, so guests should plan to arrive by public transport, taxi or bicycle. Clapton and Stamford Hill stations on the London Overground are the closest rail stops, each about a 15-minute walk away, and several bus routes run along Upper Clapton Road. Viewings are arranged through the online form on the Hackney Venues website.
