Woolwich Works in southeast London hires out seven spaces for conferences, wedding receptions, parties, product launches, filming and meetings, from a studio for 70 guests to a hall for 900 seated in theatre style or 1,800 standing. Companies can take one room or the whole building. The venue is a restored group of Grade II and II* listed buildings on the Royal Arsenal site, run by a registered charity.
Seminars and company events
Conferences, meetings and product launches are listed on the official hire page. The Fireworks Factory suits large conferences and launches. Mid-size events fit the Knight Gallery, Beanfeast or the Stonecutters and Ropekeepers Studios. Coopers Studio is the smallest studio. A meeting room can also be hired, and a full building takeover is possible. Audio-visual equipment is available on request in the smaller rooms, and the Fireworks Factory has its own audio system, lighting rig, blackout for the roof windows, control room and loading dock.
Weddings and receptions
Wedding receptions and parties are part of the hire offer. Beanfeast is described as a riverside room for celebrations, with a private external entrance on the riverfront. The Workers Yard, a sunny courtyard, is also listed. The Knight Gallery has a door straight onto that yard.
Rooms and capacities
The Fireworks Factory has a floor area of 1,504 m². It takes 1,800 standing, 900 in theatre layout, 884 in mixed cabaret and 550 in cabaret. It can be set up along the long or short axis, or in the round, and adjustable acoustic baffles are available.
The Knight Gallery covers 176 m² with exposed brick and a wooden floor. It takes 130 standing or in theatre layout, and 90 in cabaret or banquet layout.
Beanfeast measures 5.95 m by 30 m. It takes 170 standing or in theatre layout, and 100 in cabaret or banquet layout. Curtains black it out for presentations, and access is by lift or stairs.
The Stonecutters and Ropekeepers Studios are separated by an acoustic partition and can be joined into one room 35 m long. Combined, the listing gives 200 in theatre or banquet layout, 140 in cabaret and 230 standing. The page also says the combined maximum is 200, so confirm the figure for a standing event. Ropekeepers alone takes 70 in theatre layout and 60 in cabaret. Stonecutters alone takes 80 in both.
Catering
The venue keeps a list of approved caterers and approved suppliers, so food is brought in through that list. The bar and café on site, the Workers' Bar, adjoins the Fireworks Factory.
History and setting
The buildings are part of the former Royal Arsenal and were restored by the Royal Borough of Greenwich as a cultural district. The Fireworks Factory has exposed brick walls, an asymmetric glass roof and a glazed south facade that borders the Arsenal's historic parade ground. The studios keep original timber roof trusses and sash windows.
Getting there
The site is on the Thames. Woolwich Elizabeth line station is a few minutes' walk, Woolwich Arsenal station is five minutes on foot, and Woolwich Arsenal pier is next to the site. London City Airport is a short DLR ride away. There are no bedrooms on site, so overnight guests need a hotel nearby.
