Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Stafford

• Address:  Eastgate Street, Stafford ST16 2LT
• Type: Victorian theatre for professional and amateur shows, including Shakespeare and children's plays.
• Owners:
• Capacity: Gatehouse Theatre 541. Met Studio 150.
• Open: Office hours and evenings. Limited times on Sunday
• Contact: Gatehouse@Staffordbc.Gov.Uk
• Transport: Stafford Station
• Website: https://www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk/

Stafford Gatehouse is an accessible, thriving venue which offers you a wide range of modern facilities in the heart of Stafford. From conference facilities to studio theatre, recording space to restaurant, Stafford Gatehouse is one of the best equipped and most versatile venues in the region. We also have a range of technical equipment for outside hire.

The facilities operate both during and outside office hours and are available at weekends (Sundays limited). Well located between Birmingham, Nottingham and Manchester, Stafford is amply served by road and rail, with parking just two minutes’ walk away. 
A map showing directions and car parking is available upon request.

The Gatehouse Theatre

The Gatehouse Theatre can be adapted to seat up to 541 and is equipped with the very latest lighting and audio equipment.

• 2 Large dressing rooms
• 2 Small dressing rooms
• Full state lighting
• Full theatre sound system
• Three phase power to stage/200 amps per phase/ 63 amp single phase
• Digital Projector (for hire)
• 26ft by 14ft (7924 x 4267) Screen
• Orchestra pit 3m x 9m in 3m x 1m sections

The MET Studio

The Malcolm Edwards Theatre Studio is a 150 capacity theatre, totally flexible and again equipped with the very best sound, lighting and back-up equipment. The seating is completely adaptable and can be assembled in a variety of ways to suit any requirements - end stage, in the round or cinema style - and it can also be used as a recording studio.

• 2 Dressing rooms
• Full stage lighting
• Full theatre sound system
• 24 track recording facility
• Grid height 12.5ft (3810)
• 16mm Projector
• 10ft x 8ft (3048 x 2438) Screen

Contacts

• Box Office: 01785 619080 | gatehouse@staffordbc.gov.uk
• Please call us on 01785 619080 and select the department you require or email us at:

• Administration: Denise Tomlin 01785 619080 | dtomlin@staffordbc.gov.uk
• Room Hire: Denise Tomlin 01785 619080 | dtomlin@staffordbc.gov.uk
• Press and Marketing: Tom Waldron 01785 619080 | twaldron@staffordbc.gov.uk
• Programming and Production: Derrick Gask 01785 619080 | dgask@staffordbc.gov.uk
• Operations: Stuart Boyd 01785 619091 | sboyd@staffordbc.gov.uk
• Technical: Richard Goodman 01785 619084 | rgoodman@staffordbc.gov.uk

Union Chapel, Islington (London)

View fullsize

• Address: Union Chapel,Compton Avenue, Islington N1 2XD
• Music Type : Various + Comedy
• Owners: Union Chapel
• Capacity: 800 Seated (Upper Balconies and Stalls)
• Nearest station: Highbury & Islington
• For hire:  spacehire@unionchapel.org.uk
• Website: http://www.unionchapel.org.uk/

Just a short walk from Highbury and Islington station, the iconic Gothic style Union Chapel is one of our favourite London venues. It was the winner of 'Time Out's' favourite London music venue of the year for two consecutive years and for good reason. It is a beautiful music venue. The Union Chapel hosts a variety of music and comedy nights and has a variety of rooms to hire including the church itself.

The Union Chapel is one of London's most characterful venues. A typical gig here involves sitting on a church pew (bring a jacket or jumper for a cushion), drinking tea from a mug whilst enjoying great music in one of London's most beautiful churches. For atmosphere it cannot be beaten.

As you enter the Union Chapel you can literally grab a pew and wait for the gig (seating here is unreserved) or you can head back to the back of the church where there is a full licensed bar on the first floor. The bar also serves home cooked hot food, with proceeds going to help the Chapel's 'The Margins Project'. No alcoholic drinks are allowed in the chapel, but you can buy hot drinks, soft drinks, ice cream and snacks from the kiosk in the chapel foyer.

The interior of the church is beautiful, with the ground floor being a large octagonal shape with a balcony wrapped around above, all stone arches, stained glass windows and the like. The domed ceiling and stone walls mean the acoustics are superb, and every act I have seen here sounded fantastic. I would recommend getting here early enough to get a seat downstairs, as you feel a little bit further away from it all upstairs. 

Top tip (1) Seating is unreserved so arrive in good time before doors open (2) They have lovely hot chocolate too....with marshmallows and cream...yum! Very important for winter gigs (3) Bring a cushion as the pews can be a little hard or of course you can join the Union Chapel and they will lend you one.

View fullsize

The Slaughtered Lamb, Farringdon (London)

• Address: The Slaughtered Lamb, 34-35 Great Sutton Street, Clerkenwell. EC1V ODX
• Music Type: Various
• Owners:
• Capacity: 100+ (Mixed standing and seating)
• Nearest Station: Farringdon
• Website: http://www.theslaughteredlambpub.com/
• Contact:

The Slaughtered Lamb is a famous pub music venue a close to the City. It's gigs are held in the basement. The Lamb is a very intimate space and is great for acoustic music. Many musicians have chosen to release their EP's or albums at the venue. Try the craft beers as well, they are very good.

View fullsize

Kings Place, Kings Cross (London)

• Address: 90 York Way, London N1 9AG
• Music Type: Various
• Owners:
• Capacity: Hall one (415 [302 stalls and 113 balcony]) Hall Two (260 standing / 200 theatre / 84 cabaret) Seated in both but sometimes Hall 2 is all standing depending on the gig
• Nearest Station: Kings Cross / St. Pancras
• Website: http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/
• Contact:

Kings Place is a short walk from Kings Cross station and has two great 'state of the art' theatre style rooms for music in the basement of the building. It is worth keeping an eye on the programme as some excellent artists play at the venue. The sound is very good in both halls.

View fullsize

View fullsize

Cecil's, London Bridge (London)

View fullsize

• Address: 8 Holyrood St, London SE1 2EL
• Music Type: Various (Including Jazz, Folk, Americana and Acoustic)
• Owners:
• Capacity: 150?
• Nearest Station: London Bridge
• Website: http://www.cecilslondon.com/
• Contact:

Cecil's is another of London hidden music venue gems. Located in a basement of an old tea warehouse, a short walk from London Bridge Station, it is a venue full of surprises. Cecil's has a fantastic vibe and hosts some great music and comedy night. The venue is designed as a 1930's Shanghai speakeasy and once inside you feel that you have been transported to the Far East in a different era. They have great cocktails and a good selection of beers. Great music, great sound and great staff.