Funky Venues

Venue Review

Character: 1980s cultural ‘City in the air’ revitalised as a dramatic late 20th century architectural classic

Funky Features: Dramatic roof-top conservatory terrace; self-contained TV studio

Location and History

The Barbican has divided opinion ever since it opened 25 years ago and the grade 2 listed centre designed by Chamberlin Powell and Bon is one of the few buildings to have appeared in both best-loved and most-hated categories in popular architectural surveys. Since the refurbishment and reshaping of its public spaces in 2001 public opinion has shifted decisively and positively. Up-and-coming architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) rethought the public spaces from scratch.  Their redesign relocated bars and cafes, refreshed the organisation of the foyers and revitalised signage, and technology. Alongside these practical adjustments, the architects added new colour schemes (orange for the Barbican Hall, red for the theatre, for example) and lighting such as tutti frutti ceiling washers in the coffers of the concrete ceiling, that help enhance the building’s original drama and beauty. Today the Barbican has emerged as a dramatic space versatile enough to accommodate a whole range of different corporate and private functions and far easier to navigate than its reputation suggests.

Interior

Most of the Barbican’s diverse spaces – its foyers, its hall, theatre, cinemas and conference rooms – are available for hire. These are listed individually below but the Barbican team stresses that it is happy to work with clients to mix and match combinations of different spaces tailored made to suit the needs of particular occasions. Whatever the combination of spaces chosen, each project is managed and overseen by one dedicated member of the Barbican team.

Spaces for Hire

Barbican Hall: Elegant and spacious 3-tiered hall with light-wood Scandinavian feel. Accommodates 1943 delegates for conferences or other events such as graduation ceremonies, with a theatre capacity of 1156. For smaller events, the lower tier (fitting 855 people) can be used alone. Dedicated TV studio complete with full camera rigs and technicians also available for hire.

Barbican Theatre: Similar character to the Barbican Hall with seating for 1150; ideal space for product launches, AGMs of City-based companies and similar events.

Main foyers: With their striking parquet floors and dramatic concrete columns, the foyers adjoining the Barbican Hall and Theatre make striking spaces for product launches or conference break-out. Catering can be arranged at adjacent bars.

Conservatory/garden room/garden terrace: Up on the 3rd floor level and opposite the Barbican Art Gallery, the Conservatory and garden room are the Barbican’s best kept secrets.

The garden room accommodates up to 300 to 400 for a fork buffet and from 240 to 360 for a seated dinner and is also licensed for bands and other musical performance until midnight. Conference visitors can escape out into the verdant spaces of the Conservatory whose plants are dramatically lit at night. Upstairs on the fourth floor the Conservatory terrace provides an alternative area for a drinks party overlooking the garden.

Cinemas and conference rooms: the Barbican has three cinemas, each finished in a signature lilac colour scheme, all of which are available for hire as conference or presentational spaces. The biggest of these cinemas in the building’s basement seats 280 and has its own foyer area which can be used for refreshments and catering.

The smaller two are up on the fourth floor and seat 246 or 153 visitors. The cinemas are ideal as formal presentation areas for conferences while the adjoining double height conference rooms are ideal seminar and meeting spaces grouped in a semicircle overlooking the third floor terrace. Each of these airy rooms features a projector and screen.