Venue Review

Character: Traditional British meets arty East End modern.

Funky Features: Victorian schoolhouse with work-and-play creative buzz. Well located on a peaceful side-street in a fashionable neighbourhood.

Location and History

The A Foundation was founded in Liverpool by James Moores to support contemporary arts and its role in local regeneration. The Rochelle School, and the adjacent Club Row building, are the Foundation’s new London venture and they seem to have found the ideal spot. Situated in an old School building, erected in 1895, at the edge of the Boundary Estate (London’s, and possibly Europe’s, first housing estate), it’s hard to imagine better location. It nestles on a peaceful square in the heart of Shoreditch, in a revitalised community that has recently become home to a host of creative businesses.

Interior

The restrained renovation of the buildings has retained much of the original Victorian charm while lending the space a gallery-like feel. The interior is open, clean, navigable and versatile.

Across the court-yard from the Rochelle School studios is the Club Row building. Downstairs the decoration is in keeping with the rugged no-nonsense character of the area – high ceilings, vaulted archways, brick walls and parquet floors. Upstairs has a similar period feel but with a slightly more industrial edge. The corrugated metal roof is supported by exposed steel roof truss, and the concrete floor adds an extra touch of rawness to the open-plan space.

The hub of creative activity is the Canteen. In this warm, open-plan, open-kitchen eatery, modern British cookery heroes Arnold and Henderson (Nose to Tail Eating) cater for the artists who have studios in the converted school as well as visiting members of the public. 

Spaces for hire

The Canteen can be hired for lunches, dinners and evening events. In addition, Arnold and Henderson act as the on-site caterers for events in any of the Rochelle School and Club Row spaces, providing guests with great canapés, dinner or a full-blown feast.

The Rochelle School and Club Row have a variety of versatile spaces, and combinations of spaces, on offer to suit almost any occasion. The Club Row building has a capacity of 500, and you can hire one floor or both for dinners, receptions or parties.

Parties can spill out into the courtyard, or the outside space can be hired on its own. A marquee can also be arranged if required.
For more intimate dinners, business lunches or meetings, there is a handsome, oak-panelled room for hire inside the School.

Upstairs is one of the Foundation’s most interesting spaces: the Rooftop Playground. Once a playground for Victorian schoolkids, this space – with some fairly impressive views – is also available to hire for outdoor parties. The space also features a covered area, perfect for placing a bar, a Nose to Tail buffet or the table to hold your birthday/wedding prezzies.

Staff are happy to show you around over and to share a coffee or tea while you discuss which space, or combination of spaces, would best suit your a special occasion in the Canteen.