Our six fabulous spaces offer venues for just about any type of event, meeting or celebration you want to put on. And there’s a café where you can meet friends for a coffee or something to eat, and quiet places if you just want to sit and think.
The Barn takes on many guises throughout the year. It’s home to theatre, concerts, comedy, workshops, meetings, parties and weddings. The very flexible staging and seating facilities, combined with our high quality audio equipment, are designed to accommodate the widest range of performances and events. If your taste in music is classical, jazz, folk or world, the Barn plays host to both established international performers and up-and-coming talent. The range of theatre work is just as broad as it includes professional touring companies and local societies delivering both mainstream and experimental work. And if you’re looking for somewhere a bit different, with excellent parking, for a meeting, a formal dinner a party or wedding reception, or some other type of event the flexibility of the space, and on-site catering from the Riverhouse Community Café and Bar, should meet your needs.
The Robert Phillips Gallery is a beautiful, purpose-built, sky-lit gallery space, with vaulted ceilings and flexible hanging space. It hosts a wide variety of exhibitions, from touring national collections to artists exhibiting their own work. Artists are also invited to exhibit and sell work while acting as Artist in Residence and running workshops for the community . We also host touring exhibitions from the likes of the Cartoon Museum and the Hayward Gallery. The Gallery is open seven days a week, from 10am – 4pm.
The Community Café is our friendly and welcoming licensed café, serving freshly prepared, home-cooked food, a tempting array of homemade cakes, and of course, a proper cup of tea or coffee. It’s a relaxed, comfortable spot—ideal for meeting friends, enjoying a quiet break, or simply taking time out. When the sun is shining, our delightful Courtyard offers the perfect outdoor setting. We are proud to support Surplus to Supper, a local charity that redistributes surplus food to reduce waste and support the community. Thanks to this partnership, our ever-changing, creative menu is inspired by the ingredients we receive—meaning there’s always something new and flavourful to enjoy, made with care and a conscience. All of our cakes are home made or made on-site, and the café is run by a passionate team of staff and volunteers. In addition to our daily service (open 10am – 4pm), the café space is also available to hire for community group meet-ups, workshops, meetings, or small events. We are equally pleased to offer bespoke catering for private functions and special occasions. The bar is open before performances and during intervals.
The Toshiba Craft Studio offers a purpose-built creative space, fully equipped with functional workbenches, woodworking tools, enamelling kilns, and an extensive array of art materials to support a wide range of artistic disciplines. During term time, the studio hosts a diverse programme of art classes tailored for both children and adults, catering to all skill levels and creative interests. In the school holidays, the studio comes alive with themed workshops, providing inspiring hands-on experiences in various artistic techniques. Bathed in natural light from generous skylights, the studio offers an ideal environment for working across all artistic mediums—from painting and sculpture to ceramics and mixed media. In addition to scheduled classes and workshops, the space is available to hire for small meetings (up to 12 people), private presentations, or as a tranquil setting to develop your own creative projects.
In the Courtyard you will find the Kewill Gates, commissioned to reflect the history of the original barn. Featuring poppies, wheat-stems, birds, butterflies, mice, and a couple of owls. The gates were designed by architect Roger Wing, and fashioned by artist-blacksmith Paul Dennis.
Overlooking the Thames, the landscaped Sensory Garden offers a peaceful setting for relaxing. With its small amphitheatre for games and performances, a fountain and quiet sitting areas, it is the perfect place to sit and do nothing, chat or contemplate whatever you want. It is open to the public at all times and appeals especially to people with impaired senses. The garden was made possible by a grant from the Norland Trust and sponsorship from Air Products.