Newspeak Hall

Newspeak Hall is the primary event space in Newspeak House, located at 133 Bethnal Green Road, London, UK, E2 7DG.

It can fit 100 people standing, 80 people theatre style, and 50 people at tables. It comes complete with wifi, furniture, microphone, PA and projector, and is wheelchair accessible.

Newspeak House offers free space for people organising community events; see the next section for details.

If you'd be interested in hiring the space for another reason, please email [email protected]. Prices start at £1000/day + VAT.

Community Booking Policy

Newspeak House offers free space for people organising community events. This is offered subject to a few conditions:

1. The event is on a topic relevant to politics and technology.
2. The event is aimed at political technologists rather than the general public.
3. The event can be advertised to the membership.
4. There's availability in the schedule.
5. The event is not booked more than about 4-6 weeks in advance, though the less far ahead the better.
6. The events are free to attend, or have a token price. (Or the price covers an unavoidable cost associated with the format.)
7. Newspeak House Fellows are guaranteed free tickets.
8. The host organisation cannot realistically contribute to venue costs.
9. The organiser is a member of Newspeak House.
10. Newspeak House has the option of being listed as venue sponsor.

If you would like to propose a community event, please email [email protected]

If your event does not meet all of these conditions, do still get in touch - if it is aligned with the mission of Newspeak House, we may still be able to offer the space to you for free or at a subsidised rate.

Cancellation: Newspeak Hall is valuable, and it is doing the community a disservice when it is wasted. If you book a community event and subsequently cancel it without good reason, we will charge you £300.

In exceptional circumstances, Newspeak House may have to cancel your event. In this case, we'll endeavour to give you as much notice as possible, but do not accept liability for any losses or damages incurred.

Notes for running events in Newspeak Hall

Arrive at least an hour before your event starts and stay until the last guest leaves.

Everyone in Newspeak House must abide by the House Rules, and it's the responsibility of the organisers to enforce these rules.

Newspeak House doesn't have an alcohol license, so alcohol cannot be sold on the premises without applying for a temporary license, though it can be given away for free.

In our experience, it typically costs around £150 to buy drinks for an evening meetup.

If your event is in the evening and involves both alcohol and music, we require you to have a licensed security guard, which will cost you an additional £20/hr. The staff can organise this for you.

Projector can accept DisplayPort (mac), VGA or HDMI.

PA can accept 3.5mm, 6.35mm and XLR connectors.

Please leave the space as you'd like to find it.

Event Checklist

Before the event starts

Allow 60 minutes:

• [ ] Toilet

  • [ ] Clean?
  • [ ] Toilet paper?

• [ ] Fridge

  • [ ] Empty & Clean?
  • [ ] Restock

• [ ] Bins

  • [ ] Empty?
  • [ ] Landfill = purple bag
  • [ ] Recycling = red bag

• [ ] Projector

  • [ ] On at the plug?
  • [ ] Room lights at appropriate level?
  • [ ] Video adaptors?

• [ ] Sound

  • [ ] Test Microphone
  • [ ] Play music
• [ ] Chalkboard
  • [ ] Write BIG & CLEAR
  • [ ] Place on street
• [ ] Set up chairs/tables as required

During the event

The primary event organiser, a fellow or staff member must be in Newspeak Hall at all times during an event, and are fully responsible for who enters and exits the space. Guests cannot be relied upon to do this.

After the bulk of guests arrive, close and latch the front door.

A responsible fellow or staff member must be in the building and on call from when the first guest arrives to when the last guest leaves. Guests often arrive 60 minutes early!

A responsible fellow or staff member must be supervising at critical points during the event; when guests arrive & leave, PA equipment is used, etc.

After the event ends

• ❏ Empty slops down the sink

• ❏ Rubbish

  • Recycling => red bags
  • Landfull => purple bags
  • Tie up bags and leave by back door
  • If 9:30 - 10:00pm, put rubbish bags onto kerb near bicycles

• ❏ Stack tables and chairs away neatly

• ❏ Sweep the floor

• ❏ Toilet

  • Mop
  • Restock (toilet paper is in laundry room)

• ❏ Check all rear windows closed and locked

• ❏ Check all three front door locks are engaged on both sides

• ❏ Turn off PA & projector

• ❏ Switch off lights

• ❏ Report any damages, defects or losses to [email protected]