Cinema 1

Barbican Centre

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"Cinema 1 at Barbican Centre: vibrant purple stage for presentations and panel discussions."
  • From £4500
  • 280 Theatre
  • Barbican or Moorgate
  • From £4500
  • 280 Theatre
  • Barbican or Moorgate
Europe's largest performing arts centre offers cinema-grade projection technology with dedicated technical support in a prestigious cultural setting.
Joana Seguí Rubio
Joana Seguí Rubio

Venue Expert @ Hire Space

  • Fully-integrated stage lighting with colour-washing capabilities
  • Raked auditorium seating for 280 delegates
  • Foyer facilities for registration and networking
  • State-of-the-art AV system with 34,000lms 4K DLP cinema projector
  • 3 simultaneous translation booths for international events
  • Dedicated technician for sound and lighting support

Our on-site technical support, combined with the capacity to stage video-conferencing and satellite links, offers organisers all the facilities and expertise needed to stage even the most demanding conferencing event. Cinema 1 benefits from 3 simultaneous translation booths, fully-integrated stage lighting and two sound rigs which can be adapted to the individual needs of the client. Recent refurbishments allows for the auditorium lighting to change to suit clients by colour washing the walls and ceiling in business colours. This event space is ideal for presentations and corporate meetings.




Frequently asked questions

Cinema 1 day hire (08:30-17:00) costs £6,100+VAT and evening hire (17:30-23:00) costs £5,100+VAT. There is a mandatory minimum catering spend of £5,000+VAT for each hire period. The venue includes a 4K DLP cinema projector, PA system, 3 cabled microphones, Wi-Fi, full house lighting system, and a dedicated technician for sound and lighting.

Cinema 1 has a total capacity of 280 people in a raked auditorium style with fixed seating. The space is located on Level -2 and features a 34000lms 4K DLP cinema projector with 1920 x 1080 50i HD resolution. It includes 3 simultaneous translation booths and fully-integrated stage lighting that can be colour-washed to match corporate branding.

Frobisher Triple Room day hire (08:30-17:00) costs £3,200+VAT with a mandatory minimum catering spend of £1,500+VAT. An overnight hold costs £950+VAT. The space accommodates 170 theatre style or 96 cabaret style and includes LCD projector (8000lms WUXGA resolution), screen, and Wi-Fi. Tenancy times include setup and de-rig, with 1.5 hours recommended for setup and 30 minutes for de-rig.

Evening venue hire (17:30-00:00) for the Garden Room & Conservatory costs £7,800+VAT with a mandatory minimum catering spend of £3,000+VAT. The space has multiple capacity options: 220 banquet, 180 dinner/dance, 450 reception, 180 seated buffet, or 350 fork buffet. Additional PA system and microphone costs £111+VAT, and 55" LCD screens cost £175+VAT.

Cinema 1 includes a dedicated technician for sound and lighting, 4K DLP cinema projector, PA system, 3 cabled microphones, and full house lighting system. Frobisher Rooms include LCD projector and screen. Additional equipment available includes PA systems from £111-122+VAT, LCD screens from £175-216+VAT, and stages are available free of charge for some spaces.

Standard day hire runs 08:30-17:00 and evening hire runs 17:30-00:00 or 17:30-23:00 depending on the space. Setup and de-rig time is included in tenancy periods. For events requiring earlier access (such as 3pm access), additional charges apply at £750+VAT per hour. Payment of invoices must be completed prior to events proceeding.

Bookings require a signed contract and invoice payment prior to the event proceeding. The venue operates on an availability basis, with some spaces frequently booked (Cinema 1 and Auditorium 1 are noted as popular 220-capacity spaces). Clients should check date flexibility as availability can be limited, particularly for larger conference groups.

All venue hires have mandatory minimum catering spends that must be met through the venue's catering partner Searcys. Cinema 1 requires £5,000+VAT minimum spend, Frobisher Rooms require £1,500+VAT, and Garden Room & Conservatory require £3,000+VAT. The catering team can create original menus and provide theming to match event requirements.

The Conservatory is a tropical oasis in the heart of the city, home to exotic fish and over 1,500 species of tropical plants and trees. It currently hosts site-specific art installations and can accommodate various layouts from intimate dinners to large receptions. The space offers a distinctive setting that can be themed and decorated according to client requirements.

Cinema 1 seats 280 in raked auditorium style, Frobisher Triple Room accommodates 170 theatre or 96 cabaret style, and Garden Room & Conservatory offers flexible capacities from 180 seated dinner up to 450 reception style. Auditorium 1 also seats 220 and is frequently booked alongside Cinema 1 for larger events requiring multiple spaces.




More about Barbican Centre

The Barbican Centre was developed in the Brutalist style of architecture. It is a performing arts centre, the largest of its kind in Europe. The Barbican Centre was built after Barbican Estate which is a housing complex situated in an area that was bombed heavily in WWII. The centre holds theatre performances, film screenings, music concerts, and art exhibitions. As well as being a world class arts venue, the Barbican Centre also boasts one it's very own tropical Conservatory, which is one of the most unusual venues in London for weddings.