East London, with all its cool vibes, is teeming with converted warehouses that are perfectly on trend, what with the ongoing craze for urban and industrial influenced spaces. Here are some of the very best venues in the East of London that ideal for a wedding reception which would ensure you don’t miss out.
The Pickle Factory
The Pickle Factory is an excellent choice for those who want all the usual benefits of a converted warehouse but not necessarily the scale of one. Being 225 square metres in total, it can accommodate a somewhat more intimate capacity of 200, and though it is enough of a blank canvas to invite your own personal touch, steel beams across the ceiling, frosted skylights and the slightly askew rectangular shape of the building itself ensure that it isn’t devoid of its own sense of charm.
Oval Space
If in fact it is a spacious venue you are in search of, Oval Space can take up to 1000 guests per event, thanks to its 500 square feet of unobstructed floor space. Unique features include accents of exposed brickwork, large windows and terraces which frame the venue on 2 sides, providing fantastic additional space particularly handy during the summer months should you wish to offer a BBQ. The Bethnal Green Gas Holders form a striking backdrop, with the Bethnal Green tube station being reachable in well under 10 minutes.
MC Motors
MC Motors has a chequered and fascinating past, having once been part of the adjacent school and several industrial units. After heavy bomb damage during the war however, the space were joined via a sky-lighted roof (which in turn lets in lots of natural light), hence the untouched Victorian street which runs through the middle. Having since gone through a number of different guises, it now operates as a multi-purpose event space, dripping with years’ worth of heritage and character.
Dalston Heights
Found on the top floor of a former cardboard box factory, Dalston Heights is rich in texture and has become a popular setting for photographic projects for its arresting urban look. The 2 main areas are supplemented by a generous make-up and styling room, plus a separate kitchen; handy when it comes to organising the catering. A quirky and eclectic mix of props and furniture help to set the scene and add a sense of fun to the space, which all-in-all can take up to 250 guests.
Swan Wharf
Swan Wharf is a Victorian warehouse complex which features a range of indoor and outdoor spaces which total 25,000 square feet, allowing for an impressive maximum capacity of more than 2800. Based on the River Lea, it also benefits from wonderful views of the Olympic Park. Of the 2 main spaces, one features exposed brickwork, high ceilings and full views of the waterfront, whilst the other is a bistro complete with an indoor bar and an outdoor terrace.
