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Three people; a Black woman with long hair, a Black man with glasses and a greying beard and a White woman in glasses with shoulder length hair, share a joke as they sit around a table.

Community space

Hold your next group meeting here at the Southbank Centre, for free

We’re proud to support local organisations that strengthen the cultural and social life here in Lambeth and Southwark.

As part of our ongoing community engagement work, we’re now offering local groups free access to one of our Royal Festival Hall Level 3 pavilions. These spaces will be available once a month for community-focused events and activities, helping to remove barriers and create more accessible opportunities for collaboration and connection.

So if you’re an organisation working in the arts, youth development, or community support, you can apply to come and use one of our spaces, for free.

About our Community space

Our Level 3 pavilions are located on the third floor of our Royal Festival Hall overlooking the River Thames. They are intimate, flexible spaces ideal for workshops, meetings, and community gatherings. However they are not suitable for rehearsals or noisy activities.

Capacity:

  • Standing reception: 50 people
  • Theatre style (rows of chairs facing the front): 40 people 
  • Cabaret (round tables with people seated around them, usually with space at the front): 30 people
  • Boardroom (large central table with chairs around it): 20 people

Size: Approx. 10m x 8m

Lift access available with advance notice. Please inform us when applying.

Toilets located nearby, but with no step-free access directly from the room.

Also included in our Community space are:
  • Tables, chairs, and a coatrack
  • A screen and projector (available on request)
  • Public wi-fi
  • Flipchart stand (easel)
  • Kettle, coffee and tea can be made available.

How to apply

Complete the online application form at least four weeks in advance of your preferred date.

Complete the application

Contact

If you’ve any questions about applying to use our community space that aren’t answered on this page, or if you have a question relating to an existing booking, please contact our Creative Engagement team.

[email protected]

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Need to know

Who can use the space?

To be eligible, organisations must

  • be based in Lambeth or Southwark
  • focus on arts, youth engagement, community development, or local environmental and climate action
  • operate as a not-for-profit or community-led initiative.

Examples of the types of organisations we welcome include:
Youth-led groups, local arts or creative collectives, grassroots community initiatives, mental health and wellbeing projects, cultural organisations, climate and environmental groups, LGBTQIA+ groups, migrant and refugee support services, and other local community-based projects.

Applications to use the space are reviewed based on:
  • Availability
  • Community impact
  • Inclusivity – does your event actively welcome and involve underrepresented or marginalised groups in the local community?
  • Booking history – if demand exceeds availability, to ensure this offer is shared as widely as possible across the community,  we may prioritise organisations that don’t currently have an active booking or haven’t used the space before.

Availability

Our community spaces are available once a month, from 10am to 10pm, on the following dates. Depending on timing, multiple organisations may use the space on the same day, so please only apply for the amount of time you need.

  • Wednesday 15 April 2026
  • Friday 29 May 2026
  • Wednesday 24 June 2026
  • Wednesday 22 July 2026
  • Thursday 13 August 2026
  • Wednesday 16 September 2026
  • Wednesday 14 October 2026
  • Wednesday 19 November 2026
  • Wednesday 9 December 2026
  • Wednesday 27 January 2027
  • Thursday 18 February 2027
  • Thursday 18 March 2027
Community space terms of use
  • The space is provided free of charge; it must be used respectfully and left as found
  • Activities must be non-commercial (no ticket sales, fundraising, or private hire)
  • Groups must provide any required insurance and risk assessments for their activity
  • All events must be approved by the Southbank Centre and comply with our health, safety, and accessibility policies.
  • Organisations should aim to arrive at least 15 minutes before their scheduled start time to allow time for setup and briefing with the team.
  • If your group is running late, please contact us as soon as possible. We may not be able to extend your booking beyond the agreed end time.
  • If a group arrives more than 30 minutes late without notice, we reserve the right to cancel the session and offer the space to another group if applicable.
  • No-shows may affect your ability to book the space in future. We want to ensure fair access for all organisations, so please let us know at least five working days in advance if you need to cancel or reschedule.

Community space gallery

A woman standing next to a digital monitor, gesturing toward the screen, in a room of people seated at tables.
Belinda Lawley
View larger image 1 of 8. A woman standing next to a digital monitor, gesturing toward the screen, in a room of people seated at tables.
Two round tables with black chairs in front of a screen that displays 'lambeth autism hub'
Belinda Lawley
View larger image 2 of 8. Two round tables with black chairs in front of a screen that displays 'lambeth autism hub'
Two round tables set up in a room with a screen in front of the window
Belinda Lawley
View larger image 3 of 8. Two round tables set up in a room with a screen in front of the window
A woman sat a table having a conversation with the person sat next to her during an event.
Belinda Lawley
View larger image 4 of 8. A woman sat a table having a conversation with the person sat next to her during an event.
A woman seated in a row of chairs at an event, speaking while gesturing with her hand.
Belinda Lawley
View larger image 5 of 8. A woman seated in a row of chairs at an event, speaking while gesturing with her hand.
A room with grey carpet and large windows with rows of black chairs set up
Belinda Lawley
View larger image 6 of 8. A room with grey carpet and large windows with rows of black chairs set up
Rows of black chairs set up in a room with two microphones at the front
Belinda Lawley
View larger image 7 of 8. Rows of black chairs set up in a room with two microphones at the front
A woman and a man using a mobility chair exiting the lift in the Royal Festival Hall's Foyle Pavilion.
Belinda Lawley
View larger image 8 of 8. A woman and a man using a mobility chair exiting the lift in the Royal Festival Hall's Foyle Pavilion.

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