I must have walked past the Hosue of St Barnabas countless times without ever bothering to stop and…read moreread the plaque next to the imposing entrance door. This opens as by magic upon pulling the old-fashioned bell. I love being invited to private members clubs! This one actually feels not that dissimilar to other Soho town house clubs nearby - what makes The House of St Barnabas stand out is that it is a charity for homeless people rather than a money-spinner for property developers. The interior is quite dark and very comfortable, I would have liked more time to explore more of the rooms. Excellent setting for a daytime meeting, plus the now ubiquitous collection of lone workers and their MacBooks. The club hosts a series of interesting sounding cultural events - with a bit of luck I hope to be invited back for one of those.

Great place So…read morebizarre : a hostel for homeless women becomes a nightclub for Hooray Henries! They say they give 50% to the Charity Lovely inside,an old church is part of the premises. Really worth a visit, even if you cannot afford or want membership! I should say the staff are the best anywhere .

The centre functions as a cafe and is housed in a predominantly austere-looking residential area…read more There's some yummy-looking fry-ups on offer for breakfast and sandwiches for lunch. Breakfast, incidentally, is served well into the afternoon. Not terribly hungry and there to meet an acquaintance, I ordered a black tea from a down-to-earth gal behind the counter and paid a mere 65p. The tea wasn't served in a thimble and the centre is in Camden, so 'hurrah!' There's an info. board hanging on the wall to the left of the entry way with information to suit locals in need. Tuesdays see ESOL tutors and learners meeting there over a nibble and a lesson. This place is tidy, friendly-vibed with super clean toilets. -good for the community, indeed! Oh, and they offer free WiFi.

Emmanuel Centre is used for examinations, AGM's or shareholders meetings, training seminars,…read morecouncil meetings, product launches, church gatherings, exhibitions, rallies, presentations, concerts and conferences. The building has a traditional charm and character comes with modern facilities and fully integrated in-house audio visual equipment. The main auditorium seats up to 1,000 people and is completely circular and supported by 24 pairs of marble columns with natural light that penetrate through a huge glass dome and arched windows, finished off with original polished English Oak panels along the walls. I went along here to watch a talk by Nigella Lawson which was very interesting. She sat on the main stage with a interviewer. The lights used to reflect the stage was a nice relaxing light not to bright. I love the whole architecture of the building inside and out. I especially love the organ pipes that was up above. The seats in the main area our church pews unfortunately no cushions so was hard. I reckon to see a church ceremony and to hear the organ being played I would reckon it would be beautiful.

Telegraph Hill Centre (http://thcentre.com) is self-funded venue, it receives no funding from local…read moreauthorities. As such, every penny Telegraph Hill Centre makes from hire charges, goes back into maintaining and improving the building. I've hosted five events at the Centre and each time have received a great deal of practical help and advice from its team. Telegraph Hill Centre has a large main hall with a raised stage. There is also a proper kitchen tucked away to one side of the main hall which could be used to serve food and drinks. Its a great space for a theatrical event, a party, or a music gig and can accomodate up to 200 people standing, 100 seated, or up to 60 if you're opting for 'cabaret' style seating around tables (this comes from practical experience from hosting events there). The second largest space at Telegraph Hill Centre is known as 'The Lounge', this offers a flexible rectangular space to accomodate an event for up to 40 people standing or around 25 seated. This also has a screened off food serving/bar space with sinks, hot water and the like. The Centre has spaces available to hire from as little as £10 an hour. Though most spaces are fairly bare, they can be dressed up with a little imagination the bareness offers a blank template to work from I guess. There are ladies and gents toilets as well as a disabled loo which is wheelchair accessible. You can access the building on the level so for those with mobility problems, access is possible. Telegraph Hill Centre will soon be refurbished so I imagine things will only get better. The 3 stars are because I think a refurb is needed, and would take it to a 4 star venue easily. I gather there are plans to install a lift so that the upper floors can be made more accessible. There are 2 members of staff who can help and they are usually contactable between 10.30am and 2pm. Details of the venue, what goes on there and how to contact them are availble from the Telegraph Hill Centre website http://thcentre.com

The King's Fund is a charity/think tank that tries to improve healthcare. They produce a number of…read morereports per year and host all kinds of events with well known speakers, conferences, etc. Some events are free, and some you have to pay to attend, but you'll find a lot of thought is put into each event. The venue itself is very nice inside, and anything you attend you'll almost undoubtedly meet some very interesting people.

Dragon Hall is a Central London venue where classes of various kinds are on offer. It's located in…read morea quiet street, meaning that it's both convenient for the West End and peaceful; a particular bonus if you are going there to check out meditation or some other calming activity! The hall is essentially a community centre, run by a trust that has a particular interest in providing activities for young people in the area. But there is plenty going on for adults, too. The building itself is lovely and modern, very tastefully done which makes a pleasant change from a lot of other places i've attended for classes!

The Dragon Hall is a community based organization that provides the venue for a range of events…read moreinvolving youth and adults a like. I think it is a great project, when you go inside you can appreciate the kind of events people are involved in. For instance, the artwork of some of the young people is very impressive. One of the rooms had a cartoon dragon, which was made by a group of troubled teenagers. Keeping them busy and out of trouble. Organizations like this one give a second chance to those in need, they feel wanted and belonging to a group. Furthermore, they hire out their venues to other business to fund their own initiatives. I came her as the result of a friends invitation to an afternoon of activities involving parents and children. It was really fun especially for the children. Colouring, toys for all ages (0-4), songs, dancing and it was all for free. These are held three times per month. With tea and biscuits at the end. What a great thing for the community, I hope this is a trend that really catches on.

Cole Court is my favourite Masonic centre within the province of Middlesex. I'm not saying it is…read morethe best or not only that it is my favourite. Great bar. Friendly staff and good food. Plenty of parking and close to public transport. Fantastic for holding any type of reception. Highly recommend it.

This review of for The Coffeehouse, inside the RSA…read more I was in London for work and desperately needed a quiet place to get things done (and maybe grab a decent bite), which is surprisingly hard in this part of the city where every café is jammed with tourists. I found The Coffee House online, took a chance, and I'm so glad I did! Tucked inside the Royal Society of Arts, the place has a great buzz without feeling chaotic. The vibe is welcoming, and the food is sooooo good. The staff were incredibly kind and patient, helping me navigate their (very impressive) menu and offering great suggestions. I went with the half-salad/half-sandwich combo and an Americano, and everything was delicious. The salad was the standout for me. Laptops aren't allowed in the first room by the counter, but you can take your food into the many other rooms throughout the venue and there are plenty. It's much bigger than it looks and perfect if you need space to work. Absolutely loved this spot.

The Royal Society for the Arts, not to be confused with the Royal Society, is a fantastic venue for…read moreany kind of celebration. The vaults in the basement, look amazing and work well for drinks receptions, with the function room on the ground floor serving as a more formal venue for meals. There are several other rooms that can be hired to fit a variety of events. The Royal Society of Arts also runs several of its own events including lectures and film screenings. Many of these can be attended free of charge, but occasionally there is a small fee to cover costs.