Supporting your favourite independent venues is so important right now which is why we decided to put together a list of some of the best that you can find on VenueScanner. Not only is there a great mix of bars, clubs, restaurants, but there are also some unique spaces (which is what we’re all about). So whether you’re planning a birthday party or office happy hour, you’re bound to find a venue on this list that you’ll want to book for your next event. 

1. Moustache Bar

This underground basement bar located in Dalston is the perfect spot to host corporate parties, live gigs and music events, comedy shows, birthday parties, and more. It’s a quirky space with a brand new QSC sound system and a stage area. There’s even a capacity of 120 people, making it the perfect spot for an epic event.

2. Chiringuito

Another East London favourite, Chiringuito is a super cool venue with an awesome rooftop terrace. They serve up Spanish and Latin inspired dishes and are a great spot to host a party no matter what time of day. Depending on what you’re looking for, you can rent the ground floor bar and restaurant, or the rooftop with a view of St John’s church.

3. On Vyner

This is a great space. It’s located in offices that were built inside of an old warehouse building and it’s been transformed into an airy space ideal for meetings, parties and events. They have three spaces that you can hire out separately or all together. Firstly, there’s a bar area downstairs that seats 60 and a stage. Then, on the first floor there is a mezzanine that can sit 20 comfortably making it a great spot for a meeting. Then there’s a break out room in the back that can seat ten. All of these spaces are hired with a minimum spend, making it a great place to host a team away day. 

4. Bar&co

This is a seriously unique venue. Bar&co is located on a boat near Holborn and Temple which means that you get amazing views of the London Eye, Oxo Tower, and Houses of Parliament. There’s a bar, club and restaurant here and the entire boat can be hired out. The great part about this place is that they have their own events management team who can help you customise your event exactly the way that you want it. 

5. Barge East

Another floating locale, Barge East is something special. They have multiple spaces you can hire out including the Barge, the Garden Bar and kitchen, the Captains Cabin, and the Riverside Rooftop. And if you need all of the space, you can hire the entire venue. The bar and kitchen is located on a 114 year old Dutch boat and you’ll get great views of the Olympic stadium and the London skyline. This independent venue can accommodate literally any type of event you could think of.

6. Lockes

This beautiful space can be found in Covent Garden. It’s split over two floors and you can hire out the basement bar for your next party. It fits 60 people and has its own cocktail bar. Because it’s centrally located, it’s an excellent spot for an event. 

7. Apples and Pears

Wood fired pizzas, cocktails, craft beers, and wine sounds like the best foundation for an amazing event. And you can find that all at Apples and Pears in East London. The independent cocktail bar has not one but two bars and a heated garden. BBQs are available in the summer when hiring out the whole venue or lounge bar exclusively. It’s small touches like that that make an independent venue a great choice when finding a location for an event. 

8. Fugitive Motel

We love the Fugitive Motel. They’re such a cool venue because they have so many amazing spaces available for venue hire. This motel inspired locale has floor to ceiling windows and an epic outside space called The Yard, making this a perfect spot for a daytime jaunt or summer party. Not only can you play cornhole and enjoy some craft beer (they have 16 lines) and pizza in the sunshine but you can also play shuffleboard inside. 

9. Bubba Oasis

Since we live in the UK, we know that the weather can be pretty unpredictable. It sometimes makes booking somewhere outdoors for your event a bit daunting. Thankfully though, Bubba Oasis has a fully weatherproof roof terrace. It’s hidden, making it a very private area, perfect for your party. It’s super cosy and features heaters and a retractable roof. It can fit up to 70 people and even has a high tech audio system. In other words, it’s got to be a top choice for your next event.

9. No Such Place

No Such Place may not sound like it from the name but is actually very remarkable. They have a stunning enchanted garden available for private hire that can hold up to 60 people. It’s covered in beautiful plants and features some pretty cool street art too. They’ve also got you covered if you’re interested in somewhere indoors – The Gallery is super cosy and even features a working fireplace. It can hold up to 60 guests, therefore making it a great place to host cocktail receptions or large private dinners.

10. NBHD Portobello

This West London hotspot is serving up some seriously delicious South American inspired plates and handcrafted cocktails. The venue has an amazing enclosed terrace (which is covered) that can seat thirty people. That means that it’s a popular spot in the summertime. The entire venue can be hired out and can fit up to 200 people (standing) so you can have a pretty epic party here if you wanted to.  

11. Space289

Converted railway arch venues are just so cool. Space289 is located in one on Cambridge Heath Road and can fit 220 people. Because of the type of space it is, it’s is an excellent location for a music event. For instance, they have a green room, load in entrance, a mezzanine level, and an insanely epic sound and light system. That’s basically everything you need for a great show.