Mencap Riverside Hall

Riverside Hall is a welcoming, versatile and affordable community venue available to hire in the heart of Newhaven. Operated by Newhaven, Lewes & District Mencap, the hall provides a practical and friendly setting for parties, celebrations, meetings, classes, workshops, community activities, support groups, rehearsals, training sessions and local events. Whether you are planning a one-off occasion or looking for a regular venue, Riverside Hall offers the space and essential facilities needed to make your booking comfortable and straightforward.

Located at Riverside Hall, West Quay, Newhaven, East Sussex BN9 9BP, the venue is well placed for people travelling from Newhaven and surrounding communities, including Seaford, Peacehaven, Lewes and the wider East Sussex area. Its convenient local setting makes it a useful choice for families, organisations, clubs, instructors, charities and businesses that want an accessible community venue without the price or formality of a hotel or conference centre.

The main hall can accommodate up to 90 people, giving you plenty of flexibility when arranging your event. The room measures approximately 14.8 metres long by 8 metres wide, with a height of approximately 2.74 metres. This generous open space can be adapted for many different layouts and activities. You might choose rows of seating for a presentation, tables for a meeting or workshop, an open floor for a class or rehearsal, or a combination of seating and activity areas for a celebration. Tables and chairs are available, helping you create a practical arrangement that suits your guests and event.

Riverside Hall is particularly well suited to birthday parties, anniversary celebrations, family gatherings, children’s activities, craft sessions, music and dance rehearsals, exercise classes, educational workshops, committee meetings, coffee mornings, fundraising events and community group sessions. It can also provide a dependable regular base for clubs, tutors, instructors and organisations that need a consistent place to meet. If you have a different idea, please contact us and tell us what you are planning. We will be happy to explain whether the hall and its facilities are suitable.

The venue includes access to a kitchen, making it easier to prepare hot and cold drinks, serve refreshments and support catered activities. There is also a bar area, although hirers should discuss their intended use of this facility with Newhaven Mencap in advance. Accessible toilet facilities are available, and the hall is intended to provide a welcoming environment for disabled visitors, carers, families and community groups.

Riverside Hall is also dog-friendly, making it a practical option where assistance dogs or family dogs may need to attend. Hirers remain responsible for supervising animals, keeping them under control and leaving the venue clean and ready for the next booking.

Hall hire is competitively priced at £20 per hour, offering excellent value for a venue with this amount of space and flexibility. A refundable £50 deposit is also required. The deposit helps protect the hall and is returned in accordance with the booking terms after the venue has been checked.

When planning your booking, remember to include enough time for setting up before your guests arrive and clearing away afterwards. Your booked period should cover the full time you need access to the hall, not only the advertised start and finish time of your activity or event. This will help your day run smoothly and ensure the hall is ready for the next group.

Because Riverside Hall is run by Newhaven, Lewes & District Mencap, hiring the venue has an added community benefit. Income from hall bookings helps support the upkeep of the building and the charity’s work with local adults who have learning disabilities, their families and carers.

By choosing Riverside Hall, you are not simply booking a room. You are also supporting an independent local charity and helping us continue to provide opportunities, activities and a welcoming place for our members. Every booking contributes towards keeping this important community venue available for the people and organisations who use it.

We want hiring Riverside Hall to be clear and manageable from the outset. Before confirming a booking, please provide the proposed date, start and finish times, type of event, expected number of guests and any particular requirements. This helps us check that the space is suitable and ensures we understand what you need.

Hirers are expected to treat the hall, its equipment and the neighbouring area with respect, supervise their guests appropriately and return the furniture and facilities to the agreed condition. Full booking conditions will be provided as part of the enquiry and confirmation process.

The flexible layout means Riverside Hall can work equally well for smaller gatherings and larger community occasions. Smaller groups can arrange the furniture to create a comfortable meeting or activity area, while larger groups can make use of the wider floor space and seating capacity. Organisers can bring suitable decorations, resources or event materials to help make the space their own.

If accessibility is important to your group, please tell us about any particular requirements when enquiring. We can explain the available facilities and help you understand the venue layout before you make a decision. Organisers remain responsible for providing appropriate supervision and support during their booking, particularly where children or vulnerable adults are attending.

From family celebrations and weekly classes to charity fundraisers and local meetings, Riverside Hall offers an affordable, adaptable and community-focused place to bring people together. With capacity for up to 90 people, useful kitchen and bar facilities, tables and chairs, accessible toilets and a straightforward hourly rate, it provides the essentials you need in a friendly local setting.

To enquire about hiring Riverside Hall, contact Newhaven, Lewes & District Mencap with your preferred date, times and event details. We will check the booking information and guide you through the next steps. Come and make Riverside Hall the setting for your next meeting, activity, celebration or community event, while supporting a local charity that has served the area since 1965.