Five of the best trustee-run event and community spaces

Looking for a venue with community at its heart? These inclusive venues were all saved by their local communities.

By Julia Raeside

Victoria Baths, Manchester

This unique venue used to be the public baths but now hosts every event imaginable at the bottom of its drained and re-purposed swimming pool. These have included beer festivals, the Vintage Home Show, Manchester Tech Festival, the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair and even a spooky silent disco for Halloween. Scenes from Peaky Blinders, Cold Feet and It's a Sin were filmed here, while the Antiques Roadshow has also dropped in.

The gorgeous Edwardian grandeur, ceramic tiles and vaulted ceilings also make for an ideal corporate event space and a dramatic wedding venue. Aside from private hire, you can visit between March and November to look around the historic building or take a guided heritage tour, bookable on the website. Although the building isn’t heated, it does make for a unique backdrop.

The tireless battle to save Victoria Baths after it closed in 1993 was detailed in the Guardian's obituary of one of its most passionate campaigners, Gill Wright. While there's still work to do to take the building off the 'Heritage at risk' register, the bath's board of trustees, staff and volunteers are working hard on plans to preserve the building for the enjoyment of generations to come.

Discover the event space at Manchester's Victoria Baths.

The Railway Arms, Saffron Walden

When this historic Essex pub was threatened with redevelopment in 2017, the local community came together to buy it and run it themselves. Back in fulltime business by 2021, its traditional mix of warm hospitality and local ales saw it win CAMRA’s Essex Pub of the Year in 2022. They run a very popular weeky quiz, street food nights and regular live music evenings. Perfect for a cosy pint.

Find out more about the Railway Arms, Saffron Walden.

The Florrie, Liverpool

This striking red brick, Grade II listed, Victorian arts and heritage venue really stands out thanks to the beautiful restoration work undertaken by a local trust. The venue came back into community use in 2012 after years of damage and dereliction and now plays host to large events in the grandeur of St George’s Hall as well as several smaller spaces set up for everything from corporate hire to facilities for the local community including a cinema, radio station, youth activities and a community café.

Discover the Florrie, Liverpool.

The Minories, Colchester

This converted grand house in the middle of Colchester displays a broad collection of art bequeathed by local philanthropist Clarence Victor Batte-Lay who very much believed that art it for all, and is now run as a charity. The venue hosts free, year-round exhibitions and offers beautiful, light rooms for hire as well as a wedding hire service for those looking for an heritage venue with an artistic flavour. Through fundraising and sponsorship they also support local artists to encourage a new generation into an appreciation of art.

How to hire the Minories, Colchester.

Insole Court, Cardiff

In the late 1800s, the Insole family turned a modest original building into a grand manor house with ornamental gardens, but like so many stately homes, it fell into disrepair until a 2006 rescue bid by a local group. Now it provides a beautiful backdrop to an impressive programme of community classes, family events and hires out its gorgeous period rooms too. The wood-panelled dining room seats 24 and would be perfect for a murder mystery evening.