Crate Brewery

Crate Brewery was Hackney Wick before Hackney Wick became a postcode everyone wanted. Established in 2012 in the White Building — a former print factory that had previously been a squat — it was the first craft brewery and pizzeria on this stretch of the Lea Navigation canal, and over thirteen years later it remains the anchor of the area's creative identity. The upcycled interiors were put together with materials scrounged alongside local artists, and they still feel more genuine than the wave of industrial-chic bars that followed.

Canal-Side Character at Crate Brewery

The setting is the draw. The River Lea runs directly past the venue, and that waterside position creates an atmosphere for events that purely indoor spaces can't manufacture. On warm evenings the canal terrace becomes one of East London's best outdoor drinking spots, with beer brewed metres from where you're sitting. Even in cooler months, the combination of indoor warmth and canal views gives events a sense of place that generic function rooms lack entirely.

Hire at Crate Brewery

Full venue hire brings together the Studio Space, main bar, canalside terrace with its own bar, and garden space — up to 500 guests across indoor and outdoor areas. The Studio Space works as a self-contained hire for up to 100 guests when the full venue isn't needed. Either way, the format suits gatherings where relaxed energy matters more than formal structure: team celebrations, creative industry launches, milestone birthdays, and summer parties where the canal does half the decorating.

Events That Suit Crate

Creative industry socials, tech company gatherings, and informal team celebrations find a natural home here. The brewery's own craft beer range — brewed on site — gives events an authenticity that generic hospitality can't replicate. Birthday parties and casual celebrations benefit from a setting that guests remember and talk about afterward. Private hire starts from groups of 21 via direct enquiry, with the events team handling coordination.

Food, Drink, and Hackney Wick

In-house stone-baked pizza and the brewery's own craft beer range are the food and drink proposition — simple, on-brand, and exactly what the setting calls for. The brewery also offers wines, canned cocktails, and low/no-alcohol options. Hackney Wick Overground provides direct access, with the Olympic Park nearby. Opening hours extend to 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, giving evening events proper room to develop.