Gracepoint

The building at 161–169 Essex Road has lived several lives. Designed by George Coles as the Carlton Cinema in the 1930s, it served generations of filmgoers before becoming a Mecca Bingo hall — decades where the Art Deco splendour was largely hidden behind functional interiors. Recent restoration has revealed what Coles originally created: an Egyptian-themed façade dressed in multi-coloured Hathernware tiles, an Empire-designed foyer, and a French Renaissance auditorium that remains one of London's most dramatic interior spaces. Gracepoint now operates as an events and conference venue with Grade II* listed status — the asterisk denoting a building of particular importance.

Architecture as Event Infrastructure

What makes Gracepoint unusual isn't just the beauty of the space — it's that cinema architecture was always designed to create emotional responses in audiences. The sightlines, the acoustics, the proportions of the auditorium all serve the same purpose for a conference keynote or an awards ceremony that they once served for a film screening. The 9m x 13m stage, the 900+ theatre seating, the front-of-house and backstage support spaces — this is genuine performance infrastructure, not a beautiful room with a temporary stage bolted in.

Islington's Largest Event Space

With over 1,100 capacity in full theatre configuration, Gracepoint is one of the largest hireable event spaces in Islington. That scale combined with the architectural impact makes it a natural choice for events where attendee numbers and visual impression both matter — large corporate conferences, gala dinners, product launches, and celebrations that want genuine grandeur rather than decorated function space.

Film, Photography, and Performance at Gracepoint

The extraordinary façade — Egyptian-themed Hathernware tiles in multiple colours — is a draw for film and photography shoots in its own right. Inside, the auditorium's 9m x 13m stage handles full theatrical performances, concert productions, and any presentation format that benefits from proper staging infrastructure. Backstage offices double as changing rooms, and the front-of-house breakout spaces support multi-element productions.

Hiring Gracepoint

The venue operates on a dry hire basis with approved caterers and production suppliers. Essex Road National Rail station sits adjacent to the building, Highbury and Islington tube is walkable, and Angel tube is also within reach. The building includes breakout spaces, backstage facilities, and a large reception area — the full infrastructure needed for events that extend beyond a single auditorium session.