Hire Firstsite

Host your next event at Firstsite – a unique venue in Colchester

Looking for venue hire in Colchester that offers something truly different? Firstsite’s striking crescent-shaped building, designed by award-winning architect Rafael Viñoly, offers flexible and unconventional spaces for every kind of event.

Whether you’re planning a meeting, a conference, a stylish party, or even a festival, our light-filled and adaptable spaces can be tailored to suit your needs – perfect for gatherings of all sizes.

From corporate bookings to private celebrations, our experienced team is here to bring your vision to life.

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Hire Firstsite and support our local community

Firstsite is a registered charity – by hosting your event at Firstsite, you can help us continue to bring free world-class exhibitions to East Anglia. Your support will further benefit the local community through funding our local creative community projects – including free lunches and activities for families during the school holidays.

We work closely with some incredible partners and causes and all our profits go straight back into these projects.

Why choose Firstsite for venue hire in Colchester?

Pick from a range of flexible halls for hire

We offer a wide selection of spaces for hire  – indoors and outdoors. You can book a single meeting room or combine spaces into a tailored package. From our cinema to our party halls, we’ll help you find the best fit.

Escape the ordinary conference room!

Step away from the ordinary. With bold architecture, contemporary art, and even a Roman mosaic underfoot, Firstsite offers a setting like no other – ideal for workshops, launches, parties, and more.

Expert event support

Our dedicated team will guide you every step of the way – from planning to setup and smooth delivery. Whether it’s a private party or a large conference, we make hosting stress-free.

Accessible spaces

Accessible throughout, with a hearing loop in our cinema and function rooms, and step-free access to all areas of the building. View our full accessibility information.

Take over the whole venue

Need the whole venue? On Mondays, when we’re closed to the public, you can hire the entire building – gaining full access to every room, facility, and amenity.

Central Colchester location with great transport links

We’re located in the heart of Colchester with nearby parking and excellent transport links – ideal for guests travelling from across Essex and beyond. Get directions on our Where to find us page.

What our customers say:

“I wanted to thank you and your team for hosting our CARA social event on Friday. Everything went very smoothly – the food was great, the staff were lovely and very helpful and the space was (as always) fantastic.   The CARA team very much enjoyed the evening.”

– Helen Parr, Chief Executive Officer – CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse)

“I had a wonderful experience hosting an event at Firstsite for a community event in April 2023. Paul from the venues events team was extremely accommodating to us. He was amazing during the planning of the event, when my team had to conduct 2 site visits, to the numerous requests, emails and meetings we had to help bring our vision to life.

During the event, the Firstsite team made sure our events team had everything we needed for our event run smoothly. I also had the pleasure of working with Ross the AV Manager, he helped ensure our AV in the cinema room ran smoothly. I would highly recommend holding your next event at Firstsite!”

Ashley Hainer, Senior Project Coordinators Oddity Events

Types of events we host

• Business meetings and training sessions
• Conferences and networking events
• Team away days and workshops
• Birthday parties and private venue hire
• Community fairs, seasonal markets and festivals
• Talks, launches, and receptions
• Film screenings and cultural events