Hire our space

Set within a Grade II listed building — the former Smithfield Fish Market, awarded a RIBA Architectural Award in 2003 for its conversion by OMI Architects — esea contemporary offers a striking and flexible setting for events, photoshoots, product launches and more, in the heart of Manchester's Northern Quarter.

Our spaces are fully accessible and adaptable to suit your needs, from intimate gatherings to larger productions, and come equipped with high-speed wifi, video conferencing and AV facilities. Our in-house technician is on hand to support you from planning through to delivery.

Hiring with us does more than secure a beautiful space — it directly supports our artistic programme and community engagement work, helping esea contemporary remain a free, open space for cross-cultural exchange in Manchester and beyond. Discounted rates are available for charities and non-profits — get in touch to discuss.

To make a booking or enquiry, please email hire@eseacontemporary.org with your requirements, or fill in our Enquiry Form and a member of the Venue Hire team will get back to you within 3 working days. Alternatively, call us on +44 (0) 161 832 7271 to find out more.

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‍Studio

The Studio is a purpose-built space perfect for workshops, talks, seminars, and a variety of other private functions. It is equipped with projector and speakers in situ, with a removable partition wall that can be pulled across for breakout sessions or added privacy in meetings.

Availability: the Studio is available for hire throughout the year.

‍Capacity:

Standing: up to 60 pax

Theatre style: up to 45 pax

Boardroom: 12-14 (one table) / 26 (two tables)

Cabaret: up to 35 pax

Communal Project Space (CPS)

With its convenient street access and generous windows, the CPS is an ideal option for pop-up events and activities. This versatile space becomes available for short windows between our exhibitions and public programmes, offering a unique setting in the heart of the Northern Quarter.

Available between exhibitions: 21-25 September + 29 September–3 October 2026

As an exhibition space, wall and floor colours change between exhibitions — images shown are indicative only. We recommend booking a viewing to see the space as it currently appears.

‍Capacity:

Standing: up to 60 pax depending on event layout

Seated: up to 30 pax depending on configuration

Communal Project Space (CPS), esea contemporary

Gallery

The Gallery has been a premier venue for countless contemporary art exhibitions and grand-scale events. It offers the ideal blank canvas, ready to be transformed according to your creative vision — a rare opportunity to hire one of Manchester's most distinctive event spaces.

Available between exhibitions: mid-January – mid-February 2027

As an exhibition space, wall and floor colours change between exhibitions — images shown are indicative only. We recommend booking a viewing to see the space as it currently appears.

‍Capacity:

Standing: up to 100 pax

Seated: up to 50 pax

Installation view of Steph Huang, 'There is nothing old under the sun' (2024), esea contemporary. Photograph by Jules Lister.

Need additional storage during your hire? Ask us about our ResearchLab space, available as a dedicated storage option for venue hire clients.