Battersea Arts Centre to open as a warm space

Battersea Arts Centre (BAC) is planning to open as a warm space for its local community through to March.

The centre’s Freedom Tap Room will be open between 11am and 6pm during the week and between 11am and 2pm at weekends.

The warm space will offer a free meal and drink to visitors, alongside a selection of books and board games. A funding scheme is being set up to allow people to donate the costs of a meal and drink for others.

BAC says it is opening the space as a result of the rising cost of energy prices. It is following in the footsteps of other cultural institutions opening their doors as a warm space across the country, including the Royal Shakespeare Company and Theatre Royal Plymouth.

Funding for the warm space has come from the VCS Warm Spaces and Food Grant Fund awarded by Wandsworth Borough Council.

Deputy Council Leader Kemi Akinola said: “We were pleased to support the BAC to join our Warm Spaces scheme. They are such an important part of our community and a vibrant, welcoming refuge during cold weather.”

“It gives us real pleasure to share this wonderful building with our community, and we are excited to make new friends and share our heat and food with our neighbours,” BAC Executive Director and Deputy CEO Amy Vaughan added.