WHAT WE DO
GROW is an independent self-organised creative space, bar and kitchen in Hackney Wick founded in 2014. We host a diverse cultural events programme celebrating and nurturing local and international creative talent. It is also part of an ecosystem of studios founded in 2007.
AN EXPERIMENT IN ETHICAL AND SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS
We aim to remove financial barriers to extend opportunities to enjoy a creative and nurturing environment whilst exploring ecological and social sustainability.
WHAT IS POSSIBLE?
We ask the question: Is it possible to be a financially sustainable enterprise in London whilst:
Paying London Living Wage
Using eco-electricity; eco-cleaning and recycled products
Sourcing locally and sustainably wherever possible
Working in partnership with independent and ethical enterprises wherever possible
Using organic and fairtrade wherever possible
Offering free entry (or affordable) events to share music, art and the ideas and strategy of putting people and planet over profit
Sharing learnings & ideas through workshops, talks/films; markets & sustainable supper clubs.
With a determined team and the support of locals, we have:
been solvent
worked with artists, community groups and charities offering free space on a profit-share model
redirected significant sums of finance from multinationals into local and ethical businesses
fundraised for local social and environmental charities
created conditions for fun, inclusivity, transparency and a sense of belonging.
GROW’S BLOG
We’ve always viewed Grow as a garden, taking time to mature and put down roots. Our 10th year was a chance to celebrate what’s been ‘grown’ with partners and patrons, old and new, and what we need to do to give us the best possible chance to thrive as we move towards our future.
It was also a year, to be honest about our financial challenges, and we are not alone. Stats show us that 1 music venue a week is closing in the UK at the moment. It’s true to say it’s not easy but also never boring! Take a look at just some of what we achieved in 2024.
If you’re one of the thousands of people who came down to Grow to enjoy a birthday or work gathering or for the live music or dance the night away, we really hope you enjoyed it too. If you didn't manage to get down, we hope you'll join us in 2025 to see what we’re all about.
Join us for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve celebration that promises to be the ultimate party of the year! This is the place to be for a night filled with fun, electrifying live music, and the best of Hackney Wick's underground DJs—without breaking the bank.
As we come to a close on 2024, a year during which we’ve celebrated 10 years of having our doors open, we’ve decided to do something special to mark the end of our 10th year. This New Year's Eve, we want to honour our homegrown talent and musical community. We are incredibly excited to present a Grow event featuring artists we consider family—those who have graced our stage and DJ booth throughout our decade of being open.
For Black History Season, we ran several events funded by Hackney Council’s Black History Season with some of our collaborators and partners. The focus of this year was on the topic of reclaiming the narrative.
Following on from its monumental success last year, Grow once again hosts Join-In January, a month-long programme of free events and food/drink offers!
Discover two unmissable events at Grow Hackney as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival 2024. On Thursday 21st, rising jazz star Donovan Haffner leads an exciting jazz jam, and on Saturday 23rd, experience the vibrant Love is Everywhere #5 jazz dancefloor party, featuring Tina Edwards, Jazzy Sport London, and a live performance by Masumi Endo and Foot Notes.
At the beginning of 2024, our 10th anniversary, we found ourselves at a pivotal juncture. While we wanted to celebrate a decade of memories shared with partners and patrons, we also had confront a sobering reality: without immediate investment in our long-term sustainability, we may not survive our 10th year - this is why we launched a Crowdfunder
We had hundreds through our doors as part of 2024 Open House Festival helping celebrate London’s housing, architecture and neighbourhoods. Each year, we join the festival to explore Grow’s history, heritage and contemporary context.
We're part of a curated programme of unique experiences and activations open to the public during London Fashion Week spearheaded by inclusivity and consciousness. Come to jazz on Thursday 12 September to find out why!
We’ve worked with Signature Brew since 2017 and last month, we were lucky enough to bring some of the Grow team down for an in-person tour, to see how things work at their brewery, and discuss our most exciting collaboration yet - Grow’s own birthday beer!
As the sun shone over the canal on (one of the few) sunny days this summer, we sat with Rohan under the shade of our pontoon and explored the dynamic and passionate world of Rohan’s music and projects amidst the laid-back ambience of Grow's green outdoor setting.
Join us as we mark a decade of unforgettable moments, incredible growth, and your unwavering support. Enjoy special events during our week-long celebration. Save the date!
This journey has been filled with challenges, growth, and meaningful connections. From our commitment to sustainability to navigating a dynamic landscape, every step has shaped who we are today. Save the Date: Friday, 19th, and Saturday, 20th
As part of Grow’s 10-year anniversary celebrations, we caught up with Marcia Carr, the driving force behind ‘Girlz B Like’, a trailblazing premier all-female, vinyl-only DJ collective and event series hosted at Grow since March 2022. We delve into the depths of her journey, exploring the origins of ‘Girlz B Like’, the challenges she's overcome, and the inspiring vision that propels her forward.
As we mark our 10th anniversary, we find ourselves at a pivotal juncture. While we celebrate a decade of memories shared with partners and patrons, we also confront a sobering reality: without immediate investment in our long-term sustainability, our journey may end prematurely.
As part of Grow’s 10 year anniversary celebrations, we wanted to understand ‘what makes up’ the unique party that is ‘Equal Parts’ and what makes our collaboration special! We spoke to Jacob Fairless Nicholson who is a DJ, geographer, climber, and resident of Hackney Wick since 2013. He is part of the Equal Parts collective that has thrown quarterly parties at Grow since 2018. We caught up with Jacob to hear a bit about Equal Parts' inception and plans for the future, including their upcoming party at Grow with John Gómez in April.
We caught up with Wah Wah 45s with label boss Dom Servini giving us the low down on his captivating journey of this London-based record label, founded by brothers Chris and Simon Goss in 1999. From its humble beginnings as an extension of their eclectic club night to becoming a powerhouse in showcasing emerging talents alongside established acts, Wah Wah 45s has carved a unique niche in the music scene.
As part of GROW’s 10 Year Celebrations, get ready for an unforgettable weekend as we celebrate a decade with three incredible events showcasing the best of Latin American music and culture!
We are platforming our Wednesday night events in a new series: ROOTS! The ethos behind this series is creating space for diversity, experimentalism, creativity and community.
We spoke to Alex LoSardo, Love Music Hate Racism’s Event Organiser to learn more about LMHR and its relationship with GROW.
We spoke to Bitvert and IF of We Are Not Content, who met at GROW, to learn more about who they are, how the place they live had affected their work and what GROW means to them.
With Valentine’s Day 2024 around the corner, we reflect on love. GROW was founded on the principles of love for our planet and people, it is love that motivates us to create space for arts and culture under a system which neglects it, and love that nurtures community in a society that often struggles. Find out how we’ll be celebrating Valentine’s this year!