Hat Factory Arts Centre
A space for everyone.
We work with local talent and leading artists from across the UK to tell fresh and exciting stories all year round. Newly refurbished in 2019, the Hat Factory Arts Centre is back and presenting its most exciting programme yet, full to the brim with live music, contemporary dance, theatre, film, workshops and more!
With a diverse programme of events throughout the year, we pride ourselves in presenting work that is fresh, relevant and surprising. We are committed to supporting local creatives and promoters as well as bringing national voices to Luton. We believe in nurturing local talent and giving young artists a platform to tell their own story.
Our key performance space for theatre and dance is the Studio Theatre. Next up is The Factory Floor which is a 230 capacity gig space suitable for a range of music. We also have our Basement Bar, perfect for comedy, smaller gigs and club nights, and our flexible HATCH workshop spaces that can be used for messy work, presentations, or hatching a new creative idea.
The Hat Factory Café is temporarily closed.
Key Information
Spaces
Here at the Hat Factory we have a 105-seat studio theatre, an art gallery, flat floor music venue, meeting rooms, offices, 13 creative workspaces, The Hat Factory Café and Beacon Lounge.
If you are interested in renting any of creative workspaces, please contact: venues@culturetrust.com.
Our rents are competitive and start from £15 per square foot for start-up spaces. As a charity, all income generated from the workspaces is re-invested into arts and cultural programmes, skills and talent development, events, public engagement, networks and promotions.
Getting here
Situated in the heart of the cultural quarter, the Hat Factory is a stone’s throw from Luton’s mainline train station, offering access to London in 22 minutes as well as the North and the Midlands. We benefit from a large car park right on our doorstep - Bute Street Shoppers car park - LU1 2NQ and it is £1 after 6, perfect if you are seeing an evening performance. There are also nearby e-car charging stations, bike racks, a bus station and we are within easy access to the M1 and A6.
