Having previously only held adult concerts at my home (no guests), I'm now hiring somewhere for the first time. I'm really excited for my students, as they'll be able to bring at least one guest each, and the kids will also finally have their own concert (adult one afterwards, due to capacity).

What I'd really like though, is somewhere bigger, that could comfortably fit between 60-100 people, so that I could do one concert for everyone, not segregated by age (I know there are different opinions on this, but I think for the kids at least it's great to see adults a) getting nervous just like you or b) inspiring you), with plenty of spaces for all the kids' parents and relations.

Does anyone have any ideas? I've Googled around, but am struggling to find somewhere with a decent piano. Churches are an obvious option, but the ones I've found either don't have a good piano, or are too savvy/central and charge four figures!!!

All suggestions welcome...

I live in South London and hardly ever cross the river, but have you tried the Fred Tallent Hall in Drummond Street, not far from Euston Station? I have in the past attended various meetings and recitals there and from memory I'm sure the hall would be large enough for between 60-100 people. They also have a grand piano which is always kept in good tune and well-maintained as it is used by various drama and opera companies for rehearsals. The other suggestion is a school hall, provided that they have a decent piano. I have always found schools to be very obliging.

Not in London but we've just done a concert in a lovely modern methodist church. The acoustics were great and the church were really accomodating. We'll definitely be going back.

Is it more cost effective to find a cheap venue and then hire in a decentish piano? No idea what hire of a piano costs, but if you are talking four figures for a hall it might be a better option.

Makes me realise how lucky I am. I use a local Methodist church - not too big, but with plenty of room for all my pupils' families, lovely 'feel' inside, and with a good piano. They charge me ?8 an hour!!

Baroque Day last year was held at Peregrine's - http://www.peregrines-pianos.com/page.php?page=music_rooms

I wonder if their largest room might do you? It says capacity 50 people but I wonder if it could do 60.

I think Peregrine's largest room with 50 people in it would be rather uncomfortable and there would not be much space around the piano! I played in a masterclass there earlier this year with an audience of about 20 or so and they felt quite close - probably about 6-8 feet away.

Try these venues, all with wonderful grand pianos:

Schott Recital Room, Soho W1:
http://www.schott-music.co.uk/shopnav/practice/events/
?100 an hour if I recall correctly, holds 50ish

Hinde Street Methodist Church (massive venue, Bond Street)
http://www.hindestreet.org.uk/Groups/33912/Venue_hire.aspx
Not sure of price but I am doing a recital here in September so can find out

Red Hedgehog, N6 (Highgate, not quite your target area but not so far from N1)
http://www.theredhedgehog.co.uk/
I don't know the price for the rooms

I also know of a space in Stoke Newington but am not sure if that is too far.

Not at all bad! I pay ?21 per hour for something similar, loads of space (+ decent grand, good facilities) - however not useful for the OP as it's on the wrong side of the river.

I would certainly second Hinde Street Methodist Church. I've had the pleasure of playing both the organ and piano there in the past when they used to have a service in Esperanto once a month (I am a fervent Esperantist ).

Thanks that's really helpful - what's the one in Stoke Newington? Also Maggiemay ?21ph sounds great - out of interest, where is it?

I think hiring a piano would push the cost way too high - I'm looking for somewhere that's ?100 or less all in really...

It's in South London, a modern church complex.

A bit out of your way, I suspect. Anyway I'll pm you.

A friend of mine recently held a pupils concert at St Mary at Hill church in the city, near Monument. http://www.stmary-at-hill.org/

It is a really nice space with a lovely accoustic and a very good piano. I know it as I have played in their lunchtime recital series. I seem to remember her saying the hire rates are quite affordable so it is well worth an enquiry.

Good luck, it's a bit of a minefield finding somewhere in London. So many places to choose from but so many charge through the nose!

That was certainly the sort of price they were asking for back in 2009 for the big hall, when I was organising a recital for forumite bohemian.

What about St Annes in Highgate: http://www.saintanneshighgate.co.uk/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

Very pretty church with the right sort of capacity. Good piano and good acoustics. My son's school did a lunchtime concert there which was lovely.

The church is looking to open up its space to more community groups etc. I don't know how much it is to hire but it isn't central so I can't imagine that it's expensive.

Just wanted to say thanks SO MUCH for that recommendation Yet another muso! Never would have found it by myself, and I'm now holding my pupil concert there this July - nicer piano, much better space (max 200 capacity) and cheaper than the little room for 50 that I'd already hired. Am now really excited, and all the students can bring little brother, granny, etc etc without any space issues.

Also I think it should be quite exciting for them, playing in the City so close to the river etc. Just hope they aren't too intimidated!

One thing left to sort out - the grand piano is in one corner, to the side. They're happy for me to move it anywhere as long as I put it back afterwards. Can't decide between:

a) Move it into the centre, so no one has their view blocked by a pillar, and so it has pride of place. (drawback is obviously finding people to help heft it about, and bothering to do it)

b) Leave it where it is, and arrange the chairs to fan out from the corner. Drawback is, as you enter the piano is a bit behind a pillar, some chairs might not be able to see the performer (people could just leave these empty I guess), so doesn't make the most of the space, and does make it look slightly odd, as all the architecture is centred on the altar area.

Any thoughts? How many people would it take to move a grand on wheels?

Thanks for the update - delighted to have been of help!

As for position, when I have done lunchtime concerts we kept the piano in the corner and spread some chairs around it, but then the audience for their lunchtime concert series is almost non existent (lucky to get double figures!) so it's not exactly hard to ensure everyone has a good view. If you're expecting a big audience it's probably worth the effort of getting the piano central. Generally it takes two or three to shift a grand piano, but the difficulty varies greatly according to the instrument. All take a bit of effort to get them moving in the first place, but with some once you get them moving they seem to glide across the floor, even with just two people moving it. With others the entire manouvre is a challenge with three people moving it.

With pupil concerts I always hire the hall for an hour before the time the concert is due to start for set up etc, and always I have a few pupils arriving almost at the same time that I do wanting to practise on the piano, so there are always enough parents dotted around to get all the piano and chair moving jobs done in no time. Hopefully you will therefore have the assistance to try to move the piano, and if it turns out to be too difficult then it's not the end of the world.

Good luck and enjoy the day!

There is a lovely venue in Hampstead called Burgh House, not expensive to hire, I played there many times in my London days. It has a cafe next door also.

I don't know if they have any rooms with pianos, but you could hire one. The Quaker Head Office in Euston, is very well placed and is usually reasonable. It also has excellent facilities.