WHO WE ARE

GROW is an independent, self-organised music and arts venue, cafe, bar and kitchen in Hackney Wick, founded in 2014. Set within a former canalside factory, the space has been shaped over time through conversation, making, and collective effort - built by people working with what was already there.

Nothing here arrived fully formed. Grow has evolved step by step through shared skills, resourcefulness, and experimentation. This is what makes is complete unique.

We host a diverse cultural programme that celebrates and nurtures both local and international creative talent. Across the site, artists, makers, and small businesses collaborate, share knowledge, and build opportunities together - creating a local creative economy rooted in trust, proximity, and mutual support. All are welcome.

At its core, Grow is an ongoing experiment in ethical and sustainable business. We ask: is it possible to run a financially sustainable venue in London while prioritising people and planet? Our approach is grounded in ecological, social, and economic sustainability—working with local and independent suppliers, reinvesting into the space and community, and aiming to remove barriers to access.

Sustainability runs through every part of the project—from reusing materials and circular practices to renewable energy and ecological interventions along the canal, including floating habitats that support biodiversity.

Our commitments include:

  • Paying the London Living Wage

  • Using renewable energy, eco-cleaning products, and recycled materials where possible

  • Sourcing local and sustainable products and ingredients where possible

  • Partnering with independent and ethical businesses

  • Offering free or affordable access to cultural events

  • Sharing knowledge through talks, workshops, markets, films, and supper clubs

What we’ve achieved so far:

  • Remaining solvent as an independent venue

  • Offering free and low-cost space to artists, charities, and community groups through a profit-share model

  • Redirecting significant funds into local and ethical supply chains

  • Fundraising for local social and environmental causes

  • Creating an atmosphere rooted in fun, transparency, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging

Grow continues to evolve - shaped by the people who pass through it, the materials that find their way into it, and the wider city it sits within.

GROW’S BLOG