Friends Meeting House

Booked this venue for a piano recital and they were helpful, prompt at replying, and went out of their way to make sure I had a good experience by putting up leaflets etc.
While the performance room is carpeted, which is a shame, the piano is stunning and the ambience of the area is very peaceful, so perfect for holding concerts. I thoroughly recommend it as a concert venue.

Apart from the interesting placement of this meeting house, one of the reasons it is known for is for its communal patch of greenery out front of the building. There is a sign stating that it is meant as a peaceful setting open for all to enjoy. Not that I could imagine anything outlandish happening in the South Lanes. It’s a nice space to catch a quick breath on a sunny day. The main buildings inside can be rented out for a very reasonable price if you need to hold a meeting or a rally of some kind giving the South Laines some much needed public space for this kind of activity, be better if there was some free space for community purposes though. Have a chat with them if you need free, they may be able to help you out.

The Friends Meeting House is a large building set in quiet gardens just into the South Lanes area of Brighton. The gardens are open to the public for quiet contemplation, and are a great place to go and get away from the commotion of the centre of town just to think your thoughts and read. The rooms can be hired at very reasonable prices Tuesday to Saturday — the Quaker Society doesn’t seek to make profit from the hiring out of its facilities, and as a result they’re more affordable than many places in Brighton, stimulating an atmosphere of accessibility and equality, promoting debate and interesting events of all kinds. The inclusive attitude of the Quaker Society itself seems to permeate the building, and one doesn’t feel like an interloper or hushed in any way as one might in a different religious building. Instead, the feeling of the place is more like a friendly community hall — it’s as well to consider what you plan to do there before booking, just in case it might be found inappropriate, but generally I’ve found that all the events I’ve attended here have been just as open, questioning and investigative as similar lectures and open debate in other facilities. As to the rooms themselves, while they’re not especially interesting architecturally or in décor, they are practically furnished and comfortable, and there is staging, lighting, sound and a modern grand piano all available for use at various charges. Ultimately you’ll always feel welcome here whatever you come for, which I find a refreshingly personal and considerate approach.

Every third Saturday of the month the Friend’s Meeting House on Ship Street plays host to this well established and popular fair trade market.
Selling ethically produced and eco friendly clothes, bags and accessories, from handwoven dresses and tops to beautiful Cambodian and Tibetan handicraft, this is a must-​visit for any fair trade fanatic.
It’s not the biggest market in the world, but the stalls that are there sell lovely selections of silk shawls and handmade jewellery and bags, as well as stunning art and crafts, and there are Charity stalls from Amnesty International, International Survivors of Torture and other main players campaigning for fair trade and ethical human rights.

The Friends Meeting House is a strange building, slap bang in the middle of the Lanes. It seems almost incongruous, a huge garden and old house sandwiched in between two shops, but once you enter through the iron wrought gates, what’s on offer is even more of a surprise.
First things first, the Meeting House itself is a church space, used primarily by the local Quaker community. The space is large, wide and open, with plenty of light and that pleasant non-​denominational church atmosphere: lots of space, no oppressive imagery. I’m not the worshipping kind, but it looks like a great space to sit and contemplate. Also, the space is sometimes used for fringe theatre: normally projects that are a bit more niche, which means the space is now known to be slightly arty and kooky as well as spiritual: a nice blend.
As well as all that, the Meeting House is also home to the Friends Centre, an adult learning annex. Offering courses from modern languages to more esoteric skills and crafts, it is a great and cheap place to learn new hobbies with some useful applications. The course list is varied enough to offer something for everyone, and is a nice, open space to sit and learn: a great service alongside everything else the Meeting House offers.
For all of its offers, the Friends Meeting House has managed to find a perfect Brightonian niche: known to some as a church, some as a theatre venue, some as a college, it has become somewhat of an esoteric institution in the Brighton landscape. If all of that doesn’t appeal, the Meeting House also has a very pleasant garden in the middle of the Lanes: another good place to soak up the rays on a lunch break.

The Friends’ Meeting House in the heart of the South Lanes regularly hosts concerts, conferences, exhibitions and club meetings. The house was built in the early 19^th century so it looks charming but it’s not the most practical venue to negotiate your way around disabled access in particular is a challenge (but see update below).
There are six rooms available for hire all with wi-​fi internet access. The kitchens and café are currently in the throes of a refurb.
The house is currently home to the Quaker Tapestry Exhibition (until 27 February). The Tapestry tells the story of more than 350 years of Quaker history and is embroidered in narrative crewel work on 77 panels of woven wool cloth. Each panel measures 25″ by 21″. The exhibition comprises audio guides, an explanatory film, children’s activities and the gift shop.
Update: Julian Cloran, assistant warden at the Friends’ Meeting House, has asked me to point out that there is access to the building for people with a disability through the side door. There is a toilet for people with a disability on the ground floor. He adds that should any visitor who is disabled wish to take part in events normally held on the upper floors (such as the spiritual healing drop-​in clinic) they will be accommodated on the ground floor.

The Meeting House is home to Brighton’s Quaker community, with regular open meetings and events taking place. It is also the home of ‘The Friends Centre’, which offers an impressive adult education programme. Courses are varied and diverse, including many modern language and adult literacy and numeracy courses. If you fancy dabbling in a new hobby, there are also arts and crafts classes, including textiles and card-​making! The centre also makes academic subjects accessible to those who may not have the time or desire to commit to longer-​term study: choose from Art history, Local heritage, Literature and Creative writing.
As well as providing more formal education opportunities, the Meeting House can be hired out and so often hosts one-​off events and lectures. I went to a really interesting talk on Guantanamo Bay here and have seen other politically and culturally themed events advertised, so if you’re interested, check out their website and see what’s going on!
This place has a real community spirit and makes me grateful to be living in Brighton!

I have been inside the Meeting House when they have fairtrade market’s and it is lovely– both the inside and the stalls! However, I really wanted to just quickly write about the garden at the front of the Meeting House which is open to all. It is a lovely walled garden with a gate– open all day– grass, flower beds, benches and beautiful cherry trees. The cherry trees never fail to leave me speechless when they are in flower. And I really just wanted to let everyone know what a stunning, peaceful little garden this is in the middle of the South Laines. A perfect place to sit with lunch, or a coffee, or just to sit.

This house has a great history. In 1804 were purchased by the then Prince of wales. This was to extend the Royal Pavilion grounds. It was built at a cost of £1,800! The builders were Patching & sons.
The fig tree’s on the north side descend right back to the monastic community. In the 18^th century livestock was kept before being slaughtered. Between 1805 & 1856 it was a Quackers burial ground.
Canadian troops, during the 2^nd world war had activities such as education and recreational workshops here.
The prsent day this property holds concerts, antique fairs, conferences, classes and much more.
There are rooms for hire. The main room holds up to 200 people. A hearing loop system is fitted and is disabled friendly. The lecture room holds 60 people. Three first floor rooms seat around 25 people. Not wheelchair friendly. screens, whiteboards, flop charts and other equipment supplied at no charge. to hire E-​mail
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There is a café. It seats 21 people. Disabled friendly with hearing loop.
This is a very important oasis within Brighton and worth a checkout.