What Riverside Studios does

Riverside Studios is a multi-arts venue and registered charity in Hammersmith, west London, operating from a purpose-built facility that opened in November 2019 on the site of the former BBC Television Studios (1954–1974) and an earlier Victorian ironworks converted into a film studio in 1933. The venue has functioned as an arts centre since 1976 and is operated by the Anil Agarwal Riverside Studios Trust (Charity No. 287848, Company No. 15805952). It runs as a receiving house, hosting externally produced content across two cinema screens (Screen One with 208 seats and a 4K Christie projector; Screen Two with 44 seats and a 2K projector), two flexible theatre studios (up to 400 and 172 seats), and dedicated event, rehearsal, and office spaces.

The venue's product surface spans cinema, theatre, live music, comedy, dance, and visual arts programming, complemented by on-site food and beverage operations (Bar & Kitchen, Bakery, Cinema Bar) and an adjacent 70-seat restaurant, Sam's Riverside, plus private hire across the River Room, Atrium, Board Room, and office tenancies. Technical infrastructure includes 7.1 surround sound, Dolby Fidelio wireless audio description, T-induction loops, motorised masking and DMX lighting bars on Cinema Screen One, and accessibility provisions throughout. Membership and community programmes — Riverside Pass (£60/year), Dive In (free), Founder Members (donors), STAMP affordable rehearsal scheme (£7.50/hour), Third Age on Stage workshops, and the SCRUM Theatre residency — support both audience development and emerging-artist pipeline.

Riverside earns revenue across multiple streams: ticket commissions (4% plus a £1–£2 booking fee per ticket, capped), venue and space hire at premium day and hourly rates, food and beverage sales, annual membership subscriptions, corporate and private event hire, office rental, and charitable donations from trusts, foundations, corporate sponsors, and individuals. Marketing combines organic social media (Facebook, Instagram, X), email newsletters, on-site digital screens, printed brochures, and community outreach. Distribution is primarily direct via riversidestudios.co.uk and the on-site box office, supplemented by authorised third-party resellers (TodayTix, London Theatre Direct, See Tickets), with a stated zero-tolerance policy on unauthorised resale platforms.

Name

Riverside Studios

Legal name

Anil Agarwal Riverside Studios Trust

Website

https://riversidestudios.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Riverside Studios is a registered charity and multi-arts venue in Hammersmith, London, operating since 1976 across two cinema screens, flexible theatre studios, event spaces, and on-site food and beverage, serving general arts audiences, local community members, external productions, and corporate clients through a receiving-house and venue-hire model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG), Independent & Art-house Cinemas (MPADAKAB), Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Cinema screenings
• Theatre productions
• Event space rental
• Arts education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales Commission: Riverside takes 4% commission on all tickets sold plus a £1 booking fee per ticket (capped at £5)
2. Venue and Space Hire: Rental income from studios, rehearsal rooms, cinema screens, and event spaces for productions and private functions
3. Food and Beverage: Bar & Kitchen, Bakery, Cinema Bar, and Sam's Riverside restaurant operations
4. Membership Subscriptions: Riverside Pass at £60/year offering free cinema tickets, discounts on shows and F&B, and priority booking
5. Donations and Charitable Support: Donations from supporters, corporate sponsors, trusts, and foundations including Anil Agarwal Riverside Studios Trust
6. Office Space Rental: Hot desks and dedicated office space rental for creative professionals and companies

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Riverside Studios operates as a multi-arts receiving house venue in Hammersmith, West London, hosting externally-produced cinema screenings across two screens (208-seat and 44-seat), live theatre, comedy, dance and music performances in flexible studio spaces, on-site food and beverage (Bar & Kitchen, Bakery, Sam's Riverside restaurant), and event hire for private and corporate clients. The venue also delivers arts education programmes (SCRUM Theatre workshops, Third Age on Stage, STAMP rehearsal scheme), membership subscriptions (Riverside Pass, Dive In) and an annual Bitesize Festival showcasing emerging artists.

Product overview

Riverside Studios is a multi-arts venue and cultural center in Hammersmith, London, offering cinema screenings across two screens (Screen One with 208 seats and Screen Two with 44 seats), live theatre productions in flexible spaces (Studio 2 up to 400 seats, Studio 3 with 172 seats), and live music/comedy events. Food and beverage offerings include the Bar & Kitchen, Bakery, and Sam's Riverside restaurant. The venue provides event hire services with spaces including Cinema screens, River Room, Atrium, Board Room, Rehearsal Room, and office space. Membership programs include the Riverside Pass (£60/year with free cinema tickets and discounts) and Dive In free community membership. Educational and community programs feature SCRUM Theatre workshops, Third Age on Stage for over 50s, and the affordable STAMP rehearsal space initiative at £7.50/hour. The annual Bitesize Festival (July-August) showcases emerging artists across theatre, film, music, and visual art, with a Bitesize 50 Pass offering 50 shows for £50.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sam's Riverside: A 70-seat restaurant adjacent to the Studios featuring a large bar, private dining room and outside terrace
• Bitesize Festival
• Riverside Pass
• Dive In Membership
• SCRUM Theatre

Products and services

• Cinema Screenings

Quantifiable outcome

• 5 weeks of programming with over 50 shows and events
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SCRUM TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026SCRUM Theatre established artistic residency at Riverside Studios from March 2026. Following growth at 191 Talgarth Road (supporting 3,300+ creatives, 630+ early-career theatre makers), the move to Riverside marks next development phase. Summer programme features workshops, masterclasses, and intensives with industry voices. Includes Shakespeare's School Project, Fresh Ink playwriting initiative, and ongoing workshop programme.
• Lost and Grounded BrewersminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Bitesize Festival VII sponsor providing support for celebrating new artistic voices and creating opportunities for emerging talent.
• The Developing RoomminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Bitesize Festival VII sponsor supporting emerging talent and new artistic voices.
• Sam's RiversidecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner70-seat restaurant adjacent to Studios featuring open kitchen, private dining room, and terrace. Provides pre- and post-theatre/cinema dining. Head Chef Ashley Tinoco offers oysters, seafood, and modern European cuisine. Includes Sam's Larder deli and Sam's Kitchen café on Crisp Road. All outside catering prohibited for private events.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ICA (Institute of Contemporary Arts): Multi-disciplinary arts venue on The Mall combining cinema, exhibition space, theatre, bar/restaurant, and membership. Comparable as a London arts venue with cinema screens, theatre programming, F&B, and membership programmes aimed at arts audiences.
• Lyric Hammersmith: Direct geographical competitor in Hammersmith — a producing theatre with studio spaces, foyer bars, and a youth/participation programme. Strongest single-venue peer given overlapping catchment and programming model.
• Roundhouse: Camden-based arts venue hosting theatre, music, comedy, and emerging-artist development programmes with charitable status and venue hire. Comparable as a London charity arts venue with development programmes for young creatives and paid ticketed events.
• Young Vic: West-London-adjacent theatre hosting a mix of new writing, devised work, and visiting productions. Comparable as a receiving-style London theatre with strong emerging-director pipeline and venue-hire revenue streams.
• Curzon Cinemas: Art-house cinema chain in London with multiple screens, café/bars, and special-event hire. Directly comparable on the cinema/exhibition side (Cinema Screen One and Two at Riverside operate similarly to Curzon's boutique screens).
• Bush Theatre: West-London theatre with two studio spaces focused on new writing and emerging playwrights. Comparable as a London theatre with venue hire, bar/restaurant operations, and emerging-talent development focus.
• Soho Theatre: London-based multi-arts venue combining a theatre, bar/restaurant, and comedy/cabaret programming with a strong emerging-artist focus. Directly comparable as a receiving-style venue mixing cinema-adjacent programming with theatre and F&B revenue.
• Almeida Theatre: Independent producing theatre in Islington with a bar/restaurant. Comparable as a London charitable theatre with a small operational team, mix of produced and received work, and venue-based F&B revenue.
• Battersea Arts Centre: Historic multi-arts venue in South London with a Grand/Clore studio configuration, community programming, scratch nights for emerging artists, and venue hire. Comparable as a heritage, community-anchored multi-arts receiving house.

Broad incumbents

• Barbican Centre: Large-scale multi-arts venue (theatre, cinema, galleries, concert halls) operated by the City of London. Comparable as a multi-discipline arts venue with cinema screens and hireable event spaces, though at significantly larger scale and institutional ownership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/riversidelondon
• Facebookfacebook.com/riversidestudioslondon
• Instagraminstagram.com/riversidestudioslondon/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/riversidestudios

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Riverside Studios