The Corn Exchange Newbury

After almost two years of dedicated fundraising, towards a total £1.3 million target, the project is set to deliver a permanent, accessible and welcoming arts hub, providing a home for Corn Exchange Newbury’s creative participation programmes.

The new creative hub will enable Corn Exchange Newbury to expand and enhance its creative programmes, delivering events designed to improve the emotional, physical and mental wellbeing of the local Newbury community and beyond.

The new initiatives, including youth dance companies and mobility and balance classes for adults, will complement an expanded youth theatre and a growing programme for the over-55s, featuring Sing 55 and Dare to Dance.

The summer programme of events will go on sale to Corn Exchange Members on 5th March at 10am and to the general public on 12th March at 10am. Sign up to our newsletter to hear more about these. 

The Old Library will also feature a bright and airy café bar, offering fresh, handmade treats and locally roasted coffee.

Providing a welcoming place for visitors to meet, gather and connect, it will create a vibrant social space at the heart of the building.

As preparations continue for the building’s opening in April 2026, fundraising is now focused on fitting out the interior to ensure it is fully equipped to host a wide range of creative courses and classes.

Alongside approaches to local funders, and appeals for one off gifts and gifts in kind, the popular Name a Seat appeal continues to give supporters the chance to leave a lasting legacy within the building, attracting support from notable figures such as Dame Julie Walters.

The Corn Exchange Trust also manages four other key spaces; the Corn Exchange which includes a 400 seat auditorium, a 40 seat independent cinema and a Cafe and Bar; 101 Outdoor Arts: National Centre for Arts in Public Space – a unique outdoor arts creation centre for the development of large-scale outdoor performances, making and rehearsal space and on-site accommodation; their centrally located Learning Centre in which workshops and courses for all ages take place(based at HoganMusic); and The Base Greenham, a visual arts gallery and workshop space on Greenham Business Park which is also home to 8 resident artists.

The performance programme at the Corn Exchange has developed considerably in recent years.

They present a mixed programme of theatre, dance, comedy, music, family, film and outdoor work to audiences from across the South East.

The emphasis is on presenting shows of the highest quality and films that inspire and entertain audiences, with attendance growing year on year.

The Trust produces its own pantomime in-house, as well as supporting a range of artists and companies across all art-forms through commissioning and development opportunities, mentoring and production support.

Their emphasis is on presenting great shows and films that audiences really want to come and see and that reflect the rich diversity of our country today.

Always high quality, they’re really proud that their attendance figures are growing year on year.

Transport

By Bicycle: public bike parking is available in the Market Place, a short walk from our front door.

By Train or Bus: five-minute walk from both the train and bus stations; regular services run from Reading, Windsor, Basingstoke, Winchester, Oxford and London.

By Car: 10 minutes from M4 Junction 13. There are a number of town centre car parks (pay on exit): Mon-Sun: £2 after 6pm. For car parks behind the Corn Exchange sat nav RG14 5QP.

Please visit the Accessibility page for information about the facilities at the Corn Exchange