Cosy up at Corn Exchange
Good food, interesting events – and the perfect place for a bit of peace and quiet
NEED another reason to pop down to the Corn Exchange?
Who would have thought your local theatre could be a quiet space to curl up with a book or get some work done?
In addition to its theatre and cinema, the Corn Exchange also has cosy nooks, a mini library shelf and beanbag space.
And it is keen to get people through the door, regardless of what’s showing.
The staff recently showed me around the venue to tell me what it has going on in addition to its traditional entertainment.
I had only ever been to the Corn Exchange to see a show, but I was pleasantly surprised to see just how relaxing a space it can be.
I was shown around the colourful café where members of the public were taking some time out of their day for a light bite at lunch or reading and donating a book at the mini library.
There are cosy sofa spaces, armchairs, art on the walls and colour everywhere you look.
The daytime café space – which transforms into a bar in the evening – is open until 5pm or later if performances are on.
I was taken upstairs to the balcony, which adopts a vibrant evening space fit with a bar and a mosaic of different seating arrangements, including a casual beanbag hangout space.
In addition to cinema snacks, the venue’s café offers warm homemade soups with fresh bread, made-to-order paninis with a range of fillings and loaded nachos with vegan chilli.
And I might even pick up some of its Heavenly Honeycomb ice cream and mini Smarties from its Fabulous Classic Sweet Shoppe.
Local bakery Camilla’s Cakes, from Hermitage, also provides fresh bakes which are available all day.
The venue is keen on featuring local items and stocks Renegade Brewery beers behind the bar.
It is also keen to shout about its green efforts and was awarded a bronze Plastic Free Newbury Award in 2023 for its efforts in removing at least three singleuse plastic items.
It stocks brands like Re-Water and Clear Tea which are plastic free and even its crisps are in compostable glucose packets.
The Corn Exchange also has a programme of seasonal socials in its café and balcony bar spaces from music on the terrace and vinyl sessions to a book club, sketchbook club and theatre, film and TV quiz.
Most of its sessions are free and open to people of all ages with its sketchbook club being an chance to draw or create anything in a relaxed environment.
Other events include monthly Open Mic sessions – also free of charge – which can feature anything from live music to spoken word and even close-up magic.
More information can be found on the Corn Exchange website.