The Island

Arts facility and events space, based in Bristol City Centre

  • Front view of The Island building

Venue > The Island

Location info –
Nelson Street, Bristol, BS1 2LE

The Island

Nelson Street, Bristol, BS1 2LE

Get directions
Opening times
Monday to Friday: 10am – 10pm
Weekends: 10am – 5pm
Contacts
Call: 0117 376 3457
Email: info@theisland.uk

See individual venues for features and hire rates.

Watch The Island documentary 2015 (12:30)

Multi-use creative spaces

We are a studio complex, arts facility and events space, based in the Old Bridewell Police Station in Bristol city centre.

The Island is part of Artspace Lifespace. The charity recycles vacant, underused and problem properties into thriving creative resources. We host over 100 resident artists and boast a Circus Training Space, Dance Studio, artist studios, music studios, and a spacious art gallery.

Covid notice

We encourage people to wear masks in our buildings and ask that people do not visit if they feel unwell.

Get in touch with info@theisland.uk for our full COVID safety measures.

Venues at The Island

Dance Space

The Dance Space runs a wide variety of classes and training sessions as well as being available for private hire.

Circus Training Space

The Island Circus Training Space offers many classes in circus-related disciplines, including silks, rope, aerial hoop, trapeze and acro yoga.

Gallery Space

A beautiful large white and bright hireable gallery space with lantern ceiling and ancillary room located on the first floor of The Island.

The Island Venue

The licensed venue is available to host immersive performance, talks, exhibition and nightclub events.

Island Artist Studios

Work along side like minded creative people

Latest news

  • The Island – Way Back When
    Ever wondered how Artspace Lifespace and The Island started in Bristol? Well now you get to delve further Invisible Circus: No Dress Rehearsal (Feature documentary by Naomi Smyth) was a massive four-year documentary undertaking. It was originally screened at The Brewery Theatre which is sadly now no more, but The Island is still going strong! […]
  • Job Opportunities at The Island and Arts Mansion
    With great sadness, we announce that our wonderful centre manager Jane Hartoch is leaving the Island after 6 years of incarceration in the Old Bridewell Police Station. We are now seeking a new ISLAND CENTRE MANAGER. We are also looking for Duty Managers for The Arts Mansion. Flexible 3-10 hour shifts – £9.90 per hour. […]
  • Covid-19 Update – April 22
    As of 1st April, free universal testing in England comes to an end. Check-in to venues ended in February of this year. Visit England’s Good to Go Industry standard is to close, In England, face coverings are no longer required by law. Most of the remaining Covid restrictions in the UK have ended. So the […]
  • Artspace Lifespace, The Invisible Circus & Trinity Community Arts invest in the future of Stokes Croft
    Invisible Circus Directors and Artspace Lifespace founders Wim Penhaul and Doug Francis and Trinity Community Arts CEO Emma Harvey urge other arts organisations to get behind the campaign. The Invisible Circus, Artspace Lifespace and Trinity Community Arts have committed to buying £1000 of shares in the Stokes Croft Land Trust to support the purchase of […]
  • New Beginnings at Ashton Court
    Artspace Ashton Court welcomes an experimental new sculpture by artist Luke Jerram in the grounds of Ashton Court in Bristol. Situated beside the Courtyard Café of Ashton Court with stunning vistas over Bristol and the iconic Grade I listed mansion sits a giant wooden seed, a sculpture which will slowly be transformed by members of the […]