Anti-authoritarian social centres / free spaces in the UK

Last updated 3 December 2008: List of current UK social centres, either squatted or legal, also includes radical bookshops and similar infrastructure spaces.

The creation of an autonomous and public political space is the fundamental condition for any revolutionary movement to recognise itself, in a strong project of transforming the city, territory, life.

Use this form to send in changes, additions, amendments.

Before visiting, its always a good idea to email or call these places to make sure they are open.

Bradford

1in12 Club
21-23 Albion Street, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD1 2LY
Tel: 01274 734 160
Email: clubmail@1in12.com
Web: www.1in12.com

Brighton

Cowley Club
12 London Road, Brighton BN1 4JA
Tel: 01273 696104
Web: www.cowleyclub.org.uk

Bristol

Kebele
14 Robertson Rd, Easton, Bristol, BS5 6JY
Email: kebelesocialcentre@riseup.net
Web: http://www.kebelecoop.org
Tel: 0117 939 9469

Cardiff

Peoples Autonomous Destination (PAD)
118 Clifton Street, Adamsdown, Cardiff, CF24 1LW
Organising meeting every Wednesday 7pm.
Email: thepad@riseup.net
Web: http://thepad.wordpress.com

Coventry

Coventry Peace House
311 Stoney Stanton Rd, Coventry, CV6 5DS
Tel: 02476 663 031
Email: covpeace@gn.apc.org
Web: www.covpeacehouse.org.uk

Edinburgh

Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh (ACE)
17 West Montgomery Place, Edinburgh, EH7 5HA
Tel: 0131 557 6242
Web: www.autonomous.org.uk

Forest Cafe
3 Bristo Place, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH1 1EY
Tel: 0131 220 4538
Web: www.theforest.org.uk/

Glasgow

Georges X Chalkboard Social Centre
Now closed but the group is still active locally
Web: georgesxchalkboard.blogspot.com

The Saorsa Centre
674 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow
Tel: 0141 423 9055
Email: g42collective@riseup.net
Web: www.g42collective.net

Lancaster

Lancaster Re-Source Centre (La.R.C.)
78a Penny Street, Lancaster, LA1 1XN
(Below single step/Whale Tale cafe)
Tel: 01524 383 012
Web: www.eco-action.org/lancaster

Leeds

The Common Place
23-25 Wharf Street, Leeds, LS2 7EQ
Tel: 0845 345 7334
Email: thecommonplace@gmail.com
Web: www.thecommonplace.org.uk

The Hanover Square Squatted Social Centre
34 Hanover Square, Little Woodhouse, Leeds, LS3 1AW
Email: hanoversquare@riseup.net
web: www.heavy-rocks.com/hanoversquare

A-Spire - Squat Autonomous Zone
Temporary Locations around Leeds
Email: info@a-spire.org.uk
Web: www.a-spire.org.uk

Liverpool

Liverpool Social Centre - Next To Nowhere NEW
In the Cellar - entrance next door to 'News From Nowhere' Bookshop - ring bell labelled 'basement')
96 Bold Street, Liverpool, L1 4HY
Email: info@liverpoolsocialcentre.org
Web: www.liverpoolsocialcentre.org

London

The Library House - opened September 2008
52 Knatchbull Road, Camberwell, London SE5 9QY
(behind library, junction with Burton Rd)

RampART Creative Space & Social Centre - threat of eviction
15-17 Ramparts Street, London E1
Email: rampart@mutualaid.org
Web: www.rampart.co.nr

56@ Infoshop
56 Crampton St (near Elephant & Castle), London SE17 3AE
Email: info@56a.org.uk
Web: www.56a.org.uk

London Action Resource Centre (LARC)
62 Fieldgate Street, London E1 1ES
Tel: 020 7377 9088
Email: info@londonarc.org
Web: www.londonarc.org

Housmans - radical bookshop
5 Caledonian Road, Kings Cross, London N1 9DX
Tel: 020 7837 4473
Email: shop@housmans.com
Web: http://housmans.com

Freedom Bookshop / Autonomie Club
Angel Alley
84b Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX
Tel: 020 7247 9249
Email: distro@freedompress.org.uk
Web: http://freedom.libcom.org.uk

Camberwell Squatted Centre - evicted
192 Warham St, Camberwell, London SE5
Web: www.56a.org.uk/warham.html

Hackney Social Centre - evicted
231 Lower Clapton Road, Hackney
London E5
(former Chimes nightclub)
Tel: 07506 095 491
Email: distro@freedompress.org.uk
Web: http://www.hackneysocialcentre.blogspot.com

Womynspace, North East London - evicted
Womyn-only space is now open in North East London. The space is open for all womyn to use. We will be holding lots of different workshops and having cafe and bar. Come and visit us and get involved. All references to womyn are trans friendly.
4a Corbridge Crescent
London E2 9DS
Mobile: 07939 381 562
Email: womenorganise@yahoo.co.uk

Manchester

The Basement
LATEST: Currently closed due to fire damage. But they need help so get in touch!
24 Lever Street (off Piccadilly Gardens)
Manchester
Tel: 0161 237 1832
Email: mustsocial@yahoo.co.uk
Web: http://basementmanchester.org.uk

MERCi
Bridge-5 Mill, 22a Beswick Street, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 7HR
Tel: 0161 273 1736
Email: merci@bridge-5.org
Web: www.bridge-5.org

Newcastle

Having regular organising meetings to set-up a new social centre for Newcastle
Email: whydontyou@post.com

Norwich

Section Six - evicted?
in the old Eastern Electricity building, Duke Street, Norwich
Tel: 07944 874 393
Web: www.myspace.com/wherewillitbe
NOTE: not sure if this is still open.

Nottingham

SUMAC Centre (formerley Rainbow)
245 Gladstone Street, Nottingham NG7 6HX
Tel: 0845 4589595
Email: sumac@veggies.org.uk
Web: www.veggies.org.uk/rainbow/

ASBO Community Centre - threat of eviction
33 Burns Street, Arboretum / Radford, Nottingham
Email: 33burnsstreet@myway.com
Web: www.asbocentre.org.uk

Oxford

Oxford Action Resource Centre
Room One, Princes St, Oxford, OX4 1HU
Tel: 01865 243 121
Email: oarc@riseup.net
Web: theoarc.org.uk

Reading

Reading International Solidarity Centre (RISC)
35-39 London Street, Reading, RG1 4PS
Tel: 0118 958 6692
Email: risc@risc.org.uk
Web: www.risc.org.uk

Sheffield

Matilda's - now evicted
111 Matilda Street, Sheffield, S1 4QF
Web: www.matilda.aktivix.org