Barge East, The Milk Float (Top Deck, Lower Deck Or Full Hire)

About Venue

Located along the river in Hackney Wick, our venue is a highly versatile and unique destination, offering a range of spaces that can be tailored to suit events of all styles and sizes.
At the heart of the venue is our floating restaurant, set aboard a beautifully restored 126-year-old Dutch barge. This characterful space offers a truly memorable dining experience, combining historic charm with a refined yet relaxed atmosphere. Alongside this, we have our sister boat, The Milkfloat, which, with both a lower deck and rooftop space, provides a more laid-back but equally distinctive setting.
Our riverside outdoor venue further expands the possibilities, with a combination of the terrace, gardens, and rooftop, hosting up to 300+ guests. These areas are ideal for relaxed, open-air events and can be booked individually or combined with the indoor spaces to create a seamless flow throughout the day.


One of the key strengths of the venue is its flexibility, as spaces can be used independently or together, allowing you to design a fully bespoke event. Whether you’re planning a corporate conference, networking event, private party, or wedding, we can tailor the setup, catering, and atmosphere to suit your vision.

We offer a wide range of catering options, from formal seated dining to BBQ experiences and casual street food, alongside curated drinks packages. In addition, we can help organise entertainment and activities to elevate your event, including DJs, live music, creative workshops, and even our own on-site canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding experiences, perfect for building a full-day programme with varied and engaging moments!

With its unique setting, flexible layout, and wide range of experiences, the venue provides an inspiring and memorable backdrop for any occasion.




Our Milk Float is a unique, private boat space at Barge East, perfect for more exclusive celebrations.

The boat is split across two distinct areas. The top deck is a beautiful rooftop space, ideal for sunny, canalside gatherings, with a mix of open-air seating and some covered areas if needed.

Below, there is a fully covered lower deck event space, which also offers lovely window riverside views.

Each level has a capacity of up to around 40 guests and can be hired privately. You can choose to go for one of the two spaces, or hire both for a full-boat hire!



The hire is based on a redeemable pre-paid deposit, which goes towards your food and drinks spending on the day, as it is not an additional hire fee.

It works especially well for summer parties, with options for BBQ, drinks packages and more

Milkfloat rooftop (or cabin) bookable for £250 pre-paid minimum spend per 2.5 hour slot. 

Slots available  

11.30 - 14.00
14.30 - 17.00 
17.30 - 20.00 
20.30- 23.00

We also offer on-the-water activities directly from the venue, including canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding, which can be a great addition to your event.

Let us know your plans and we’d be happy to share availability and work with you to tailor your event.