Getting there
Lai Chi Kok station on the Tsuen Wan line opens straight onto the industrial area around Cheung Sha Wan Road and Castle Peak Road. Mei Foo station to the west is an interchange between the Tsuen Wan and Tuen Ma lines, convenient from Tuen Mun, Yuen Long and the western New Territories.
Many buses and minibuses run along Castle Peak Road. Some industrial buildings have car parks, but spaces are not guaranteed at weekends or in the evening, so check with the host before driving.
What venues are like here
Lai Chi Kok has many older industrial buildings, and a good number have been converted into offices, malls and creative spaces. Venues are mostly industrial units with generous floor space and high ceilings: party rooms, photo studios, dance studios and band rooms, plus workshop and small event spaces.
Converted buildings usually have newer lobbies and lifts and more orderly access. In older buildings, look out for separate goods and passenger lifts and gates that close at night.
What it's good for
- Birthdays and gatherings: plenty of room for groups of ten or more.
- Shoots and rehearsals: high ceilings and open floors suit photography, filming and dance practice.
- Workshops and classes: the area's creative spaces suit craft classes and talks.
Nearby Cheung Sha Wan and Sham Shui Po are worth comparing too.
Practical tips
- Find the right entrance: the main door and the goods entrance may be separate; follow the host's directions.
- Stock up on the way: there are malls and supermarkets around Lai Chi Kok and Mei Foo stations.
- Give delivery riders full details: write the building, floor and unit, or meet them downstairs.
- Somewhere to walk: Lai Chi Kok Park near Mei Foo is a large, open space for before or after.