Question 1

Can I visit the Village Hall before booking?

Accepted Answer

We welcome visits prior to booking to ensure the venue is suitable for your event. Please contact us on 01798 815 467 or by email. We look forward to showing you around.

Question 2

Where do I find out more about how to use the hall and the hall's equipment

Accepted Answer

Most information should be provided on our website but if you find something isn't covered then please contact us by telephone on 01798 815 467 or email.

Question 3

How do I make a booking?

Accepted Answer

From our website, use the online calendar to check room availability for the dates you require. 
 
If it is available, complete our booking form.
 
You will then receive an email from us advising that you have made a provisional booking, along with an invoice for the Hire Fee and the Security and Damage Deposit. Your booking remains provisional until we receive the cleared funds for the Hire Fee and Security and Damage Deposit (which must be paid at least 1 calendar month before the booking). On receipt of the funds, we will email you to confirm receipt and your booking. Access arrangements will be made nearer the time of your event. 
 
If you have any difficulties, please contact us by telephone on 10798 815 467 or by email.

Question 4

What are the Hire Fees?

Accepted Answer

The Hire Fee varies depending on the time and day of the booking. 
 
Our Hire Fees are listed on our Hire Charges page on our website. 
 
All Hire Fees are per hour and include the use of the kitchen. A discount of 20% applies to all bookings of 3 hours or more. A Community User rate applies to specific types of bookings. The Hall Manager will advise if your group/activity qualifies for this rate.
 
Please note there is also a security and damage deposit payable for bookings.

Question 5

Do you offer any discounts?

Accepted Answer

We offer a 20% discount on the Hire Fee for bookings of 3 hours or more. We also offer discounts to community groups for weekday bookings excluding Friday evenings.  The standard hire rate quoted on our website applies to non-community users. If you are unsure whether you would qualify as a community user then please contact us by telephone on 01798 815 467 or by email prior to completing your booking form.

Question 6

When do I pay for my hire?

Accepted Answer

You may pay for your hire at the time of making your provisional booking. Payments are required no later than 1 calendar month before your event. Bookings are not confirmed until full payment of the Hire Fee and Security and Damage Deposit are received. We are unable to issue reminders, so please ensure that your payment is received by us no later than 1 calendar month before your event. If full payment has not been received within the month of the booking, you may forfeit the booking and we may accept bookings from other hirers.

Question 7

Do I have to live in the village to hire the hall?

Accepted Answer

No, we welcome interest and bookings from both within and outside Thakeham Village. The Village Hall is proving to be a popular venue and we warmly welcome anyone interested in using the rooms.

Question 8

Can I hire the football fields for my event?

Accepted Answer

The football fields are open to the public and are also available to hire for sporting activities and other special events. The Village Hall Managers can take a booking for the fields. Marquees have been erected there in the past and in doing so this would provide an extension to the Village hall area. Talk to us about your ideas and we would be happy to advise and hopefully accommodate any such requests.

Question 9

What insurance do I need to hold an event?

Accepted Answer

The committee have insurance covering the hall and most foreseeable events are covered by this insurance.  In additional to this, if your event has a higher risk than normal of causing injury please let us know when making your provisional booking so that we can check with our insurers. You may be required to secure your own specific event insurance, but if we are informed of what you are planning then we can advise.

Question 10

What time can the hall be booked to?

Accepted Answer

The village hall is in a residential area so we ask all our guests to be mindful of our neighbours at whatever time they leave the venue. Licencing regulations require music/entertainment to be turned off at 11pm.  The hall can be booked until midnight on Friday and Saturday evenings and until 11pm on other days.

Question 11

Do you allow time for setting up before and/or clearing up afterwards?

Accepted Answer

We ask that you book and pay for the complete time you will be using the hall (i.e. include any time necessary for setting-up beforehand and clearing-up afterwards). It is important that you determine this before making your booking as it is quite likely that other bookings will run either right up to or directly after your booking so may be impossible to adjust later. The Hall must be vacated by the end of your specified booking period.

Question 12

Are their age restrictions on booking the hall?

Accepted Answer

We do not hire the Hall to anyone aged under 18 years, nor to anyone who may owe money to the Hall for any reason. There may be some activities or events for which we would choose not to hire out the Hall; please ask if you need to. We do require additional security staff cover for all 16th to 21st parties, with the arrangements made and cost for this to be covered by the hirer. We can provide details of the reliable security company that you will need to use. We require evidence of this cover before we are able to confirm your booking.

Question 13

Can you accommodate wedding receptions?

Accepted Answer

We welcome anyone interested in using the village hall for their wedding reception. We would be very happy to show you around and talk to you about your plans for the big day. We are able to help recommend some suppliers too. Let us know if you are interested in finding out more.

Question 14

My event is a late finish, is it possible to return the next morning to clean and tidy the room?"

Accepted Answer

Let us know if you would like to arrange this. Ordinarily this will be fine, provided we have no bookings first thing the following morning. Ideally notify us at the time of your booking if you wish to do this and we will book the appropriate time for you.

Question 15

How and when is my Security and Damage Deposit returned to me?

Accepted Answer

We aim to refund the security and damage deposit as soon as possible after your booking. The room will need to be thoroughly checked first. We will require your bank details in order for a bank transfer back to you can be made please email these to info@thakehamvillagehall.co.uk. We do reserve the right to deduct an appropriate amount if damage has occurred or additional cleaning is deemed as required, but we will always discuss this with you. Any refunds will be made within 28 days following your booking.

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