Below are some frequently asked questions regarding booking the hall for events. If you have further questions, our booking team will be happy to help you.
What is your hall’s capacity, and do you have chairs and tables we could use?
The maximum seated capacity is 140 including the organisers.
How big is the main hall?
The hall floor space is 14.5m x 8.5m – just large enough for a badminton court.
What toilet facilities do you have?
We have 2 toilets for women, a cubicle and urinals for men and an accessible unisex toilet with a baby-changing station.
What kitchen facilities do you have?
We have a small kitchen equipped with a sink, oven and grill, microwave, two portable two-ring hobs, small fridge, and double water boiler. A second microwave, warming cupboard trolley, small freezer, and large fridge are also available on request. For serving food and drinks, we provide two soup tureens, four hot drink flasks, and plenty of crockery, cutlery, and glassware. For larger events, hirers may prefer to bring unbreakable glasses for safety. A selection of kitchen utensils and pans is also available – please see the full inventory for details.
Please note that the kitchen is suitable for light catering and reheating rather than large-scale commercial catering.
Is hire just for the main hall, or are there other rooms in the building that are in use and included in the price?
We only have the one space for hire which is our main hall. There are no smaller rooms, so your hire includes sole use of the whole building.
Do you have an “Event package” price?
We have a weekend wedding package that covers a day to set up, the day of the event and a half day to clear away. See hire charges for current prices.
We have seen several village halls that also function as camping barns (bring you own sleeping mat style), is this something you offer?
We offer overnight stays for some groups such as Climbing Clubs and Scout Groups, at the discretion of the Board of Trustees, but do not have facilities to allow overnight stays for private functions. There are no showering facilities.
In the evening, we wondered if we would be allowed to use storm lanterns outside or possibly even have a small, raised fire-pit outside. Is that something we would be allowed to do?
Our insurance policy prohibits naked flames on site.
Is there any outside space where we could put up a small marquee?
You can hire the whole car park for an additional fee if you wish to put up a small marquee – please see the latest hire charges for details.
Is it possible to use the screen to watch a film?
Yes the use of our AV system is included in the hire cost. We have a DVD player and you can link your own devices via HDMI or USB-C cables.
Do you have any parking?
We have a Pay to Park car park with 18 spaces. Hirers are entitled to two free parking spaces for the duration of their hire. Hirers qualifying for the reduced rate receive free parking for their attendees. A terminal within the hall allows vehicle registration marks to be entered onto the parking system, but parking is subject to availability as it is open to the public. Hirers can request to close part or all of the car park for a fee – please see the latest hire rates for details.
Do you have a licence to play music?
Yes. Grasmere Village Hall holds a premises licence for the provision of regulated entertainment and also has a PPL PRS Music Licence. This means live and recorded music can be played at events held in the hall.
The PPL PRS Music Licence covers the playing of copyrighted music, including background music, discos, live bands, and music played via streaming services, CDs or other devices.
If you are unsure whether your event is covered, please contact us for clarification.
Can we serve alcohol at our event?
Yes – but it depends how it is being provided. Grasmere Village Hall does not have a licence to sell alcohol.
If you plan to sell alcohol, you will usually need to apply for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) from Westmorland and Furness Council before your event. You can find details and apply here: Temporary Event Notice – Westmorland and Furness Council
If alcohol is free and people are not paying to attend, you can normally serve it without a licence, as long as no charge or donation is linked to the alcohol.
The person booking the hall is responsible for making sure the correct permissions are in place and that licensing laws are followed. If you are unsure, please check with the council before your event.