Brabourne & Smeeth Village Hall

The Brabourne and Smeeth Village Hall is available to hire by individuals and organisations for one-off events and regular slots. The hall offers two rooms: the larger Hickmott Hall and a smaller Meeting Room

Check availability / book your event

Facilities

• Small meeting room and large Hickmott Hall
• 20 rectangular tables (seating up to 6 people each)
• 6 smaller square tables (seating up to 4 people each)
• 120 chairs
• Wheelchair access and accessible toilet*
• Baby changing facilities*
• Fully equipped kitchen (includes commercial dishwasher)
• Crockery, cutlery and white dinnerware (for up to 80 people)
• Stage and lighting*
• Tables and chairs to seat up to 120 people
• Projector and screen*
• Bluetooth audio system with wireless microphones*
• Induction loop system
• Toilets
• Car park

Hickmott Hall measures 14m x 7m (excluding the stage) and is approximately 5m high at the apex, it can accommodate:

• Dancing: 170 people
• Seated audience: 120 people
• With dancing & seating: 120 people
• Seated around tables: 120 people (20 tables @ 6 people/table)
However, in practice we recommend either:
• Seated around individual tables: 50 people
• Seated 'banquet-style’ layout (3 rows of 5 tables): 90 people

The Meeting Room can host up to 20 people seated


*Hickmott hall only

Pricing

• Entire Hall: £20 per hour for one-off events, such as parties. The maximum charge is capped at £60 for bookings that finish before 5pm.

• Meeting Room only: £10 per hour. The meeting room is only available when it does not conflict with users of Hickmott Hall.

Discounted rates are available for regular (weekly or monthly) bookings, please contact us for more information

How to Book

In booking and paying for the hall you must have read our:

Hiring Policy
Standard Conditions of Hire
Summary/Checklist of Conditions of Use
Health and Safety Policy
Health and Safety Risk Assessment
Fire Safety Information for Hirers
Safeguarding Policy

Check that the hall is available on your preferred date/time using the button above to view our calendar. If you find a suitable date, click/tap New Booking and complete the booking form.

An email acknowledging your provisional booking will be sent immediately. You will receive a further email confirming your booking within 5 days (although normally within 1-2 days). Approximately 2 weeks before your event you will receive an invoice and payment instructions by email*. On receipt of payment you will receive an email containing the access code for the key safe by the main door.

*Regular bookings are invoiced monthly in arrears

If you have any queries, please contact the administrator at [email protected]

Cancellation

Whilst there is no formal cancellation policy, as a community facility, we kindly ask that you cancel as early as possible so others can use the hall. Please note that we are unable to offer refunds for cancellations on or after the booking date

What’s On

The village hall hosts several regular groups/clubs/activities, please contact the individual organisers for more information

Pilates

Gardeners’ Society

Men’s Circuits

Junior Karate

Table Tennis

Bootcamp

Women’s Institute

Dress Making

Embroidery

Machine Sewing

Yoga for All

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get in to the hall?

• The keys to the main entrance door and the kitchen door are stored in a key safe located to the right of the entrance between the notice board and defibrillator. Once payment has been received, you will receive a receipt by email which includes the current 4-digit access code for the key safe. When you leave the hall; return the keys to the key safe, close it, spin the tumbers to lock it and close the cover.

How do I play music?

• You can play/stream music from a bluetooth-capable device (laptop/phone/tablet). Please refer to the Audio User Guide below

How do I use the microphones?

• Please refer to the Audio User Guide below

How do I use the projector?

• Presentations and video can be projected on to the drop-down screen using an HDMI cable. Please refer to the Projector User Guide below

Can I bring equipment like bouncy castles or inflatables?

• Yes, but you must ensure that either you or the supplier has public liability insurance for the equipment to be used in the hall. Our insurance does not cover this

Is the hall tall enough for an indoor bouncy castle?

• Yes, Hickmott Hall is large enough to inflate a bouncy castle indoors

Can I use a smoke generating machine?

• No, smoke machines are not permitted due to the interference with fire detection systems

Can alcohol be consumed in the hall?

• Alcohol can be consumed in the hall, however, the hall does not have a license for alcohol sales. If you wish to sell alcohol, you can apply for a Temporary Event Notice from Ashford Borough Council which must be applied for by the hirer. Any TEN applied for must be notified to the village hall committee as there is a limit on the total number of TENs we can apply for per year

Can I show TV programmes?

• The hall does not have a TV license but you can play music via Bluetooth and other devices since we do hold the necessary PRS and PPL licenses

What times is the hall available to book?

• The hall is available between 6am and 1am. Late-night events can also book additional time the next morning for cleaning and clearing at no extra cost (subject to hall availability) - to book extra time, please contact us.

How does the heating work?

• The heating is automated to maintain a comfortable temperature in the hall during the winter months. Additional manually controlled electric heaters are available in the toilets, meeting room and kitchen

What do I do before leaving the hall?

• As a community facility, we rely on users to ensure that the hall is returned to a clear and clean state after every use. Please leave the hall in the condition that you expect to find it*:

• Wipe up any spills and clear the floor of any rubbish (eg. food, confetti, stickers, decorations)
• Sweep the hall using the large broom and/or V-sweeper in the cleaning cupboard (just outside the kitchen)
• Ensure all toilets are flushed, clean and all taps are turned off
• Wash up all crockery and cutlery and return to their respective cupboards/drawers
• Clear and wipe down all kitchen surfaces, sinks and fridge
• Return the folding chairs to their trolley (stored in the entrance)
• Return the fixed chairs to the meeting room store room
• Clean and stack the square tables on their trolley (stored in the entrance)
• Return the large tables to the meeting room (they stack in the rear corner nook)
• Remove all rubbish - no rubbish must be left in the hall or in the outside bins (these are for the cleaner’s use only)
• Close all windows and doors
• Close the internal fire doors (meeting room, kitchen, stage (left & right), hall)
• Turn off the sound system and projector, raise the projector screen
• Turn off all lights
• Switch off all heaters (meeting room, kitchen, stage front, toilets)
• Lock the external kitchen and entrance doors and return the keys to the key safe

*Please note that failure to leave the hall clean and tidy may result in an Extra Cleaning invoice being raised.

What kind of events can I organise?

The hall hosts a variety of events for all ages:

• Parties and celebrations
• Health, Fitness and Wellbeing classes
• Arts/Crafts/Educational instruction
• Society/Club/Group meetings
• Craft fairs, jumble sales, quiz nights, barn dances, ceilidhs, and more!

User Guides

Hall Guide

General information about the hall’s facilities and available equipment

Projector

Display and present video content from your laptop on the drow-down screen

Audio

Stream audio from your bluetooth device and use the wireless microphone

Dishwasher

Super-fast 3 minute cleaning cycles once warmed up

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Pilates

Wednesdays 09:15am – 10:15am and 10:30am – 11:30am

09:15am class - mixed ability experienced Pilates - experience of Pilates necessary

10:30am class - mixed ability all levels Pilates - experience not necessary

For further information on classes and how to join please contact Farida Keen on 07976 760251 or email [email protected]

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Brabourne and Smeeth Gardeners’ Society

Brabourne and Smeeth Gardeners’ Society meet the last Friday every month 7:30-9:30pm (doors open at 7:15pm). Free entry, visitors welcome. We have guest speakers most months and arrange trips and visits to gardens of interest

For further information, please visit the Society’s website – www.basgs.com

Contact: Rick Smithson – 01303 812740

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Men’s Circuits

Men’s fitness class every Monday and Thursday nights from 6pm to 7pm. Class is attended by men only of varying degrees of age and fitness. Everyone goes at their own pace in a relaxed atmosphere.

Monday and Thursdays 6pm – 7pm (every second Monday of the month class starts at 5:45pm and ends at 6:45pm).

Contact Ian Bull by phone: 07738 584 221 or email: [email protected]

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Junior Karate

We train every Saturday from 9:30 to10:30am. The first class is free, and it's £5 per session after that. We take ages 5 to 16, and we're fully insured and DBS checked.

Contact: Jason Hampton - [email protected]

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Table Tennis Club

We are Brabourne & Smeeth TTC, shortened to BandS TTC. We currently have 6 teams in the Ashford & District TT league, running September to April. We also host both Ashford teams in the Kent league on occasional Sundays.

Contact: Colin Bingham - [email protected]

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Bootcamp

Tuesdays 6.15am - 7:00am

This is a mixed class for men and women. It is focussed on full body workout exercises and cardio improvements. Each class is very different and provides variety of trainer lead activities. We use:

• free weights (light to heavy)

• barbells

• ropes

• weighted balls

• jump boxes

• mats for floor and core work.

Options are given to all to adjust activity for fitness levels.

We use great music to guide and motivate you throughout your workout.

For further information please Adam at: [email protected]