Share
Explore
Village Halls Domesday Book 2021
A record of the good things village halls are doing to mark a century of rural community action
467
Blank
Search
Abbotsley Village Hall
Cambridgeshire
Our village hall was once the village school and for the past 50 years, since the school closed, has provided a comfortable, well equipped and convenient venue for all types of social interactions. We look forward to being able to re-commence those activities, once the COVID restrictions have been lifted.
Abinger Hammer Village Hall
Surrey
Thank you to ACRE for all the good work you’re doing, which is particularly important at this challenging time.
Abthorpe Old School
Northamptonshire
From its inception as a school, built in 1642, Abthorpe Old School has been the centre of life in this small rural village near Towcester. Its history, reminiscences of past pupils, details of all the masters from 1642 until its closure as a school in 1959, and an architectural tour of this lovely Grade 2 building are described in a book, ‘The Free School in Abthorpe’, available from our website.
Acton Bridge Parish Rooms
Cheshire
Acton Bridge is a small rural village located near Northwich in Cheshire. Northwich is the UK’s salt capital, and the home of Britain’s chemical industry, founded by Brunner- Mond, which became ICI. Sir John Brunner the co-founder of ICI opened our Parish Rooms in May 1909. Since then, they have been the centre of our community life. In 1983 they were extended, and today we have first class facilities, two all-weather tennis courts, opened in 1995, and an all-weather bowling green. with active sections using these facilities. In addition, our Parish Rooms are used by 15 Interest groups (dancing, choirs, arts classes, WI, Taekwondo etc), and our village pre-school. At weekends, the rooms are available for private hire for weddings, christenings, birthday parties and family celebrations. In 2009, at our centenary celebrations, Sir John Brunner’s Great Grandson handed back to us, the key which our Parish Council presented to his great grandfather at the opening ceremony 100 years ago! Today, like all other village halls we are constrained by COVID measures and usage constraints, but our active trustees and volunteers have ensured that we can continue in a limited way to offer support and help to our village community. ACRE through Cheshire Community Action, continues to provide us with valuable support, thank you.
Adlington Village Hall
Cheshire
We are looking forward to reopening as soon as we are allowed so that we can continue to serve this rural community.
Aldworth Village Hall
Berkshire
Opened in 2016, designed by a local architect, this beautiful hall is situated near the Ridgeway and the Berkshire Downs.
Alfold Village Hall
Surrey
Alfold Village Hall
Surrey
Built in 1962/63 Alfold Hall is the culmination of many years hard work by locals of the time. In 2005 another era for the Hall saw the building extended; the kitchen enlarged, toilets refurbished; disabled facilities added and the “Green Room” built. 2015 then saw the Hall move further into the 21st century with the introduction of a surround sound system, stage lights, projector and screen.
The Hall is managed by a small committee of volunteers. Regular users include a toddlers group, short mat bowls, pilates lessons, dance classes and a well attended monthly lunch club. The Hall is also used for touring theatre, dances, wedding receptions and children’s parties. The Hall is managed by a committee of volunteers.
All Cannings Village Hall
Wiltshire
All Cannings Village Hall lies in the centre of an attractive village situated in the historic Vale of Pewsey Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The village lies midway between Devizes and Pewsey in Wiltshire. The hall dates from the 19th century when it was the village shop and Post Office.
Since the COVID restrictions have been in place, the village hall has provided a much-needed additional stock room for the volunteer-run community shop and has continued to provide the venue for the daily pre-school group to enable those parents and their children to have a degree of normality in these difficult times.
We are looking forward to reopening and for the normal range of community activities to take place in the hall. These include table tennis, pilates, arts group activity, book club and garden club meetings, in addition to other private bookings.
Allington Village Hall
Lincolnshire
Our village hall built in 1929, is the heart of our village with a wide selection of events and activities taking place for all ages and abilities. A selection of these are New Age Kurling, Carpet Bowls, Keep Fit, Yoga, Morris and Square Dancing, Craft Session and Community Choir. We also hold an Outreach Post Office. All these along with a wide range of fund raising events. We also hire out the hall for weddings, parties and funeral wakes.
Alstonefield Village Hall
Staffordshire
As we begin 2021, we look back at the challenging months of the COVID-19 pandemic with a mixture of satisfaction and nervousness. Satisfaction in maintaining at least some of our essential activities; nervousness in what lies ahead for 2021. When the pandemic began and community halls essentially closed, it was good to be able to continue with our outreach Post Office, at least. Getting suitably prepared even for that limited service - with risk assessments, deep-cleaning, signs and cleaning protocols in place - meant we remained technically open, and that was enough to be able us to offer the premises for a vital service - manufacturing scrubs and gowns. It’s hard to believe nearly a year on, but at the time, there was a huge national shortage of protective equipment for front-line workers in the NHS and care homes. A small team of locals, headed by Cathy Reavy (who normally runs embroidery workshops in the Hall), worked solo in shifts through until the end of May, having made an amazing 437 gowns and 183 sets of scrubs.
By the Autumn, things were looking more positive but restrictions continued and few of our normal users had an appetite to re-commence their activities, even in a limited way. But it has been good to see financial support to charities like ours being provided, with much-appreciated help from local authorities - themselves ‘locked-down’ with employees working from home. That support enabled us to continue with our maintenance plans, which included substantial works to re-surface and mark-out our car park - a well overdue improvement.
By the end of the year, the pandemic was showing no sign of abating - just the opposite, in fact. So we took the decision to try and generate some extra income and, at the same time, provide at least something for the community, by opening a takeaway food service for the first time. Within a couple of weekends of opening, it was proving a huge hit for locals, so we decided to invest a little in equipment (a hot cabinet, for example). Opening the service meant meeting Environmental Health requirements including registration as a food business, and the local authority have been wonderfully helpful in making things straightforward. Some further kitchen improvements will be needed for this, but we’re looking at the long term!
Looking ahead into 2021 and beyond, the pandemic has made us think about what else we might do to ensure the Hall is of real benefit to our community, and remains financially viable. In normal times, we already host fitness classes, indoor bowls, arts groups etc., and the committee itself runs monthly live music events that attract locals and visitors (which is also good for the local economy in this rural area). But ideas are flowing for other activities we could run, or encourage(!) and to broaden the use of the premises for commercial or other bookings such as weddings and parties.
In summary, we’re very positive for the future. The pandemic will go away in time, and we hope to come out of it with an enhanced understanding of the role a village hall can play in our particular community.
ALTON BARNES CORONATION HALL
Wiltshire
Alton Barnes Coronation Hall is closed at the moment because of the current Covid-19 national restrictions. We very much look forward to resuming our role as the central hub of the three villages of Alton Barnes, Alton Priors and Honeystreet.
Normally the Hall is open for hire from the public all year although we have a policy that parishioners can use it free of charge for weddings and funerals.
The Management Committee organises events to promote a welcoming feeling and enable parishioners to get to know each other and have fun. Regular events include a Coffee Morning on the first Saturday of every month, a Midsummer Horticultural Show, a series of three Autumn Talks, and a Christmas Entertainment evening. Other events include a variety of evenings organised by Alton Arts, a Curry Evening, a Barbeque and Ceilidh, a Murder Mystery and a very popular Open Gardens involving all three villages.
Alveley Parish Memorial Hall
Shropshire
The Village Hall has been part of the community in Alveley since it was built in 1928 in memory of the people who died in the Great War of 1914-1918. Over the years it has been available for the residents of Alveley and the outlying district for family events and celebrations, village organisations’ fund raising events and meetings, drama and film evenings with the Alveley Entertainers, indoor bowling through the winter months with the Squirrel Bowling Club, and more recently to promote shows through the Arts Alive rural touring scheme, Saturday morning Dance Classes for school- aged children, Music and Movement for pre-school children and as a studio for The Alveley Art Group whose first exhibition was a great success. Covid Secure Guidelines were adopted between Lockdowns so the hall could still be open for suitable activities but like everyone else the committee are looking foreward to the hall being fully open for village life to flourish once again.
Alverstoke Parish Centre
Hampshire
A welcoming village hall with so many activities to suit all age ranges. Cann’t wait to get back to the fun and laughter and companionship once covid is over!
Applause Rural Touring
Kent
We have worked with many Village Halls across Kent and East and West Sussex. We applaud the work they do in their communities and celebrate the role they play in connecting communities to creativity! We have included a picture of All Saints Church in Allhallows Kent who have recently hosted a poetry residency.
Appleton Thorn Village Hall
Cheshire
Our Hall, like many others, is a converted village school and opened in 1981. It is therefore our 40th Anniversary! Since then, it has been the centre of the community providing a venue for many activities. The adjacent field owned by the Hall is used in a unique village fete celebrating Bawming the Thorn. It has a membership licensed bar providing real ales and winning many CAMRA awards. The Appleton Thorn Preschool is based in the hall. The venue is available for hire typically for local groups such as Appleton Thorn School of Dance, Brownies, Yoga, wedding parties, christenings, and birthday parties. When we finally re-open we would like to improve and extend the facilities making more use of the outdoor facilities for the benefit of the community. We joined CCA/ ACRE in 2019 and have benefitted from their excellent advice and help, especially during these difficult times during the pandemic. We are delighted to sign ACRE’s ‘Doomsday’ Book for 2021 celebrating ACRE’s 100th anniversary as well as our own 40th.adjacent
Arborfield Village Hall
Berkshire
Built in 1931 on land gifted by the Simonds family with bricks purchased by members of the Arborfield and Newland community the hall is a registered charity run by volunteers and interested parties such as the Parish Council and regular users.
Arkenstall Village Centre
Cambridgeshire
The main business of the Arkenstall Village Centre – in the middle of the village of Haddenham, near Ely in Cambridgeshire – is the hiring out of facilities for meetings, functions and events. It is also the centre of activities for local groups – art classes, exercise groups, drama groups, concerts and the village pantomime. In addition, the Centre plays host to the village library access point, providing a link to the county’s public library service for Haddenham and the surrounding villages.
The Centre has three rooms for hire: a 200-seat main hall with a stage, and two smaller meeting rooms each seating about 40 people. There is a well-equipped kitchen, and on-site parking. There are discounted hiring rates for regular bookers, charities, and local organisations that are represented on the management committee.
Although the centre was converted from its original purpose as the village school back in 1972, there is an ongoing programme of updates and improvements to keep the facilities fresh and modern while retaining the building's original character.
Unfortunately the Centre is currently closed because of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. While we have made the Centre 'Covid secure' we are, at the moment, only able to offer rooms for hire for exempt activities, but we are looking forward to fully opening our doors again in the not-too-distant future.
Arkwright Centre
Derbyshire
The Arkwright Centre provides a venue for local people to meet, hold events and support the community.
Ashampstead Jubille Village Hall
Berkshire
This original Victorian village school house has been renovated to provide the only community facility other than the church. It even doubles as the village pub once a month.
Ashenground Community Centre
Sussex
Looking forward to fully opening again for our vast array of Community Groups. We’ve managed to remain partially open during the Covid-19 pandemic for permitted activities including our Preschool.
Ashford Carbonel Village Hall
Shropshire
Our Hall was built in 1911 and has since been extended twice. Together with the adjacent sports and recreational field it forms the hub of our village of 160 dwellings, about one third of which have single occupants. The Hall hosted a wide variety of events and activities until the first lockdown forced us to close. Subsequently in March 2020 a community email newsletter was set up, food deliveries from local businesses were arranged and a support network established. When allowed we held morning coffee, afternoon teas and pub nights in and out of doors. To raise money and our spirits, we opened our gardens to fellow villagers with timed appointments and an honesty stall for surplus plants and produce. Realising gardens were our salvation, we wrote a book ‘Gardens under Lockdown’ with contributions from eight to eighty year-olds, full of tips, activities and beautiful illustrations. Ten per cent of the profits went to our local food bank. Later in the year morning coffee and cake became a takeaway service as did a soup kitchen. Our Christmas fairs, carol concert and Candlefest were all held outdoors. As 2021 begins we have coffee mornings, a wine tasting and a poetry recital for Valentine’s day all online. The book exchange has been expanded to include jigsaws. Children continue to play on our field, which will have a new wildlife area this summer. We are now planning activities for when we come out of lockdown. We shall continue to provide, as we have done for a hundred and ten years, a venue, events and activities which cater for all ages and abilities, thus cementing the social fabric of our village.
Ashreigney Village Hall
Devon
The recent Coronavirus Pandemic has really brought home how vital our Village Hall is to a small, rural community such as ours. It is literally the “heart” of the Village.
Social gatherings, our market, and meetings may be banned; but our Hall continues to serve. In recent months it has been used as a central control room by emergency services carrying out search and rescue operations, it continues to act as our Post Office, and the Car Park now hosts regular street food Pop Ups. The Village Hall Newsletter hasn’t missed a single edition and The Renovation Committee continue to work with Architects to plan for a new and exciting future.
We look forward to the day when we can all meet up again, to celebrate and fully enjoy this vital and much loved part of Village Life.
Ashton Keynes Village Hall
Wiltshire
Our Village Hall is the centre of the community and as the hub for numerous services, has remained open throughout the pandemic. Although group and social activities have had to stop, including our own fund-raising Rural Cinema; the Hall complex houses the Village Shop, the out-reach Post Office and the GP Branch Surgery. All of the these are classed as essential services and so we had to ensure that we made the Hall COVID-Secure in order to keep it open. We introduced disinfectant fogging, hand sanitisers, risk assessments, etc. The Village Preschool is also housed within the Hall complex and we had to accommodate this restarting in June 2020 (at the end of the first lock-down).
The support of the Local Authority, Community First and ACRE have been exceptional.
With luck (and the vaccine) we are looking forward to reopening fully sometime during 2021.
https://www.akvh.org.uk/
Ashwick & Oakhill Village Hall
Somerset
Having taken advantage of the COVID lockdowns by refitting, redecorating and refreshing the main rooms, internal facilities and equipment, the committee are now progressing formal plans to convert the integral garage and adjacent store rooms into a new, larger kitchen and community cafe that will serves via a purpose-build external hatch next to the children’s playground with views across the recreational field and beyond - much fundraising work required! Externally we are repairing and replacing leisure equipment to facilitate increased usage. We are also addressing our environmental strategy and have planted a wildflower meadow and 11 trees along one boundary to be fitted later with various bird boxes. We also plan to become Hallmark Level 1/2 accredited!
Avebury & District Social Centre
Wiltshire
Bamburgh Pavilion
Northumberland
Bamburgh is a historically important village on the North Northumberland coast. The Pavilion overlooks the village green, in the shadow of the magnificent castle. As well as supporting the village cricket team. croquet club and tennis court, it is used by many local groups. It is also used for events such as wedding receptions, craft fairs and fund raising events. During lock down it has been redecorated and refurbished and is now ready to return to its key role in village life.
Barrow on Trent Village Hall
Derbyshire
Our Village Hall is located in a small rural community in South Derbyshire. The land the hall is built on was gifted to the village by a local farmer in 1949. Parishioners fundraised to help build the Hall. It remains an integral part of village life offering a base for our local Playgroup along with a variety of regular weekly activities including : Women’s Institute meetings, keep fit, line dancing, choir practices, tia chi, parties etc. Trustees have taken advantage of the Covid lockdown to upgrade the hall by sanding and revarnishing the parquet floor, and replacing the carpets. We hope the hall will continue to be used and enjoyed by our community for many many years to come, it is an asset for our village.
Barrow upon Humber Village Hall
Humber & Wolds
Our Village Hall is the largest in our community, parties for children are the best because of the size of the space. The hall, when open provides space for Parents, babies and toddlers; Brownies; Guides; Keep Fit; Yoga and Christy fundraisers.
Barton Bendish Village Hall
Norfolk
We are just finishing a complete refurbishment and extension to our hall, which was originally an Oddfellows hall built in 1905. Although it had some toilets added in 1990 it was getting very tired, with no insulation, no proper heating, and no disabled facilities. We also suffered from a lack of capacity because it was too small. Thanks to a marvellous fundraising effort, serious community collaboration and the input of an excellent local contractor we have now extended the hall and made it fit for another 100 years! We can’t wait to open up as soon as the Covid-19 pandemic allows us to do so!
Beaford Village Hall
Devon
Based in rural northern Devon we are the hub of a small parish of fewer than 500 people. We have a stunning view from our hall thanks to a local farmer who donated the land and local builders who constructed the building. We are a busy hall (normally) and we take great pride in our beautiful home. Our plans include making the hall as environmentally friendly as possible and creating a wildlife haven on our recently acquired field adjacent to the hall.
Beckford Community Village Hall Ltd
Herefordshire & Worcestershire
The present hall was opened in 1937, an earlier small facility having existed since 1924-5. It is managed as a ‘Charitable Limited Company’ with directors, officers and a committee made up of representatives of the organisations which are ‘members’ of the hall. These include the Tennis Club, the Women’s Institute, the Gardening Club, the Toddlers Group, the Croquet Club, the Church and others. The hall is surrounded by extensive fields, which are used by footballers, dog walkers and the camping and caravanning clubs who often rent them. Many improvements have been made to the hall over the years, and a substantial refurbishment is currently in progress. The roof having been replaced three years ago, exterior insulation has been added and internally the ceiling is being lowered, lighting improved and the sprung maple floor refurbished. Currently closed due to the refurbishment ad well as COVID-19 restrictions, we anticipate that in April 2021, like a chrysalis emerging from its cocoon, the hall will re-emerge to act again as a centre of village life.
The website is currently being reconstructed, but until that is complete the hall has an active Facebook page.
Bedhampton Community Centre
Hampshire
It’s a shock to the system to having gone from a full, thriving, exciting centre to being nearly completely shut down, but we’re coming into 2021 positively! We’re still open for our local Lunchbank to prepare, cook and deliver hot meals to people in our local community, and we’re excited to hit the ground running with community projects, classes and activities as soon as we’re allowed! Our aim for 2021 is to get planning permission to have an extension built onto the front of the building, so we’ll be doing some massive fundraising as soon as that’s agreed. We love our community, and we miss them. We usually have over 1000 people through our doors each week, which for a small village just off of Havant is brilliant, and we can’t wait to have everyone back again.
Bedmond Village Hall
Hertfordshire
Bedmond Village Hall has been serving its small rural community since it was built with funds raised by the Bedmond Pioneers, a very active group of local group of residents, in 1930. It was rebuilt by a massive fundraising effort in 2000 supported by the Heritage Lottery Millennium Fund and is run by a dedicated team of volunteers who maintain the Hall to a very high standard. It is home to a wide variety of groups and activities and also provides a very popular local venue for parties and events. This much loved Hall is located at the heart of its community and is always looking to expand the range of activities and events on offer to provide more opportunities and support for its community.
Beeding and Bramber Village Hall
Sussex
The current village hall was built in 1930 and established as a charity. It was and is managed by a Management Council composed of representatives of the organisations and groups who use the hall.
As well as the full Council there is an Executive group who are elected from and by the Council.
In common with many Village Halls it has had its ups and downs. Thirty years ago the Hall was in a poor condition and in very straightened financial circumstances but as a result of enormous hard work by volunteers funds were raised and renovation work placed the hall back in good working order.
From this time to the present day the hall provides a venue for community meetings and activities and a Pre School which has now served several generations of village children.
The Covid 19 pandemic has had an enormous impact on the hall. Since the first lockdown the community groups have closed, the exercise groups have come back in a limited way when outside the complete lockdown or tier 4 regulations. Fortunately the Pre School has continued to operate although with reduced numbers of children which gives some income and a government grant of £10,000 was welcome. The hall has financial reserves but they will not last for ever.
We are aware that some groups may not return to when the hall can reopen but intend to advertise with the support of the Parish Council to develop the customer base for the new situation. We hope to see this as an opportunity to ‘Build Back Better’.
Bellingdon and Asheridge Village Hall
Buckinghamshire
BERRYNARBOR MANOR HALL
Devon
Our pretty grade 2 listed hall is in the center of our lovely village and a focal point for many community activities including art and craft clubs, Pilates ,wine circle,wedding, table tennis, parties, council meetings, snooker club, our village fete and much more . Sadly corona virus put paid to most of this fun last year. Thankfully our popular pre-school situated in one wing of the building was able to carry on providing a fantastic service and of course much needed income for the hall! We have optimistically booked a date in the diary in August for our village fete- fingers crossed! Good luck to all our fantastic halls around the country for 2021 - we all provide an amazing and precious service to our communities and a big thank you to ACRE for their help and support particularly in these most difficult times.
Bickerton Village Hall
Cheshire
Bicton Village Hall
Shropshire
Many community groups access the village hall including WI, Parish Council, keep fit, coffee mornings, mothers and toddlers etc for the community. We organise a Summer fete which is a great event bringing the whole community together for both young and old. We would like to continue to provide community events and support for our community.
Biddulph Moor Village Hall
Staffordshire
Biddulph Moor Village Hall was constructed around 1975, following a fund raising campaign by the local community, to provide a facility for the community and surrounding areas. Over the years it has proved to be a focal point for the community providing a venue for activities, clubs, celebrations and community events and remains so.
The Village Hall is used for many different activities which cater for diverse age groups including a Playgroup, Radio Controlled Car Club, Bowls Club, Dog Club, Yoga and the Evergreens group for the more elderly local residents. It is also available for hire for private events such as weddings and special occasion celebrations such as birthday parties, anniversaries etc. Drapes can be hung to transform the hall into a very attractive and affordable venue.
The Committee run a number of different events for the community as a whole including an annual fireworks display, musical events, discos, touring theatrical performances and themed dining evenings.
The Committee work together with other organisations to operate community events such as the village Well Dressing and the Biddulph Festival.
The Village Hall is a focal point for the community. It provides a vital, convenient, accessible and affordable venue for many activities and it is conveniently located within the village. This is really important to the local residents who would otherwise be deprived of these activities as Biddulph Moor is poorly connected to the surrounding area which makes it difficult to travel to alternative venues.
During this current period of enforced closure due to the Covid-19 situation the Committee have been focussing on carrying out maintenance and improvement work and seeking grants for the refurbishment of the hall. The aim is to continue to improve the hall so that it is an even more attractive facility for the local community.
Billingley Village Hall
Yorkshire
Our Hall is relatively new, opened in 2010. Its a conversion of a 300 year old ruined cartshed. Our faming hamlet got mentioned in the original Domesday Book, and we still only have about 70 houses. There is no pub, shop or place of worship, so the hall is a big part of village life. We have been closed since the first lockdown, but we have been providing space for Abdominal Aortic Aneurism screening clinics. They usually come a couple of times a year but asked if we could help as they were unable to use most of their other sites in GP surgeries. We were glad to help. We offered space for anyone having problems home working or home schooling, and soon after the first lockdown started, a villager who is a senior child protection manager was having problems with sensitive and difficult zoom meetings, with her 8 year old daughter home from school even though Dad was at home too. She has worked most days from the hall, which is great, and means there is a presence daily, saving us a lot of visits to check on the building. We have used our FB Page page, normally used as a marketing tool for the hall to make sure that any community notices are posted, and adapted another Village Group to become a chat and help forum. As we are a registered limited company as well as a charity, we have received the Covid 19 Small Business Grants, and had a business rate holiday, so fortunately we have no financial woriies, and several weddings booked for next year. We are grateful for advice from Acre, our insurers and the local authority. We have had only 1 case of Covid in village, a doctor working in local hospital. Fully recovered. We all know each other and hacve looked after each other, especially our older neighbours but we can’t wait for the first coffee morning as soon as we can re open safely
BINLEY WOODS VILLAGE HALL
Warwickshire
Our hall was opened in 1957 and has been the hub of our rural village ever since, always providing social and educational activities for all age groups.
Subsequent committees have worked hard over the years to raise funds to maintain and modernise the hall.
Various groups hire the hall for:- zumba, children’s dance classes, indoor bowls, luncheons for the elderly, Scottish dancing, keep fit, over 60’s, coffee mornings, craft, playgroup, children’s indoor soccer, ballroom dancing, amateur dramatics , women’s institute, the church in Binley Woods and carer’s cafe. At weekends the hall is hired out for children’s parties, dances, fashion shows, baby shower parties, etc.
Although the Hall has not been open during the Corona virus pandemic, the local fruit and vegetable shop (Turnips) have used it to make up orders to be delivered to local residents and people in surrounding villages.
We look forward to opening up again and welcoming our residents back to a Covid secure hall, thanks to ACRE’s help and advice.
Bishop Middleham Village Hall
Durham
It has been a busy and exciting time for the Village Hall with lots to look forward to in 2021. Despite having to close our doors due to Covid-19, work continues to develop our facilities to ensure they remain a valued space for our community members and groups.
Bishop’s Park Community Centre
Hertfordshire
Bishop’s Park Community Centre offers two rooms which can also be joined into one large room with shared kitchen facilities, wifi, car parking and disabled access. There is also a committee room upstairs for quiet meetings, yoga or meditation. The Centre usually has many users who host a variety of activities from Baby Yoga to Karate and many other private functions and events, from a huge number of exercise classes to wedding receptions and family parties. Its larger hall normally accommodates up to 70 people and its smaller hall up to 40. The upstairs room will facilitate 15 people. The Centre also has a beautiful garden and patio area which provides ample room for outdoor activities. Although the Centre has been made Covid-secure it was recently closed due to the Covid-19 National Lockdown. The Centre is an important part of the Bishop’s Stortford community and we look forward to re-opening further and re-engaging with the local community, as and when we can, in line with the latest Government Guidance
Bishop’s Park Community Centre
Hertfordshire
Bishop’s Park Community Centre offers two rooms which can also be joined into one large room with shared kitchen facilities, wifi, car parking and disabled access. There is also a committee room upstairs for quiet meetings, yoga or meditation. The Centre usually has many users who host a variety of activities from Baby Yoga to Karate and many other private functions and events, from a huge number of exercise classes to wedding receptions and family parties. Its larger hall normally accommodates up to 70 people and its smaller hall up to 40. The upstairs room will facilitate 15 people. The Centre also has a beautiful garden and patio area which provides ample room for outdoor activities. Although the Centre has been made Covid-secure it was recently closed due to the Covid-19 National Lockdown. The Centre is an important part of the Bishop’s Stortford community and we look forward to re-opening further and re-engaging with the local community, as and when we can, in line with the latest Government Guidance.
Bishops Nympton Parish hall
Devon
Our beautiful hall built in 2011, has been sadly quiet nearly a year. It is usually buzzing with luncheon groups, a dance club, short mat bowls, pilates, yoga and various clubs. It is a popular venue for weddings and parties, with a lovely view and plenty of parking. On site is also a Community Shop and Community Club. A real community hub.
Bishops Tawton Village Hall
Devon
Our village hall used to be the Village School. In life before Covid it was the centre of our community, hosting coffee mornings, jumbles, sales, the art group, meetings and numerous parties. We look forward to being able to return to that way of life.
village website still being built use the Bishops Tawton facebook page
Bishopstrow Village Hall
Wiltshire
Bishopstrow Village Hall was the village pre-school until 1965, when the Hall was gifted to the village by the Temple family. Since then it has been run by a volunteer committee and used for all the usual hall activities. From 2013 to 2017 it underwent a huge refurbishment programme, with a new roof, new floor, new electrics, heating and audio-visual and a new-build kitchen. Up to March 2020 it was used every weekday for various activities (pilates, yoga, table tennis, bridge, music, art classes, as well as village specific events such as quizes, themed suppers, meetings, etc) and often at weekends for parties for all ages. We are hoping to get back to this level of use as soon as the Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.
Bishopswood Village Hall
Herefordshire & Worcestershire
Set in the picturesque Wye Valley two miles South of Ross-on-Wye, Bishopswood Village Hall provides leisure, educational and community activities for all ages of the local population. We are looking forward to getting back to running our quarterly Community Lunches where we cater for around 100 - 130 local people for Sunday Lunch, and hosting the local Church’s monthly Big Breakfast. Our various social events help bring the community together in what could otherwise be a rather widespread and remote area.
Bishopton Village Hall
Durham
The existing timber-built hall was originally a 1920’s school in nearby Greatham. It was dismantled and re-erected in Bishopton in 1959, a brick-built annexe was then attached to provide a meeting room, kitchen and toilet.
Our Hall together with the nearby Bishopton Playground forms the hub of our village of 156 dwellings and 360 residents.
The Hall hosted a wide variety of events and activities until the first lockdown forced us to close. Before the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2019, we held morning coffee, Brownie meetings, Yoga, Swing Fit, Fund raising events for the newly acquired Playground.
We shall continue to provide, as we have done for a hundred and ten years, a venue for events and activities that meets the requirements of the local residents of all ages and abilities We provide a sense of place, pride and belonging to villagers and encourages a spirit of community.
We are now planning activities for when we come out of lockdown. We now are on Bishopton Village website and have a Facebook page.
Blackhall Community Centre
Durham
A fully accessible centre which offers a range of activities, we have a fitness centre, licensed bar and a cafe with home cooked food.
Bowerhill Village Hall
Wiltshire
Our current village hall was built in 2005 and is centred in the heart of our community with a wide selection of events and activities taking place for all ages and abilities. A selection of these are Local School, Yoga, Slimming Clubs, Craft Sessions, Church Groups, Scout Groups, Baby Toddler Groups, Dancing and a variety of Health Groups. All these along with a wide range of fund raising events. We also hire out the hall for weddings, Christening celebrations, parties and funeral wakes.
Bradenstoke village Hall
Wiltshire
Beautiful hall, in a lovely village, The hall was originally the School built in 1873, it became the village hall in 1969 and made a Charity, It is owned by the village and looked after by A Board Trustees and a Committee of residents.
Bradfield Village Hall
Berkshire
Bradfield Village Hall has been at the centre of the community for the last 69 years and is regular host to Bradfield Market, WI, Parish Council meetings, dog training club, Sunshine [Before and After School] Club, Tai Chi classes, Gardening Club, Bridge Club, Mayfayre, Pigeon and Rabbit Shows, annual visit of the Fun Fair, Library Van, caravan/motor home club weekend retreats, not forgetting the weekly visit of the fish and chip van! There’s also the many children’s parties, family celebrations of all kinds including wedding receptions, and parish meetings. Our 4 acre site also has a tennis court, children’s playground and field, well used to recreation and exercise for both people and dogs. We are working hard on a development project which aims, by 2023, to build a brand new Village Hall, more suitable for current needs, along with improved Multi Use Games Area and a playground for all ages, enlarged car park [also used by the community shop next door and the close-by primary school] and much improved, safer pedestrian access. The new facilities will give so many more opportunities to meet together at the heart of our community.
Bramfield Village Hall
Hertfordshire
In 1946, at the end of the Second World War, Bramfield was given a field covered in bracken and brambles, by the Woodhall Estate which owned land in the area. The men of the village, returning home after active service, cleared the land and turned it into a recreation field so that families from the village could enjoy peace and family leisure time once more. Shortly after this a timber framed hall was built and this became the social heart of the village. This hall has been extended twice and now boasts a separate annex housing changing facilities for the local sports teams. Together with the adjacent paying fields and children’s play area it forms the hub of our village. The Hall hosted a wide variety of events and activities until the first lockdown forced us to close. Now, in early 2021, we are planning activities for when we come out of our current lockdown. September 2020 was our 50 year anniversary and we had a celebration party planned for all the village. Sadly that had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic but we are hoping we can now hold this in September 2021. This coming year we are also hoping to hold our very popular Open Gardens event and our regular Summer Fair and Dog Show. We shall continue to provide, as we have done for many years, a venue for events and activities which cater for all everyone in our community.
Brentor Village Hall and Playing Field
Devon
Brentor Village Hall was established in 1952 in the original Brentor Men’s Reading Room and is managed by a small committee of local residents. The village hall is normally the hub of the community with themed suppers, a pop up café, coffee mornings and many private bookings each month, but since Lockdown started last year the hall has basically been closed. However we are very lucky to also manage the village playing field, where subject to the Covid-19 restrictions, we have still been able to hold events in an outdoor setting. The field is on the edge of the village of Brentor with no access to mains services. In the past 18 months we have obtained grants from West Devon, the National Lottery and the Postcode Lottery which have enabled us to install a shelter, a composting toilet, tables & chairs (made from durable recycled plastic) and enhance the car parking. This has meant that during the past year when restrictions allow we have been able to have many events on the field including a Christmas market, car boot sales and coffee mornings. A weekly takeaway van supporting the Hall funds operates every Friday at the field supplying the community with morning coffees, lunches and afternoon teas. We are so proud that the field has helped the community so much in these difficult times. Once restrictions are relaxed a bit we hope to hold a treasure hunt to raise the funds to complete the field renovation project by installing a play/trim trail
Brinkworth Village Hall
Wiltshire
We are one of the longest villages in England and the Village Hall is vital for keeping the community together. We managed to get some decorating done in the summer with a great team of volunteers from the village (socially distant!) Sadly we have lost a couple of our main hall users during Covid including the Butterflies nursery that has been looking after our village children for more than 30 years. However, we are looking forward to welcoming back users such as Danceaerobics, Garden Club, Bramble Patchers, Cubs, Beavers, Lunch Club, Yoga and Pilates.
Broadhempston Village Hall and Headlands Playing Fields
Devon
Our carbon-neutral village hall was opened in December 2015, on land acquired for community use by the parish council near the centre of this very active community of 800 residents. A parish-wide survey assessed the needs of all age groups and this resulted in a building with a 9m x 16.5m main sports/function hall with sprung beech floor, a large meeting room and a smaller meeting room. The hall has exceeded its 3-year business plan and caters for all ages, with a regular baby and toddler group, indoor sports and fitness sessions for all ages including a thriving badminton club and short-mat bowls. It’s also a great venue for lunches, parties, music events, meetings and courses. The 84 PV panels on the roof and a high standard of insulation means that the building overall costs nothing to heat and light - a tremendous benefit and which keeps our hire charges low. The trust also runs the sports field which has become a valuable asset during the various Covid-19 lockdowns for open-air exercise. A skate ramp has recently been built and we are now actively working on the creation of a MUGA on the existing tennis court. The local primary school makes considerable use of all facilities. Our village also has a thriving community shop and two popular pubs.
Broadwoodkelly Village Hall
Devon
Broadwoodkelly is a tiny village in rural Devon. With only farms and a few houses in the immediate area, our hall is the centre of this small community’s life. The building started life as the village school in the 1870’s, closed its doors in 1945 and was purchased by the locals in 1963 in order to turn it into our community hall. Over the last 20 years, fundraising, grants and much sweat and toil by volunteers has transformed the stone structure into a warm and welcoming space, with all the facilities needed for its new role.
Before lockdown, we had a full calendar of activities, all organised by those living in the village –markets selling locally produced food, sports days, barbecues, book club, exercise and art classes, coffee morning, weekly walks, trips to the seaside etc.
Of course, at the moment, everything is on hold. However, our lifeline is our use of the internet, communicating via e-mail messages to a village-wide community group. Roll on the time when we can all get together again.
Brownlow Community Centre
Shropshire
Lord Brownlow gifted this ex C of E Junior School for Boys and Girls to Whitchurch and surrounding areas in 1982 for use as a Community Centre after it ceased to be used as a school. Today its main user is Little Bears Daycare, a registered charity supporting local young families with a range of services to include baby creches, breakfast and after schools club plus holiday clubs Mon-Fri, 8am to 6pm. The Centre’s longest user is Whitchurch Weighlifters Gym started in June 1982 with weekly regular evening user groups including 2 Line Dance Clubs, Whitchurch Band practice nights, a social club for persons with special educational needs, a contemporary fitness and exercise club, Little Voices West Cheshire singing and drama classes, a school for Pop music, Pilates sessions and council welfare meetings/sessions. Its main hall is very popular for children's parties and it also has for hire a mid sized room for up to 30 persons and a small meeting room for 8/10 persons. At present all projects are on hold that include refurbishment of ex-staffroom and storage area into another hirable facility, provision of purpose made parking facilities for dis-abled vehicles, automatic sensor doors, replacement of the main hall’s original block floor and the installation of double-glazed window units to some areas not already upgraded. The Centre got into financial difficulties in the late 1990’s, was involved in “fire fighting exercises” for almost a decade starting 1999, managed to attract a strong combination of Holding Trustees and Management Committee Members and then Covid-19 came along!! At present we are optimistic of being able to retain this marvelous facility for the benefit of the local Community but concerned about working on projects in case the money runs out.
Bunbury Village Hall
Cheshire
The hub of the village with classes/functions every day of the week
Burbage Village Hall and Recreation Grounds
Wiltshire
A large community asset that can hold up to 130 people. Sadly we have remained closed since the start of the pandemic and have only opened for use by the local Doctors’ surgery for flu jabs. We have taken the opportunity to redecorate with the help of local volunteers ready for a grand re-opening when safe to do so
Burcot Village Hall
Herefordshire & Worcestershire
Burcot Is a thriving community, with a modern village hall that provides a focus for a range of social and learning activities.
Burrington Parish Hall
Devon
Burrington Parish Hall in North Devon was established in 1930. It was burnt down in 1943 and was rebuilt in 1960 and has been continuously modernised since to include a full catering kitchen, solar panels and new heating system. We now have an extensive hall which plays host to various community activities and fundraisers, monthly over 65 lunches, fitness classes, meetings and much more.
The hall is home to the Comrades Club which celebrated its Centenary last year and runs skittles, darts, snooker, billiards for the locals over the Winter months- there are currently 17 teams. This year is the first year since World War 2 that the Annual January dinner has not taken place.
There is a floodlit Muga adjacent to the hall, we are really pleased that this has been very popular through the recent Winter months for local netball and football teams, providing some fun and fitness at such a difficult time.
We look forward to continuing to be part of the community once more when the pandemic eases.
Burton Pidsea Memorial Hall
Yorkshire
Our hall, which was totally rebuilt in 2018, is used and loved by the community to celebrate from Baby Showers through Christenings ,Birthdays, Wedding receptions, to Funerals. We have a café which is a meeting point for the population of the extended area, some of whom would not otherwise meet anyone. We hold classes, both educational and recreational, fairs, dances, film shows and concerts and all that cements the cohesion of an area.
Bury village hall
Cambridgeshire
The hall was built in 1996 and is managed by Bury Residents Charity. it is used on weekdays by Bury Playgroup and various community groups in the evenings. During the COVID-19 restrictions we have been able to keep the hall open for use by the Bury playgroup.
Butcombe Village Hall
North Somerset
Small but beautifully formed. Sadly closed at the moment, but ready to go when we’re allowed. Along with the Church next door we are the heart of the village, the only places for people to meet indoors.
Butterknowle Village Hall
Durham
A wonderful hall in the heart of our rural community. We will be celebrating our 60th anniversary next year , in one form or another. We can’t wait to reopen and welcome back our many users and groups.
Facebook Butterknowle Village Hall.
Carlton Scroop & Normanton-on-Cliffe Village Hall
Lincolnshire
Used during WW2 for events involving many from local airfields, our local hall has changed forms from tin hut to large brick building, and is now used for many local groups covering all ages and many interests. A large hall in a small community, we are also fortunate to attract users from slightly further afield which means we are reasonably well used, in normal times.
Carrington Village Hall
Lincolnshire
Set in a rural location having served the community for nearly 60 years, we are to celebate our Diamond Anniversary in style hopefully in August. At the heart of community, we usually run coffee mornings, archery, dancing, bird sales, auctions and are adjoined by a playing field run by our local football team
Caryford Community Hall
Somerset
Opened in 1994 our Hall serves the communities of Ansford and Castle Cary. As soon as we can do so, we will resume an ambitious building programme to improve the building’s capacity and make it more versatile for the needs of the growing number of groups and individuals wanting to use it.
Castle Acre Village Hall
Norfolk
Next to the medieval castle, the village hall used to be a baptist chapel and pair of cottages. A hall with history, it’s the only venue in the village for meetings, concerts, exercise classes, art groups, craft fairs and many other local events. A fantastic hall for wedding receptions, with an enclosed garden and romantic view of the castle.
Chalfont St Peter Community Centre
Buckinghamshire
Chalfont St Peter Community Centre
Buckinghamshire
Charlestown Victory Hall
Dorset
Run entirely by a small group of volunteers.
Charlton Horethorne
Somerset
Charlton Horethorne Village Hall stands as a memorial to lives lost in the First World War. The land on which it is built was obtained from the Digby Estates in 1923 and a wooden building, which had been the Royal Engineers’ Dining Hall at Larkhill Camp, was purchased from the Army Surplus Depot in Yeovil. This building has been maintained and nurtured ever since and, such is the dedication of past and present Village Hall Trustees, it was awarded “Hallmark 2” rating in 2010. A focus for a variety of popular village activities and events, it hosts an annual pantomime, a youth theatre group, arts and crafts classes, country dancing sessions, short mat bowls, Pilates sessions, a number of exercise classes and a great deal more besides.
Charlton Marshall Village Hall
Dorset
Our original hall was built in the 1930s and whilst it had been the venue for many village and local family events for 70+ years, by 2010 it was in urgent need of repair or replacement and plans were put in place for an ambitious contemporary hall fit for the 21st century. After a mammoth fundraising effort and with grants from The National Lottery and others, the grand opening of our new and spacious hall was held on Saturday 7 September 2019. After so much optimism for this long anticipated new beginning, 2020 was unfortunately a year of stop and start for both our community events and the local activity groups that have used the hall for many years, including youth groups, yoga, indoor bowls and more. However, we are looking forward to welcoming our regulars back and to restarting our Film Nights, craft fairs, quiz nights and village celebrations in 2021 and for years to come and to once again playing our part in community life in our corner of Dorset.
Charlton Recreational Centre
Wiltshire
Our village hall usually provides a wide range of activities for all ages and abilities and this has been much missed during the Covid pandemic. We very much look forward to be able to re-open the hall but in the meantime the outside space is still providing a much-needed opportunity for local people to walk and exercise and the car park has been used for pop-up takeaway. Our play area has continued to provide a vital space for local children to let off steam and have fun.
Cheapside Village Hall
Berkshire
It all started with a Nissen hut bought from the MOD in 1947 which was upgraded to the current timber version in the early 1970s. There were initially three Affiliated Societies, but now only the Horticultural Society remains and holds shows twice a year. Coronavirus has hit all activities bar our Preschool. However over past years the community has benefitted from all sorts of events: all age group parties, a Choral Society (now relocated in Sunninghill) and various keep-fit sessions in the evenings and at weekends. Also in previous years we teamed up with the Big Lunch Group to provide a wet weather facility for the June annual gathering. Now we Zoom together, and it is our hope for the future to plan a greater range of activities in the community.
CHEBSEY PARISH HALL
Staffordshire
Chebsey Parish Hall was originally constructed as a Victorian school for the local children in the Chebsey area and remained so until its closure in the early 1960, after which it was taken over by the community as a village hall.
In 2012, the organisation was registered as a charity. Following a fund raising campaign, and with the help of local authority and other grants, a large refurbishment and modernisation project was subsequently undertaken in 2015 and the hall now provides all the facilities required to make it an ongoing viable hub for Chebsey village and its surrounds.
Over the years it has proved to be a focal point for the community providing a venue for activities, clubs, celebrations and community events and remains so.
The Village Hall is used for many different activities which cater for diverse age groups including Yoga, Keep Fit, Live and Local presentations and a very popular whist drive group for the more elderly local residents. With its very large integral car park it is also very popular for hire for private events such as weddings and special occasion celebrations such as birthday parties, anniversaries etc.
The Village Hall is a focal point for the community. It provides a vital, convenient, accessible and affordable venue for many activities and it is conveniently located within the village. This is really important to the local residents who would otherwise be deprived of these activities as Chebsey village is poorly connected to the surrounding area which makes it difficult to travel to alternative venues.
The ongoing aim is to continue to improve the hall so that it is an even more attractive and vibrant facility for the local community.
Cheddleton Community Centre
Staffordshire
Our Community Centre was once the village school and is managed and owned by the Parish Council. It is a lovely building and we look forward to re-opening our facilities to help provide the heart of the village community in its various groups who use it and hope to attract new users in 2021.
Cheddon Fitzpaine Memorial Hall
Somerset
Due to the pandemic we are presently only supporting a local special school. We are also ensuring all of the maintenance is up to date so we can open for our regular users, Dancing, Zumba, Yoga etc as soon as the Government allow.
Chedworth Village Hall
Gloucestershire
Chedworth Village Hall, which was opened in 1976, replaced an old YMCA Hut that had served the village well since 1919. Our recently re-decorated spacious hall, with parking for 80 cars and free super-fast wifi has, frustratingly, been closed due to Covid restrictions. The wide variety of activities which would normally be taking place include dinners, talks, conferences, indoor games, especially table tennis, exercise and fitness classes. The large rear projection screen has enabled us to show films on a regular basis as well as live sporting events and live theatre. We are a popular venue for weddings and all events can be supported by the bar. It is therefore, disappointing that we have had to be closed to all users except the Pre-School which continues to run in its own rooms, and look forward to the time when we can open for business again.
Chelmarsh Parish Hall
Shropshire
Founded in the 1930’s, the Hall has been the home for many local groups and the centre of village activities, including running the annual Fete for over 40 years. The challenge today is keeping the Hall relevant to villagers with changing lifestyles. We have an active Committee, and are working to make the Hall more energy efficient and cheaper to heat, so hire charges can be kept low.
Cherhill Village Hall
Wiltshire
Prior to lock down the hall was a very busy place with activities, classes, clubs and groups, village events, theatre productions and parties filling almost every part of the diary. There was something for everyone and all ages from toddlers to lunch clubs for older folk. Lockdown has clearly changed all that but we are hopefully that we will get back to some kind of normality in the not too distant future. In the meantime we have been busy with hall maintenance jobs that were always tricky to schedule with so little free space in the diary.
Chiddingly Village Hall
Sussex
Chiddingly Village Hall was built in 1848, but has been added to, many times, over the years. In the early days it was used as the village school. It is the social and cultural centre of the village, hosting many functions, from short mat bowls matches to plays, pantomime and concerts. We are itching to re-open and are planning, at the very least, coffee mornings, for locals to mingle, at long last.
Child Okeford
Dorset
this is a good Idea TO HELP hALLS
Chinnor Village Hall
Oxfordshire
Chippenham Rotary Hall
Wiltshire
A community hall in the town centre of Chippenham, uniquely owned and managed by the local Rotary Club, providing a home for a wide variety of local community and faith groups. Profits from hiring fees after expenses are recycled to local and national Good Causes. Closed at first by the first Lockdown, the hall, now made Corvid secure, is currently let for an NHS training facility, and to a local charity working with disturbed youngsters. Looking forward to being able to welcome back our lovely usual hirers when normality returns.
Chitterne Village Hall
Wiltshire
Warm, welcoming and connected village hall in the beautiful Salisbury Plain village of Chitterne.
Cholsey Great Hall
Oxfordshire
The elegant Grade II listed and recently renovated Great Hall sits in the heart of Cholsey Meadows and serves the village of Cholsey. The challenges that Covid-19 has brought this year has accentuated and reconfirmed the community’s need of the hall and the important role we play within our community. We can’t wait to begin our events programme offering theatre, comedy, cinema and music, and reopen our doors to our regular users who provide such a crucial service especially at this time. Our efforts and hard work over the summer introducing Covid measures to keep our visitors safe meant that we were able to grow our weekly activities and entertain families at Halloween and Christmas. We are gearing up for a busy year ahead and can’t wait to get started.
Churt Village Hall
Surrey
Our Hall, situated in the centre of the village was built in 1928 funded by a local businessman on land bought by villagers as a memorial to the dead of the First World War. One of the Hall’s early trustees was the local resident and former Prime minister David Lloyd George. The Hall is currently closed due to Covid -19 restrictions, except for use by Churt Community Pre-School. In normal times it is also used regularly by our village amateur dramatic society (CADS), the horticultural & produce society (CHAPS), the local WI and as a Polling Station. It hosts dancing & fitness classes, quiz nights, birthday parties and much more. We have a continuous programme of maintenance and facility improvements to make the Hall an attractive and well equipped venue for both local organisations and other social & commercial bookings
Cleeve Village Hall
North Somerset
Cleeve Village Hall is (usually) in use virtually every day of the week with various craft and activity groups from local toddlers to the over 60s, Guides, Dog Training, and the local Table Tennis Club.
It is also a very popular venue for wedding receptions and parties and is the local Polling Station.
A few years ago we had solar panels fitted which has been very cost effective
In recent times, we have been hosting very successful Entertainment Evenings to raise money for the Hall’s Maintenance Fund (a new kitchen and flooring) and local charities. We’ve sourced some fantastic local talent from the Bristol and Bath area and twice have been lucky enough to present the Grammy Award Winner Amy Wadge, the international singer/songwriter, who has written many hit records including ‘Thinking Out Loud’ with Ed Sheeran.
We have made the hall Covid secure and can’t wait to open our doors to the public again.
Cleeve Village Hall
North Somerset
Our hall was built in circa 1936 and during the difficult Covid pandemic have used the time to visually enhance certain areas of the hall. It is usually well used by local groups and hired for a variety of functions including weddings, parties and entertainment,
Cleeve village hall.co.uk
Clyffe Pypard and Bushton Village Hall
Wiltshire
Sadly, we have began 2021 without any activities taking place in the hall due to Covid restrictions. This well appointed rural Village hall serves as the main socialising place for the 2 hamlets with a total population of around 300. Usually there would be regular various exercise classes, WI meetings, and Craft classes. Harvest Suppers, Plant Fairs and Christmas Fairs organised by the church, Big Breakfasts organised by the WI, Walks and Pot luck Lunches and quizzes by the Village Hall Committee and various other meetings have all been put on hold. During the various lockdowns have been able to use the car park for Jigsaw and Book swaps raising money for charity and for a very well attended Carol Singing Evening. And for the future, we just look forward to being able to open our doors to the public again, to see the hall being busy with folk being able to soialise with each other !
www. clyffepypard-bushton.com
Clyst St Mary Village Hall
Devon
We run a large modern (built 1990) hall in a village close to Exeter. During the lockdown we have taken the opportunity to carry out maintenance and repair work, including full internal redecoration. We are looking forward to welcoming our users back when lockdown is eased. Finances are in reasonable shape, thanks to government support.
Coal Aston Village Hall
Derbyshire
It’s been great to have the support and guidance from ACRE as we’ve become COVID Secure then closed then opened and now closed again. But we’re in good shape and ready for our new normal.
Coal Aston Village Hall
Derbyshire
It’s been great to have the support and guidance from ACRE as we’ve become COVID Secure then closed then opened and now closed again. But the Hall is in good shape ready and waiting for our new normal just as soon as that might be possible.
Colden Common Community Centre
Hampshire
Our hall is currently only open for a local pre-school and a before & after school club, so we are helping facilitate these services for the local community. We are trying to stay in touch with our followers and supporters using regular posts on social media and using our mailing lists. We are also passing on any information from other sources outside of the village, that we think may help or be of interest to people. For the future, we are hoping to be able to offer opportunities for people to get together again when circumstances allow, such as drop in afternoons for tea/coffee/chat, small sporting activities e.g. table tennis sessions, and inviting feedback from the community on what else they would like to be able to access.
Colnbrook Village Hall
Berkshire
We have mass testing this week, 8-10th February with a view to being available for mass inoculations. We also have the Colnbrook Cares group working from the hall who are distributing care packages to those that need them.
Combe St Nicholas
Somerset
Very grateful for all the financial support we have received from the Council/Government BUT WE NEED PEOPLE! any village hall feels cold, empty and sad without people in it. We have all learned a lot from Covid not least how we all need interaction with others to keep us and our lives stable and meaningful. Roll on 2022!
Comberbach war memorial hall
Cheshire
Our village memorial hall hosts all sorts of activities from WI to karate, calligraphy to cheerleading, brownies to dog obedience classes, fencing to yoga, dancing to local and general elections. Also a very popular venue for children’s parties and the much anticipated annual scout jumble sale.
The memorial hall is an important part of rural village life and we are very proud to be part of ours.
Community, Learning and Resource Centre
Dorset
We have added more technology to the building so that we can be a Census Host Centre to support people fill in the online census form.
Compton Bassett Benson Village Hall
Wiltshire
Our Hall is of the few remaining village assets in the small village of Compton Bassett along with St Swithins church and the White Horse pub. Compton Bassett is a Domesday book village and was a major Saxon settlement with a part Saxon church, 2 Saxon water mills and a Saxon princes palace just down the road. The Village Hall is used for Village fetes, barn dances, harvest festivals, Burns nights, quiz nights, talks, dog training, Little Fishes church school and even weddings and funerals. Sadly the Hall has been pretty much closed since March 2020 but we are looking forward to re-opening when we can.
Corsley Reading Room
Wiltshire
Originally opened in 1892 the hall has continued to serve the community to the present day. We look forward to being a social centre again when covid lockdowns cease.
Corston Village Hall, Bath
Bath & NE Somerset
We hope we will be able to 're open before long and show off the new lighting ceiling etc. Welcome back all our classes.
About to start a new website.
Cosy Hall
Shropshire
Cosy Hall was donated to the Cosy Hall Charity for the sum of £1. It was a derelict building having been a Music Hall called Cosy Hall) and prior to that a Gospel Hall but started life as a coach manufactory in 1852. Renovated and restored phase one opened in 1985. It was enlarged in 1998 and serves the market town of Newport in Shropshire. It is heavily used by fitness groups, choirs, art classes and hosts meetings and other gatherings including parties. Unfortunately it has been closed since the start of the pandemic but we have taken the opportunity to have a new boiler fitted and all the internal lights upgraded to LEDs. We are now proud to be serving the community in the Covid-19 fight as from 3rd February it will be used as a rapid test centre run by Telford and Wrekin Council.
Cotebrook Village Hall
Cheshire
Our village hall is used by numerous groups for many diverse recreational purposes from exercise classes, charity fund raising, hobby clubs, social events, etc, all of which are on hold due to the pandemic. We look forward to being able to open and continue to offer our facilities to the local community as soon as we are permitted.
Cottenham Village Hall
Cambridgeshire
New in 2021
Cottered Village Hall
Hertfordshire
Cottered Village Hall is an integral and vital part of the lsmall local community. Since being completely rebuilt in 2000 the facility has had an increasing influence on the inclusive nature of village activities. We are very fortunate that we have a great volunteer group of Trustees to run the hall. The Covid pandemic has obviously had a tremendous effect on our ability to use the building. All activities were curtailed at the start of the first ‘lockdown’. A decision was then made to reserve the premises for the exclusive use of one main client providing teaching services to young adults with special needs. Because of the vital service they provide to vulnerable young people we have continued with this arrangement. This has allowed the group to have effective social distancing and to work with us on maintaining strict cleansing controls. We look forwarding at some point to being able to return to whatever the new normality will be. In the meantime we shall continue to support the group.
Coulston Village Hall
Wiltshire
Coulston is a very small village on the edge of Salisbury Plain with a population of about 130 and, apart from the Church, the Village Hall is the only public meeting place as there is no shop or pub. The hall, which was built in 1854, started life as the local school before becoming a village amenity. Although currently closed due to the pandemic we would normally hold a variety of social activities ranging from Harvest events, Quiz Nights and Christmas Fairs through to very enthusiastic sing-a-long suppers. We look forward to being able to resume these just as soon as we are able as our funds are dwindling rapidly.
Cowling Village Hall
Yorkshire
Cowling Village Hall is owned by the village, held in trust by the charity commission, run by a committee of volunteers and is entirely self funding. We are at the edge of North Yorkshire with the borders of West Yorkshire and Lancashire only a few miles away.
The original building was the Cowling Liberal Club built c1885 which became the Cowling Village Institute in 1940 when donated to the Parish Council and a Management Committee. The name was changed to Cowling Village Hall in 1971. A new hall was built on the opposite side of the main street and was officially opened at the end of 2012.
The hall has a dedicated room and outside play area for Cowling Pre-School, and also provides office space to charity Homestart Craven, and is the site of a defibrillator for use in emergencies.
It has been a popular venue for childrens’ parties and groups using the hall have been Cowling Companions, WI, Weightwatchers, Little Learners and Toddlers Parent and Child groups, Ballroom Dancing, Trim & Tone, Short Mat Bowls & Social, Table Tennis, and Badminton. Other groups in the village hold AGM meetings too such as the Gun Club and Pigeon club. We are the polling station for the village.
We have hosted Wedding / Anniversary / Christening celebrations, Halloween Parties, Race Nights, Concerts, New Years Eve Parties, Christmas Lunches, Spring Fairs / Christmas Fairs, Business Meetings, Council Training, First Aid / First Responder Training, MP surgeries and an Art Gallery.
The committee also hold an annual Duck Race at a local stream and help with some events at the Village Fun Day.
Today like all other Village Halls we are constrained by COVID measures. We were able to do some internal decoration and then accommodate some training for Homestart Craven, hosted a Parent & Child group and some limited Table Tennis play in 2020. Cowling Preschool re-opened in September and during the current lockdown continues operation for keyworkers and vulnerable children.
Thankyou to ACRE, our local council and CommunityFirstYorkshire for support over this difficult period in our history. We will continue to work with groups in our community to return in a COVID secure way once restrictions are lifted.
Coxwold Village Hall
Yorkshire
We are looking forward to opening up our hall again as soon as we can. We hold regular coffee mornings and soup and sandwich lunches and have bridge , art, craft and yoga groups which meet weekly in normal times. Our village hall really is the hub of our community and the hall is also used for many celebrations and a monthly market. We are grateful to ACRE for the many useful documents of useful guidance.
Cranage Village Hall
Cheshire
Cranage Village Hall is a unique and picturesque “Arts and Crafts” building , built in 1907 by William Carver of Cranage Hall for use by his family and the village (his employees). It incorporated a social room, a billiard room and a caretakers cottage. It is a lovely old Hall with interesting wooden internal panelling and exposed beams in the main room, probably unique in this part of the UK. It sits in large south facing grounds. During the war it was used by the Home Guard, Young Farmers and was the venue for local dances. In 1947 it was given to the residents of Cranage to be held in Trust. The picture shown was painted by a long standing member of our committee who is also a member of the local art club. We have many groups who in normal times regularly use our hall, from art clubs, whist, bridge, mums and toddlers, karate, to yoga and many more. Weekends bring in caravan rallies, weddings, cycle clubs, exhibitions and family parties. Our own events include quizzes and murder mystery evenings to name but a few. Our annual 3 day Beerfest with live music is growing from strength to strength with the whole village getting involved and helping. For a village that has no Church, Pub or Shop the Village hall is the only community building for the locals. Our mission statement “Unity in the Community “ says it all and our merry band of volunteers work hard to keep the hall active and in tip top condition. We are now looking forward to welcoming back all our regulars and many new people and we are positive for the future. We are looking forward to re-opening in 2021. The pandemic will still be around for quite a long time and our long term plans will include events that are COVID secure and will bring our community safely back together in our lovely hall and large grounds. We joined Acre in 2020 and cannot thank them enough for all the help and advice they have given us. It is a privilege to be included in the Doomsday book 2021 celebrating Acres 100th anniversary.
Cranage village hall.co.uk
Cranleigh Village Hall
Surrey
Opened in 1933 after fundraising by the local community, Cranleigh Village Hall is a prominent feature in Cranleigh High Street currently proudly serving the community as a COVID19 vaccination centre.
Creighton Memorial Hall Embleton
Northumberland
Our Hall was built in 1901 thanks to a generous donation from the local vicar Mandell Creighton who went on to be Bishop of London. Over the decades the Hall has always provided a very active hub for the community and has seen many and varied uses during its lifetime. It has a purpose built snooker room which has functioned steadily during the hall’s long life the only difference being that the coal fire is no longer in use. At present time the hall is used on a regular basis by many different user groups as well as special village events including Embleton School’s Christmas performance. we are a popular venue for scout/ guide and visiting school sleep overs. Thanks to a great deal of help from our county Village Halls Association we have been able to access several grants which have been used to bring the Hall up to the high specification required by wedding and family party groups. These bookings provide the income that helps to keep regular user charges to a minimum.
Cricklade Town Hall
Wiltshire
Cricklade is the picturesque first town on the River Thames and southern gateway to the Cotswolds. Founded by the Anglo-Saxons during the ninth century, it is home to the Snakeshead Fritillaries and is hugely popular with walkers.
The Town Hall was built in 1933 as a memorial to local people who died during the First World War, and to provide much needed facilities for the town. It acts as the heart of the community, hosting a range of events including many public and private parties, civic functions, and weddings. Several of the town clubs and societies are also fortunate enough to call the building ‘home’, from the local Women’s Institute to the Cinema Club and the town’s band.
While the building has been closed due to Covid-19 national lockdown restrictions, the management team has taken the opportunity to improve the amenities, including relocated and re-fitted disabled facilities and extra storage for regular hirers.
Criftins Parish Hall & Palying Field
Shropshire
Criftins Parish Hall has been serving the community of Dudleston Heath for 60 years. A new forward-looking committee took over in Nov 2020, and despite the pandemic were able to host a Christmas Lunch for volunteers and local residents. In 2021 we look forward to re-opening and making the Hall a real village hub once again.
Crookham Village Hall
Northumberland
Crookham Village Hall is sadly closed at the moment because of Covid. We look forward to a grand re-opening and the resumption of our activities as soon as circumstances allow. The good side of the closure is that it allows our builder free access to the hall so that he can get on with the rebuilding of our derelict small hall. When we return, we should be bigger and better.
Cruckton Village Hall
Shropshire
This was the village school for Cruckmeole and the surrounding area until 1969. When the school closed, it was bought as a memorial to the Cruckton Home Guard to be the village hall. The WI and local Art Group meet here, as well as being the venue for lively dance classes.
Cuddington and Sandiway Village Hall
Cheshire
Cuddington and Sandiway Village Hall is an attractive modern hall opened in October 2009. It replaces an old pavilion which stood on the same site and is the result of many years of hard work and fund raising by volunteers, local residents and community groups supported by the Trustees and greatly helped by a major grant from Vale Royal’s Rural Delivery Programme. Today the Hall hosts activities for all ages provided by individuals and organisations ranging from Bridge, Brownies and Blue Dragon Taekwon-do through the alphabet to the WI, Yoga and Zumba. Village Hall volunteers hold monthly Afternoon Teas, Film Nights and Rural Touring Arts events and the Hall is often hired for social events and family celebrations. Trustees and the Village Hall Committee continue to be grateful for the support, advice and information provided by Cheshire Community Action and ACRE.
Cullingworth Village Hall
Yorkshire
The new village hall on Lodge Street was opened in April 2019 following a £1m construction and fit-out. This building replaced the orginal village hall on Station Road which opened in 1973. Both halls were the result of massive effort and fundraising by the local community and continue to be run entirely by volunteers. The new village hall has two halls for hire and dedicated space for two tenants - the OFSTED Outstanding Cullingworth Preschool and danchinos, an Italian cafe. Regular users of the halls enjoy a variety of leisure and social activities ranging from yoga to art activities for the very young. The halls were closed to users for much of 2020 and into 2021 due to Covid-19 but we look forward to re-opening later this year with plans for weddings, parties and other functions, the Youth Cafe, music, bands and other performances, plus the start of the Pop-Up Cinema events. The village hall is central to the buzz of local community life in the heart of our village.
Culworth Village Hall
Northamptonshire
Built in 1938, Culworth Village Hall has served the local community since then, providing a valuable space for people to meet, socialise and take part in a variety of activities. During the Second World War it was commissioned by the Army as a regimental depot. In the past it has hosted billiards, WI meetings, Mothers Union meetings, indoor bowls, whist drive, games evenings and plays – a folk group used to practice there too. Now activities include Pilates and Tai Chi classes, coffee mornings, charity lunches, Snappers photography club, Harvest suppers, film nights and circle dancing, all providing support and friendship. The Hall is also hired out for parties, weddings and funeral wakes.
The lockdown in March 2020 was the first time the Village Hall has closed its doors and none of the normal activities could take place. The Hall is a cold and sad place now without the buzz of human activity but the Trustees are looking forward to the day when we can open up again; we are Covid secure thanks to ACRE’s help and advice.
As for the future - we plan to build a new Community Centre in Culworth to expand our horizons and incorporate the Culworth Cricket Club. Planning was granted in December 2019 but Covid has curtailed the funding process. We look forward to the future and to being able to complete our plan.
Dallington Old School Village Hall
Sussex
Our hall was originally the Victorian village school. After a new school was built in 1913, the building was used as a Billiards Room, Reading and Club-room and Sunday School, and is now run as a registered charity. The hall is usually a venue for all kinds of community activities and clubs as well as fund raising events such as quiz nights. We had recently installed a new kitchen and fast fibre broadband. Until lockdown, our weekly community library café had become a popular place for residents to drop in, exchange books and enjoy a friendly chat over a cup of tea. During the summer, parents and children from the primary school also sell the produce from their school garden. We are looking forward to reopening as soon as possible to provide a hub for village life for another hundred years.
Darnhall Village Hall
Cheshire
Darnhall Village Hall was built at the turn of the 20th century for a working men’s institute and has since been the home of the Parish Council, Women’s Institute, Brownies, Guides, Darnhall Dancers, Family parties and much more.
Following a major refurbishment in 2019 we have had many exciting new groups involved including Baby Sensory and Keep fit.
We are now ready to reopen and look forward to welcoming back our regular and new users.
Delamere Community Centre
Cheshire
We have been as open as we are able to be since this kicked off last March, which currently means the Outreach Post Office is open on Wednesday and Friday mornings. We stay in touch with all of our users via email and Facebook and look forward to seeing everyone back when rules allow.
Denmead War Memorial Hall
Hampshire
Denmead War Memorial Hall was built in 1920 by public subscription to honour the local people killed and wounded in the First World War. The hall is a busy hub for local community groups, activities, education and events. Sadly due to the pandemic our only users at the moment are the local pre-school but we hope we are able to welcome our other users back soon. We had planned a big 100 year celebration in Summer 2020 with a centenary community picnic and parade unfortunately the plans have had to be put on hold due to Covid 19.
Derrington Village Hall
Staffordshire
Our Hall is the hub of the village, prior to the lockdown we supported our community with many events from Brownies to a coffee shop for the retired and those on their own, with many user groups offering a diverse range of activities. Loads of social events proved extremely popular. During the lockdowns we set up a community shop as we don’t have one in the village anymore. We supported the ‘Helping Derrington’ group who provided assistance to the vulnerable and those who were shielding. We have so many plans for the future as soon as we are able to get back in the swing!
Desford Village Hall
Leicestershire & Rutland
The Hall is situated on the edge of the village and during its long history has been used as a Weslyan Methodist Chapel, an Adult School and a Christian reading room. The original building dates from 1867 when it was "a Mission House with Hall attached".
At times it fell into disrepair until in 1931 the Desford Colliery agent, Sam Brooks, purchased the building for use as the local Miners’ Institute. It is now leased by the Coal Industry Welfare Organisation to the village in perpetuity.
It is regularly used for children’s parties, family celebrations, arts and craft fairs, musical evenings, village quizzes, and a variety of classes.
Digby War Memorial Hall
Lincolnshire
We were built in the 1960s and are coming to the end of an extensive refurbishment to ensure that the hall can serve the community for another 50 years.
Doddington Village Hall
Cambridgeshire
The current village hall was built in 2001. Previously on the site was a village hall, before this was a British Legion Hall.
Dodleston Village Hall
Cheshire
We opened up in June & July to provide extra classroom space for the village Primary School to enable socially distanced teaching and learning for one year class. Currently we are providing a Covid-compliant teaching and learning space for the local Pre-School Group, although on a reduced weekly timetable. All other groups who would normally use the village hall during the day, in the evenings and at weekends have been absent since the start of the March 2020 lockdown. The hall (originally constructed in 1896 with an extension added in 1990) is owned and maintained by the Dodleston Village Foundation, a registered charity. All the charity’s trustees and co-opted members are volunteers who generously give their time and skills to running the hall. The charity also owns and maintains a recreational field a short distance from the hall, providing a variety of play facilities for a broad age range of children from the village and surrounding area.
No website yet but we’re working on it!
Donyatt Village Hall
Somerset
Opened in 1925 the hall supports both the local and nearby needs of the community. Easily accessed with good parking and a safe children’s area, it’s ideal for all gatherings and well suited to wedding receptions. With our centenary year fast approaching we hope to get back to supporting the community as soon as possible. Our thanks to ACRE for their support in these difficult times.
Dummer Village Hall
Hampshire
Originally, all meetings (Parish Council, Church Council, School Governors) meetings took place in Dummer Junior School. A wooden building, known as the Reading Rooms, was built a short distance away, probably in the Edwardian era. In 1974 both the School and the Reading Rooms (which had served as a central hub for the village since the 1940’s) were pulled down and the “new” Village Hall was built on the same land as the Reading Rooms. It has had two small extensions to the side, put there in the late 80’s, early 90’s. It has been the epicentre of the village for many years, encompassing activity classes (yoga, pilates etc) Pre-schools, Badminton, Social Groups, Talks, Parties, cinema evenings, travelling theatre and various bands and groups. It is well used and very often fully booked.
Dunham Massey Village Hall
Cheshire
Dunham Massey Village School and Schoolhouse, which dares back to 1759, were left for the benefit of the Community as a Village Hall by the late Lord Stamford in 1958 just before the Estate was taken over by the National Trust. Since that time it has served the purpose well and accommodated all the local Organisations, The Women’s Institute, The Friendship Club, The Parish Council, The Rose Queen Committee and The Dunham Thespians. Sitting in a generous plot of land it offers excellent facilities for Village events and private celebrations from within and outside the community. Regular features in our calendar are The Rose Queen Crowning in June and Car Boot sales on May and August Bank Holidays. We are responsible for all maintenance and improvements at the property and of course hiring and fund raising activities are all important for our continued livelihood. Fortunately we are blessed with a dedicated and hard working Management Committee, and a first class resident Caretaker, and in normal circumstances our facilities are well utilised. During the recent restricted conditions however, we have been able to take advantage of the fact that the premises were free to carry out extensive floor renovation and improvement works without any inconvenience to our regular clients, and as a result we look forward to offering much improved and more attractive facilities once we re-open for business. Our Village Hall has been and remains at the hub of our Community, providing a fitting adaptation of its historic school background, and it is an institution of which we are extremely proud. We relish the prospect of the sight and sounds of healthy Village life and activities returning to our threshold just as soon as circumstances allow.
Dunster Memorial Hall
Somerset
East Hendred - Snells Hall
Oxfordshire
Snells Hall was built in 1856 as the Church of England village school. After a new school was built nearby, the building was converted to village hall use in 1974. A purpose build extension to house the village pre-school was added in 2000. The hall is usually a busy place, opening for over 400 bookings a year, but in these Covid times it is very quiet, apart from the pre-school! Generous grants from the district council have been an enormous help, and we look forward in hope to a more normal world later this year.
East Preston & Kingston Village Hall
Sussex
Covid shutdown is a frustrating time for everyone. Village Halls struggle to work out what to do for the best for their community.
East Ruston Village Hall
Norfolk
Opened in 1925 our hall was gifted to the parish and surrounding areas by Sir James Roll, who grew up in the village and became Lord Mayor of London in 1920. To celebrate its up coming centenary it is undergoing refurbishment works including a new roof, entrance doors and internal improvements. The hall provides a cost effective venue for popular local events such as table tennis, arts events and community occasions such as Seedy Sunday, The Christmas Bazaar and also caters for private functions such as children’s parties and wedding receptions.
Ebchester Community Centre
Durham
Formerly the Village school dating from 1876, the Community Centre was set up in 1972. In normal times, the Centre hosts a number of popular village activities including Toddlers, WI, St Ebbas Church events, Carpet bowls, Fitness groups, Karate and JuJitsu. It is a popular venue for children’s parties and other family celebrations. Extensively refurbished internally during the first COVID 19 Lockdown in 2020, it became a Covid Secure venue thanks to Risk assessment guidance from ACRE. We re-opened in August 2020, only to close again with further Government restrictions. We are looking forward to the time when we are allowed by Government to re-open, by which time we will have had Broadband and WiFi installed thanks to a People’s Postcode Lottery grant. Funding information is regularly provided by Durham Community Action.
Edington Parish Hall
Wiltshire
Edington Parish Hall is a character 19th Century building that was built in 1885 for use as the Sunday School for the Priory Church and it has now become a valuable village amenity. In 2019, the existing toilets were upgraded to provide a disabled toilet and baby changing facility, a store area was refurbished to provide additional kitchen facilities and a small extension was built to give additional storage. Over £60,000 was raised through generous donations from a village appeal, the wider local community, local businesses and successful grant applications to provide these much needed improvements.
Before the first ‘lockdown’ in March 2020, the hall provided a meeting place for the Parish Council, the WI, the Gardening Club, The Under 5‘s and a monthly luncheon group. It also hosted the annual Gardening Club Flower and Produce show, Pumpkin Day, Charity Christmas Card Sale, Quiz nights, Big Breakfast and smaller village events as well as private bookings for family parties and funeral wakes. Each August, when the Edington Music festival takes place, the Parish Hall is where the choristers and adult choirs rehearse and it is also their meals venue; sadly in 2020 the Festival was cancelled. Choirs that perform as part of the Edington Arts programme also use the hall.
Throughout 2020, we received invaluable advice and guidance from ACRE and Helen at Wiltshire Community First on the ever changing Covid-19 restrictions and this enabled us to set up the hall in a Covid secure way so that in September, the Under 5’s group and a small Brass Band group were able to meet as exempt activities. Sadly, the hall is now closed due to the third lockdown.
Like many, our finances are dwindling and because the hall is a Church building, we pay no rates so were not eligible for the £10,000 grant that many other halls received but having applied to Wiltshire County Council, we did receive a small Discretionary Covid grant. Support from the Village Volunteer group has ensured that the grass and banks have been maintained and decorating needs met. Our current financial situation means that our plans for further improvements such as updating the heating system and renovating the main kitchen will now take longer to achieve.
We look forward to more normal times when the hall can reopen, everyone can again meet and socialise and the sound of chatter and laughter will once again fill Edington Parish Hall
Edstaston Village Hall
Shropshire
Eggborough Village Hall
Yorkshire
Eggborough Village Hall is central to the village, it also acts as a poling station and is an emergency refuge point for the locality. The Scout group has proudly run for over 50 years ever since the hall was opened, which encourages boys and girls to join from the age of 5. There is also a pre school group who meet weekly. The hall is in constant use with various social groups and private functions.
Egglescliffe Parish Hall
Tees Valley
Our parish hall opened as a school in 1839. It serves a wide range of community groups currently such as Girlguiding, WI, gardening club and playgroup. In the future, we hope the community continues to use the parish hall and support with the ongoing renovation plans.
Ellerdine Village Hall
Shropshire
Even though our hall is currently closed we are staying connected with the community and we have plenty of volunteers locally to support anyone who needs help to collect shopping, go for a walk, or a friendly chat. We delivered 80 festive afternoon teas before Christmas and 80 selection boxes to children in the local villages. Our hope for the future is to offer our refurbished hall for lots of uses and to encourage people to meet again for much needed community activity.
Etal Village Hall
Northumberland
Eversley Village Hall
Hampshire
Eversley Village hall was originally built back in 1959, the land was donated to the community.Eversley Village Hall was built by the generosity of a resident and gifted to the community for the sole purpose of providing a site for recreational use within our Village.
Many community groups access the village hall including the WI, Parish Council, pilates , dance classes and host social events for the community.
We are very lucky to have a local amenity like this right in the centre of our village
We look forward to opening up again and welcoming our residents and groups back.
Exwick Parish Hall
Devon
Our hall is used by many different groups including, a Baptist Church, Messy Church, Friday Friendship, Dog Training, Ball room dancing, Fit Steps, Twirly Tots, Baby Yoga, Forest School, Bingo, Hindu temple,
Fairfield Community Hall
Bedfordshire
Fairwarp Village Hall
Sussex
We’re looking forward to all that we’re able to do in the year ahead. Nestled in the heart of the Ashdown Forest, we’ve made improvements and upgrades in the last 12 months and we’re ready to host and support those village events that we’ve sadly missed over the last year. We’re excited!!
Farndale Village Hall
Yorkshire
Situated in heart of North York Moors National Park our new hall was completed and opened in May 2019. Alas like most other halls currently closed due to Covid Pandemic, but looking forward until we can reopen.
Fernham Village Hall
Oxfordshire
A tastefully converted 1860s church which serves all the needs of our rural community
Filleigh Village Hall
Devon
Our parish is in the heart of rural North Devon, with a scattered population of approx 250 people. There is no ‘village’ as such but the hall, school and church are within a few hundred yards of each other, most dwellings being further away
Before Covid the hall was used by our primary school plus activities such as badminton, U3A and WI as well as being training centre for DCC and NHS. It is a popular wedding venue.
Pandemic struck during the building of an extension, which was finished during the summer of 2020.
When able to by the varying Tier Regulations we have held individual skittles, small suppers, and Chat & Coffee for 6, which worked well (with face masks etc) in the new room.
Currently, we are generally on full Lockdown, although the blood donation sessions are exempt and continuing on schedule. Our school is not able to use the hall, but another organisation which looks after children that cannot be educated in mainstream schooling is, and their fees help cover necessary running costs. We look forward to wide open doors again
Findern Village Hall
Derbyshire
Our hall is in the heart of Findern Village, set in a good sized area with a nice car park and is in daily use. Rebuilt from a small "institute hall" in the mid 1970's after extensive community fund raising. We have started to refurbish within the hall, beginning with the toilets, heating system, more comfy seating and most recently the kitchen, with the help of a Lottery grant, which was most welcome.
Findern village now finds itself greatly enlarged in size from 750 houses, due to a large housing estate with 1200 houses recently established on the outskirts of the parish.
We look forward to the future in continuing to provide a welcome place for preschool children and also offering a range of community activities for a wider spectrum of people. We are also hoping we may encourage more trustees to come on board and help with the management of this lovely hall.
Finedon Community Centre
Northamptonshire
Finedon Community Centre is a unique building being a former Methodist Church built in 1905 and acquired on behalf of the Community in 1985. After much development the doors opened in 1988 as Finedon Community Sports & Leisure Centre. It is situated in the heart of this popular Town and is a completely self-funding registered charity run by a small team of volunteers.
After many years of wanting a new heating system we were extremely pleased to be awarded grants enabling us to have Heat Pump Air conditioning installed in both the halls at the end of 2019.
With two floors served by a lift and complete with original stained glass windows, it has a large hall on the First Floor with high wooden vaulted ceiling, servery, toilets and a seating capacity of 200 people for wedding receptions, engagement, anniversary and retirement parties. Also ideal for one off productions and events, concerts, indoor markets, badminton and bowls.
The Ground Floor hall with smaller capacity has serving hatches from the kitchen on two sides. Ideal for meetings, conferences, funeral wakes, keep fit exercising, pilates and yoga. It is also very popular for the under 10s birthday and christening parties.
More information: 01933 398377 or website: http://www.finedoncc.co.uk
Finmere Village Hall
Buckinghamshire
The present village hall was funded and built by the villagers of Finmere and opened in 1985.
Since then it has been the recipient of a number of grants and has undergone some modernisation.
It is positioned close to the centre of the village, sharing a field with both cricket and football pitches, and is regularly used by a variety of clubs and groups.
There is also a recently installed children's play area alongside the hall.
Fitzhead Tithe Barn
Somerset
The medieval Fitzhead Tithe Barn has been our village hall since 1910 when it was made available to the village for use by the local community. We are a very small rural farming village in Somerset and the Tithe Barn is now the only remaining community hub left in the village where we can meet and socialise, and this helps us to maintain a strong and healthy community. The Tithe Barn is used for various activities such as the craft group, exercise groups, lunch club, coffee mornings, village social events & functions and village meetings etc, and it is available for private hire by the community for parties, weddings, funerals & other functions.
Five Ashes
Sussex
Jayne Torvill was the guest of honour at the official
opening of the refurbished and extended village hall in Five Ashes on
Saturday 28 March 2015. Jayne, best known for her gold medal winning performance
with her partner Christopher Dean in the 1984 Olympics, cut the ribbon to mark
the beginning of a new era in village life for the residents where village amenities are seriously restricted.
The village hall was awarded a Big Lottery award towards the
cost of the improvements in December 2013 and work started in March 2014. A
second grant award from Wealden District council ensured that the completed
building was finished to the highest specification. The completion and handover
took place in October 2014.The work included the complete rebuilding of the
Southern end of the hall to provide a much needed second hall along with new
toilet facilities. The building features state of the art air source heating,
LED lighting and photovoltaic cells as well as being built to the latest
regulations for insulation purposes and compliance to disabled user
requirements. We miss all the regular users which include the East Sussex school of dance,rifle club,Short mat bowls,Adult education,Table tennis,Children's parties,Dog trainers,Mayfacs,Creative writers,Weight watchers,Belly dancers,Yoga group ,Stool ball players,Cricketers and Horticultural society and look forward to welcoming everyone back later in the year.
Flitton & Greenfield Village Hall
Bedfordshire
Opened in 1969,our village hall has been at the heart of the community ever since and improved facilities recently have encouraged greater use by everyone of all ages. Currently having to be closed, we are taking the opportunity to refurbish the bar facilities.
htpps://flittongreenfieldvillagehall.com
Folksworth Village Hall
Cambridgeshire
Folksworth Village Hall has just finished a major refurbishment and extension project, which has taken many years to bring to fruition. We were so very disappointed when the hall had to close to the majority of groups, but we made ourselves COVID-Secure (thanks to all the guidance from ACRE) and are very pleased that Preschool is still able to use the village hall during these difficult times, ensuring young families get local support. Our hall is a significant, historic, local building and a vital rural community asset that provides a central link between people of all ages. It will be wonderful when we are fully open again for the village social events, and to welcome all the community groups back through the doors.
Fontmell Magna Village Hall
Dorset
During all three lockdowns the Village Hall trustees made every effort to make improvements to the hall in readiness for reopening. The hall was redecorated and ultra fast fibre broadband installed. We are offering our hall as a covid-19 secure venue for those needing access to broadband and work has started on a joint venture with our neighbouring doctors surgery to create a cut flower garden as part of the social prescribing initiative. We know that our regular hirers will be keen to resume their activities as soon as they are permitted. Creating a website is our next challenge.
Fovant
Wiltshire
Our village hall is very small and fairly old but is much loved and used by many groups in the village. We have refurbished the kitchen and are now aiming to put in insulation and upgrade the heating system
Fradswell Village Hall
Staffordshire
Freckenham Village Hall
Suffolk
Our village hall is at the heart of the community used for farmers markets, film nights, theatre, music and other live entertainment. As well as weekly activities, bingo, quiz nights, coffee mornings, private parties and celebrations, even training events. We look forward to when we are able to open up the hall again with Government Guidelines in place.
Galloway Hall
Lancashire
We are excited to return to normal and welcome old and new groups and activities back to the community in Fulwood, Preston.
Gawsworth Village Hall
Cheshire
Our Village Hall is well used and loved by our sociable Gawsworth community. It is a great venue for clubs and organisations including the Parish Council, WI, mums and toddlers etc. and hosts a daily pre- and after-school club which has continued, when possible with COVID precautions during the pandemic. Cheshire Rural Touring Arts promote well attended events here and our pantomime, music and other arts events are nearly always a sell-out. Gawsworth Village Hall is also a popular venue for children's and family parties. In 2017 the Village Hall underwent a £50,000 internal refurbishment supported by a grant from WREN. Locally raised funds recently paid for a demountable stage and stage curtains and we have plans for further improvements to the fabric and facilities.. Our hard working Village Hall Committee runs the hall on behalf of the Parish Council.
GIlsland Village Hall and Reading Room
Northumberland
The hall is an import place for local people of all ages and normally has a full diary of children’s dance clubs, youth group and yoga but especially important is its groups attended by many older residents this includes craft and gardening clubs and an over 60’s social and support group which have all sadly had to stop. We do however still host the Outreach Post Office service which has been essential during the Covid pandemic as they bring items and orders from their shop and are a lifeline for those unable to travel far. Although some members of the hall committee have been unable to go out during this time some have helped set up and run a local Covid support group for collecting shopping and prescription’s. We have also used our Facebook page and hall notice boards to share helpful information regarding support and care services and details of businesses willing to deliver to the village during the pandemic.
Glastonbury Town Hall
Somerset
While the Town Hall has been mostly closed during the COVID 19 restrictions we have been busy giving the rooms a new look . Currently when restrictions allow holding a small market inside the main hall which proves popular with the local residents. To help during these unprecedented times (and after) a community fridge was opened which is supplied with kind donations from local supermarkets. We look forward to welcoming all of our events back at the Town Hall when able to do so.
Gorefield Community Hall
Cambridgeshire
Unfortunately, like lots of other halls, Gorefield Community Hall is closed but we are pushing on with a major building project to expand and improve on what we can provide for the community. Funding was achieved during lockdown but with everything else in place we were ready to go and work started in October. This means that as we enter 2021 it is well advanced with completion in early April so time well spent during such a challenging period.
Goseley Community Centre
Derbyshire
The community centre opened in 1997 and has brought the community together providing facilities for Scouts, Lunch clubs and afternoon teas for over 50s. The local church is involved providing meals in the school holidays for children and parents. Weekly Tea Dance and many other activites.
Goxhill Memorial Hall and Recreation Grounds
Lincolnshire
Originally built 96 years ago as a memorial to the men of the village who fell in the First World War, this building has been at the heart of village life and recreation ever since. It is served by a lively group of volunteers, who put on Craft Fairs, Village Shows, Photographic Competitions, Auctions, Dances, Musical performances. The Hall also provides for other local organisers to offer children’s and adults activities such as Parents and Toddlers, Tai Chi, Pilates, Yoga, Short Mat Bowls, Martial Arts and dog training. With so much local support the future of this veritable old lady is lovingly assured.
Hall pic.doc
Great Haywood Memorial Hall
Staffordshire
We’re continuing to keep links with our community this year despite the problems!
ghmemorialhall@gmail.com
Great Hinton Memorial Hall
Wiltshire
The original hall with its corrugated iron walls and roof was erected in 1922 as a memorial to those from the Parish of Great Hinton who died in the First World War. In 2000 it was replaced with a brick-built construction with the cost being covered by the accumulation of funds from village events, especially the “Agony Runs”, and grants from the Landfill Tax Scheme and the National Lottery Millennium 21st Century Halls Fund. It is now maintained and managed by trustees “for the use of the inhabitants of the Parish of Great Hinton .... without distinction of political, religious or other opinions, including the use for meetings, lectures and classes, and other forms of recreation and leisure-time occupation, with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants.” In normal times, the hall has been used by a number of village clubs and groups of an artistic, sporting or social nature. The Parish Council has used the hall for its meetings and makes a financial grant to the running costs of the hall. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020, the hall has been closed. It is hoped that use of the hall will return to pre-pandemic levels during the course of 2021 once Government restrictions on public life are permanently lifted.
Greenacres Memorial Hall
Isle of Wight
Our hall was built after the Crimean War to recognise the men that we lost at Sebastopol
Gristhorpe & Lebberston Village Hall
Yorkshire
We are looking forward to welcoming the local community back as soon as possible. The Committee are busy planning new and exciting activities to get everyone together once again. Behind the scenes we have undertaken a re-decorating project so the hall is looking all fresh and lovely. We are a Covid Safe village hall and proud to be following all the government guidelines.
Grittleton, Sevington & Leigh Delamere Village Hall
Wiltshire
Grittleton, in North Wiltshire, has had a village hall since 1949, also serving the nearby villages of Leigh Delamere and Sevington. The present building, picturesquely situated on land formerly belonging to the Neeld Family who lived in the manor of Grittleton House, was opened in 1988. The cricket club, which has existed for more than 150 years has its pitch and pavilion on the land. More recently a children’s playground and multi-use games area have been added, making it a very popular venue.
We greatly look forward to resuming our indoor activities after the pandemic, and thank ACRE for all their help during this difficult period.
Groombridge Village Hall
Sussex
Groombridge Village Hall was built in 1913, on land donate by the Misses Saints in 191,1 after raising funds from the local population. enabling the Club Room to be built. In 1954 the hall burnt down and was replaced with the Main Hall and Club Room was renovated. In 2000 with the help of a lottery grant and donations from local councils, charities, businesses and local people. the New Hall was added together with a New Kitchen, Toilet Block, rear car park and frontal area remodelled. The hall is well used by many local clubs, exercise classes, dramatic society and Pre-School
Groombridge Village Hall (formerly King Edward VII Institute)
Sussex
Built on land donated by the owner of Groombridge Place in 1911 and funded by local donations it opened in 1913. It burnt down in 1945. A new hall was built. A new extension was added in 2000.
Guiting Power Village Hall
Gloucestershire
2021 marks the 60th anniversary of the current Village Hall at Guiting Power.
The Hall is on the site of the old Concert Hall and on completion was gifted to the Village in 1961 by Raymond Cochrane. He acquired Guiting Manor and set about restoring the character of the village eventually setting up the Trust which continues to this day. He married Sally Latimer shortly after and with the villagers built the current Village Hall as a project with his new wife. Sally was an actress and director of some repute and we owe the stage and theatre setup at the Hall today to her inspiration.
Sally organised her friend and protege Carryl Jenner owner of the Mobile Theatre, to open the new Hall with a staging of “Thunder Rock”. This marked the last ever performance by the Mobile Theatre which found a permanent home becoming the Unicorn Theatre for Young People.
The Hall continues to provide a focal point for the village offering a meeting place, indoor sport and exercise, venue for the fete and fireworks as well as a venue for live music theatre and pantomime.
The Hall is managed by a small committee of volunteers and is available partiess, wedding receptions and commercial hire.
Gunnerton - St Christopher’s Church and Community Hall
Northumberland
St. Christopher's Church Gunnerton is the only public building in the village and whilst its primary function is as a place of worship in the Anglican Benefice of Chollerton, it has since restoration in 2003/4 provided an additional function as a public place for meetings and gatherings of all types. It has a small kitchen with electric cooker and washing up facilities, a disabled w/c and separate disabled entrance and ramp. Regular functions are held such as a monthly lunch club, monthly afternoon teas and meetings of various local groups.
The building is of the Arts and Crafts period with carvings influenced by that movement, and designed by John C. Hawes who became an ordained priest. The design is in the Anglo-Catholic tradition. There is a magnificent stained glass W window installed in 2005/6 to a design by Tees-side artist William Tillyer. The building won a Hadrian Architectural Award in 2007.
Hadfield Hall
Derbyshire
Given to the people of the surrounding area by Edward Platt JP, a mill owner and local dignitary, the hall, which also houses Hadfield Library, is a well-loved centre for a wide range of community activities. Sadly our rooms are closed at the moment but we have high hopes for the future.
Halstock
Dorset
Artsreach performances in our hall give a great boost to the well-being of the community and surrounding areas. Looking forward to the end of covid restrictions and our next show.
Hambledon Village Hall
Surrey
Hambledon Village Hall was built in 1902 as the Hambledon Institute and has been serving our small community in the Surrey Hills ever since. It provides the village with social activities such as the flower and produce show, the village quiz, the Christmas dance, fashion shows and more. Arts activities include regular performances from touring theatre groups (some through NRTF) and regular cinema evenings and in 2019 we held our first professional art fair. The hall is a social hub and support for children and parents through the toddler group and Cubs and it keeps the village active with Bowls and Pilates. We had to close during the first lockdown and activities such as Parish Council meetings and last year’s art fair, went online. With ACRE’s advice and support (and the hard work of our caretaker) we put Covid-secure measures in place and were able to re-open in September for most of our regular groups. We used the quiet time for repairs to the roof and some redecorating and we will soon be replacing the windows with double glazed ones to reduce our carbon footprint and improve the comfort of the hall. We have been completely closed since Christmas but with our active, enthusiastic and supportive village, we are looking to the future with optimism and are keen to resume our usual activities when we can.
Hambridge and Westport
Somerset
Situated overlooking the Somerset Levels and Burrow Hill, The Hambridge and Westport Village Hall must be in one of the most beautiful locations in Somerset. The playing fields surround the Hall and provide the opportunity for the Hall to be the centre of the community. We have a close association to the adjacent school, and a great team of volunteers preparing for the new dawn when public bookings can resume. The COVID situation has been used to update and improve the amazing achievements of the previous generation who concieved, built and maintained the Hall over forty years to the present day. A true community achievement.
Hampsthwaite Memorial Hall
Yorkshire
Hampsthwaite Memorial Hall was established to give thanks to residents who returned from two World Wars and to honour those who did not. The current hall was built in the mid-60’s to replace timber ex-army camp huts which, following a Herculean effort by local residents, businesses and landowners, had been established there in the early 1950’s. It is the main community centre in the village and the only one large enough for major events with car parking space and multi-room access.
Broadband Wi-Fi access has enabled IT based meetings and courses to be hosted and a fully equipped proscenium stage with recently upgraded sound and lighting systems can attract as many as four productions in a year. Provision of digital film projection and the establishment of a regular Film Club has been particularly beneficial for the more elderly because the infrequency of local public transport services precludes their visiting main cinemas and theatres as often as they would like
2020 has been a difficult year, and for most of it the Memorial Hall has been required to be closed, but thanks to the excellent advice given by ACRE, we were able to put in place the necessary resources and procedures to meet the requirements for a Covid-Secure Venue and continue some activities. During the Covid lock-downs, Hampsthwaite Memorial Hall has supported volunteers by operating as a base to assist the storage, preparation and distribution of aid. Hampsthwaite is blessed with a team of well organised volunteers, located throughout the community, who help to ensure all those in need of support are able to access it.
Covid precluded a planned VE Day 75 commemoration but the Hall worked with local volunteers to organise a “Stay at Home Street Party - Decorate your House in Red, White & Blue and enjoy a picnic in your front Garden”. A group of elderly residents living on their own were identified as ‘vulnerable’ and ‘Party Packs’ were delivered to them from the Hall. During the day, the Memorial Hall, positioned in the centre of the village, broadcast 1940's music to create an appropriate atmosphere during the afternoon.
Throughout the year we have been pleased to provide a convenient and central location for the Ripon Mobile Post Office service which has proved to be a much needed asset following the recent closure of our local Post Office. During the current lock-dpwn, the hall kitchen is being used by a local small business to provide a popular and affordable take-away food service for the community.
Hampsthwaite Memorial Hall is operated entirely by volunteers guided by a Management Committee to which every village group or organisation is entitled to nominate a representative. The hall is required to be completely self-financing and derives its income from modest hire charges plus occasional very welcome (and essential!) grants for special projects from various outside bodies. Looking to the future we aim to improve the existing accommodation and expand the range of community activities available. Currently we are seeking support to refurbish wash-rooms and kitchen and work is in hand planning for an extension to include practical facilities suitable for arts, crafts, model making, antique restoration and similar activities.
Hathersage Memorial Hall
Derbyshire
Hathersage Memorial Hall community facility has been in use for almost a hundred years. Although we have had to close during the lockdowns over the last year we usually provide a facility for a wide range of local community activities. These include major amateur dramatic performances three times a year, choirs, horticultural shows, jumble sales, receptions and parties celebrating life events. We also host a wide variety of local community activities, clubs and societies including badminton, brownies, a Film Club and U3A classes.
We and the adjacent famous outside swimming pool provide a focus for the village life. We look forward to being able to resume our activities as soon as we can safely do so.
Havers Community Centre
Hertfordshire
Headcorn Village Hall
Kent
Our new modern Village Hall was opened in 2006 which also incorporated into the design the original Church School (built 1870). This has provided us with a very versatile complex to meet the needs of all our residents from the very young to the elderly, with a wide range of clubs, societies and support groups available on a daily basis.
Heath Village Barn - Heath & Reach Community Village Hall
Bedfordshire
Our Hall was once the agricultural store and stables for the farm that stood adjacent to it, now 2 private properties. It is approximately 150 years old and is a wonderful calm, quaint space for so many local activities, groups, clubs and private functions. It has been home to many for decades, such as the Heath Band and Leighton Buzzard Children’s Theatre. War time minute books are an interesting read and back through the decades it has hosted many a drunken Christmas party; Tales of blacked out windows throughout the war and the birthplace of a much needed Pre-school for village children that has helped families form life long friendships in the community. The Hall and it’s grounds are used annually for community events which bring the whole village to