West Monkton Village Hall, Monkton Heathfield, Taunton, TA2 8NE

Booking Enquiries:  Tel: 01823 412089
Hall Telephone: 01823 412068 (incoming calls only)

Hiring The Hall

Bookings will not be accepted from persons under 18. The hall is NOT available for public discos. Bookings to include the sale of alcohol or showing of films will not be accepted from persons under 21 years of age.

Hire Charges

Single Bookings

A booking form must be completed and returned with a non-refundable deposit of £10 or one quarter of the estimated fee whichever is the greater. The balance must be paid not less than one month before the function takes place to allow cheques to be cleared. This payment must be accompanied by a (returnable) deposit of £50 to £150 (depending on the event) against damage, or problems arising out of bad behaviour. Hirers will not be admitted to the premises if payment in full has not been cleared. If the Hirer cancels the booking with no notice given the full fee will be retained. Otherwise the amount of refund will depend on the length of notice, and will be at the discretion of the Committee.

Regular Bookings

Block bookings will be accepted for a twelve month, or lesser period, renewable in September each year. All bookings to be confirmed in writing. Cancellations must be given in writing to the Booking Officer at least 7 days before the booked date, or the full fee will be charged. Invoices (monthly) must be paid promptly. Failure to do so could jeopardise future bookings or incur a penalty fee.
Regular hirers need to collect the hall key from the keyholder (address to be notified at first booking).

All Bookings

New hirers are required to meet the booking officer at the Hall to view the premises and arrange the details of the booking(s), together with signing of a booking form. Hirers of the Hall have no right of entry to any rooms other than those which they have hired (other than in an emergency) and must ensure that no interference is caused to any other proceedings or functions taking place on the premises during the period of their hire. Incoming hirers must give consideration to outgoing hirers and allow time for vacating room(s). At the end of the hiring, the hirer shall be responsible for leaving the premises and surrounds in a clean and tidy condition, properly locked and secured unless directed otherwise and any tables, chairs or other items temporarily removed from their usual positions properly replaced and in a clean condition. All refuse from the hiring must be removed promptly from the premises. Failure to comply with these conditions will result in an additional charge or a deduction from the refundable deposit.

Fly Posters

Posters must only be placed on official notice boards under regulations with the Local Authority.

Noise Inhibitor

When music is played if the noise exceeds the volume set by the inhibitor, this will result in the loss of power.   It is advisable that hirers ask advice prior to the function.

Closing the Hall

All functions must close by 11.00pm and the premises cleared within 30 minutes of closing.   The hirer shall ensure the minimum of noise is made on departure late at night.

Conditions of Hire

  1. If any part of the hire fee is still unpaid on the day of the event, hirers will not be admitted to the building.
  2. It is understood and agreed that the person making the booking is authorised to do so, and is the person who will be responsible for the proper conduct of the function. In certain cases, e.g. parties and dances, the hirer will be required to name the stewards to assist the hirer with this responsibility, including preventing the entry of interlopers.
  3. The hirer will, during the period of the hiring, be responsible for supervision of the premises, the fabric and the contents, their care, safety from damage however slight or change of any sort, and the behaviour of all persons using the premises whatever their capacity, including proper supervision of car parking arrangements so as to avoid obstruction of the highway.
  4. The hirer must report any breakages, damage or defacement.
  5. The hirer shall not use the premises for any purpose other than that described in the hiring agreement and shall not sub-hire or use the premises or allow the premises to be used for any unlawful purpose or in any unlawful way nor do anything or bring onto the premises anything which may endanger the same or render invalid any insurance policies in respect, nor allow the sale of alcoholic liquor without the appropriate licence.
  6. Hirers may use the grounds in daylight hours only, or the grounds may be hired separately from the Hall by special arrangement.
  7. In the event of the hall or any part thereof being rendered unfit for the use for which it has been hired, the committee shall not be liable to the hirer for any resulting loss or damage whatsoever.
  8. The hirer shall ensure that any activities for children under 8 years of age/Vulnerable Users comply with the provisions of the Children’s Act 2006 and the Safeguarding Vulnerable groups Act 2006 and that only fit and proper persons who have passed the appropriate Criminal Records Bureau checks should have access to the Children/Vulnerable Users. All regular organisations using the hall to provide activities/services for Children/Vulnerable Users will need to provide the Hall’s Booking Office with a copy of their CRB check and Child/Vulnerable Users Protection Policy on request.
  9. The Management Committee accepts no responsibility for any damage, theft or loss of  property  brought onto the premises (including the car park and grounds), and all property so brought onto the premises shall be at the owner’s  risk.
  10. The hirer shall ensure that nothing is done on or in relation to the premises in contravention of the law relating to gaming, betting and lotteries.
  11. The hirer shall comply with all conditions and regulations made in respect of the premises by the Fire Authority, Local Authority, the Local Magistrates Court or otherwise, particularly in connection with any event which includes public dancing or music or other similar public entertainment or stage plays or have requested permission to sell alcohol on the premises.   Hirers must comply strictly with all fire and safety regulations.
  12. Hirers must ensure that sound or lighting equipment or other electrical appliances brought to the Hall are in safe working order, and used safely. Where candles are used they should be in appropriate containers to minimise damage from wax or burning.
  13. All exit doors must remain unlocked during occupation.
  14. Goods of any kind may not be left in the entrance hall.
  15. The use of nails, screws or any other appliance, adhesive (including adhesive tape) or devices for fixing any decoration, poster or board etc., in any part of the premises is forbidden, except by prior consent of the Booking Officer.
  16. Confetti, rose leaves and streamers may not be thrown. It is forbidden to let off Fireworks in either the building or the grounds.
  17. No hard ball games are permitted within the premises.
  18. No airborne vehicle of any kind is permitted to land in or take off from the grounds.
  19. Cars may only be parked on the lawns by special permission.

Loss of Key

Should the hirer lose the key the hall is placed in a non-secure position until the locks are changed and new keys issued to authorised key holders. To replace locks and have new keys produced cost in the order of £300.00 (this figure is based on an actual incident). In the event of a hirer losing the key a charge will be levied of no less than 50% and up to the full cost of replacement locks and keys. The actual amount to be at the discretion of the Management Committee.

Licenced Bars

Hirers wishing to supply alcoholic drinks for sale or show films must enter into a separate agreement with the Village Hall Management Committee to ensure that all the conditions of the Hall’s Alcohol and Films Licence are complied with. Persons wishing to sell alcohol or show films must apply for authorisation from the Hall Management Committee no later than 2 months before the intended date.

Authorised Officer

  1. The Management Committee have appointed an authorised Officer for all functions on the premises, who is entitled at all times to enter upon the premises and every part thereof and to direct the hirer to ensure proper care of the premises and the comfort and safety of persons therein.
  2. The Authorised Officer is at liberty to close any licensed bar on the premises at any time, to terminate any function and require the clearance of the premises, in the event of unruly, disorderly or unseemly behaviour ensuing, or in the opinion of that Officer, being likely to ensue.
  3. The Authorised  Officer has the power to refuse any person admission to the premises at any time without stating a reason.