Bookings

The Hall may be booked for recurring or single lettings. Hall hire is charged by the hour or session.
Hirers must be aged 18 years or over. If the event is to involve persons under the age of 18 years, the Hirer must give assurances that children under 18 will be supervised by signing the relevant section on the Booking Agreement Form.
No responsibility whatsoever can be taken for any ‘personal’ items left on the premises or any damage caused by them to the premises or any misuse of them by others.
No additional charge is made for cleaning, any charges incurred due to breakages, poor cleaning, failure to replace furniture, etc. will be passed on to the Hirer or deducted from the deposit.
No apparatus or equipment of any description can be left on the premises without the prior consent of the Hiring Committee

Deposits & Charges

For events payment is required in full. Then a refundable deposit is held on account to cover damages. This is in addition to the Hire charge.
Both the deposit and the hire charge must be paid at the time of booking and sent to the Bookings Team with the completed Booking Form. Public Liability is the responsibility of the hirer pro tem.
The deposit will be refunded after the event subject to a satisfactory inspection and return of the key (where applicable).
Should a call-out to the church be required as a result of a fault caused by the Hirer, a call-out charge will be deducted from the Hirer’s deposit.

Cancellations

Hirers may cancel bookings by giving at least 7 days notice.
If a Hirer cancels a booking with less than 7 days notice, the deposit will be retained but the hiring charge will be refunded.
Cancellations made with less than 7 days notice are liable to a payment of the whole hiring charge.

The Hiring Committee reserves the right to cancel any booking by giving notice in writing and returning the hiring charge and deposit, should the purpose of hiring the Hall be in any way improper or unauthorised.

General Hiring Conditions

The hire period must include set-up and clear-up times. The premises must not be accessed outside of the agreed hire period and must be vacated promptly at the end of the hire.

Heating is provided. The controls should not be touched by anyone except a member of the Hiring Committee.

Gateway Chapel reserves the right to enter the Hall at any time during an event if it has reason to believe there may be a problem, and to impose further conditions on the spot or curtail the event as it considers necessary for the welfare of guests or the safety of the building or the impropriety of use.

Music & Entertainment

The Hall holds the appropriate licences for Public Entertainment. Music must cease by 1:00AM and all music must be kept to a suitable level to avoid disturbance of neighbours. For commercial hires/regular bookings with fees, Hirers should ensure that they have proper insurance for any equipment used in the Hall, to include any damage caused by them to the Hall and its users.

Responsibility for the use and safety of electrical equipment (and/or other equipment specified at the time of booking) brought on to the premises by the Hirer rests entirely with the Hirer. Any such electrical equipment must have passed the necessary P.A.T. tests and certificates must be produced upon request.

Public Liability insurance cover must exist for such equipment. Copies of certificates of insurance are required before a booking can be confirmed. Without adequate insurance cover such equipment must not be used. Hirers may be asked to remove such equipment from the premises.

Health & Safety

It is the responsibility of the individual Hirers to ensure that they are aware of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and to take reasonable precautions to ensure that their activities are carried out in a responsible way.

Any accidents should be reported to a delegated member and an Accident Report Form completed.

Fire Precautions

Hirers must make themselves familiar with the location of the fire extinguishers and the instructions for use, ‘break-glass’ fire alarms, emergency exits and of the importance of fire doors. Hirers will be responsible for informing all those using the Hall of the position of the emergency exits. Hirers must also familiarise themselves with the instructions on what to do in case of fire.

Instructions are displayed on the notice board

Fireworks, party poppers and candles are not allowed, either for internal or external use with the exception of birthday cake candles.

Car Parking

Visitors can park in the designated car park and follow the parking recommendation in force at the time in other surrounding parking

Food Safety

Under the Food Safety Act 1990, it is the responsibility of persons providing food for any event held in the premises to ensure that they are aware of and abide by the legal requirements. The Hiring Committee is not responsible for any food brought into the Hall.

Conditions of Hire

Your booking will be confirmed once you agree to our conditions of hire set out below :

The person making the booking will be held responsible for the conduct of guests and the condition of the hall.
The hall will be opened and closed by the venue host who will attend the hall at the start and the end of your booking.
If the person who made the booking is unable to attend to arrive by the start time, they may instruct someone else to attend and meet the venue host.
The premises must be vacated by the end of your booking, failure to leave the premises by the booked time will lead to additional charges for every 30 minutes after the end time.

Supervision

Hirers are held responsible for adequate supervision of the premises and for use of the grounds by their own party during the period of hire and must ensure that fire exits and access to them are kept clear at all times.

Child Protection It is the responsibility of the Hirer (under the Children Act 2004) to ensure the safety of all children at all times at any event. There is also a responsibility to safeguard vulnerable adults.

Notice for Hirers

In order that the Hall can be kept in good condition for all, the building should be left in the way it was met.

Your deposit will be forfeited if the Conditions of Hire have not been met.

Thank you for your cooperation.