Ramsden Heath Village Hall

Frequently Asked Questions

Ramsden Heath Village Hall, Dowsett Lane, Ramsden Heath, Billericay, Essex. CM11 1HX

Where do I collect the keys?

Keys may be collected up to 15 minutes prior to the agreed letting time, from the Letting Secretary at 27 Allens Road, Ramsden Heath, CM11 1JA. If there is a change to this you will be notified. Keys must be returned immediately after hire.

Can we get in early to set up?

Your hire time starts at the time stated in the agreement. Your booked time must include setting up and clearing away time. If you require additional time for setting up this can sometimes be arranged for an additional fee and if no-one else has booked.

Parking

The hall has 34 parking spaces, with 2x marked as disabled.

What kitchen facilities are included?

We have an electric commercial oven, 2x fridge/freezer, kettles, microwave and sink. There is some crockery / cutlery, however it is best to bring your own to guarantee you will have everything you need.

Are tables and chairs included in the price?

Yes

How many tables and chairs are there?

Note. The moving of chairs and tables in the hall should be carried out in a safe manner.

There are approximately 90 chairs in the main hall and 30 in the small hall. We have 21 tables 6ft long and 6 tables 4 ft., if requested in advance 10 more tables can be arranged. Please ensure tables and chairs are stacked away neatly at the end of hire. There is a trolley for moving stacks of chairs.

Heating & Air Conditioning

The main hall has a new fresh air replenishment Air-Conditioning system, fitted during 2021, which replaces the air several times per hour.

The small hall now has an Air-Conditioning unit installed.   A plinth heater is available in the kitchen.

Can we have a bouncy castle?

Yes you may have a small bouncy castle in the hall.

What are the hall measurements?

The hall is 8m wide, 13m long and 3.4m high.

Is the field behind the hall included in our hire?

No, the field belongs to the Parish Council and is not included with the hall hire.

Can we use the play equipment in the garden behind the hall?

Unfortunately we cannot allow you to use the play equipment in the garden as this belongs to the local Pre-School.  The gate will be locked and the area is out of bounds to hall hirers so please do not let your children play in the Pre-School garden.

Are we allowed to decorate the hall?

Yes. You may pin or blu-tac decorations to the wooden rail that is fitted around the hall. Please do not use brown parcel tape or staples as this will mark / damage the walls.

Can we use smoke machines?

Sorry no Smoke machines, as they can set off the fire alarm.

Candles on Birthday Cakes?

Standard candles are ok, but please do not use re-lighting candles as these also set off the alarm.

Sound Limiter

Please note the main hall has a sound limiter fitted.
If the upper limit is exceeded the power to the ring main in the main hall will be cut. There is a button to reset the power.

Emergency Exits

Please keep the emergency exits clear. Note the power to hall will be cut during evening hire ~7pm, if the emergency exit doors are opened.
This will also be indicated by the sounding of an alarm and flashing red light at the kitchen end of the hall

Is the sale of alcohol allowed?

Yes, you may sell alcohol, but you must have a licence if you plan to sell alcohol. This can be obtained from Chelmsford City Council, we would advise ~6 weeks for processing.

Will I get my money back if I cancel my booking?

A £10.00 administration fee will be charged for the cancellation of a booking.  If the cancellation is over two months from the date of hire a full refund, minus the administration fee, will be processed.  Cancellation over one month from the date of hire will result in a 50% refund  minus the administration fee.  If the cancellation is within a month of the hire date full payment will be retained. All cancellations must be received in writing either by email or post.

Is there cleaning equipment at the hall?

We provide brooms, dustpan and brush, and rubbish sacks. Please sweep up any mess and dispose of correctly. We do not expect you to wash floors.

Do you have recycling facilities?

Unfortunately, we do not have the facility to recycle but we ask that you take home any recyclable items. Two large rubbish containers are available by the main gate.

CCTV

Please note the hall has a significant number of operational HD CCTV cameras, all record 24/7.

What are the hire sessions at weekends?

10:00am until 1:30pm,
2:00pm until 5:30pm
6:00pm until midnight.
Please note; music must finish by 11:30pm.

First Aid

A small First Aid Box is available in the kitchen. Please report all incidents to the letting secretary.

Luncheon Club, Social Club, Pilates, Zumba Classes, Pre-School, High Intensity Interval Training, Table Tennis, Parish Council Meetings