Guild Hall and Ante-Room Hire Conditions

Enquiries about availability and rules for hire/costs etc may be made at reception, 01289 330044.

Below is a description of the Terms of Use.

You can book the Mitchell Memorial Hall by:

• Completing and returning the online booking form
• Visiting Main Reception at the Council Offices, Wallace Green, Berwick-upon-Tweed
• Telephoning the Council on (01289) 330044

You can also view the rules of the hall here: the rules of the Hall (pdf 48kb)

APPLICATIONS:

1. All applications for the Guild Hall or Ante-Room (hereinafter called “the premises”) must be in writing on the Trustees’ printed form and forwarded on completion to the Clerk to the Trustees. The person by whom the application form is signed shall be considered the hirer, but where an organisation is also named, that organisation also shall be considered the hirer and shall be jointly and severally liable hereon with the person who signs the form.

PAYMENT:

2. All charges for hire of the premises are payable in advance on the demand of the Accountant of the Trustees.

COPYRIGHT:

3. No copyright dramatic or musical work shall be performed or sung in the premises without the licence of the owner of the copyright and all such licences shall be produced to the Clerk to the Trustees before the commencement of the hiring. The hirer shall indemnify the Trustees against any infringement of copyright which may occur during the hiring.

PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENTS:

4. The premises are not licensed for public entertainments as defined in the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982. It is therefore the hirer’s responsibility to ensure that the premises are not used for any activity which would require such a licence and the hirer shall indemnify the Trustees against any action which may be taken against them in this respect.

A Public Entertainments Licence is required for public dancing or music or any other public entertainment of a like kind, and for entertainments consisting of, or including, any public contest, exhibition or display of boxing, wrestling, judo, karate or any similar sport. Music performed as an incident of a religious meeting or service is exempt from the requirements.

SALE OF LIQUOR:

5. No excisable liquor shall be sold on the premises unless an occasional licence shall be in force at such time and the hirer shall produce such licence or permission to the Clerk to the Trustees before the commencement of the hiring.

STAGE PLAYS:

6. No stage plays shall be performed unless there is in existence a theatre licence for the premises duly obtained from Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council and such licence shall be produced to the Clerk to the Trustees before the commencement of the hiring.

HOURS OF USE:

7. The hire of the premises does not entitle the hirer to use or enter the premises at any time other than the specific hours for which the premises are hired unless prior arrangements have been made with the Caretaker.

SUB-LETTING:

8. The hirer shall not sub-let the premises or any part thereof.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR DAMAGE:

9. The hirer shall be responsible for all damage to the premises and adjacent premises of the Trustees and to any property in the premises and such adjacent premises occurring during the period of the hiring or while persons are entering or leaving the premises pursuant to the hire, however and by whomsoever caused.

TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY:

10. The Trustees as owners of the premises do not accept any liability, except as a result of their negligence, for any loss of or damage to any property arising out of the hiring, not for any loss, damage or injury which may be incurred by or be done or happen to any person or persons resorting to the premises during the hiring arising from any cause whatsoever or for any loss due to any breakdown of machinery, failure of supply or electricity, leakage of water, fire, government restriction or act of God which may cause the premises to be temporarily closed or the hiring to be interrupted or cancelled and the hirer shall indemnify the Trustees against any claim which may arise out of the hiring or which may be made by any person resorting to the premises during the hiring in respect of any such loss, damage or injury.

TRUSTEES’ RIGHT OF ENTRY:

11. The right of entry to the premises is reserved to the Trustees and their agents at any time during the hiring.

GOOD ORDER:

12. The hirer shall be responsible for keeping good order in the premises during the hiring and the Trustees reserve the right to terminate any hiring not properly conducted.

RESTRICTIONS ON PLACARDS, ETC:

13. No placard, notice or other thing shall be affixed by the hirer or any person acting for him to the floor or interior or exterior walls of the premises or to the railings, lamp-posts or pillars except that if desired a notice may be affixed to an easel notice board (size 3ft x 4ft) which will be made available by the Caretaker, if requested; and one banner may be tied between the front pillars of the Guild Hall on the day of the hiring.

LIGHTING, ETC:

14. No extra lighting shall be provided and nothing shall be connected to the existing system of electrification within the premises without the prior consent of the Town Hall Keeper.

EXITS:

15. No exits may be blocked, chairs or obstructions placed in corridors or fire appliances removed or tampered with.

RESTRICTIONS ON SALES:

The premises cannot be hired for jumble sales, nearly-new sales or the like or for events including such sales.

ACCESS:

17. Access to the premises will not be granted in advance of the time of the commencement of the booking and the hirer shall quit the premises by the time of the termination of the booking.

CANCELLATIONS:

18. On cancellation of a booking, refund of booking fee will only be made if the cancellation is made not later than six clear weeks prior to the date of the hiring.

SMOKING:

19. No smoking is permitted within the Guild Hall except with the specific consent, in respect of any particular function, of the Town Hall Keeper.

Details on any venues the local authority may have available for private/business hire including the location, size, facilities, availability, cost and how to book

You can contact the Council to book the venues listed below for private or business hire:

(1) Mitchell Memorial Hall, Kiln Hill, Tweedmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed

Venue facilities / features:

• Capacity – 100
• Heating –yes
• Disabled access – yes
• Toilets – male and female
• Kitchen – yes
• Hourly charge – (£6.20 from 1 st April 2006)
• Deposit payable – yes; £25 at time of booking

Notes:

The Hall is used by Tweedmouth Playgroup Monday to Friday (8.00-12.00 each morning). Hirers must not use furniture (child-sized tables and chairs) or any other equipment or displays belonging to the Playgroup.

(2) The Guild Hall and Ante-Room at the Town Hall, Marygate, Berwick-upon-Tweed

Venue facilities/features:

• Capacity – 150 (Guild Hall)
• Heating – yes
• Disabled access – no
• Toilets – male and female
• Kitchen – yes
• Hourly charge – see booking forms (link here)
• Notes

The Town Hall and the rooms contained therein are owned by the Berwick-upon-Tweed Corporation (Freemen) Trustees. The Council takes bookings on behalf of the Trustees.

Mitchell Memorial Hall

Terms and conditions of hire

1. The hall must be left in a clean and tidy condition or be restored to that condition at the end of the hire.

2. No smoking is permitted in the Hall at any time

3. The hirer is responsible for ensuring that all lights are switched off and heating left at the pre-hire levels on completion of the hire

4. Birthday party hires are restricted to under 12s only and must have two or more adults in attendance

5. The keys must be returned to Main Reception at the Council Offices within 24 hours of the completion of the hire

6. Hirers are not permitted to use any future belongings to Tweedmouth Play Group (this comprises tables and chairs sized for pre-school children) or remove or tamper with any displays or other equipment in the Hall.