Rooms to hire at The Athenaeum and Close Centre

There are currently eight spaces to hire at The Centre ranging in size and facilities. These are: Gallery, Auditorium, Dressing Rooms, The Studio, First Floor Meeting Room, Function Room/Bar, Close Meeting Room and Close Rehearsal Rooms.
(Hours of hire 9am – 11pm)
A Flip chart stand/white board, projector and portable screen are also available on request

Athenaeum Room Plan image

Rates of hire

Specifications and conditions for each space can be found on the individual drop-down pages. Combinations of rooms can be booked, and rooms can be hired on extended terms and rates.

Booking Secretary

To discuss a booking, to arrange a visit or a general enquiry, please leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

General Hiring Conditions

If you wish to view any of the rooms, we are more than happy to do this, but this can only be done by prior arrangement.

All bookings are subject to a formal Hiring Agreement, the conditions of which can be discussed with the Booking Secretary. Areas and rooms that are hired must be left clean and in a tidy condition. All waste must be disposed of appropriately. There are general waste and recycling facilities in most areas.

All personal possessions must be removed after an event. Failure to do so, or if the area is not left in a clean state may incur a charge to the hirer.

Room set up

It is the hirer’s responsibility to set out their own tables and chairs for their event. There is a set layout for every room. We ask that the on completion of hire the room is returned to the original layout ready for the next hirer.

Event Promotion

It is the hirer’s responsibility to produce all advertising literature and to promote their event accordingly. We will display printed publicity on-site only. We will promote events through our website, social media and print advertising – which is limited – at our discretion. We accept no responsibility for a hirer’s lack of adequate and suitable advertising promotion.

Whilst the Athenaeum Centre has its own liability insurance for the building and its facilities, it is a requirement that all hirers acquire public liability insurance for their event to indemnify themselves and the Trust against incident caused by the hirer’s activities. A copy of the hirer’s insurance will need to be forwarded to the Booking Secretary in advance of the date of hire.

Centre Closure Dates

Please note that we do not take bookings for the following dates: 1st – 31st August inclusive, and Christmas Eve to the 1st January inclusive. 

Event Insurance

Whilst the Athenaeum Centre has its own liability insurance for the building and its facilities, it is a requirement that all hirers acquire public liability insurance for their event to indemnify themselves and the Trust against incident caused by the hirer’s activities. A copy of the hirer’s insurance will need to be forwarded to the Booking Secretary in advance of the date of hire.

Duty Manager

A volunteer Athenaeum Duty Manager is appointed each week and will look after any arrangements for opening and closing that you may make with the Booking Secretary. We ask that you please keep to the times, arrangements, and area agreed to avoid any undue difficulties for the Duty Manager. Please ensure that you have the name and phone number of the Duty Manager at all times.

Sale of Alcohol

The Centre has an Alcohol Licence that permits only our Designated Premises Supervisor to oversee the sale of alcohol under the full control of the Trust. The bar is run and staffed by ‘The Athenaeum Friends’, however alternative arrangements, for which there would be a charge, may be agreed. Very strict rules apply to the sale and consumption of alcohol on the premises, and the Trust reserves the right to refuse the sale of alcohol. If you wish the Friends to operate a bar for your event this must be booked at the same time as your event.

Refundable Deposit

A £50 refundable deposit must be paid in advance for the hire of the Function Room/Bar area, and the Auditorium.

Parking

Please note we do not have any on-site car parking facilities for guests or hirers. There is very limited on-street parking on The Close alongside the rear of the building (¾ hour wait during the day, free parking in the evening), alternatively, there is parking in the nearby public car parks (parking charges apply). Vehicle access to unload in the yard to the rear of the building can be arranged on request for hirers of the stage and auditorium.