Conditions Of Use

1.  All requests for use of St Peter’s Church Hall, Bowness Avenue, Sompting, West Sussex, (hereafter called the Church Hall) are subject to the acceptance of the booking by the Parochial Church Council (or their representative) on behalf of the Parish of South Lancing and Sompting.

2. The hirer shall satisfy himself / herself that the facilities available at the Church Hall are suitable for his / her purpose.

3. The maximum number of persons allowed is 80.

4. The hirer is required to be in attendance in the Church Hall during the entire duration of the booking. THIS IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANOTHER PERSON.

5. The hirer is responsible for ALL damage to furniture and fittings in the Church Hall and must ensure that all users do not stand on chairs and tables etc. All breakages must be reported to the Parish Administrator and necessary replacements will be charged to the Hirer.

6. The hirer is responsible for leaving the Church Hall in a clean and tidy condition and ensuring that tables and chairs are replaced to where they are normally stored, all windows are closed and lights are turned off. (A broom, mop and bucket, and selection of cleaning materials are located in the kitchen). Particular attention should be paid to the toilets, kitchen floor, kitchen worktops and urn emptied (if used). All rubbish to be bagged correctly and placed in the bins located outside through the door to the side of the stage. No litter, cigarette ends, glitter or other rubbish to be left outside the building at the end of the hire period.

7. It is against the law to smoke in any part of the Church Hall. Please ensure there is no disturbance to local residents whilst smoking outside and no debris is left.

8. Should you wish to decorate the hall for your function, please only use noticeboard (returning all notices to their original place). Hirers are requested not to attach decorations etc. with 'Sellotape', ‘Blu Tack’ or similar adhesives on the walls or wood.

9. Alcoholic drinks are NOT permitted in the Church Hall unless the hirer has obtained the written permission of the Parish Administrator. If approval is given these must NOT be served to young persons under 18 years of age. Alcoholic drinks may not be offered for sale. Tickets may not be sold for events in the Church Hall at which the price of the ticket is said to include the provision of an alcoholic drink.

10. When young people under 18 years of age are present in the Church Hall supervision MUST be provided by adults using the following format:

• 0 - 2 years: 1 adult to 3 children
• 9 - 12 years: 1 adult to 8 children
• 2 - 3 years: 1 adult to 4 children
• 13 - 18 years: 1 adult to 10 children
• 4 - 8 years: 1 adult to 6 children

11. The hirer must minimise noise and / or other disturbance to local residents. The Parish Administrator (or their representative) reserves the right to terminate an agreement if dissatisfied with any excessive noise or behaviour in the Church Hall.

12. All music must cease by 10 pm and the premises vacated by 10.30 pm. On Sundays music must cease by 9.30 pm and premises vacated by 10 pm. If music is played then all windows and doors must be kept closed after 9 pm.

13. The Hirer must report all accidents involving injury to the public to the Parish Administrator as soon as possible and complete the relevant section in the Church Hall’s accident book (located in hall foyer along with the first aid box).

14. Keys can be collected before the session by prior arrangement with the Parish Administrator.

15. No booking is secured until the Parish Administrator has accepted the completed booking form, payment and deposit; the hall will be checked before the deposit is returned. By signing the form, hirers are accepting the Conditions of Hire.

16. Bouncy castles are permitted but they must be under 4.5m (15ft) at their highest point. Details of use and liabilities are available at https://www.ecclesiastical.com/documents/bouncy-castles.pdf and https://www.ecclesiastical.com/risk-management/bouncy-castle-safety/

17. The hirer is responsible for their own public liability insurance and in signing the Booking Form the hirer indemnifies the Parochial Church Council (PCC) against all claims in respect of injury, loss or damage arising from the letting, other than those arising from the negligence of the PCC.