Bristo Hall, upstairs at The Forest, is an ideal space for private meetings, workshops, and small events. While The Hall is for hire via The Forest, please note that use of the main Forest space is always free and operates a completely FREE ENTRY / FREE TO PLAY POLICY. The Forest Hall, however, is a private space where those running functions can do, within reason, what they please.
Hall Rates
Our rates for hiring Bristo Hall are as follows:
Week days (Mon - Thur)
10.00am – 5.00pm - £10 per hour
5.00pm – 11.00pm - £12 per hour
11.00pm – 3.00am - £20 per hour
Weekends (Fri, Sat, Sun)
10.00am – 5.00pm - £15 per hour
5.00pm - 11.00pm - £20 per hour
11.00pm - 3.00am - £25 per hour
(Reduced rates may be available on request for other voluntary organisations, N.G.O's, charities and University Societies).
There is an additional charge of £50.00 to hire our P.A. You must specify whether the P.A. will be used for decks, plugging in a lap-top, or a live band. If you are planning live music we will have to ensure a suitably trained sound engineer is working and this must be arranged in advance.
All hall bookings are subject to a £30.00 deposit which can be collected from the Admin Office after your event - provided the hall is left clean and tidy and that no sound equipment or fixtures and fittings are damaged. Deposits will also be kept if customers make excessive noise. If customers persistently break the Forest's rules, i.e., taking drinks outside, allowing under 18's to consume alcohol, smoking in the building, drug taking in or around the building, the Forest can shut down your event and withhold your booking fee.
If you do not collect your deposit from the Admin Office within 3 months the Forest will keep it!
At the moment we do not have a Public Entertainment Licence so you cannot charge an entrance fee. However, you can ask for donations using the phrase 'free but donations accepted' on your promotional material. If you are going to promote your event do not put the Forest's name on any fly-posters, thanks.
At the moment our capacity is 60 persons. We cannot exceed this amount as we only have a licence for 60 persons.
If you are using sound equipment noise levels should not exceed 85dB. Customers should also ensure that they do not make excessive noise outside the front of the building and respect our neighbours.
Alcohol may not be sold or otherwise exchanged on our premises.
At the moment we do not have a licence to sell alcohol and operate a B.Y.O.B. policy in our hall (with no corkage fees). However, the Forest is in the process of applying for a liquor licence, so this may change at some point in the future. We will keep you informed!
Forest Volunteers and kitchen staff have nothing to do with your event and cannot be expected to know the details of your booking. Please make sure all arrangements are made in advance.
Making a booking
You can enquire about using our hall or make a booking by e-mailing Cornelia at: info[at]theforest.org.uk
This email account is only checked a few times a week, so please be patient while awaiting a reply. Cornelia is the only person who deals with this account, so please don't worry if you don't get a response straight away!
You can check what events are already booked in our hall by going to our events calendar:
We will only take bookings for one-off events 2 months in advance.
e-mail us to discuss other events, such as week long workshops, festivals or theatre rehearsals. These can be arranged further in advance.
You can get the key to the hall from the kitchen prior to your booking.
Hall layout
Promotional imagery
Download graphics for making posters;
- forest_swirl_logo (PDF, 57.16 Kb)
Seats
60+ not raked.
Lighting
4 Fresnels, 4 Parcans, 2 Spots and two movable stands
Sound
- Basic PA (consisting of: 2 X 450w Active Speakers, 16 channel mixer & foldback monitor)
- 3 mics & stands
- CD player
- (DJ equipment and Full backline, available on request)