You can book Somerset Hall under the following
conditions:
Applications
Applications will not be considered:
from persons under 21 years of age; or
if made otherwise than on the official booking form.
We reserve the right to refuse any application, or terminate at
any time, any agreement for hire made in consequence of any
application, and the Council is not obliged to give a reason for
such refusal or termination.
Charges
The hire charge shall be in accordance with the scale of charges
set by us, details of which are available upon request or visit
our
fees and charges page.
Payment
Confirmation of booking will not be issued until receipt of the
signed booking form. Upon written confirmation being given by
us to the hirer a contract will exist between us and the
Hirer.
Payments may be required in advance at the discretion of us.
Cheques, money orders and postal orders must be payable to the
North Somerset District Council, crossed "A/C Payee", and not to
any individual officer of the council.
Hire of Somerset Hall for Weddings
All weddings will have to be paid for in full and up front by
"cleared funds" prior to the full function
Cancellation
The hirer shall give written notice of cancellation to the Director
at the address where the booking was made.
A cancellation fee is applicable if we are unable to rehire
the accommodation for the hire date.
Sub Letting
The Hirer shall not rehire or sublet the accommodation or any part
thereof.
The purpose for which the accommodation is to be used must be
agreed in advance by the hirer and us and in particular but
without prejudice to the generality of this clause use in relation
to exhibitions, craft fairs and the like shall require our
written approval
Damage, Loss or Accident
We shall not be liable for loss due to breakdown of machinery,
failure of supply of electricity or gas, leakage of water, fire,
Government restriction or act of God which may cause the
accommodation to close or the hire to be interrupted or
cancelled
The Hirer shall pay to us the amount certified by the
Director as being the amount incurred by us in making good any
damage to or loss of accommodation including (but not by way of
limitation) adjacent premises, furniture, carpets, furnishings and
fittings, or any article owned by us arising in any way out of
the hire
We shall not accept any responsibility for the loss of or
damage to any car or other vehicle which in connection with the
function may be brought or left within the precincts of the
accommodation. The Hirer must ensure that no car or other vehicle
is parked in any unauthorised position and that instructions given
by the Director as to the parking of vehicles are fully
observed.
Access
The Director and any person authorised by him shall have the right
of free and unimpeded entry, at all times and for all purposes, to
and from the accommodation.
No exits from the accommodation may be blocked or restricted or
fire appliances removed or in any way tampered with.
The hire of accommodation does not entitle the Hirer to use or
enter the accommodation at any time other than the specific hours
for which the accommodation is hired unless prior arrangements have
been made with the Director.
Maintenance of Good Order
The Hirer shall at all times during the function be responsible for
the maintenance of good order and shall ensure that no undesirable
person is permitted to enter, remain or otherwise make use of the
accommodation and that no person shall trespass on parts of the
accommodation not hired. Upon the instructions of the Director the
Hirer shall remove or cause to be removed any persons from the
accommodation
The Hirer shall at his own expense arrange for the attendance of
sufficient police officers or other security personnel at the
function if in the opinion of the Director such attendance is
desirable.
When hiring the Hall for dances, admission to such dances must
be by ticket only and there must be no sale of tickets at the door.
The hirers must provide adequate adult supervision in order to
maintain good order both inside and outside the buildings. No
person will be admitted or re-admitted to the premises after
10.30pm.
Vacation of the Accommodation
The Hirer shall ensure the accommodation is vacated by all persons
attending the function within the time specified in the booking
form. All articles brought to the accommodation in connection with
the function shall be removed at the termination of the function as
specified on the booking form otherwise a charge will be made of
the Hirer for each day or part of a day, until the same are
removed.
Catering
The Hirer shall not sell or permit to be sold in or upon the
accommodation any refreshments without the consent of the
Director
Licences
The Hirer shall observe all the conditions attached to the
entertainment licence (and theatre licence where applicable) for
the accommodation.
No copyright dramatic or musical work shall be performed or sung
without the licence of the copyright holder, such licence being
produced to us prior to the commencement of the function
The Hirer shall pay us any fees relating to the Performing
Rights Society charges where copyright music is used.
The Hirer shall pay us any fees relating to the
Phonographic Performance Licence. This is separate from the PRS
charges.
Whenever you play a sound recording in public there are two
separate licence fees that have to be paid. One payment goes to
PPL, which they distribute to record companies, recording artists
and musicians. The other payment goes to PRS, who distribute it to
composers and music publishers.
General
The removal of the piano lid is
prohibited.
We shall have the right to prohibit smoking at the
function.
Fly-posting is prohibited.
No additional lights or electrical extensions shall be used without
the previous consent of the Director
No bolts, nails, tacks, screws, or similar objects, not any flags,
emblems or posters shall be driven into any part of the
accommodation or affixed thereto.
We shall have the sole right to arrange for the broadcasting
or televising of any function at the accommodation and any payment
in respect thereof shall be ours.
We reserve the right to cancel bookings at any time prior
to the date of the function if the accommodation shall not be
available for any reason beyond its control.
The Hirer shall pay £10 (VAT exempt) towards the cost of the
license extension, if one is required. This fee shall be
included in the hire invoice.
Public Liability Insurance - It is a requirement that all users
of our facilities have Public Liability Insurance cover with a
minimum indemnity of £5m. Regular Hirers will have to submit their
Insurance Policy Form annually to the Hall to prevent incurring
costs.
Definitions
The following words or expressions shall have the following
meaning:
"We" or "Our" - North Somerset Council.
"the Director" - the Director of Development and
Environment of the Council or his duly authorised
representative.
"Function" - the purpose for which the accommodation is
hired.
"Accommodation" - the land and premises hired for the
function as described on on the booking form.
"the Hirer" - the person signing the booking form and when
signing on behalf of an organisation shall be jointly and severally
responsible with the organisation of the hire
charge.
