Hirer's Information

SHIPTON READING ROOM HIRER’S INFORMATION SHEET (Jun 24)

(To facilitate your use of the Reading Room)

Opening and closing the Reading Room

Arrangements for opening and closing The Reading Room will be detailed to you as part of the booking process (the usual procedure will be for a Trustee to open the Hall and to be there at the end of your booking).  This doesn’t apply to those registered keyholders who will retain a key.

Please ensure that any outside caterers, contractors and bar staff are aware of the hire period and that they will not be able to enter before or leave after the hire period. We allow each booking 5 minutes each side of the hire to allow for basic set up and departure. If more time is required you need to book and pay for this time.

The Trustee who lets you in will give you their mobile to be used in case of difficulty during your booking.

Please leave the Reading Room clean and tidy in the same condition as you found it. In particular we ask you to ensure table tops are wiped clean before being stacked in the store cupboard.

The key to the cleaner’s cupboard is located in the kitchen. It has a purple tag. Brushes, mops, cloths and bin liners are in the cupboard in the lobby.

Please take your rubbish home with you as we have no refuse collection. This includes emptying the bins in the toilets.

If a session is licensed, guests are expected to vacate the premises within fifteen minutes of the end of a licensed period ie 11pm. Only those helping to clear up the Reading Room should be on the premises.

Parking

There is very limited parking at the Reading Room.

Whenever possible we encourage users of the hall to arrive without a car, but when driving is essential, please be considerate about where you park.

The map below shows those areas highlighted in red where you should not park within the immediate vicinity of the Reading Room. This is either because it is contrary to Highway Code and presents a hazard to other users (10 metres of a junction) or is private property. Please leave the paved area in front of the Reading Room gate clear for those with accessibility needs.

Be aware that very large farm vehicles travel along the road outside the Reading Room and you should ensure that wherever you park, there is plenty space for these vehicles to pass.

Lighting

The lights in the kitchen, store room, toilets and lobby are all motion controlled. They will switch off automatically after you have left the Reading Room. Only the main hall lights have switches. There are three switches/circuits and all dimmable. There are 16 spotlights: 4 in the bay closest to the fireplace/TV – switched by the first dimmer; 12 in the rest of the hall – switched by the second dimmer. Each wooden beam has an up-lighting LED strip – these are switched by the third dimmer.

Hot Water

There are two hot water heaters. One in the kitchen under the sink to provide hot water for the kitchen and one in the cleaning cupboard to provide hot water for the bathrooms. If you need hot water please switch on at the wall when you arrive and then switch off again when you leave.

Electric Heating (Winter only)

We have set the heaters in the main hall to come on and go off at certain times during a 24-hour period and they will be set for your hire period. Please do not change the settings on any of the heaters in the building but please do let us know if you have any problems with the temperature by using the contact numbers at the top of this document.

Velux Windows

The skylight windows in the main hall are operated electronically and the controls can be found just inside the kitchen by the door. There is a control for opening and closing the windows and one to open and close the blinds. Both are marked.

Press the up arrow to open the windows/blinds and the down arrow to close the windows/blinds. Note that all four windows are synchronised and cannot be operated separately.

Internet

The Reading Room benefits from High-Speed Internet – the password is bV6PHVPxa6dD9D

Bar Shutter

This is operated by a key to the right of the shutter within the kitchen. Turn clockwise to close and anticlockwise to open. Be aware that if the Fire Alarm goes off the Shutter will go down and will damage anything left on the bar.

Kitchen Appliances

Instructions for the kitchen appliances can be found in the middle drawer.

Consideration for others

Please ask your guests to leave quietly at the close of your event. Car doors banging and loud talk is disturbing to local residents.

Faults/ damage/ comments

Please report any faults or damage to the booking secretary as soon as possible so that they can be rectified quickly. The Reading Room committee welcome comments or observations that you may have about your hire of the Reading Room.