Hire fees at Malmesbury Town Hall have been frozen for a year, thanks to its increasing use among community groups and organisations.
Malmesbury town councillors took the decision not to increase charges because the historic building at Cross Hayes, which has a number of function rooms and is also a licensed wedding venue, is becoming increasingly popular and so revenue has risen.
While more and more groups are using the venue, audiences for productions – including screenings put on by Movies@Malmesbury – are also on the rise. This is partly thanks to the comfortable, retractable tiered seating which was installed two years ago.
The Town Council has invested thousands in improvements to the Town Hall. As well as the tiered seating, which cost £50,000, a new lift has been installed and new flooring laid in the ground floor Old School Room. Both the upstairs and downstairs kitchens have been completely renovated and updated.
Malmesbury Mayor Cllr Stephen James, who is also a volunteer for Movies@Malmesbury, said it was great to see so many local community groups and organisations making use of the historic building.
“The Town Hall is a wonderful and very versatile facility, and we are delighted to see its use increasing, which we believe is partly due to the investment made by the Town Council,” said Cllr James. “We hope the decision to freeze hire fees for at least a year will help those who use the building, and encourage even more to do so.”
Built in the 1850s, Malmesbury Town Hall is the seat of Malmesbury Town Council and has a range of function rooms across two floors available to hire. It is also home to the Athelstan Museum, Malmesbury Food Bank, the HEALS charity, and Jackdaws café.
For more information about Malmesbury Town Hall and booking fees, visit https://www.malmesbury.gov.uk/facilities/rooms-for-hire, email townhall@malmesbury.gov.uk, or call 01666 822143.
Article by Jo Smyth, Word Worker
