Facilities

The Institute is a large welcoming space for many sorts of different activities and groups.  The main hall measures approximately 15m x 8.5m and we welcome groups of up to 113 people. Seated numbers depend on your chosen table layout and any dance floor or stage location.

There is a large functional kitchen adjacent to the main hall, equipped with fridge, cookers and ovens. We do not yet have a dishwasher – if you are planning a large function we suggest you consider outside catering and glasses hire to make things easier.  Our inventory gives you a good idea of all the crockery and tableware we can offer you as part of your hire. 

There is also a snooker room with a full sized snooker table available for hire at the Institute.  Please be in touch with the snooker club to organise this. All hirers of the snooker room must be members of the snooker club – this costs £10. 

The Mary Jackson room serves a small adjacent meeting room or store room, as needed.

There is a separate bar and servery, useful for functions that require drinks but do not want the full use of the kitchen.

The Hall has separate Ladies and Gentlemen cloakrooms and another cloakroom  for the disabled.  

Wheelchair users can access the Hall from the ramp at the side entrance.

The Ashford Post Office operates two mornings a week from the eastern side of the Hall.

The Institute offers car parking for half a dozen cars with a reserved space for disabled users.  We ask that if necessary, visitors park in the village car park, which is behind the Church, in order to avoid unnecessary congestion.

Hirers may choose to erect a small awning out over the car park and enjoy the pleasant lawn in front of the Institute. 

Stage

The Hall has a stage (requiring assembling by hirers) which is 50cm high and measures up to 4.5m square.  This is normally erected on one side of the hall but hirers can choose their preferred layout.

WiFi

WiFi is available throughout the Main Hall; the password is available on booking.

Storage and Cleaning

We offer some storage facilities for our regular users, although space is at a premium.  If you are making a regular booking – for example for an exercise class – do let us know if you would like storage. 

We provide cleaning materials within the store cupboard; please help us by leaving the hall clean after your event.