Chelmsford Cathedral
Chapter House& Cathedral Centre
Telephone: [01245] 294480. Fax: [01245] 294499.
E-mail: bookings@chelmsfordcathedral.org.uk
Thank you for your interest in booking rooms at the Cathedral’s Chapter House or Cathedral Centre.
If you have any questions or need more information please call:
Julie Brown, Chapter House Manager, Cathedral Office, New Street, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1TY
or email: bookings@chelmsfordcathedral.org.uk
The Chapter house is adjacent to the Cathedral at the junction of Cottage Place, Church Street, Church Lane and Cathedral Walk in the centre of Chelmsford.
The Chapter House offers the following facilities for hire:
St Cedd’s Hall [up to 120 seated] and an adjacent kitchen with servery through to the hall [capable of serving light refreshments for up to 120]
Chancellor Room [up to 35 seated]
Johnson Room [up to 35 seated]
Jacob Room [up to 10 seated]
A small kitchen is available on the second floor for use by those hiring first floor rooms for making drinks etc.
Toilets, including disabled, are available on the First Floor.
All floors are reached by a staircase, and there is a lift which is suitable for disabled persons to the first floor only.
The garden leading off St Cedd’s Hall is not Cathedral property and is therefore not available to people using the Chapter House except in an emergency.
The Cathedral Centre offers a kitchen and the Cathedral library for hire. The Library accommodates up to 15 people.
Car Parking
We regret that there is no public car parking available at the Chapter House, but local car parks are nearby and many daytime restrictions in streets surrounding the area do not apply in the evening. Some short-stay parking can be arranged on request for vehicles delivering stores and equipment.
Daytime car park spaces may be available to course leaders only - but must be booked in advance with the Receptionist at the Diocesan Office [01245 294400]. They will then provide a code number which enable you to exit the car park. For bookings after 7.00 pm, there is some free parking near the Chapter House [via Legg Street] and New Street.
NO CAR PARKING CAN BE PROVIDED FOR THOSE ATTENDING COURSES OR EVENTS AT ANY TIME.
Additional Facilities
We can offer overhead projectors, screens, flipcharts and the use of a TV/Video/DVD at a small extra cost. You may bring additional equipment, such as display panels, screens and flipcharts into the Chapter House by arrangement. All electrical equipment brought into The Chapter House must be PAT tested.
In order to maintain the decorative order of the rooms, however, we do ask that nothing is stuck to the walls.
The Chapter House Custodian will be present during periods when the building is booked on Tuesdays to Fridays. At all other times between 8.30am and 6.00pm a Verger is available in the Cathedral Vestry [01245 252430]
Further assistance can be obtained from the Cathedral Office [01245 294480] but please remember that the Office is located at some distance from the Chapter House and that assistance from the vergers may not be available immediately.
Outside normal office hours, the organizer is responsible for unlocking and locking up the building and should obtain a key from the Vergers (see below).
An Event Organiser is defined as the person(s) who are responsible for arranging the booking(s) and who are to run the event whether regular groups or occasional users.
You should supply a completed booking form, with your full requirements, to the Chapter House Manager. Bookings will not be considered firm until confirmation is given in writing.
If less than three weeks' notice of cancellation is given, full or part charges may be levied depending on circumstances.
Social events, parties, wedding receptions and similar gatherings will be classified as private events with the Event Organiser personally named as host and being responsible for an acceptable level of conduct by all attending. At such events there may be NO SALE of entry tickets, nor of alcohol, cigarettes/tobacco nor other items the sale of which is restricted by Licensing Laws.
Because the noise levels likely to result may be a nuisance to residents in the locality, you must consult the Cathedral Administrator about all types of music that you propose to use at the time of the booking. Many forms of music will be possible depending on the time of day – please discuss this with the Cathedral Administrator. We reserve the right for the Chapter House Custodian to ask that volume levels be reduced if necessary.
For bookings extending beyond 6.00pm on any day, organizers should obtain a key from the Vergers at the Cathedral Vestry. Keys can be collected between 9.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Saturday. If this presents a difficulty (eg. distance or timing), organizers should contact the Vergers direct on (01245) 252430 or 07749 255475 to arrange a collection time. For evening bookings, organisers are responsible for opening up the building before an event and locking up afterwards. Please consult the Chapter House Custodian or one of the Vergers about what is required to ensure the building is securely locked. Organisers must ensure that the building is securely locked after an event before leaving the premises. Keys must be returned to the Vestry after locking up. You attention is drawn to the Event Organiser’s Checklist which details procedures for locking up the building.
Please provide stewards to assist the Chapter House Custodian in crowd control in and out of the building if your event involves a large number of people. They will also be able to assist should it be necessary to evacuate the building in an emergency.
Please ensure that everyone in your party is aware of Fire and Emergency action to be taken. Fire notices are posted in each room.
If anyone is involved in an accident or incident of any kind, please ensure that full details are passed to the Cathedral Office either in person or in writing so that the Cathedral’s Accident Book can be completed. Ideally, accidents should be reported in person to the Cathedral Office during office hours and a contact telephone number left in case of further inquiry.
A First Aid box is available in the ground floor kitchen.
Please ensure that no one goes into the garden off St Cedd’s Hall by the exit door leading that way, except in an emergency.
You are responsible for ensuring that everyone in your party or group observes all safety notices which are displayed in the building, especially in the kitchen, as a guide to the safe and practical running of the Chapter House and Cathedral Centre.
The Cathedral itself carries an indemnity insurance cover for all persons in the building on authorized business. Event Organisers are, however, to provide adequate insurance cover for all equipment, instruments and other property they may bring into the building. This insurance should be of the “All Risks” type.
Please observe the following regulations which are designed for the better use of the Chapter House and Cathedral Centre by all:
The Chapter House and Cathedral Centre are designated as NO SMOKING areas throughout.
Please do not adjust the heating controls. If you require temperature adjustment contact the Custodian.
Report any damage or breakages to the Custodian. Please note that these will be chargeable.
Games are restricted to those which will not cause damage to the structure, fabric or furniture of the building. Footballs are not permitted and other balls must be of the soft variety.
The building is to be left as found. Items of furniture may NOT be removed from room to room without reference to the Custodian. If the kitchen is used, waste food must be put in bin and all crockery washed and put away in cupboards.
The Chapter House will close for the night at 10.00pm and time should be allowed for packing up. If you wish to extend beyond 10.00pm for a special occasion, please consult the Cathedral Administrator. This may result in extra charges being levied.
David
Fifield
Cathedral Administrator & Chapter Clerk
April 2006
Revised 24th May 2007