Bookings
Corn Exchange Complex & Markets
There are several venues for hire which may be suitable for a range of meetings and activities. To view any of the Town Council’s venues or to make a booking please contact the Bookings Receptionist at the Town Council on 01258 454500 during office hours Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 12.30pm.
Email: bookings@blandfordforum-tc.gov.uk
To find out more about each venue please see the information below:
The Corn Exchange
THIS VENUE IS CLOSED FOR REFURBISHMENT AT THE MOMENT.
For more information on the project please click here.
Market Place, Blandford Forum, DT11 7AF
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The Corn Exchange is the largest of the Town Council’s venues available for hire by members of the Public.
It has a large stage making it suitable for public performances with rear dressing rooms and toilet facilities. The main hall is large enough to hold “table-top” sales, markets, private functions and receptions. The floor is ideal for dancing. A kitchen is available for use and is equipped with refrigerator, urn, cooker and cups and saucers for 200. Pay and Display car parking is available within easy walking distance. There is disabled access at the main entrance where there are also toilet facilities including disabled. Wifi availability.
The Corn Exchange will hold 200 close seated, standing and dancing. The venue measures 21m x 10m. For a tables, chairs and dancing area set-up – maximum numbers 120. Session times for the hire of the Corn Exchange are as follows:
Morning Session 8.00am to 1.00pm
Afternoon Session 1.30pm to 5.30pm
Evening Session 6.00pm to 10.00pm
Fees and Charges 2025/2026
FRIDAY/SATURDAY/SUNDAY AND BANK HOLIDAYS
| 1 session | morning or afternoon | £97.00 |
| 1 session | evening | £66.00 |
| 2 sessions | morning and afternoon | £161.00 |
| 2 sessions | afternoon and evening | £157.00 |
| 3 sessions | morning, afternoon and evening | £224.00 |
Hire of the Corn Exchange Kitchen Free of Charge
ALL OTHER DAYS
| 1 session | morning or afternoon | £44.00 |
| 1 session | evening | £44.00 |
| 2 sessions | morning and afternoon | £81.00 |
| 2 sessions | afternoon and evening | £81.00 |
| 3 sessions | morning, afternoon and evening | £102.00 |
An additional charge of £28.75 per hour or part thereof for bookings before 8 am and after 10.00 pm (applicable to all Town Council venues).
Please note an additional fee of £50.00 applies for Funeral Services.
All prices are exclusive of VAT. Proof of hirers Public Liability Insurance of £1,000,000 minimum is required. Otherwise the Town Council will arrange liability cover at a cost of 11.0% of the hire charges + Insurance Premium Tax + VAT
COMMERCIAL HIRE RATES
The Corn Exchange is available to hire for commercial use. Charges and session times are available on request. Terms and conditions apply.
Discounts
The following discounts apply to the above session rates, only one discount is permitted per booking:
1. Blandford based registered charities and a Blandford, non-profit making, community based organisation – 50% discount. Please note that this discount is only applicable if the hire charge is over £50.00.
2. National registered charities – 25% discount.
Discounts 1 and 2 are not applicable to any event where individuals benefit from the sale of any item.
3. Regular users (minimum of 10 pre-booked sessions) – 20% discount
History
The buildings, colloquially known as “The Corn Exchange”, are centrally situated in the Market Place, the main shopping area. They carry a Grade I statutory listing and are located at the heart of a conservation area described as “the most complete and cohesive surviving example of a Georgian country town in England” in the 1970 Donald W. Insall report commissioned by the County Council to assess the area.
The facade of the Town Hall, built in 1734, is a uniquely important and pivotal feature in the centre of the Market Place in Blandford. Its size, design and use of Portland stone facade set it apart from its mostly red-brick Georgian neighbours and afford it a unique position in the 18th century townscape.
This complex of buildings comprise the “Shambles”, the Town Hall room, and Council Chamber, all housed in the original Town Hall building. They are linked by a single storey extension to the Corn Exchange, built in 1858, which has a opening cut through its northern wall to form a proscenium arch into another single storey building which forms the stage. This stage building is in turn is joined to the modern Council Offices built at the back of the complex in 1990. The entire site is wholly owned, run and maintained by Blandford Forum Town Council. The ‘Corn Exchange’ has been the centre of civic functions since 1734 and over its 289 year lifespan has periodically seen injections of local public money to adapt it for uses contemporary to the times.
The Community Room
THIS VENUE IS CLOSED FOR REFURBISHMENT AT THE MOMENT.
For more information on the project please click here.
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Housed within the Town Clerks Office building the Community Room provides a comfortable venue for group meetings and courses. Fully carpeted, this room will accommodate 20 close seated or 9-11 maximum boardroom style. Wifi availability.
A ramp gives good disabled access and a disabled toilet is situated next to the main room. A Pay and Display car park is adjacent to the Town Clerks Office (maximum stay 2 hours).
Morning Session 8.00am to 1.00pm
Afternoon Session 1.30pm to 5.30pm
Evening Session 6.00pm to 10.00pm
Fees and Charges 2025/2026
| 1 session | morning, afternoon or evening | £19.00 |
| 2 sessions | morning and afternoon or afternoon and evening | £38.00 |
| 3 sessions | morning, afternoon and evening | £57.00 |
Refreshments (tea or coffee) can be ordered at a cost of £1.00 + VAT per head.
An additional charge of £28.75 per hour or part thereof for bookings before 8 am and after 10.00 pm (applicable to all Town Council venues).
All prices are exclusive of VAT. Proof of hirers Public Liability Insurance of £1,000,000 minimum is required. Otherwise the Town Council will arrange liability cover at a cost of 11.0% of the hire charges + Insurance Premium Tax + VAT
Discounts
Discount for Regular users (minimum of 10 pre-booked sessions) – 20%.
The Shambles
THIS VENUE IS CLOSED FOR REFURBISHMENT AT THE MOMENT.
For more information on the project please click here.
What3Words:///duplicate.diet.bucked
The area inside the gates at the front of the Corn Exchange.
Morning Session 8.00am to 1.00pm
Afternoon Session 1.30pm to 5.30pm
Evening Session 6.00pm to 10.00pm
Fees and Charges 2025/2026
THURSDAY/SATURDAY/SUNDAY AND BANK HOLIDAYS (Market Traders)
| Single pitch | £19.50 |
| Double pitch | £39.00 |
| Single pitch (other days) | £18.50 |
| Double pitch (other days) | £37.00 |
The above prices include VAT at 20%.
MONDAY/TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY (Charities/Blandford non-profit making, community based organisations – For the sale of items the following charges apply.)
| Per session/per pitch | £19.00 |
| Per session for the whole area for the sale of items | £26.00 |
The above prices do not include VAT at 20%.
Discounts
Charities/Blandford non-profit making, community based organisations – Free of charge (including one trestle table) for the promotion of their charity/organisation or licensed charity collections.
The Town Hall
THIS VENUE IS CLOSED FOR REFURBISHMENT AT THE MOMENT.
For more information on the project please click here.
What3Words:///duplicate.diet.bucked
Situated on the first floor, access via lift or stairs, at the front of the Corn Exchange. The Town Hall is suitable for group meetings and courses and can accommodate 50 people maximum. Pay and display car parking is available within easy walking distance. Wifi availability.
Morning Session 8.00am to 1.00pm
Afternoon Session 1.30pm to 5.30pm
Evening Session 6.00pm to 10.00pm
Fees and Charges 2025/2026
| 1 session | morning, afternoon or evening | £19.00 |
| 2 sessions | morning and afternoon or afternoon and evening | £38.00 |
| 3 sessions | morning, afternoon and evening | £57.00 |
An additional charge of £28.75 per hour or part thereof for bookings before 8am and after 10.00pm (applicable to all Town Council venues).
All prices are exclusive of VAT. Proof of hirers Public Liability Insurance of £1,000,000 minimum is required. Otherwise the Town Council will arrange liability cover at a cost of 11% of the hire charges + Insurance Premium Tax + VAT
Discounts
Discount for Regular users (minimum of 10 pre-booked sessions) – 20%.
The Council Chamber
THIS VENUE IS CLOSED FOR REFURBISHMENT AT THE MOMENT.
For more information on the project please click here.
What3Words:///duplicate.diet.bucked
Next to the Town Hall the Council Chamber, access via lift or stairs, offers a traditional setting for formal meetings or smaller groups and can accommodate up to 15 seated around the large meeting table. Wifi availability.
Morning Session 8.00am to 1.00pm
Afternoon Session 1.30pm to 5.30pm
Evening Session 6.00pm to 10.00pm
Fees and Charges 2025/2026
| 1 session | morning, afternoon or evening | £19.00 |
| 2 sessions | morning and afternoon or afternoon and evening | £38.00 |
| 3 sessions | morning, afternoon and evening | £57.00 |
An additional charge of £28.75 per hour or part thereof for bookings before 8 am and after 10.00 pm (applicable to all Town Council venues).
All prices are exclusive of VAT. Proof of hirers Public Liability Insurance of £1,000,000 minimum is required. Otherwise the Town Council will arrange liability cover at a cost of 11% of the hire charges + Insurance Premium Tax + VAT
Discounts
Discount for Regular users (minimum of 10 pre-booked sessions) – 20%.
Markets
The Market Manager, Andy Reynolds, looks after the Shambles, indoor and outdoor market. If you would like a pitch at any of these markets please contact Andy on 01258 454500 or 07596 385765.
The Town Council took on the responsibility for the outdoor market from the former North Dorset District Council on Saturday 1st October 2016.
Since then the Town Council has adopted a Tenant Mix Policy 2023-2024.
Pitch charges shall be paid to the Market Manager.
Outdoor: The charge per pitch for an outdoor pitch on a Thursday or a Saturday is £18.50. Winter discount is available at £15.00.
*Indoor: The charge per stall for an indoor stall on a Thursday is £15.50 for a middle stall and £16.50 for a wall stall.
*Kitchen: The charge for the use of the kitchen on a Thursday is £20.00
*Shambles: The charge per pitch for a shambles stall on a Thursday or Saturday is £19.50.
The outdoor market takes place in the Market Place on Thursdays and Saturdays.
