Town Clerk's Office, Church Lane, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 7AD

Venues for Hire & 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

Market Place, Blandford Forum, DT11 7AF

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 Front of the Corn Exchange

Inside the Corn Exchange showing the main hall

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. Tables, chairs and dancing area – maximum numbers 120 Tables and chairs with room for dancing etc., 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 2023/2024

FRIDAY/SATURDAY/SUNDAY AND BANK HOLIDAYS

1 session morning or afternoon £88.00
1 session evening £60.00
2 sessions morning and afternoon £146.00
2 sessions afternoon and evening £142.00
3 sessions morning, afternoon and evening £203.00

Hire of the Corn Exchange Kitchen Free of Charge

ALL OTHER DAYS

1 session morning or afternoon £40.00
1 session evening £40.00
2 sessions morning and afternoon £73.00
2 sessions afternoon and evening £73.00
3 sessions morning, afternoon and evening £92.00

An additional charge of £27.10 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

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The Community Room

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 2023/2024

1 session morning, afternoon or evening £16.79
2 sessions morning and afternoon or afternoon and evening £33.58
3 sessions morning, afternoon and evening £50.37

Refreshments (tea or coffee) can be ordered at a cost of 80p + VAT per head.

An additional charge of £27.10 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 Cemetery Chapel

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The Cemetery Chapel

Set within the grounds of Blandford Cemetery, the recently refurbished Cemetery Chapel provides a perfect venue for small funeral services, talks or meetings.

The Cemetery Chapel can hold up to 48 people seated on centre facing pews.  Please note that this venue currently does not have any toilet facilities.

Fees and Charges 2023/2024

Monday to Friday (8:00am to 10:00pm) £70.00 per event or service

An additional charge of £27.10 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 11.0% of the hire charges + Insurance Premium Tax + VAT.

Please click here to read the history of the chapel. 

Fees and Charges 2024/2025

Monday to Friday (8:00am to 10:00pm) £73.00 per event or service

An additional charge of £27.91 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 11.0% of the hire charges + Insurance Premium Tax + VAT.

Please click here to read the history of the chapel. 

The Shambles

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The Shambles from the outside

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 2023/2024

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 £17.00
Per session for the whole area for the sale of items £23.00

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

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The Town Hall from the outside

Situated on the first floor (no disabled access) 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 2023/2024

1 session morning, afternoon or evening £16.50
2 sessions morning and afternoon or afternoon and evening £33.00
3 sessions morning, afternoon and evening £49.50

An additional charge of £27.10 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

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The Council Chamber inside

Next to the Town Hall the Council Chamber (no disabled access) 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 2023/2024

1 session morning, afternoon or evening £16.50
2 sessions morning and afternoon or afternoon and evening £33.00
3 sessions morning, afternoon and evening £49.50

An additional charge of £27.10 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%.

Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion

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Situated within Woodhouse Public Gardens next to the main Post Office in the centre of the town, Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion has been extended to introduce two accessible toilets, a storage cupboard for hirers and a larger kitchen.

The approved design for the extension was not what the Town Council originally applied for, which was an extension flush to the existing building with a matching roof. The Planning Authority required some form of distinction ‘to define the existing from the proposed and avoid exacerbating the already long narrow linear building form’, hence why the extension is set back from the existing building and a sinusoidal corrugated metal roofing sheet has been employed instead of tiles. The internal design was drawn up based on responses to a consultation carried out with regular hirers on how the building could be improved.

The Town Council has funded the majority of improvements but would especially like to thank the National Lottery’s Awards for All Fund for the grant of £10,000, helping to make this project possible.

Thanks to Greendale Construction Ltd and Simon Morgan MCIAT of Forum-based Morgan Design Studio LTD for their work throughout the project. Greendale Construction Ltd is based in Poole and have used local contractors for the project, which included:
Jason Ive Building and Carpentry
DC Electrical
Sam Christopher Building
Gary Manson Heating & Plumbing Engineers

The redundant windows have been claimed by a resident for inclusion in a learning resource centre/library being built in Zambia, as part of the charity ‘Future Pillars Zambia’, which is fantastic to see them being reused instead of disposing them.

The pavilion has been popular with community groups, local clubs and individuals over the years and is used for everything from poetry, painting and crafts to formal training, coffee mornings, birthday parties and christenings.  Set on one level a ramp is provided for disabled access, the Pavilion will accommodate 60 close seated. There is Pay and Display parking 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 2023/2024

1 session morning, afternoon or evening £23.17
2 sessions morning and afternoon or afternoon and evening £46.34
3 sessions morning, afternoon and evening £69.51

An additional charge of £27.10 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 11.0% of the hire charges + Insurance Premium Tax + VAT

Fees and Charges 2024/2025

1 session morning, afternoon or evening £23.86
2 sessions morning and afternoon or afternoon and evening £47.72
3 sessions morning, afternoon and evening £71.58

An additional charge of £27.91 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 11.0% 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.

Producers and Makers Market, held on a Sunday from 10am to 3pm, and the details can be found below and here at their Facebook page.
Dates for 2024
Sunday 24th March
Sunday 28th April
Sunday 26th May
Sunday 23rd June
Sunday 28th July
Sunday 22nd September
Sunday 27th October
Sunday 24th November

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