Introduction
For the purpose of these Terms and Conditions, ‘you’ and ‘the Hirer’ refers to the individual(s) or organisation entering into a hire agreement. The Friends of Victoria Park, Stretford Hall (FoVPS) (‘we’) refers to any staff or representatives of the Friends of Victoria Park, Stretford, the charity that runs Victoria Park Community Building.
These Terms and Conditions should be read alongside our Emergency Procedures information sheet.
Our booking policy
- All bookings are to be made via our online booking system to confirm agreement of our terms and conditions. FoVPS reserves the right to refuse a booking without giving a reason for the refusal.
- The booking system will ask for the key details of your bookings, including timings and anticipated guest numbers. Any changes to bookings must be done at least 21 days in advance of the date of your booking.
- We reserve the right to cancel a booking:
- If the booking is deemed to negatively affect the reputation of the Friends of Victoria Park, Stretford
- If we have reason to believe your event will not be organised in line with these Terms and Conditions, or will lead to a breach of licensing conditions or other legal or statutory requirements
- If we have any health and safety concerns which threaten the event guests, members of the public or the staff of Friends of Victoria Park, Stretford.
- If the premises has become unfit for hosting your event, such as if emergent building repairs need to take place urgently.
- If FoVPS cancel a booking, the Hirer shall be entitled to a full refund but the Friends of Victoria Park, Stretford will not be liable for any resulting direct or indirect loss or damages. We accept no liability to provide or pay for alternative facilities elsewhere. We recommend the organisers of large events ensure they have event insurance to cover such losses.
- We do not allow any extremist activities to take place in the building that may incite prejudices of any kind.
- We do not allow events that present an unreasonable risk to the local community, our neighbours, our staff and users, or the fabric of the building itself.
Payment & Cancellation
- Once a booking has been made, full payment will be required at the time of booking. In the event of you having to cancel or postpone your event a full refund will be given provided the cancellation or postponement is done at least 21 days prior to the event date. Any cancellations 21 days or less prior to the booking date will be non – refundable.
- For regular bookings (i.e. those which recur on a weekly basis, for four weeks or more), payment can be arranged on a monthly basis. You will be invoiced at the end of each month for the following month. Please email bookings@fovps.org.uk to set up this arrangement.
- If you need to cancel a regular booking, 21 days’ notice is required. You will not be entitled to a refund but you can reschedule the booking for a future date. You can reschedule up to three regular bookings per year.
- We reserve the right to review hire charges on a regular basis and to vary prices as necessary. Regular hirers will be informed of any price changes at least one month before any changes come into effect.
Licensing & regulations
- By hiring a room or space in the Community Building, you agree to respect the maximum capacity for the room, as stated on our booking system. If we have reason to believe the capacity of a room is being exceeded during an event, we reserve the right to ask guests to leave, or to stop the event.
- Once your booking has been confirmed, you will be sent a link to our Emergency Procedures information sheet, which sets out fire evacuation procedures and other important safety information. The Hirer is responsible for familiarising themselves with this, the location of fire exits, fire extinguishers and alarm points.
- The Hirer is responsible for ensuring fire exits and emergency escape routes remain clear and free from obstruction at all times. Under no circumstances should you remove, move or tamper with fire extinguishers, fire exit signs, and fire detection equipment. Fire extinguishers must only be used in the case of a fire to assist with the safe exit of the building.
- We do not have a license to sell alcohol. Alcohol may be given away freely but it may not be given away with a donation. Any event involving the sale of alcohol being sold must have a Licence/ TEN and be pre-agreed by FoVPS.
- Anyone selling alcohol under a Licence / TEN is expected to meet all of the conditions set out in the Licence/TEN. This includes ensuring that alcohol is not sold to anyone under 18 years, or to anyone who is considered to be drunk.
- We operate a zero tolerance approach to drug use. Anyone found using or under the influence of illegal drugs or substances classified under the misuse of Drugs Act (1971) will be reported to the police and asked to leave the premises.
- We hold a music licence which permits the playing of recorded music. Music can be played at a pre-agreed level to less than 500 people, providing all windows are closed.
- We reserve the right to judge acceptable levels of noise and behaviour of guests. If any behaviour is deemed threatening or illegal, or if noise levels are excessive, you will be asked as the event organiser to take corrective action. If our requests for action are not met, we reserve the right to ask individuals to leave the premises or to stop an event. If this occurs, no refund or compensation will be owed.
- Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the building. This includes e-cigarettes and vapes.
- Guests wishing to smoke will need to do so outside. Please ensure all cigarettes are disposed of safely and not left as litter.
- No portable electrical equipment should be connected to the premises fixed electrical supply unless it has undergone certified PAT testing for electrical safety. If you wish to use electrical equipment, you are responsible for ensuring it meets this requirement. We have the facility to do our own PAT testing at an additional cost of £5 per item if pre-arranged.
- It is not possible to erect a bouncy castle or other inflatables for health and safety reasons. The Community Room does not have room, and the as the outside spaces is still a public park, this would not be safe.
Public events
- If you are hiring a space for a public event or activity, you will be expected to have your own Public Liability Insurance and to have done your own risk assessment. We will ask to see copies of these prior to confirming your booking. While we take every effort to ensure the safety of visitors to the Community Building, we will not be liable for any damage, loss or injury which occurs during your event, unless this is a direct result of our own omissions or actions.
- Prior to public events, staff and volunteers must be fully briefed on what to do in an emergency, as set out in our Emergency Procedures document, as well as being familiar with your event risk assessment. You are responsible for the health and safety of your guests so please ensure staff are properly briefed.
- Anyone working alone with children at the building must be in possession of a current DBS certificate. Evidence of this will be requested prior to confirmation of booking.
- Food cannot be cooked on the premises. External caterers will be expected to hold appropriate food hygiene certificates, public liability insurance, and to be registered as a food business. There will be no access to the Tearoom kitchen as this is a commercial working kitchen.
Premises management
- You will be responsible for any damages caused to the Community Building during your event by any of your guests, contractors or suppliers. In these instances, you will be required to pay the full amount required to make good or remedy such damage.
- Set up and removal times must be factored into room booking times.
- If you do not vacate the hired space by the agreed time, overun charges will apply. These will be charged at our standard commercial rate, regardless of the organisational status of the Hirer.
- The Hirer is responsible for keeping the premises in good order during use, and ensuring the space is left in a clean and tidy state afterwards. Cleaning charges may be incurred if the premises are not left in a suitable state.
- All rubbish must be taken away at the end of the event, including any waste left outside by the hirer or guests.. FoVPS commercial waste contract does not include rubbish generated by guests.
- Please do not hang or stick anything to the walls or ceiling, as this will damage the paintwork over time.
Storage
- We are unable to offer storage facilities for groups or organisations, unless agreed by special arrangement.
