Frequently asked questions

Visits are available by appointment. Contact us to arrange a viewing. Please avoid arriving during another hirer’s event.

The Barn can accommodate up to 40 people, seated or standing.

For the hall, kitchen, furniture, garden and accessibility, visit Facilities at The Barn.

View the floor plan (PDF) to help plan your event.

Watch the walk-through video.

A committee member will meet you at your agreed booking time to open The Barn.

Guests may bring alcohol for a private social event, provided noise is kept low and neighbours are respected. If you plan to sell alcohol, contact the Bookings Secretary first to discuss the required permission and licensing arrangements.

Barbecues are not permitted because of the safety and fire risks, including hot coals left after an event.

A domestic gazebo is permitted, but a commercially installed gazebo is not. Position it at the end or rear of The Barn and keep fire exits and emergency routes clear.

Discuss all inflatables with the Bookings Secretary before booking equipment. The indoor size limit stated on the website is 3m × 3m, positioned against the right-hand wall when looking into the hall.

Bouncy castles and other inflatables must be installed and supervised by a professional supplier for an authorised event and carry a PIPA tag.

Speak to the local supplier, Sunshine Softplay in Leighton Buzzard, for advice on what will fit in the hall. They have a wide variety of equipment and are familiar with The Barn’s layout. These are our preferred suppliers. Others will need to be vetted first.

Regular hirers have a minimum booking of one hour. The rate is £13 per hour when booking four or more sessions per month. One-off bookings or fewer than four sessions per month are charged at £15 per hour.

Include setup and cleaning time in your booking. The three-hour minimum at weekends and public holidays applies to one-off hires.

See Regular Hirers and Hire Charges for full details.

Your emailed invoice shows the payment due date. Please pay by that date to secure your booking. An overdue booking may be released.

Pay by bank transfer using the details on your invoice. If your invoice includes a card payment link, you can pay online by credit or debit card through Stripe.

Cash, cheques, PayPal and telephone card payments are not accepted.

The £50 deposit covers loss, damage or additional cleaning during your hire. This includes The Barn, its contents and surrounding areas. If costs exceed the deposit, you remain responsible for the balance. Any deductions will be explained to you.

The deposit is normally returned within 10 days after your event, provided there is no loss or damage and the premises are clean, tidy and ready for the next hire, with rubbish and belongings removed.

We will email to request your bank details for the refund. Please check your junk or spam folder.

Cancellation refunds depend on the notice given: more than 14 days, full refund less £10; between 14 and 7 days, 50%; less than 7 days, no hire refund. The security deposit is refunded in full when you cancel.

We will try to accommodate a date change, subject to availability. Leaving early for reasons outside The Barn’s control does not qualify for a refund. See the full cancellation policy and Conditions of Hire, including cancellations by the committee.