View from the stage 

View towards the stage - the hall has been decorated for a Valentine's Night Function  

  

The Village Hall comprises a stone vestibule which leads into a large hall measuring 21metres by 5metres that can accommodate 100 people seated theatre style and which has a raised dias at one end. A smaller self-contained meeting room measuring 3metres square, leads off the main hall and can seat up to 10 people. The building is heated and has both kitchen facilities and conveniences on site. The main hall can be flexibly set up for meetings, performances, gardening shows, jumble sales and indoor games as well as private and public functions.  A loop system is fitted in both rooms for the hard of hearing and the flooring of the main hall and stage was completely refurbished in September 08.  There are 120 chairs, 12 trestle tables and 6 desk-like tables available for use. 

 

 Regular Activities/Bookings 

Monday Daytime	Toddlers Group
Monday Evening	Gardening Club - three to four times per year      Parish Council - every two months                     Village Hall Committee - every three months
Thursday Evening	Indoor Bowls Club
Friday Evening	Junior Club - every other week

 

 Booking Enquiries and Charges

Enquiries about booking the Hall should be directed to Kevin Clarke (710326).

 

Charges as from 1 August 2010 are as follows:

Free evenings	£8.00 per evening for those living in Ashbury Parish    £12.00 per evening for those living outside the Parish
Fund raising/parties	£20.00 (mid-day to midnight) for those living in the Parish   £25 for those living outside the Parish
Children’s Parties	£17.50 for those living in the Parish                         £25.00 for those living outside the Parish
Private Parties	£30.00 for those living in the Parish                           £40.00 for those living outside the Parish
Hire of Tables	£3 per table per night
Hire if Chairs	£3 per 5 chairs per night

 

 Booking Diary

Click here to open the diary in a new page and view which dates are free and which are reserved.

 

 Forthcoming Events 
ASHBURY SUMMER DANCE - 7.30PM ON 10 SEPTEMBER 2010                                             

The Ashbury Summer Dance is coming the the Manor Barn again this year, featuring “Locomotion” the Swindon Pop / Rock / Soul cover band.  Their music spans the decades from the 1960s onwards and includes items from Blondie to the Beatles, Meat Loaf to Michael Jackson, so there is something for everyone. Tickets are only £17 which includes one welcome drink with nibbles and supper. A Bar will be available and there will be a raffle. Last year's dance was a great success and the tickets ran out  - so make sure you get yours soon. More information and tickets available from Graham Clarke 710305, Maggie Simons 710801 or James Ruggiero 710780. Organised by the Village Hall Committee for the Hall Restoration Fund. 

 Reports on Recent Events

A HANDFUL OF HENNA - 16 APRIL 2010

On the 16th April the Village Hall Committee presented the Oxford Theatre Company production of a Handful of Henna. This was the first rural venue for the actors who had performed the play in many theatres around the country. The evening was well attended by over 70 villagers from the area who enjoyed cakes and refreshments afterwards whilst contributing to a Q&A session with the cast. Thanks go to Ian Robson for selling over one third of the tickets and to Maggie Simons and Margaret Smith for baking the lovely cakes.    

ASHBURY SUMMER BALL - 29 AUGUST 2009

The Summer Ball was held in Ashbury Manor Hall. The theme was Abba music from the 70’s and the tribute band "Abbaration" provided the entertainment. Tickets sold out by word of mouth almost as soon as they were available and approximately 20 villagers were disappointingly unable to purchase a ticket as the barn had a capacity attendance of 110. Bubbly and nibbles were followed by an excellent 3-course dinner. Guests joined in with the theme, many arriving in Abba or 70’s costumes or dinner jackets. By the time the band started playing at 9pm everyone was ready to dance and, as the saying goes: “they were rockin’ in the aisles” (see photos below).

Ashbury Village Hall Committee would like to thank all who bought tickets and attended; also the many volunteers who helped with furniture transport, table setting, decorations, photography of the event, providing the port-a-loos, lighting and electrical distribution, pre-cooking the meal, the bar, and selling the admission tickets and pot luck squares. Most of all we are extremely grateful to Nina and Christopher Prentice for tirelessly working to complete the barn, and providing it to us free of charge so that this special charity event could take place. Particular thanks go to Margaret Smith, Maggie Simons and Judy Clarke for organising, preparing and serving the wonderful food; also for clearing up afterwards.

The record proceeds, in excess of £1400, will help us to continue improving the hall. In the past 18 months we have resurfaced the hall floor and repaired or replaced and decorated the hall windows. We have several projects in the pipeline, including improvements to the kitchen and ladies washroom, hall redecoration and general ground maintenance.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 "Abbaration" providing the entertainment                        Dancing the night away

 

EASTER AFTERNOON TEA AND SING ALONG - 7 APRIL 2009

On 7th April the Village Hall Committee organised an Easter Afternoon Tea in the Village Hall.  This was very well attended and the sandwiches, scones and cakes were prepared by Maggie Simons, Margaret Smith, Peggy Leon, Diane McLaren and Leonie Knott.  The event was accompanied by Mark Nutt on the keyboard, supported by his grandparents who provided the song sheets which everyone used to sing along to tunes of the 40s, 50s and 60s.  Thanks to the Senior Citizens Club and Ray Gigg for their donations which helped the event raise a small profit which will be added to the Hall Restoration Fund (photos courtesy of Diane McLaren).

  

 

 

 

 

 

     

  

 

 

 

VALENTINE'S DANCE - 7 FEBRUARY 2009

On February 7th the Ashbury Village Hall Committee held a Valentine’s Dance featuring the singer Dave James. Margaret Smith managed the event and Paula and Les Symons decorated the hall with a Valentine’s theme. Thanks to all who helped to make the evening a great success, particularly the ladies who cooked the wonderful food, which consisted of 3 spicy main courses, and a number of delightful puddings. Thanks also to the villagers for supporting the event, and contributing to the warming fiesta on a snow laden, winter’s night. The evening made a profit of just under £800, which will be put towards the ongoing hall restoration fund. The money will be put to good use. We are currently reviewing quotes for the renovation and redecoration of the hall windows and the work will start shortly. Next on the agenda for this year will be the internal decoration, followed by the update and renewal of the hall ceiling and lighting.  

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 Decorated Hall (left) and Dave James entertaining the audience (photos courtesy of Toni Beeseley)

 

SCARLET RIBBONS

On the 16th of October the Oxfordshire Travelling Theatre Company entertained us in the Village Hall  with a production entitled Scarlet Ribbons, a musical wrapped around Nat King Cole and his songs. 75 attendees from several villages in the area supported the afternoon show which was a great success and the actors were extremely professional. Although the event was not designed as a fundraiser, and the tickets were priced to break even, the larger than expected attendance and the generous donations on the day meant that £110 was raised to support the Village Hall Restoration Fund. The Hall Committee wishes to thank Peggy Leon for the arrangements and Margaret Smith and Diane McLaren for baking some wonderful cakes, many of which were “doggy bagged” by very appreciative attendees for "seconds" when returning home.

 

MURDER MYSTERY AT THE MANOR - 6 SEPTEMBER 2008

 Below is a pictorial record of this event which took place on 6th September 2008 (photos courtesy of Graham Clarke):