Venues for Hire
Venues For Hire
Sherborne School Enterprises benefits from first-rate facilities in a range of areas. We have wonderful meeting areas in historic buildings, fantastic performance spaces, great workshops, a cutting-edge Music School including a recording studio, and excellent sporting facilities.
Many of these facilities are available for hire, subject to availability. During School holidays, we regularly welcome conferences and other groups who enjoy our hospitality and revel in the distinctive surroundings.
We also like to support local community groups who would benefit from accessing our facilities.
If you’d like to find out more, please contact our Events Manager via email sse@sherborneschools.group.
Sherborne benefits from first-rate facilities in a range of areas. We have wonderful meeting areas in historic buildings, fantastic performance spaces, great workshops, a cutting-edge Music School including a recording studio, and excellent sporting facilities.
Sherborne Boys
|
Old School Room This handsome building dates from 1606. It replaced the first ‘School House’ of c.1555. It took two years to build and was financed partly by donations from neighbouring gentry. For over 200 years the entire School was taught here. Until the introduction of central dining in the 1975, the Old School Room was used as the dining room for School House. On the panelling and windowsills (made from old desk tops) are carved the names of former pupils dating mainly from the 19th century, with a few from the 17th century. Set into the windows are the coats of arms of former Headmasters, together with those of four distinguished Old Shirburnians who became Vice-Chancellors of Oxford and Cambridge: J.S. Boys Smith, F.J.Lys, H.R. Dean and M.W. McCrum. The Old School Room was refurbished in 2006 when some of the late 19th century ‘improvements’ were removed and the original character of the building was restored. The design, by eminent architect Robert Maguire, put back the Blue Lias stone floor and pale ceiling, with the additional 21st century comforts including under-floor heating and modern lighting. Capacity:
Perfect for:
|
|
Big School Room In November 1877, the foundations for the Big School Room were dug: allegedly half as deep as the building is high. The work was started under Headmaster H.D. Harper who felt the school needed a suitable place for the assembly of the whole School. The new assembly hall was designed in the perpendicular style by architects Richard Herbert Carpenter (1841-1893) and Benjamin Ingelow (1835-1926). Capacity:
Perfect for:
|
|
Powell Theatre The Powell Theatre was built in 1872 as the Wesleyan Schoolroom. The building was purchased by the School in 1980 and reopened in 1986 as the Powell Theatre, in honour of former Headmaster Robert Powell. The theatre was opened by Sir Richard Luce, Minister for the Arts. The Powell Theatre stages plays, lectures and talks. During School holidays it also screens popular movies for the local community. Capacity:
|
|
Tindall Recital Hall The Music School was designed by ORMS Architects and officially opened on 2 July 2010. The design was developed to high environmental standards which is passive in its approach to environmental control. The building is naturally ventilated where possible, with a combination of openable windows and roof lights. The glazing provides good daylighting and, in conjunction with active daylight lighting control, this reduces energy consumption. The 120-seat Tindall Recital Hall is literally at the heart of the building and is a key performance space: three storeys high it allows sophisticated and variable acoustics, with movable bleacher seating and dramatic lighting. The Tindall is often used for musical performances, recitals, concerts and social events. Capacity:
Perfect for:
(tickets sold to public, no food permitted) |
|
Dining Hall The Dining Hall was originally the school gymnasium, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield. In 1975 the building was converted into the central dining hall for the School. An extension was added in 1986. The Dining Hall was fully refurbished in 2022 and is a fantastic space used for many events, including conferences, concerts, and dinner dances. Capacity:
Perfect for:
|
|
Fifth Form Garden The Fifth Form Garden is the lawned area to the south of the chapel and the east of the English department and was formed when the English block was built in 1870. The south wall is all that remains of All Hallows church. It is a great space to hold a drinks reception, outside classes and social events |
Sherborne Girls
|
The Merritt Centre The Merritt Centre is a multi-functional building boasting a state-of-the-art music and performance venue, it is the perfect venue for all your musical needs. It boasts 19 teaching rooms, 2 classrooms which are beautifully designed for music lessons and a state of the art recording studio.
|
|
The Gransden Hall The Gransden Hall is the main heart of the building is the concert hall. It has a superb acoustic, warm, and sufficiently resonant for both vocal and instrumental music. Acoustic banners allow a subtle flexibility of reverberation and the seating offers numerous configurations with which to accommodate varying numbers of performers and audience |
|
The Mackenzie Foyer The Mackenzie Foyer has a lovely ambiance with fabulous views over the grounds and is available for private functions. |
|
Queenies Café The Queenies Café can be open for your events and catering is available thorough our in house caterers. |
|
The Beddington Building The Beddington Building is a self contained block which lends itself perfectly to courses or teaching for Lettings such as Language schools and day courses, where a class room is required. There is a purpose built lecture theatre and large foyer for breakouts. |
