Barn Hire Costs:

 Hire of this beautiful event location offers excellent value for money, especially

 when compared to costs of hiring marquees, tables/chairs, staging etc. 

 Pledgdon Barn hire includes many facilities - and we also allow hirers *1 days'  advance access from 9am-5pm, for unhurried setting up for their event...     

 and until 2pm on the day after your event for 'collection'/clearing purposes.

               Hire charge in 2008: £1965

Hire charge in 2009: £2325
Hire charge in 2010: £2595

VAT not currently applicable to hire charge.

 For cold weather heating (usually mid-Sept to end-April), please add £95

* For two days' advance daytime access re setting up decor etc, please add £100

All dates are 'open' until a deposit is received.  A booking is confirmed upon receipt of a deposit of 50% hire charge - which is non-refundable and secures your booking date.  It is recommended that anyone booking the barn or involved in the costs of organising an event such as a wedding, should investigate taking out appropriate INSURANCE in case they need to cancel etc. The remaining hire amount is due 8 weeks prior to the event + £400 deposit against damage/breakages (appropriately refunded after event).  The above hire charges include use of 120 elegant chairs, 12 tables (5' round), bar area, staging, summer heating*, lighting, car park facilities and barn cleaning** after the event. 

 Please note: the caterer for Pledgdon Barn is Country Cuisine Ltd.                    

 Menus are found on this website, though do ring for exact quotes as prices

 may need to take into account how many guests, courses, style of food, date etc.

 A guide price for a 3-course sit-down meal with coffee after - inclusive of china,

 linen, cutlery, food service for 100 guests mid-2008 - would be £36.95 + VAT for

 your choice of menu suggestions - or the lower-priced Set Menu at £33.25+ VAT. 

 Alternatives provided for known vegetarians/'allergic' guests.

 If you are not having a Civil Ceremony, it's possible rarely for other caterers to    

 be permitted.  The charge for this is £695 which includes optional use of kitchen

 servery facilities on Event day. The caterer must provide proof of food hygiene 

 certificate/current insurance/ liability cover and food registration certificate.

 Civil Ceremonies:

Please discuss your proposed arrangements.  There is a charge for use of our civil ceremony licence which is £295 for 2008 and £330 for 2009.  Up to 100 guests can sit for the ceremony plus around 20 more may stand.  You may want to consider adding a marquee to the side of the Barn to facilitate higher numbers.  Additionally, the  Registry Office at Saffron Walden (tel: 01799 510319) will make a charge.  Country Cuisine Ltd will be the caterer at receptions following Civil Ceremonies.

 Drinks:

  As a further cost-saving, you are able to supply the drinks to be offered at your event - and Barn Services provides the  

glasses/service aspect. Click here for these charges and more information.

NB: NO confetti outside please.  It is asked that, inside, only petals, larger confetti or larger 'table sprinkle shapes' are used and NOT tiny table ‘sprinkle/glitter/beads’ (which can't be hoovered well) nor 'canons'/explosive devices which spread contents high onto the beams!  Thank you.  Similarly, if keen to use candles, please could we request chunky 'church'-style candles for stability and safety.     

** Excess damage may result in loss of deposit.  Normal cleaning is included - however, cleaning up messes 'beyond the call        of duty'  (eg: as a result of overdrinking) will be charged at £75! 

As with many timber buildings, please note this is a non-smoking facility. Guests who smoke are requested to do so outside.

Please request copies of Terms/Conditions which are applicable to hirers of Pledgdon Barn who will be deemed to be responsible for their event, guests, musicians and other service providers.  These T/C also set out that unless other advance arrangements are contracted, the event day hire period is to Midnight. The barn/car park area must be completely vacated by 12.15 am.  After that, a charge of £195 per half hour (or part thereof) is levied to 1.30am, after which £375 per half hour (or part thereof) is levied. To help avoid extra time surcharges, we suggest taxis are ordered 2 or more hours in advance, the bar ceases at 11.30pm and music by 11.45pm.  Please consider the time entertainers/bands take to dismantle sets before vacating, as well as taxi waiting time (even those pre-booked).  We ask that in advance, the hirer nominates an adult (with car) who agrees to remain responsible at the event, to stay to the end, ensuring all  persons have safely left the barn premises/curtillage (eg last guests have been collected by taxis/mini bus etc) but who will, if necessary, be able to drive any remaining guests. Please introduce us to this adult early in the event.  Also, Pledgdon Barn is a non-smoking venue though outside sand-tubs are provided. Fireworks are not permitted inside/outside the premises which are surrounded by farmland/livestock.  Confetti outside is a problem alas, so please only use confetti (larger sized not glitter) within the barn.  Supervise children eg outside re animals, road, equipment, cars etc. The barn/kitchen/bar/car park must be left clear and empty of rubbish/decor and any brought-in foliage/equipment. Anything you have altered/moved, please return to its pre-event state (unless otherwise agreed with Barn Services).  Rubbish to be taken away by the hirer and/or their event suppliers - please inform any event suppliers/friends/family involved in clearing up, about this.  Prior to your event, we’ll discuss table layout, fire exits, access arrangements etc. You may then give that week’s access code out at your discretion to your suppliers (eg band, cake deliverer, florist etc) who need pre-event access.  No cooking/food preparation permitted at the Barn in advance of the event day. You are welcome to return the day after your event until 2pm to remove décor etc. Please check the Barn/car park to ensure all your valuables etc are removed and search for any lost items (eg ear-rings) before leaving.