What are the key ingredients to look for in an indoor party venue for a family party with children

[paulwbm]

I am a volunteer at a large village hall and have been asked to look for ideas (key features) to create an ideal venue for whole family parties that are children friendly. The party would likely be for multi-generation family, relations and friends.

Any ideas from anyone who might have chosen a venue for a similar event in the past, or who might be planning to do so in the near future. this information might also be of help to other village halls and community buildings. Thank you in advance.

By the way, our hall is a not for profit registered charity trust serving the community.

Secure perimeter
Space for kids to run around
Somewhere for granny to sit and chat which isn't drowned out with speakers
Basic kitchen with serving hatch and decent amount of work surface
Having sufficient tables, chairs, crockery etc for maximum numbers.
Clear set up and packing away guidelines.
Reasonable hourly rate and fixed cleaning fee.

Toilets that are sensibly placed for children to be independent without having to go through inappropriate/unsafe spaces (less common than you'd expect). Sufficient toilets. One isn't really sufficient for a family party.
An urn, rather than just a kettle, in the kitchen is a big help.

Def quieter seating area, secure perimeter, parking fenced off if possible

Thank you for the feedback so far, very helpful indeed.

Apart from cleaning, what service might you expect from the venue both before and during your party.

Would you like the party to be "delivered" to you as a complete package or would DIY largely be preferred?

I'd offer both. Maybe a manned bar? Ooh actually facilities to cook food on site are fab!

I would say that, in general, the most useful service is links to appropriate providers - so a couple of local caterers, a mobile bar provider (including ability to sort out temporary licence, or be licensed), suitable entertainers (music or children's entertainers) etc are invaluable.

Have a decently-equipped kitchen, with lots of crockery and cutlery, lots of glasses (or links to a supplier), and enough tables and resp-ctable chairs (granny perched on slightly broken folding chair doesn't make good publicity). Decent electrics / sound system if at all possible are a real bonus - for everything from gentle background music to band to ceilidh. An accessible safe ladder for erecting decorations also good. Clean, decent toilets safely within the building. A fenced off area outdoors is brilliant if you can manage it.

Services in advance that are very useful are a single contact point, and someone to show the organiser round well in advance and be present just before the party on the day. Cleaner afterwards, and plenty of bin bags etc for the immediate aftermath, including recycling, is great too.

I think diy would be preferred as most people end up in a village hall due to budget restrictions and/or because they don't want "standard" party.
From your point of view providing a party package would also be incredibly stressful, time consuming and problematic. The only possible exception to this is to provide a bar service as this could be a good money maker for the hall and would be helpful for the clients to have.

I've rented plenty of party places in my time My favourite hall had an outside play area, secure is a must (I once went to collect 5yo DS from a party only to find a gang of kids outside and nobody knew they had left the hall!!!) a kitchen area with hatch to pass food through is great. I think lots of people just want a relatively cheap place to host their own party, party packages are more for when there is a specific activity on offer like laser tag or bowling.

I think it depends whether your likely clientele is local (in which case simply having decent facilities should be plenty) or whether you anticipate bookings from further afield.

I helped organise a party in a village hall-like venue from further afield, which did have useful links to suppliers etc, and that was extremely useful - but would have been totally unnecessary if I was local.

If you haven't got a kitchen that is top of the list. Though we have thrown events and booked the local fish n chip van to come and park outside.

Agree a year round alcohol licence saves everyone having to apply for their own event.

If you have outside space then a secure play area is brilliant. We fund raised over 3 years to get a small one. Got a 40% national lottery grant !