LiveArts can offer hirers a range of facilities to add to the success of staging an event in St Mary’s.
The venue holds up to 600 people including audience, first aiders, technicians, performers and stewards. Downstairs the church pews hold up to 450 people in unrestricted view seats and the upstairs balcony holds up to 150 in total (138 unrestricted view seating). For venue seating plan please click here.
We can augment your event by offering to provide stage lighting with technical support.
For detailed information on our sound equipment, please download the PDF by clicking here.
Hire includes the use of a fully weighted digital piano. There will be an additional hire charge for using the church organ.
The stage which is 1m high, has a dance floor surface and underfloor heating. To download a stage plan please click here. As well as the static stage, additional tiered staging can be hired free of charge and can be adapted to suit bespoke configurations. The tiered staging will hold up to 64 people seated or up to 100 young people standing.
There is ramp access with handrail at the front entrance of the church. There are two wheelchair-adapted toilets at the rear of the church. There are designated areas provided for wheelchair users in the auditorium. There is a hearing induction loop for those hard of hearing. We welcome people with assistance dogs.
The building is licensed for the sale of wine and beer at the beginning of an event and during the interval. LiveArts runs the bar and retains the proceeds.
LiveArts will provide a Head Steward for each event, but the hirer will be responsible for finding up to 7 stewards to man the fire exits. Pending availability and sufficient notice, additional LiveArts’ stewards can be booked to make up the shortfall at no extra cost.
Hirers will need to provide two fully qualified first aiders for their event. We would recommend using either St John Ambulance Tel: 01865 255480, or British Red Cross Tel: 01295 269457. They will send you a form on request.
The church centre can also be hired at an additional cost. The centre is adjacent to the church and is fully equipped with kitchen, toilets including adapted facilities and changing rooms. For further information and a booking form, please contact the Church Administrator
Tel: 01295 253329 or email: church.administrator[at]stmaryschurch-banbury.org.uk.
Anyone wishing to hire St Mary’s Church for a public event must be able to provide proof of £5 million Public Liability Insurance cover. The church is fully covered under the Ecclesiastical Insurance Company.
Organisations hiring the church or the centre are allowed to use up to two free car parking spaces in St Mary’s Centre car park. Nearby car parking is also available in Horse Fair, North Bar and South Bar, but charges do apply before 6pm. Further car parking is available in Castle Street multistory car park and Calthorpe Street (charges apply)
You will receive free inclusion into the LiveArts full colour programme that is published twice a year (subject to the hire booking being made prior to the programme going to print).
Hirer’s event information will be posted onto the LiveArts website with links set up to the hirer’s own website.
You can provide LiveArts with either A4 or A3 posters that will be displayed in the LiveArts glass stand at Banbury Tourist Information Centre and on the church notice boards. We will only display printed posters that have been produced to a high standard.
There is the opportunity to use the box office facilities at Banbury Tourist Information Centre at Castle Quay. This is subject to a commission charge levied by Cherwell District Council. To obtain further information please Tel: 01295 259855.
The church is able to hire out the Church Advertising Board situated outside the Thai Orchid restaurant. This can help to further promote your event. The board can be booked for up to two weeks before your event dependent on availability. The board measures 6’ wide x 4’ height. The cost of hiring the board is £25 per week. The board can be booked three months in advance by contacting the Church Administrator
Tel: 01295 253329 Email: church.administrator[at]stmaryschurch-banbury.org.uk.
To download the latest Programme click the image below.