Image courtesy of Hassocks Life Magazine
PLEASE FIND A SUMMARY OF THE AUGUST 2025 CHANGES WE HAVE MADE TO ADASTRA HALL
Operational changes at Adastra Hall – In place of our old toilets serving the main hall and the committee room, there are now 7 new toilet cubicles at Adastra Hall including 3 that are for disabled use and 2 that have baby changing tables. Lights and extractor fans in the cubicles work automatically on entry and exit. There are some other small changes, too – please see below details of those other changes that will affect your use of the building next time you come in.
Lights – Previously, you used to switch the lights on for the lobby using the 4 switches to the left of the 2nd set of doors. Now, there are just 2 light switches as you pass through the front doors, on the left. Please remember to turn the lights off, if you are the last person to leave the building.
New Fire Alarm System – We have a new fire alarm system which is far more sensitive and detailed than the previous one. The alarm is tested each monday between 8am and 9am. If the alarm goes off when you are responsible for the building, please evacuate the building and, if there is a fire call 999. If this is a false alarm, please call Bernard immediately on 07895 247879.
Access to the Committee Room – Access to the committee room is via a new set of double doors. Simply use the key fob reader on the right hand wall to game one-time access. if you are expecting guests, please close this door after them.
Fire door in the Committee Room– There is now a fire door in the Committee Room with an easy exit ramp. This is the quickest and easiest exit point should there be an incident. There is also a break glass in the room.
AV Equipment in the Committee Room We have for hire our new 85” Screen, plus a meeting room Camera and Sound system for video conferencing. Please contact Emily Hilson should you wish to add any of this equipment to your hire.
Access to the Toilets from the main hall Access to the toilets is via the passageway next to the bar area. There is a locking door here which restricts access to the hall from the Committee Room end, but this door will unlock for hall hirers. Please keep this door closed to reduce noise down from the toilet area.
AV Cupboard on the stage The AV Cupboard on the stage is now built in with other storage. It is accessed via a keypad lock with a specific code that you need to obtain to be able to use it.
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Adastra Hall opened for public use in 1987. In the past 38 years the village has grown dramatically and in 2025 we will host over 1,200 hire events. At peak times demand outstrips supply – the hall and its’ rooms don’t have elastic walls and therefore the management committee and trustees are now part-way through the 3rd phase of a £700,000 3 year development project.
- Stage 1 of our works in 2022 and 2023 saw us considering what the future needs of our hall users should be – focussing on energy efficiency, with a new wifi controlled heating system linked to our bookings, the replacement of all our lighting for LED lights, and 42 solar panels and storage to reduce our carbon emissions and energy costs.
- Stage 2 of our project was delivered between February and June 2024 and featured a £350,000 redevelopment of the Green room.
- Stage 3 of our project focuses on the front of the building. The main work commenced on 2nd June 2025 and features
- an extension to the toilet area, reconfigured toilet facilities made up of 7 individual cubicles – including 2 x family changing / wheelchair access facilities. This is a major improvement on the 2 ladies toilets we have today.
- a new CCTV and fire alarm system
- new access arrangements to the toilet area, via the main hall and committee room exclusively.
- new on-stage storage in the main hall
- removal of redundant electrical equipment and remapping the wiring of the building
- redecoration of the main hall, lobby area
- refurbishment of the hall floor
- redecoration of the committee room, addition of AV equipment (74inch monitor and vidoe conferencing technology)
- a new mural in the main lobby depicting the history of the development of Hassocks