Facilities
Dimensions: The hall is 11m long and 7.8m wide, narrowing to 5m, giving approximately 70sqm (750 sqft) of floor space. A selection of pictures can be found in the gallery. A video of the hall can be found here, and a video of the kitchen here.
Folding tables are available in 3 sizes:
Six large (180cmx60cm) seating up to 8 people
Six medium (125cmx60cm) seating up to 6 people
Six small tables (90cmx60cm) seating up to 4 people.
Two trolleys store a total of 64 folding chairs with padded seats.
There is a fitted kitchen equipped with an electric oven and four ring ceramic hob, microwave, fridge freezer, water urn, electric hostess trolley and electric kettle. There is sufficient crockery for up to 40 or 50 place settings with dinner plates, side plates, bowls, cups and saucers. Cutlery is also provided.
There is an accessible toilet.
Access
The building is easy to access for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. The front entrance has large double doors and a ramp leads up from the pavement.
Carpark
There is a small carpark at the front of the hall that can accommodate several cars. Parking is also available on the road.
History
Sibbertoft Reading Room is, in all but name, our “Village Hall”. Together with the church and pub it is a key focal point for events within the village and an essential part of village life.
Located on Berkely Street, it was given to the village in 1911 by a local benefactor Elizabeth Mansel and subsequently extended in the 1960s so that the original hall is now larger and a kitchen and toilets were added. A major refurbishment project in 2019 updated the electrics, decor, flooring and kitchen and the addition of a ramp and larger toilet made the hall accessible to all.
Charitable status and management
Sibbertoft Reading Room became a registered charity in 1965 with charity number 304245. The charity is a not for profit organisation, governed by a trust deed and has two trustees. However, the day to day running of the hall and all decisions are taken by a voluntary management committee elected annually at an Annual General Meeting (AGM). All inhabitants of the village who are 18 or over may attend and vote at the AGM. The committee also hold at least two ordinary meetings each year.