Hotel function room vs. school facilities for hire

Hotel function room or school facilities for hire: which is best?

A hotel function room and school facilities for hire are both great choices for a number of different events, and each have a wide variety of uses including conferences, rehearsals and parties, but which is best and for what kind of events? 

Hotel function room vs. school facilities for hire

Hotel function room: 

Ambience: depending on the hotel and its location – including the outdoor spaces and views offered – hotels can offer a sophisticated and elegant atmosphere complete with many desirable traits such as modern artwork, high end decor and in-house wait staff. What’s more, for any events that might provide attendees or guests with the opportunity to stay on late into the night, hiring a hotel function room may also come with the added bonus of cut-price rooms available to attendees wishing to stay overnight. 

Catering: hotels are typically places where people go to eat, drink and be merry, not just spend the night and, as a result, are often able to offer the luxury of on-site catering services with various menu options, including a bar if needed. This can be a great option, therefore, for any events intended specifically for adults where alcohol may be consumed or a sit down meal enjoyed. 

Accessibility: most modern hotels are well-placed to offer accessibility and accessible facilities; lifts, ramps, assistance with doors, accessible toilets etc. and are therefore a fantastic choice of venue for guests with limited mobility or those who use wheelchairs.

Cost: hiring a hotel function room can be especially expensive, depending on things like: location, catering options, drink/bar options, on-site parking, use of on-site waiting staff etc. and can often end up swallowing most of the budget for an event. 

Flexibility: hotel function rooms may suffer from limited flexibility, such as: limitations in layout due to fixed furniture arrangements or intended use/function, and may be subject to limitations on dates/times or strict booking terms.

School facilities for hire

Functionality: school facilities for hire tend to have a more casual or functional feel, depending on the space, and, as a result, are great for casual events such as workshops, community meetings, fetes and fayres; schools are typically central to their local community and are therefore also well-known in their area, are welcoming, and easy to find and get to for most people.

Flexibility: school facilities can also be more adaptable, typically boasting movable chairs and tables for different layouts and seating requirements, and are potentially suitable for a wider range of activities like sports, sports practices, large group discussions, or art projects.

Affordability: school facilities tend to be especially affordable, flexible and adaptable spaces, and are – generally – much less expensive to hire out than hotel function rooms. What’s more, by hiring out a room in a school on a weekend or evening, you’re supporting your local community, and supporting the educational needs of children & young people in the area which feels great! 

Onsite parking & transport links: schools really do lie at the very heart of their communities and, as such, are typically placed close to local transport links like bus stops and trainlines, making them easy to get to and easy to find. With this, a lot of schools either have onsite parking, which is often free to use, or access to parking close by. All major selling points for guests! 

Why hire school facilities

St Thomas More Catholic Comprehensive School hall for hire

School facilities are flexible, adaptable and very affordable. 

Perfect for casual and/or family-friendly events, school facilities offer lots of space and multiple configurations at very reasonable prices. 

Bishop Challoner School Hall

Alongside this, when hiring school facilities, you’re providing much needed and much appreciated income to the education of children & young people; additional revenue generated from school lettings often going towards things like: student enrichment programmes, new computers, new art supplies, stationary and equipment and school trips. 

To browse the growing number of school facilities for hire in our directory, please click here or contact us today for more information. 

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