Refurbished Robertsbridge Village Hall set for grand reveal

The hall’s kitchen has doubled, the toilets have been upgraded and its been given a lick of paint.

Gail Amies, who was Robertsbridge Community Association (RCA) chairman when the hall first opened in 1988, will cut the ribbon at 7pm.

Current RCA chairman Neil Barden said: “We are so glad to be celebrating the end of work.

“These improvements have been brewing for some years and took up much time and effort.

“We believe they will benefit current and future users, and mark the start of a new era for the hall and the people of Robertsbridge.”

The hall is now a more flexible venue as the kitchen has doubled by moving the men’s toilets, and completely re-equipped making it suitable for larger events.

The disabled toilets have been expanded and updated with a nappy changing facility, and the ladies’ toilets have also been relocated and refurbished.

All the flooring and lighting in these areas has been replaced and they have been redecorated throughout.

Funding came from Veolia Environmental Trust (VET), who awarded £12,000 through the Landfill Communities Fund, and Rother District Council which contributed £5,000.

The Big Lottery Fund gave £10,000 and Robertsbridge Parish Council provided £1,000. RCA met the rest from its reserves, assisted by some smaller contributions from generous villagers.

VET executive director Paul Taylor said: “Halls like this are at the heart of communities across the UK and we are always pleased to support projects to upgrade them.

“I hope these improvements lead to even more use of this hall and I congratulate everyone involved on their hard work.”

The hall is a focus for a wide range of community events and activities including a weekly old peoples’ lunch club, a monthly jazz club, a woodturners society, ballet and dance classes, a parents and toddlers group, Citizens Advice Bureau, and meetings of the parish council, the archaeological society, the WI and the patchwork quilt group.

It is also used for whist drives, the monthly Robertsbridge Village Market, as a polling station, film shows, drama performances, and private events such as birthday parties and weddings.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.ryeandbattleobserver.co.uk/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RyeandBattleObserver

3) Follow us on Twitter @BattleObs

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Rye and Battle Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.