Vestry Hall takes meetings, workshops, community events, private parties and civil weddings for up to 150 guests standing or 120 seated at cabaret tables. The building is a Victorian hall on London Road in Mitcham, in the London Borough of Merton, facing Cricket Green.
Seminars and company events
The hall offers rooms of very different sizes, which makes it workable for a training day with breakout groups. Whitford Hall, the main room, takes 120 in cabaret layout, while Mansfield Hall holds 64 in cabaret or 100 standing. The Merryweather room suits a working group of up to 20, and the Maple room is set aside for one-to-one sessions. A sound system, a projector with laptop, internet access, an induction loop and built-in lighting are included in the hire. The venue holds a stock of tables and up to 150 chairs, so layouts can follow the brief. The hall also hosts concerts, exhibitions and cultural events, and its technical set-up can support live bands and DJ sets.
Weddings and receptions
Vestry Hall holds a licence for civil ceremonies. Couples book the registrar separately through their local register office and can combine the ceremony with a reception in the same building. The main hall has high ceilings and original architectural details. Couples may bring their own decorations, flowers and suppliers after agreeing them with the venue team, and a list of local suppliers who know the hall is available. A meeting or call in the weeks before the day settles access times and set-up.
Rooms and capacities
Whitford Hall measures 163 square metres and holds 150 standing or 120 cabaret, with a bar. Mansfield Hall, at 95 square metres, takes 100 standing or 64 cabaret. Merryweather and the garden each cover 30 square metres and take 20 guests. The Maple room suits two people, and the Wandle room completes the list. The building is step-free and has accessible toilets.
Catering
There are kitchen facilities on site and catering can be arranged with the venue. Whitford Hall has a licensed bar. Organisers should agree the catering arrangement when booking, including whether an outside caterer will use the kitchen.
History and setting
The hall was built in 1887 to mark Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, on the spot where the village lock-up and stocks once stood. It was designed by the architect Robert Masters Chart and opened by Mrs Cosmo Bonsor, wife of the member of Parliament for Wimbledon. It first housed the parish council and the volunteer fire brigade, who were called out by the bell in the clock tower. Today the building also hosts community organisations, and volunteers look after its garden.
Getting there
The address is 336-338 London Road, Mitcham CR4 3UD. Three Blue Badge parking bays sit directly outside, and a shared car park with ten spaces is a minute's walk away. On-site parking is limited, so public transport is the easier option for larger groups.
