Shiplake Memorial Hall

Welcome to
Shiplake Memorial Hall

Welcome to Shiplake Memorial Hall, a cherished landmark steeped in British history and community spirit. Situated amidst the picturesque countryside, our hall stands as a testament to the resilience and camaraderie of generations past and present.

At Shiplake Memorial Hall, we offer more than just a venue – we provide a hub for gatherings, celebrations and cherished memories. Whether you’re planning a community event, a private function or a local wedding, our hall welcomes you with open arms.

About Us

Shiplake Memorial Hall is a village hall and playing field for the use of the inhabitants of the Parishes of Shiplake and Binfield Heath and the surrounding area.

This incorporates two local clubs
Tennis Club
Bowling Club

The charity was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (‘CIO’) on 21 March 2019 (charity number 1182572). Shiplake Memorial  Hall is managed by a dedicated team from the local community and they consist of the following

Trustees

Bob Partridge (Chair),Simon Atkinson (Treasurer), Caroline Fairbrother,
Pam Hudgell, Ann Manning (Shiplake Parish Council),
Mark Manson, Alastair MacDiarmid

Operations Team

Peter Debrou (Caretaker), Lavinia Willgoss (Bookings),
Philippa Collings (Bookings)

Throughout the year the whole team works hard to run the Hall as a sound operation for the whole of the local community and to provide an ongoing legacy that we can continue to be proud of for the next generation.

Host Your Event

Shiplake Memorial Hall is a spacious and atmospheric venue in a countryside location outside the beautiful market town of Henley-on-Thames. It is the perfect place to enjoy community events, both indoor and outdoor, fundraisers and commercial events, celebrations and meetings. It is regularly used for dance and exercise classes as well by local organisations. 
 
The Hall boasts a large kitchen equipped to professional standard, supporting a variety of catered events from celebration meals to light refreshments. French windows lead from the Hall into an enclosed garden to enjoy on warm evenings. There is ample parking and the venue has full access for wheelchair users. The Hall has a large playing field which is in regular use by the local community. It is also home to Shiplake Tennis Club and Shiplake Bowls Club. 

Parties

A perfect venue for all ages.

Children’s parties are popular as there is large indoor space, as well as a garden, which is for bouncy castles, soft play or a variety of entertainers. Plenty of space for the birthday teas with easy access to the kitchen for food preparation. 

Adult parties enjoy a fully equipped kitchen together with flexible seating for buffet or formal dining.  There is a professional stage for bands and performers as well as having excellent WiFi for recorded music.

Celebrations

From Christening and Naming celebrations to Golden wedding anniversaries, the Hall can accommodate 100 diners comfortably for a full sit down meal or 120 for buffet style catering. The well stocked kitchen provides the hirer, or their caterer, ample space and equipment for food preparation and the hatchway is directly into the Hall for easy service.

Charity & Community Events

The Hall welcomes organisations and individuals to host their community and fundraising events.  Quiz nights, art exhibitions, gala dinners and music events can easily be accommodated. There is easy Hall access for all and a large car park. The Hall is flexible for exhibition tables, theatre style seating and gala dining depending on your event requirements. The kitchen can be used for refreshments, buffets or sit down meals.

Events

Shiplake Community Cinema

Shiplake Community Cinema will be showing Charlie Chaplin’s 1925 film

‘The Gold Rush’ on Friday 9th May

This is part of the Hall’s Centenary celebrations. 

What could be more appropriate than ‘The Gold Rush’ which was produced in the same year that the Hall was founded.

Doors open at 6.45 for a 7.30 performance.

Tickets are £8 and can be purchased at the door.

There will be a bar with wine, beer and soft drinks.

Do come along and help to celebrate these two very different hundred year old events.

The Mysterious Murder at the Murder Mystery

It’s the rehearsal of the North Undersfield Theatrical Society’s (N.U.T.S). performance of ‘The Murder Mystery’, but things are not going quite as well as they could be, with a combination of actors with egos, secrets known and kept, and a dead body.  How will the cast and crew cope with the revelations after the untimely death of one of their founding members?  Surely nothing else can go wrong?  Or can it?

Shiplake Memorial Hall is 100 years old

Shiplake Memorial Hall was built in 1925 as a memorial to Reginald Mardon, a young soldier who died in the First World War and whose family lived in Shiplake. It has been used by the local community for a wide variety of uses over the last hundred years – from school room and playgroup to pantomimes and meetings.

In the past ten years the Hall has been sensitively updated and extended to meet modern standards and it continues to be an important venue for community activities, including the Tennis and Bowls clubs, the playing field and children’s play area.

This year the Hall will be celebrating its Centenary with a programme of events for the surrounding villages and their residents. A Film Night which will be showing a 1920s film and a Murder Mystery evening with a 1920s theme are planned for the spring and a Centenary Quiz will be held in the autumn.

During the summer there will be a Centenary Question Trail, a Photographic Competition and a community event which will include a Strawberry Tea and Vintage Vehicle display.

The Trustees and supporters of Shiplake Memorial Hall are looking forward to celebrating this important year with the local community and more information will be on the Village website and the Hall website.

Regular Activities

At Shiplake Memorial Hall we have many recurring activities.
Click on the images to find out more details about our clubs, don’t hesitate to get in touch if one strikes your interest! Please use contact details provided for each club.

Baby Ballet
Berkshire & Henley Dance
Pilates ABC
Shiplake Netball Stars
Shiplake Women’s Institute
Laura Vann Pilates
Shiplake And Dunsden Dramatic Organisation
Elizabeth Jones Clinical Pilates
Shiplake Community Cinema