Cricket Club Hire for Parties: Why a Clubhouse Works, and What to Ask Before You Book
Most people looking for a party venue start with pubs, hotels and village halls. Cricket clubs rarely make the list, which is a shame, because a clubhouse often lands in the sweet spot between the two: a private room like a hall, with a proper bar like a pub, at a price set by volunteers rather than a chain.
This guide explains how cricket club hire works, what you get, what it costs around Brentwood, and the questions worth asking before you pay a deposit anywhere. We use our own clubhouse at Brookweald as the worked example, because those are the numbers we can stand behind.
What you get when you hire a cricket clubhouse
A cricket clubhouse is built for one job: getting a crowd of people fed, watered and comfortable after a long day outside. That happens to be exactly what a party needs.
At most clubs you can expect:
- A private function room. Usually one open space, so the room feels full and nobody is stuck in a side room.
- A licensed bar. Run by the club, so you are not buying, chilling and serving drinks yourself.
- Parking. Grounds are big, and the car park is normally right by the door.
- A view. Pavilions face the pitch. On a summer evening that is hard to beat.
- Space outside. Some clubs allow outdoor use or a marquee for bigger numbers.
Here is what that looks like at Brookweald Cricket Club on Weald Road, Brentwood, CM14 5QG:
- One open, private room for up to 100 guests, looking out over the cricket square
- A fully stocked bar, with bar staff included on evening hires
- Free off-road parking beside the clubhouse
- Step-free access, new flooring, heating, air conditioning and insulation from our 2024 refit, funded by a £32,000 UK Levelling Up grant
- Wi-Fi, an in-house DJ for £150 and AV meeting equipment for £50
- Twelve acres of Weald Park either side, with outdoor use by arrangement
You can see the room in our clubhouse hire photos.
Cricket club hire vs a hall, a pub or a hotel
Each type of venue suits a different booking. The table below is a fair summary of how they usually compare.
| Village or church hall | Pub function room | Hotel suite | Cricket clubhouse | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How it is priced | By the hour, plus extras | Often free with a minimum bar spend | Per head packages | Usually a flat session price |
| Bar | Rarely. You may need a licence | Yes | Yes | Yes, run by the club |
| Food | Bring your own | Usually tied to the kitchen | Tied to the kitchen | Often bring your own |
| Privacy | Private | Sometimes shared | Private | Private |
| Parking | Varies | Varies | Usually paid or limited | Usually free, on site |
| Who runs it | Volunteers | Pub staff | Events team | Volunteers |
The big difference is the bar. If a hall has no licence, selling alcohol means applying to the council for a Temporary Event Notice, which costs £21 and needs at least ten working days' notice, according to GOV.UK. Then someone has to buy, chill, serve and clear the drinks, which usually means a friend missing the party. We cover that in more detail in our guides to cheap community hall hire and church hall hire.
The other difference is food. Pubs and hotels normally want you to use their kitchen. Most clubhouses, ours included, let you bring your own caterer or buffet. That alone can change the total by hundreds of pounds.
What clubhouse hire costs near Brentwood
Club prices vary, and plenty of clubs do not publish theirs. Ours are fixed and on the hire page, so you can do the sum before you ring.
| Hire | Price |
|---|---|
| Daytime, Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:00 (minimum 4 hours) | £25 per hour |
| Wake or christening, up to 4 hours, daytime | £200 |
| Evening party, Sunday to Thursday, 18:00 to 01:00 | £250 |
| Friday or Saturday night, 18:00 to 01:00 | £350 |
| Full day, 09:00 to 01:00 | £450 |
The extras, all listed up front:
- Bar staff are included on evening hires, and £100 on daytime hires
- Dry hire, with no club bar, adds £100
- In-house DJ, £150
- AV meeting equipment, £50
- Refundable £100 damage deposit on evening and full-day hires
- Club members get 20% off
Music finishes at 00:30 and everyone is out by 01:00. We do not take evening parties for under-21s, though daytime children's parties are very welcome. The full conditions are on our hire terms page.
Why is a clubhouse often cheaper than it looks? The bar takings help keep the club running, so the room price does not have to carry everything. The club has been run by volunteers since 1949, and the prices reflect that.
What people hire a cricket club for
A clubhouse is a flexible room. These are the bookings we see most.
Birthday parties
18ths, 21sts, 30ths, 40ths, 50ths and 60ths. Evening hire from 18:00, a staffed bar and room for a DJ and a dance floor at one end. See birthday party hire.
Wakes and funeral receptions
A quiet, private room with step-free access and parking right outside. Short notice on weekdays is usually fine. See wakes and funeral receptions, or ring Rob on 07525 423700 and we will sort the details.
Christenings and naming days
Typically a Sunday lunchtime. £200 covers up to four hours. See christening hire.
Christmas and work parties
December Fridays and Saturdays go first, so book early. See Christmas party hire.
Meetings, classes and regular bookings
Weekday daytimes at £25 an hour, with AV equipment for £50 and Wi-Fi. Good for training days, committee meetings, fitness classes and clubs that need a regular slot. See meeting room hire.
Other bookings include engagement parties, anniversaries, retirements, quiz and race nights, charity fundraisers and presentation evenings for other local clubs.
Seven questions to ask before you book any clubhouse
Ask these on the first call and you will know the real price.
- Is the bar licensed and staffed, and is bar staff included? Ours is included on evenings and £100 in the daytime.
- Can I bring my own food? Some clubs tie you to a caterer. We do not.
- What time does music stop, and when must everyone leave? Ours is 00:30 and 01:00.
- How many guests fit, and is the room private? Ours is up to 100 in a private room.
- Is there a deposit, and does it come back? Ours is £100, refundable, on evening and full-day hires.
- Is it step-free, and is parking free? Older guests and taxi drivers will thank you.
- Does the cricket fixture list affect my date? Clubs play through the summer, so always check a summer weekend before you send invitations.
Booking a cricket club near Brentwood
Brookweald Cricket Club is on Weald Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 5QG, a few minutes from Brentwood town centre. Most of our hires come from Brentwood, Shenfield, Hutton, Pilgrims Hatch, Doddinghurst, Kelvedon Hatch, Blackmore, Ingatestone, Ongar and Billericay.
To book, tell us the date, rough numbers and what the event is. We will check the diary and come back to you, usually within 48 hours. Saturday nights and December dates go early, so get in touch as soon as you know.
Call Rob on 07525 423700, email brookwealdcricketclub@gmail.com or use the enquiry form on the hire page.
FAQ
Can anyone hire a cricket club for a party? Yes. Most cricket clubs hire their clubhouse to the public, not just members. At Brookweald you do not need to be a member to book. Members get 20% off.
How much does it cost to hire a cricket clubhouse near Brentwood? At Brookweald Cricket Club: £25 an hour on weekday daytimes (minimum four hours), £200 for a wake or christening of up to four hours, £250 for an evening party Sunday to Thursday, £350 on a Friday or Saturday night and £450 for a full day. A refundable £100 damage deposit applies to evening and full-day hires.
Do I need a licence to serve alcohol at a cricket club party? Not at a club with its own licensed bar. Drinks are served from the club bar, so you do not need a Temporary Event Notice. Bar staff are included on evening hires at Brookweald and cost £100 on daytime hires.
How many guests fit in the Brookweald clubhouse? Up to 100 guests in one open, private room looking out over the cricket square. Larger events are possible by arrangement with a marquee on the grounds.
Can I bring my own food to a clubhouse hire? Yes. Bring your own caterer or lay on your own buffet. Drinks come from the club's fully stocked bar.