More Than a Music Venue: Hiring The Old Chapel for Your Group or Class

The Old Chapel is well known as a place to watch a gig, a film or a Sunday afternoon concert with the light pouring in through that big picture window. 

Not many realise that during the day, and especially during the day, the building is also available as a venue space you can hire. If you run a group, teach a class, or you’ve been looking for somewhere with a bit of character to gather your people, this one’s for you.

A Space That Suits All Sorts

The best proof of what The Old Chapel can do is who already uses it. The Big Jazz Choir and the Calstock Singers both rehearse here. A yoga class runs regularly, our young people’s drama club meets every Thursday in the Kelly Room, and the C Fylm community cinema club settles in once a month. None of these are ticketed shows. They’re local people using a local space, week in and week out. And there’s room for plenty more!

Craft and Creative Groups

Art classes, pottery workshops, life drawing, a knitting circle that’s outgrown someone’s front room… The natural light and the calm of the building make it a lovely place to make things. Spread out, leave the mess for an afternoon, and enjoy working somewhere that doesn’t feel like a strip-lit function room.

Drama and Performance

We already have a thriving young people’s drama club, and we’d love to see more. A youth or adult drama group would feel right at home here. The acoustics are amazing, the kind performers comment on the moment they start, so you don’t have to fight the room to be heard. Add a proper stage setting, room to move, and an audience-ready space for when you’re ready to show off your work, and it’s a hard place to beat for rehearsals and performances alike.

Exercise and Movement

Yoga, Pilates, dance, gentle fitness, a wellbeing class or martial arts group… The Old Chapel has plenty of floor space without the sports-hall echo. With the building so often free during the day, it’s an easy place to build a regular class around.

Meetings, Workshops and Everything Else

Book groups, community meetings, training days, children’s activities, rehearsals, one-off workshops. If it needs a warm, characterful space with a bit of soul, chances are we can help.

Why the Building Itself Makes a Difference

When you use a venue space like the Old Chapel, you get so much more than you’d expect. 

There’s the picture window, of course, framing the Tamar as it winds across to Devon. The natural acoustics are perfection for anything musical or spoken. There’s the character of a converted Methodist chapel, all vaulted ceiling and original detail, that lends a certain something to whatever you’re doing in it. And when your group fancies making an occasion of it, there’s a licensed bar too. It’s a space with a bit of magic, and that tends to rub off on the people who use it.

A Place to Mark the Big Moments

It isn’t only regular groups and classes that find a home here. The Old Chapel is also a lovely setting for the milestone events that matter.

Birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, christenings, naming days and family celebrations all suit the space beautifully, with room to gather, a licensed bar, and that famous view. And when the occasion is a quieter one, we understand that too. The building’s history and its calm make it a gentle, dignified place to hold a wake or a celebration of a life. 

Fully equipped with professional catering equipment, our kitchen hire is perfect for those wishing to provide meals or refreshments at their events.

Whatever milestone you’re marking, we’ll do everything we can to help the day feel right.

The Practical Bits

Most of our daytime hours are free, along with some evenings, so there’s real flexibility for a regular weekly slot or a one-off booking. We’re in the heart of Calstock, well connected by road and rail, and we’re always happy to talk through access or anything else you need to make it work. We have two spaces to hire, so you can match the room to the size of your group. 

• The main hall is the larger of the two and suits bigger gatherings, classes and rehearsals. 
• The Kelly Room is cosier, ideal for smaller groups, meetings and workshops.

 Both rooms come with first-class projection equipment and sound systems, so talks, screenings, presentations and performances are all easily catered for.

Daytimes are where we have the most to offer. The building sits empty for much of the week between nine and five, which makes it ideal for a regular daytime group or class. Evenings are busier, and slots are limited, so if you’ve an evening in mind, it’s best to ask early. Either way, we’re in the heart of the village and always happy to talk through access or anything else you need to make it work.

Come and Have a Chat

The best thing you can do is get in touch, even if you’re not quite sure your idea fits. Some of the best things that happen here started with someone just asking the question.

And there’s a friendly face waiting to help – we’re delighted to introduce Wendy, our new Hire Manager, who’s here to make booking The Old Chapel as easy and welcoming as possible. 

Whether you’ve got a firm plan or just a spark of an idea, Wendy would love to hear from you, show you around, and help you find the right space and time for your group.

Drop us a line at hire@calstockarts.org or call 01822 833183, and let’s find a spot for you at The Old Chapel.

FAQs About Venue Hire in Calstock

What kinds of groups can hire The Old Chapel?
All sorts. Craft and art groups, choirs and music ensembles, exercise and dance classes, book groups, workshops, meetings and children’s activities. If it needs a warm, characterful space, chances are we can help.

Can I hire it for a party or celebration?
Yes. It’s a lovely setting for birthdays, anniversaries, christenings, weddings and family gatherings, with a licensed bar and that picture window over the Tamar. We can also help with quieter occasions such as wakes also.

How many people does it hold?
The main hall seats up to 120, ideal for bigger gatherings and rehearsals. The smaller Kelly Room suits more intimate groups, meetings and workshops.

When is the space available?
Most daytimes are free, along with some evenings, so there’s flexibility for both a regular weekly slot and a one-off booking. Get in touch and we’ll find a time that works.

Is the venue accessible?
We want everyone to feel welcome. If you or your group have any access needs, let us know when you enquire, and we’ll do everything we can to help.

How do I book?
The easiest way is to email hire@calstockarts.org or call 01822 833183. Even if you’re not sure your idea fits, come and have a chat with Wendy, our Hire Manager.