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Hire of public parks and open spaces

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Guildford has more than 50 parks, which can be hired as venues for commercial or community events, including music concerts, fun fairs, fetes, sponsored walks, or regular school PE and other sporting activities. We also welcome fitness sessions, filming and balloon launches. 

Here's a flavour of what Guildford's parks and open spaces can offer:

Hiring Guildford Parks

How to hire a park for a public event

1. Complete the application form from the list below:

Outdoor event application form (Word doc) [101KB]

Fitness Sessions and School PE/Sport Activities application form (Word doc) [96KB]

Filming application form (Word doc) [94KB]

Outdoor Theatre application form (Word doc) [100KB]

2. Read the terms and conditions

Please read our terms and conditions. (PDF) [218KB]  Sign the form and return it to us.

3. Event acknowledgement

Once we have received your event application, we will:

  • Check it for date availability, event suitability and licence requirements.
  • Write to you and acknowledge your application and confirm fees and charges.
  • Let you know about any additional requirements and what you should do before we can confirm your event.

4. Event confirmation

By at least four weeks before your event you will need to complete and send:

When we have received all the necessary documents, we will write to you and confirm that your event can go ahead.

We will also invoice you for the hire of the park. Events will not be able to go ahead without a written event confirmation from us.

Filming

If you are interested in filming or carrying out a photo shoot on a park or in an open space, you will need to complete a Filming application form. (Word doc) [94KB]

There is a minimum £55 filming charge. The charge may be more depending upon the event details.

Fitness sessions, school PE classes and other regular activity

Fitness sessions, regular school PE classes and other regular activities take place in many of our parks and open spaces.

You need a licence to use our parks for regular activity.

Apply for a license to run fitness sessions, school PE classes and other regular activity

Balloon launches

Shalford Park is the only site suitable for balloon launches. Fees and charges are based on a maximum of 25 launches per year.

You need permission to launch a balloon from Shalford Park. 

Apply to launch a balloon in Shalford Park

Outdoor theatre and bandstand concerts

Guildford Castle Grounds and Bandstand have a full concert diary during the summer months. This includes band concerts and outdoor theatre performances. 

Apply for a bandstand concert

If you would like to apply for outdoor theatre performances, please complete an Outdoor theatre application form. (Word doc) [100KB]

Community Events

Planning an event to benefit our community? You might be eligible to apply for Crowdfund Guildford. Our successful projects include:

  • wellbeing festivals
  • jubilee street parties
  • community concerts

Find out more on Crowdfund Guildford website or email support@spacehive.com.

Licences

Some events require a licence. There are several types of licence:

  • Premises Licence
  • Temporary Event Notice
  • Alcohol Licence

For more information, see the guidance notes or contact Licensing Services at licensing@guildford.gov.uk

Insurance

All events will require Public Liability Insurance (for more information, see our  guidance notes (Word doc) [98KB] )

Live events reinsurance scheme 

The government has partnered with insurers to offer a cost indemnification insurance scheme. The Scheme will make cover available against cancellation, postponement, relocation or abandonment. This is due to the new UK Civil Authority restrictions in response to COVID-19. View the Live Events Reinsurance Scheme

Fees and charges

A scale of fees and charges is set yearly. The fees are dependent on the type of event, the numbers of people attending and the duration of the event.

A reinstatement bond may also be payable. Full payment of the fee and the reinstatement bond must be made at least four weeks before the event.

See our fees and charges:

Risk assessment

All events will require a site specific risk assessment. (Word doc) [111KB]

More information

For more advice on organising a safe and successful event, please see our  guidance notes (Word doc) [98KB] or visit the Health and Safety Executive website.