How do I find the barn?
People have sometimes had issues finding Roundhill Barn. Please give visitors and suppliers the directions here.
Can I bring a dog?
Because this is a working farm dogs are not permitted on site, except assistance dogs. If despite this the situation arises that a guest has brought a dog please ensure they’re kept on a lead at all times.
What rural guidelines apply?
Roundhill barn is on a working farm: please ensure all guests understand and abide by the Countryside code: respect everyone, protect the environment, leave no trace.
What risks are involved in hiring the barn?
As an off-grid venue in the middle of farmland there are some risks to be aware of here:
Risks and responsibilities | Kelston Roundhill and Roundhill Barn
How do I book?
We advise a site visit before booking: contact Billie on 07871 693689 to arrange. If you decide you want to book please confirm dates and costs with Clare Diacono clare@roundhillbarn.com. She will send you a contract for e-signature and a deposit invoice. You need to pay this within two weeks to secure your booking. The remainder of the hire fee is due two weeks before the event, as well as a security deposit of £1000. The security deposit is returned to you after the event (within two weeks) minus any deductions for generator usage (£15/hr incl) and any litter, damage or breakages.
How many guests can I have?
The barn can accommodate 80 formally seated, slightly more with less formal seating and up to 120-150 standing. You can extend numbers by installing a stretch tent marquee off the barn.
What is included in the hire price?
You get exclusive use of the barn and immediate surroundings for the hire period (excluding generator use cost and any breakages). This includes parking area plus a post event clean. For a list of everything included with the barn please see our inventory. Soap, washing up liquid and basic cleaning sprays are provided, also some toilet paper, tea-towels and hand towels (which can be left dirty in the barn; we will wash). For larger events it’s advisable to bring extra supplies. We do not offer catering, staffing or ancillary services. We don’t mind suggesting suppliers but we do not operate an “approved suppliers” arrangement.
Do you offer event management and planning services?
No, it’s a ‘dry hire’. We can suggest specific caterers and suppliers in the Suggested Suppliers list who are familiar with the venue and provide some event management; you then deal separately with them.
What time can we have the barn from/to?
Check-in is usually from 10am and checkout at 2pm or 6pm for a single day hire but earlier/later times may be possible by agreement. If you need extra cleaning time you may need to add an extra day to your hire period.
Can suppliers collect/deliver outside our contracted hire time?
Any equipment you bring or hire in must be delivered and removed from site within the contracted hire time.
How accessible is the barn?
It is possible to drive right up to the barn to drop off mobility-impaired visitors. They would then just need to walk a few metres. There is one toilet with a handrail (but it takes two large steps to access it) and one step-free toilet currently without a handrail.
How many cars can park?
There is space for 50 cars along the edge of a 6 acre field.
What does ‘off-grid’ mean?
The barn is not a registered address which means it has no postcode (see the directions section for more).
It is not connected to a mains power supply or mains water. Electricity is provided by solar PVT panels and batteries with a back-up diesel generator.
Drinkable water is sourced from a 70m borehole and filtered. It is of high quality and tastes excellent with no additives.
How much electrical power is available?
Roundhill Barn is an off grid location offering a limited supply of 240v electricity. This is suitable for light-touch use, easily sufficient for music, lights and use of an electric kettle. It is not connected to mains electrical supplies, and is not suited for use of power-hungry electrical plant and equipment so extra power generation may be required. Please ensure suppliers are aware that the maximum rated electrical output at any one time is 5kW.
The barn is powered by state of the art hybrid photo-voltaic thermal (PVT) panels. These produce both electricity and hot water. The maximum battery capacity is 20kwh. When fully charged, the batteries hold 20kWh with a max. discharge rate of 5kW. We aim always to hand over the barn with batteries at least 80% charged.
The panels will continue to charge the batteries in sunlight. You are also able to use the old diesel generator as back-up and to recharge the batteries if needed. This would incur a cost of £15/hr.
If your event depends on plant and equipment that requires significant energy consumption (refrigerator trailers, incandescent lighting rigs, electric heaters, cookers, friers, electric pizza ovens, coffee machines or similar) you are strongly advised to make your own supplementary arrangements for additional power eg bring an additional generator.
What happens if we run out of solar power?
If you run out of solar power the back-up arrangement is to switch to the on-site diesel generator. This is charged at a cost of £15/hour incl of VAT. The cost of any generator use will be calculated and deducted from the monies held as Security Deposit. In case of power failure, switching over from the solar system to the generator requires the site manager to be called out. Therefore we strongly advise the Licensee to supply any additional and separate power generation equipment that may be required over and above what is available from the renewables system on site. The site manager has remote access to heating and electricity controls and heating and hot water will be automatically controlled during your stay.
The barn user has access to a dashboard inside the barn which shows you the state of the batteries and power use at any time.
How powerful is the back-up generator?
The back-up diesel generator delivers up to 9kva. Please ensure suppliers are aware of the generator capacity. There is a second back-up generator rated at 6.5kva, also a small additional petrol generator sufficient to keep music and lights on which can run for 2-3 hours in an emergency.
Does the barn have heating?
The barn has solar powered underfloor heating in the kitchen loo and green room, which will be extended into the main hall area from December 2024. The main hall area also has 2 log burners. The site comes with hot water heated from solar thermal energy. This is supplemented with any solar thermal energy that accrues during the hire period. Should further water heating be necessary that can be automatically provided by an LPG boiler.
Can we use the log burners?
There are 2 log burners and a plentiful supply of logs (extra cost). Please ensure the fires are extinguished before leaving the barn
Can guests camp?
Yes we have one 12m diameter and twelve 5m diameter levelled sites – you can also use the sloping sides. If needed, you could pitch tents in front of the barn as well. If you would like to hire bell tents, we have five 5m diameter bell tents for hire. There is space for campervans to park immediately to the right of the barn as you enter the barn curtilege (and on the grass in dry weather) but please note there is no power hook-up.
What bell tents do you have for hire?
We have five 5m diameter bell tents for hire, which we put up and take down for you. Cost: £160 per tent. These are approx the size of an 8 man tent and can fit 2 mattresses comfortably. They do not have to be sited within the campsite area. The tents are supplied unfurnished without bedding but there are mattresses in the store room you can use. If you or your guests would like to hire tents, please let us know 4 weeks prior to your event so we can add it to the final invoice.
For additional tents, please see our list of suggested suppliers for some companies you may wish to use.
What do we do with rubbish and recycling?
The Barn does not have any council services. We therefore require that you remove all rubbish from the site before you check out and “leave no trace”. There are 2 mixed waste bins on site – these are for our cleaning waste and if used by guests, we will deduct the collection charge from your security deposit. Please note, food waste and glass must not be put in mixed waste bins. Most guests choose to hire bins – see our suggested suppliers for some possible options. Please note, if litter is left behind we do charge for removal so do check the grounds thoroughly for confetti etc.
How many toilets are there?
There are two toilets in the barn – one with handrail up two steep steps and one step-free toilet currently without a handrail. If you need additional toilets these can be hired in (see suggested suppliers).
Please bear in mind more elaborate toilets sometimes require mains power and water supply; it’s better to choose simpler self-contained toilets that do not need external water or electricity.
How many tables and chairs do you have?
Please see the inventory for a list of everything inside the barn: Inventory.docx
As an alternative seating option, you can hire hay bales from the local farm by requesting this from Billie.
Hiring hay bales
Our local farmer rents out hay bales at £5 a bale. Minimum order 20 bales, £100 including delivery & collection. These seat 3 comfortably, 4 at a push & are great for easy seating outside around our fire pit. Please let us know 4 weeks prior to your event if you would like hay bales so we can add it to the final invoice.
What time do we have to turn off the music?
We ask that you be mindful of and respectful to nearby villagers and do not play amplified music outdoors after 11pm. Indoor music inside the barn is fine.
Is there a PA? What about a stage?
You can hire a high-spec PA from local business Kelston Records (£180-250). Craig at Kelston Records can also help with lighting and stage configuration: tel 07984538917
What about lighting?
The barn has basic industrial-style lighting.
You can add outside lights e.g. festoon lighting. Check the suggested supplier list for suggested suppliers (some marquee companies offer this as well).
What about parking?
Event parking is in single file to the right of the track in the field just below the Barn. Deliveries and mobility-impaired guests can just go right up to the barn to drop off.
What about taxis?
See the suggested suppliers list for taxi companies who are happy to drive up the track. You may be advised to arrange your own minibus service for guests as some taxi companies refuse to drive to the farm because the track has been affected by poor weather conditions in the past.
Are fireworks allowed?
No. The Old Barn is situated on a working farm. Fireworks cause issues with wildlife, livestock and neighbours.
Are campfires allowed?
Please only light fires in the designated fire pits.
Is confetti allowed?
Biodegradable confetti only please (tissue or rose petals). If you leave behind metallic, plastic or other non-biodegradable confetti that means loss of deposit because it’s nigh impossible to “leave no trace”.
Kelston Roundhill and Roundhill Barn 