The drill hall was built in 1899 on the site of 27 cottages purchased by Mr ES Hanbury for use by the whole community. It was officially opened on 8th February 1900 and was originally occupied by D Company, Hertfordshire Volunteer Battalion for the purposes of drilling training, prior to going to The Boer War. Add text.
The Ware Drill Hall Association took over the management and operation of Ware Drill Hall from the Council in 2001. For nearly 22 years Ware Drill Hall Association have successfully operated premises with the support of East Herts District Council and Ware Town Council. East Herts Council gave the go-ahead for the hall steering committee to take control in 2001, it was the start of a project that would come to reflect the vision of a big society.
In 2010 following an extensive refurbishment program East Herts Council granted the Association a 25 year fully repairing lease. During the whole of its life the Drill Hall has continued to be used as a community facility and today is still used as a venue for entertainment, sport or simply to socialise.
The central position of the Hall near to the mainline station, bus services, car parking, pubs and restaurants, provides excellent possibilities as a major venue for concerts, exhibitions, craft fairs and sporting events, in addition to the general community activities that already operate there.
Ware has a vibrant and rich arts following with many local people participating in a range of highly successful and prestigious groups. These include the Choral Society, Ware Musical Theatre, Hertford Symphony and Ware Brass, all of which are well established and enthusiastically supported by local people. All of these Groups perform at the Ware Drill Hall on a regular basis. The Drill Hall is an ideal concert venue to develop the arts potential that exists locally and provides the facilities to do justice to both existing and new organisations alike.
The Drill Hall is equally well placed as a venue for exhibitions, corporate events, craft fairs and similar promotions. This was demonstrated when the Ware Dickensian Committee facilitated use of the Hall for a successful craft Fayre as part of the Ware Dickensian Christmas Celebration showing the potential for regular events of this nature. Haddon Events also run their Vintage Fair twice a year that is hugely popular with local vintage fans and Herts Regional College also use the main hall to meet their expanding need for recreational facilities.
The Hall has been the home base for a number of competitive and social sports groups. Most notably it is a well established venue with several leading local badminton clubs. Some of these clubs play in leagues operating at County League standard. It is widely regarded by these and the visiting teams as the best venue in the area for their sport. Nor is the sports potential confined to badminton: the Hall has been the winter home of the Hertford Company of Archers and is an all year rehearsal space for Sapphire Twirlers.
Looks so normal from the doors but when inside definitely suitable for concerts weddings and functions more than big enough.
