Education Centre Venue Hire
Looking for a venue to hold a private, business or community event? Our well-equipped conference, training and meeting facilities are available for hire.
Our Education Centre is located within Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester and is available to hire in the evenings from 5pm to 8pm and at weekends from 9am to 5pm.
Booking
To make a booking enquiry, please complete this booking enquiry form. We will respond within three working days.
If the room is available, we will email you a link to a venue hire booking form which will need to be completed within three working days. You will then receive a final conformation email and payment details.
Full payment will need to be received within 30 days of the invoice date or prior to the event (whichever occurs first). Please note, if full payment is not received before the event, the booking will be cancelled.
Please see the Terms and Conditions of Hire for full information about payment terms and cancellation fees.
Rooms available
Lecture Theatre (capacity 90)
The lecture theatre has built in AV equipment and can be used for live video conferencing. This room can be hired in conjunction with other rooms in the building to facilitate breakout and catering options for larger events.
Room 1 (capacity 17)
Room 2 (capacity 50)
Room 4 (capacity 20)
Room 5 (capacity 17)
Layouts
Rooms can be laid out in a variety of configurations. Please discuss your requirements at the time of booking.
Equipment
Hirers are not permitted to use hospital laptops and PCs so will need to bring their own device. HDMI connectors are available in each room. The lecture theatre also has a USB cable and an audio jack to allow laptops to play audio through the room’s speakers.
Each room has a flip chart and pens.
Prices for 2025
Weekday evening hire
Rooms are available to hire from 5pm to 8pm.
| Room | Capacity | Charity rate | Non-charity group rate |
| Lecture Theatre | 90 | 1hr £25 2hrs £50 3hrs £75 | 1hr £38 2hrs £70 3hrs £100 |
| Room 1 | 17 | 1hr £13 2hrs £25 3hrs £38 | 1hr £19 2hrs £38 3hrs £56 |
| Room 2 | 50 | 1hr £15 2hrs £30 3hrs £45 | 1hr £23 2hrs £45 3hrs £68 |
| Room 4 | 20 | 1hr £13 2hrs £25 3hrs £38 | 1hr £19 2hrs £38 3hrs £56 |
| Room 5 | 17 | 1hr £13 2hrs £25 3hrs £38 | 1hr £19 2hrs £38 3hrs £56 |
Weekend hire
Rooms are available to hire for a half day (9am to 1pm or 1pm to 5pm) or a full day from 9am to 5pm.
| Room | Capacity | Charity rate | Non-charity group rate |
| Lecture Theatre | 90 | £100 (half day) £200 (full day) | £150 (half day) £300 (full day) |
| Room 1 | 17 | £50 (half day) £100 (full day) | £75 (half day) £150 (full day) |
| Room 2 | 50 | £60 (half day) £120 (full day | £90 (half day) £180 (full day) |
| Room 4 | 20 | £50 (half day) £100 (full day) | £75 (half day) £150 (full day) |
| Room 5 | 17 | £50 (half day) £100 (full day) | £75 (half day) £150 (full day) |
Further information
Education Centre Venue Hire Terms and Conditions
Education Centre Venue Hire Fire Safety and Emergency Evacuation Information
Parking at Dorset County Hospital
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Education Centre located?
The Education Centre is situated within Dorset County Hospital.
Education Centre, East Wing
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Williams Avenue
Dorchester
Dorset
DT1 2JY
What equipment is available to use in the rooms at the Education Centre?
Each available room has different equipment available as summarised below:
| Room | Projector and screen | Speakers | Live video conferencing | Flip chart and pens | HDMI 3 lead for laptop |
| Lecture Theatre | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Room 1 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Room 2 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Room 4 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Room 5 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Is there car parking available for the Education Centre?
Yes, there is a multi-story carpark on the hospital site and charges apply. More information is available on our hospital website.
Is the Education Centre accessible?
Yes. The Education Centre is situated on the ground floor and there are accessible routes into the building and training rooms. There is one accessible unisex toilet in the centre, and more located elsewhere in the hospital.
How can I contact the Education Centre?
Email: education.centre@dchft.nhs.uk
Telephone: Education Centre Reception (8:30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday): 01305 254686
Hospital switchboard: 01305 251150
Can I visit the Education Centre to view the facilities before booking?
Yes, please contact the Education Centre on 01305 254686 or via education.centre@dchft.nhs.uk to arrange this.
Can I supply and / or order refreshments for my booking at the Education Centre?
Only food provided by the Catering Team via Damers Restaurant at Dorset County Hospital can be consumed in the centre. Please contact them using details below to discuss your requirements, ensuring you clearly communicate any information about allergies or special dietary requirements within your party.
Damers Restaurant, Dorset County Hospital – 01305 254203
Only non-alcoholic drinks can be brought into and consumed in the centre.
Can I connect to the WI-FI in the Education Centre?
Yes, visitors to the centre can connect to the free public WI-FI network: NHS WiFi.