Chippenham Community Venue Celebrates Fifth Anniversary

Business owner Rachel Terry is celebrating the fifth year of running The Citadel Hall, Chippenham’s most centrally located community venue.

Rachel chose to take on the former Salvation Army meeting place after failing to find a space for her belly-dancing group the Sahara Sisters in 2012.

Since then the Chippenham local has gone on to welcome a variety of exercise classes, conferences and exhibitions in the main hall as well as offering the space for family occasions and parties. 

The Citadel Hall not only solved the problem of a venue for her beloved Sahara Sisters – it allowed Rachel to work flexibly around personal health issues. 

Rachel said: “At the time I’d found myself virtually unemployable because I suffer from fibromyalgia and ME. This meant some days I found it difficult to leave the house. The Citadel Hall offered an opportunity to run a business and cope with my condition.

“That’s why my family have been amazed I’ve gone from being someone who found it difficult to hold down a job to setting up something new from scratch. I’m really rather proud of myself. 

‘I started out with Roz Chandler who runs the Pilates Tuesday morning class. I’m really chuffed she’s still with me five years later. People know where we are now and are contacting me about classes too. It’s great that things have snowballed and we’re now becoming a venue which is recognised and visible in the town and beyond. 

‘The Hall has given Chippenham residents a wide range of classes and business opportunities. It’s equipped with everything an event planner, conference organiser or fitness teacher could need.”

New classes at the Citadel Hall currently include Thai Chi every Tuesday afternoon and from January 2018 The Rock Choir will be running from the hall for ages 14 and above. 

The Citadel Hall is situated next to the town centre’s Bath Road pay and display car park, where the hall has a loading bay. It is a ten-minute walk from the train station and most local bus services stop outside. Town centre amenities are in walking distance.  

The exposed beam hall can hold between 80-100 people. There is also ‘The Snug’ which is a smaller alternative for informal meetings or can be used as a break-out space. A kitchen is available with fridge, microwave, kettle and crockery. The venue is available to hire as a flexible space for a variety of functions including exhibitions, coffee mornings, baby showers, christenings and funeral wakes.

For details visit: http://thecitadelhall.co.uk