Kitchen / bar facility

The hall provides a fully featured catering quality kitchen, designed by Scobie & McIntosh, with stainless steel surfaces throughout

The kitchen has a large gas hob and oven, steam combi oven, a deep fryer and plate warming facilities, as well as large fridge, freezer, dishwasher, urn and microwave. Ample food preparation area is provided and the kitchen has its own serving hatch onto the main hall, with heat lamps to keep plates warm. Crockery and cutlery are provided.

The bar has three drinks fridges, an ice machine and bottle washer. Beer fonts have been installed at the bar to allow the possibility of draft beer at events. The bar also opens onto the main hall, and both the kitchen and bar have been fitted with metal shutters.

Conditions for use of kitchen facilities

We will insist on the hall’s catering facilities being used to the highest standards of hygiene and safety. All users must hold a valid hygiene certificate and abide by safety notices prominently displayed. It is vital that after use, the kitchen should be cleaned thoroughly and left in a spotless condition.

Planning an event

You may like to consider using commercial catering services for your event. We will build up a list of contacts for caterers who have expressed a wish to use our facilities. Of course, you are free to find your own. The facilities were designed with commercial caterers in mind.

Licensing issues

If you are considering providing alcoholic drinks then it is strongly advised that you contact the licensing officer for Midlothian Council, Brenda Campbell. Tel: 0131 271 3141.

If you represent a charity or voluntary organisation, you are entitled to apply for up to four “occasional permissions” to sell alcohol per year. In this case, you run the bar yourself and the profit goes to help fund your organisation.

Alternatively, you can come to an agreement with an existing licensee (e.g. publican or off-license owner) to provide a bar for you. In this case, they apply for an “occasional license” for the event. If you would like a licensed bar for your event at the Hall this can be provided by the Middleton Inn. Please contact them direct for full details - Fiona on 07948 557011.

In any situation where children are expected to be present, it is most important to clarify the situation with the council.