Terms and Conditions

This information relates to all activities run by the English Folk Dance and Song Society at Cecil Sharp House. This includes performances, dances, lectures, conferences, classes and courses, youth and family events, exhibitions and more.

Please note that not all activities at Cecil Sharp House are run by the English Folk Dance and Song Society. For specific terms and conditions for these activities, please contact the relevant promoter or organiser.

Booking and Payment

You can book online at any time.

The box office is open 9.30am–5pm Monday to Friday to book in person or via the telephone on 020 7485 2206. It is also open from 30 minutes before the start time of events.

These hours are subject to change and may be affected by our performance programme.

Transaction fees

• Online orders containing one or more tickets are subject to a single £2 fee per transaction.  
• Telephone bookings are subject to a single £2.50 fee per transaction. 
• Bookings made in person at the box office will not be charged a transaction fee. 
• Orders only for classes, courses, conferences, lectures, youth events or Folkshop items, will not usually be charged a transaction fee.
  
  

Voluntary donations

There is an option at the checkout to add a voluntary donation to help support the work of the English Folk Dance and Song Society. Donations can be registered for Gift Aid. 

Third Party Data Sharing

If you purchase ticket(s) for an event promoted by a third party at our venue, we may share your details with this third party. These details are to be used by the third party for communications only directly concerning the event, unless you say that you would like to keep in touch with them afterwards. Your details will not be passed on to anyone else. Read our Privacy Policy for more details.

Youth tickets

Reduced price tickets for young people under 26 are available for many performances promoted by the English Folk Dance and Song Society.

Children and infants

For safety and capacity reasons, everyone – regardless of age – requires a ticket for our events, apart from ‘babes in arms’ at seated performances. Visit our Family Friendly page for more details.

We cannot reserve tickets without payment.

Tickets

As part of our environmental policy we no longer issue paper tickets, or email print-at-home tickets.

When you order online you’ll receive a confirmation email. You do not need to print out your email receipt for us.

When you arrive for the event, simply give us your name at the box office, which we will match with your order.

Refunds and Cancellation

EFDSS reserves the right to vary the advertised programme, substitute tutors, or cancel activities if necessary.  We will endeavour to give notification wherever possible.

Unless specified otherwise on the event listing, tickets cannot usually be refunded, transferred or exchanged unless an event has been cancelled.

Health and Safety

We set maximum attendance capacities for all activities. These are based on the Health and Safety requirements of the designated space and style of event, and are also in place to ensure a pleasant and quality experience. These capacities are not discretionary, and attendees will be turned away if the maximum capacity has been reached.

All visitors are responsible for the safety of themselves and property whilst at Cecil Sharp House. We accept no responsibility for any loss or damage to property.

If you or a member of your party has an accident, or sustains an injury, whilst at Cecil Sharp House, please report this to a member of staff at the reception desk.

Assistance dogs only are allowed into the venue.

For more information about Health and Safety at Cecil Sharp House, including Fire Safety procedures, please visit our Policies webpage.

Food and Drink

Our café is generally open every day (follow the link for details and opening hours). Only food and drink bought here can be consumed within Cecil Sharp House.

Special Offers

• Offers and EFDSS gift vouchers redeemable subject to availability
• No cash alternative available
• One offer or voucher valid per booking
• Offers are not available retrospectively
• Offers are non-transferable
• EFDSS reserves the right to change or cease offers at any time
   

Access Needs

At the English Folk Dance and Song Society we aim for Cecil Sharp House to be accessible to all who visit and perform here, including disabled people and those with other access needs. 

Disabled people are entitled to a free personal assistant ticket to any of our events.

For classes and courses – please fill out the relevant enrolment form to tell us of your needs. You will receive a link to this form in your confirmation email after booking.

Visit our Access Page to find out more.

Photography, filming and audio recording

We will generally allow the considerate taking of photographs, during concerts or events promoted by the English Folk Dance and Song Society. Your photos must be only for non-commercial use. We will inform you by signs or announcements for events where photography is not permitted. However, please do not use flash photography or negatively affect the experience of other audience members, for example by obstructing their view. Venue staff have the right to ask you to stop.

The filming or making audio recordings of concerts or events is not permitted.

Participants in learning activities may, with the permission of the tutor only, be permitted to take photographs, film or make audio recordings – strictly for their own personal use.

The English Folk Dance and Song Society or any permitted third parties may carry out filming, photography and sound recording in or about the venue. By purchasing tickets you consent to you and your party being included in such films and recordings, and to their exploitation without payment. If you have any concerns about appearing in film or photography, please discuss this with a member of staff.

For information about our policy on the Use of Recorded Images with children and adults at risk, please see the the English Folk Dance and Song Society Safeguarding Policy on our Policies webpage.

Performances and Lectures

If you arrive late for the start of a performance or lecture, front of house staff will request that you wait until a suitable moment, usually during applause, at which point they will guide you to a seat.

Seating is unreserved unless stated otherwise.

At seated concerts or events, all audience members are required to sit on a seat or in designated wheelchair space. Under no circumstances are audience members permitted to sit in an aisle between seating or block exit points. If you are unable to find a seat, bench or wheelchair space, please ask a member of staff for assistance.

EFDSS Classes and Courses

Unless stated otherwise, adult learning classes are open to everyone over the age of 16 years. Advance booking is required for most courses and drop-in is possible for others – please check the details against each relevant course.

To avoid disrupting other learners, and to ensure safety, people arriving more than 10 minutes late for any class or course will be admitted at the discretion of the tutor.

Access and medical needs
You must fill in an enrolment form before attending any courses, so venue staff and tutors are aware of any access or relevant medical needs for all participants. You will receive a link to this form in your confirmation email after booking. For drop-in classes, please ensure you inform your tutor. If you’d like to discuss anything in relation to your needs, contact the Education department on 020 7241 8953 or [email protected].

Drop-in classes
Advance booking is not required (although advisable) and payment can be taken on the night. These classes are on a first come, first served basis until capacity is reached. 

Other classes and courses
Advance booking and payment is required and is non-refundable.

Education concessionary rates: adults
You are eligible for the concessionary rate for any relevant English Folk Dance and Song Society class and course if you are:

• In full-time education
• In receipt of an Income-Based Benefit (such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit)

Education concessionary rates: young people
You may apply for the concessionary rate for any relevant English Folk Dance and Song Society class and course if any of:

• You are in receipt of free school meals
• You are a looked after or displaced young person
• Your parent/guardian is in receipt of an Income-Based Benefit (such as Income Support, Universal Credit, Housing or Council Tax Benefit, Working Tax Credit, Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance)

Concessionary rates are not available to purchase online. Evidence of eligibility (a copy of your supporting documentation) needs to be provided prior to booking – either presented in person at the Box Office or emailed to [email protected].  Payment will be taken in person or by telephone once approval has been given. 

Online activities

The content within online events remains the intellectual property of English Folk Dance and Song Society in perpetuity, and may not be distributed, copied or reproduced without permission. The English Folk Dance and Song Society makes no claim for ownership of any music used.

When participating in English Folk Dance and Song Society activities, you should ensure that you are in a safe environment at all times and are healthy enough to take part in the session, and you agree that you do so at your own risk.

Every effort will be made to keep the livestream up and running smoothly. However, the English Folk Dance and Society takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the live stream becoming unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.

See also: Code of Conduct

See also: Policies

For information about relevant EFDSS polices including our organisational Safeguarding Policy, please visit Policies.