Ongar and District Community Association Events:
Our next Budworth Live event Brentwood Mac on Saturday November 14th is now sold out.
Our Comedy Club night on September 11th Still has some tickets available. These popular events always sell out so don’t leave it too late to book your tickets at www.laughingchili.co.uk (scroll down to find Ongar) or via the link on our website.
The next Budworth Live event will be Ska and 2 Tone Band Saturday Feb 20th, 2027. Save the date and look out for booking information on our website and social media, as well as in our notice board.
Other news
A reminder of our new regular hirers.
· Kate Tozer – Step Fitness class on Tuesday evenings– Info@stepfit.org
· Amanda Bolding – Dance Factory adult tap dancing on Tuesday mornings – 07976786404
· Sherlock Norville – Kizomba dance events monthly – platinumhair10@gmail.com
A Brief History of Budworth Hall Part 7 – Budworth Hall becomes a British Restaurant
During the Second World War, British Restaurants were government-funded community dining centres established to provide nutritious, affordable meals for civilians during food rationing and the Blitz. Despite their name, they were not commercial restaurants, but a public service introduced by the Ministry of Food.
The first British Restaurants opened in 1940, and by 1943 more than 2,000 were operating across Britain. Many were housed in existing public buildings such as town halls, church halls, schools and community centres, making Budworth Hall an ideal location.
When Budworth Hall became a British Restaurant in 1942, it was transformed from a popular community venue into a busy public dining hall. Local residents could enjoy a hot, nourishing midday meal, with tables set out in the Ballroom or another large room, while food was prepared in temporary or adapted kitchens. Volunteers worked alongside paid staff to prepare and serve hundreds of meals each week.
For many people in Ongar, the Hall would have become much more than a place for dances and meetings—it became a vital source of nourishment and community support during some of the most difficult years of the war.
Budworth Hall reopened for public use on 1 April 1946.
Hire and Contact details
For enquiries regarding hiring our facilities, please email budworthhall-ongar@outlook.com or call 07918 462959 if email isn’t available.
Visit www.budworthhall.co.uk for photographs, information about the Hall, upcoming events and venue availability.
Nerissa and Claire’s coffee bar and restaurant is open Tuesday to Saturday.
Jane Battersby for The Ongar and District Community Association.