Verwood Hub — Local services in Verwood

Due to web site not working correctly, we had to book tickets for the 'Coldplace' performance (Fri 02 Aug) by visiting the hub Thursday 1st AUG 24. we purchased tickets ok at reception, from what looked like to be a gym instructor. I asked him did they have air conditioning in the theatre, and was it working, he replied yes. Other persons present at the time of this conversation were my partner and a young woman on reception who also looked like a gym instructor. On the Friday evening before the performance got started which incidently was 20 minutes late, we taken our seats which, unfortunately for us was right at the top/ high level (P1 & 2) The place was stifling hot. No Air con not even any Fresh air Ventilation. I nipped down and asked the young woman at the theatre door entrance (same woman on reception) why was the air con not working, she replied we havent got any air contitioning. I couldnt believe what I was hearing. I had to get back to my seat as the performance was due to start. The performance! OMG. The sound was dreadful. The drums overpowered more or less everything. We couldnt hear the lead singer because he was drowned out. The sound engineer happened to be next to me top of the isle. I said to him, could he not do anything with the sound? He was clearly having difficulties trying to control the sound output as he showed me on his tablet, things were not responding as they should. I think towards the end of what appeared to be a short 1st half, the sound was improving but was no means right, distorted. At the interval, we sat outside to cool down as we were so hot. We decided to skip the 2nd half of the performance for all of the aforementioned. We handed back our wrist bands at reception to the chap we purchased the tickets from yesterday. I said to him, why did you tell me yesterday that you had A/C and that it was working when it clearly is not and according to the woman you sit next to had explained to before the show started that there was none? He replied, oh is it not working, I think it is at the front of the theatre. I'll go and have a look to see what's wrong with the back of the theatre!!! There obviously is no one there which I would call a responsible manager, the place is run by what appears to be young kids. Dorset council have an obligation to provide a care of duty at public events whereby the basic health and safety requirements on this occasion were breached. Circumstances experienced this evening of 2nd August would and should have rendered the theatre closed. I have other concerns about the safety of this theatre should whoever is reading this report like to contact me then feel free to do so. However, I would like Dorset council to return our money £45.00, as this evening was totally...

I went to the hub for a specific event with Bournemouth and District concert band. The band did really well. The staff at the hub were professional and friendly. The parking is a bit eccentric as there is clearly not lot of parking on site and much of what was there was being occupied by maintenance vehicles and Harris fencing. You then have to figure out if parking nearby is OK as it is not clearly signed. Turns out it was fine but it nags at you after visiting places like Bournemouth where they fine you for the smallest infraction. The hall for the band was a great size and the seating comfortable. However the lack of air conditioning meant that the band and audience were over heating. The staff suggested opening doors but the duty manager said this was not possible due to neighbour complaints. Frankly, who moves next to a music venue and then complaints about the noise??. So fans were put on which did begin to cool the hall but I had to wonder why this was not already in operation in a space the staff knew to be hot, on a warm evening when it was going to be busy. Overall the hub is an adequate venue but has the feel of somewhere struggling for revenue. It is sadly typical of provincial theatres and halls that modern amenities such as air conditioning are not already installed. My overall opinion is that It is a place trying to be far too many things at once and thereby sadly failing at doing most of them. With a bit of creativity and clear proactive management it could be so...

I used the Hub for the cinema only. The price for a seat was good value to see a recent release movie.The seating was the temporary, tiered and fairly comfortable as they are slightly cushioned fabric covered. The screen was good but unfortunately it was also the back of the raised staging area. I say this because all through the movie the top of the screen had blacked out areas where the shadow of 3 of the lighting 'cans' obscured the full projection. It definitely interfered with the quality of the film as there were frequent times in the film when the main characters heads were partially obliterated by shadow. Maybe the people setting up the film just forgot to lower the lighting rail and adjust them. This is the reason for my lower...