We look forward to welcoming you back to Cecil Sharp House, but of course we are operating in very different times. We’re committed to doing our part and we need our guests to do their part too as we work together to focus on safety. Our policies and procedures are under continuous review and are subject to change as we monitor conditions and receive guidance from health and government authorities.
We are a COVID-19 Secure venue. We have a Risk Assessment in place, and processes to maintain cleanliness and aid social distancing.
- We request that all visitors take a Lateral Flow Test in the 24 hours before attending an event.
- We ask you not to attend the event if you have had a positive test result, feel unwell, or have symptoms of Covid-19. Please let us know, so we can convert the full value of your ticket(s) into a credit towards any future purchase from us within the next two years.
- We ask everyone (unless exempt) to wear a face covering whilst in our building. The wearing of face coverings is now mandatory on public transport and in shops; the government also expects and recommends that people wear face coverings in crowded areas.
- Wearing of a face covering while dancing is not recommended by the World Health Organisation as this may cause breathing difficulties. We will not usually require you to wear face coverings while dancing, but please check individual event listings for details.
View our COVID-19 Secure poster
View our Secure Risk Assessment
View our Standard Risk Assessment
View our Health and Safety and Access Brief
Very friendly venue, well organised and Covid safe – recent audience member
If you, or someone you know, is experiencing Coronavirus symptoms:
Stay at home if you’re experiencing any symptoms of Covid-19 (these are listed on the NHS website) or if you’ve recently been in contact with someone who has Covid-19.
Arriving at Cecil Sharp House
When you get here, please check in using the NHS COVID-19 app if you are able to do so. An official NHS QR code poster is displayed at the main entrance.
If you don't have a smartphone, or can't download the app, one of our hosts will take your details manually. You can also give us your details electronically: please scan the second QR code which on display at the main entrance and fill in the short form.
Records of customers, visitors and staff will be retained for 21 days to provide data to NHS Test and Trace if requested.
All records are maintained under General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).
Keeping each other safe
Please do everything you can to help keep everyone safe:
- Follow our directional signage when moving around the venue.
- You are encouraged to respect all other event attenders and staff members, some of whom may wish to adopt a more cautious approach. The government expects and recommends that people wear face coverings in crowded areas.
- Inside the halls, follow the control measures detailed in the event’s COVID-19 Risk Assessment. Signage will be displayed on the entrances to the halls as a reminder of the controls in place.
- Use the hand sanitisers around the building.
Our safety measures
We are a COVID-19 Secure venue.
We carry out risk assessments for all of our own activities, and may require or recommend extra safety measures for some higher-risk events.
For all promoters who have hired a space at Cecil Sharp House for their event, we require the event organiser to prepare a full risk assessment.
We’re continuing to apply processes to make sure the whole building is COVID-19 secure. Measures include:
- Clear signage to guide people safely around the venue
- Hand sanitiser stations at the entrance
- Regular and thorough cleaning of door handles, rails, toilets and other areas
- Cleaning halls between each event
- Encouraging all staff and visitors to wear face coverings in shared areas and crowded spaces as detailed in the COVID-19 Risk Assessment
- Kennedy Hall is equipped with mechanical ventilation systems which introduce fresh, filtered air
We’ll continue to review and manage any risks and to respond to any changes in Government guidance, keeping our staff trained and up-to-date as we go.
Attending gigs at Cecil Sharp House
Entry and exit
- Doors will open 30 minutes before the performance. Please do not queue immediately outside the building before this time.
- You should not attend any event at Cecil Sharp House if you have symptoms of Covid- 19.
- A QR code will be displayed on arrival, so you can check in with the NHS COVID-19 App.
- Please use the hand sanitiser provided as you enter.
- We operate contactless and paperless ticketing. Please give the name under which your booking was made.
Toilets
- Toilets will be available before and after the show and during any interval.
- Toilets will be cleaned throughout the day with anti-viral cleaning products.
Bar
- Drinks and refreshments can be ordered and paid for in advance. You will be emailed information about the ordering process.
Access
- There are accessible routes to all halls and the buildings lift will be available (limited to two people).
- Accessible toilets are available for all halls.
- EFDSS hosts will be on duty to help all our visitors.
- If you have any access requirements, please tell us in advance by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Making your booking
Advance booking is essential. Book online at any time, or by calling 020 7485 2206 10am–5pm, Monday–Friday.
Book with confidence
- If you can no longer attend any gig, please let us know in advance. We can offer vouchers towards a future purchase, valid for two years.
- Our standard refunds policy continues for Education events.
Enjoying the show
We thank you for your understanding, and can't wait to welcome you back!
Attending Classes and Courses at Cecil Sharp House
For classes and courses run by EFDSS, these are the additional Covid security precautions we take.
- We request that everyone takes a Lateral Flow Test in the 24 hours before attending a class – this will help increase safety for all. (Boxes of Lateral Flow Tests are available free of charge from many high street pharmacies – see information on the NHS website)
- All tutors will be taking Lateral Flow Tests in the same time period too.
- Do not attend your class if you have had a positive test result, feel unwell, or have symptoms of Covid-19.
- A QR code will be displayed on arrival, so you can check in with the NHS COVID-19 App.
- Please wash your hands before your class and use the hand sanitiser provided as you enter and leave the building.
- We ask everyone (unless exempt) to wear a face covering whilst in our building. The wearing of face coverings is now mandatory on public transport and in shops; the government also expects and recommends that people wear face coverings in crowded areas.
- Wearing a face covering while dancing is not recommended by the World Health Organisation as this may cause breathing difficulties. We will therefore not require you to wear face coverings during our dance classes (although you may of course do this if you wish), but please continue to do so around the building.
- Ventilation will be increased in all rooms by maximising opening of windows or doors and using ventilation systems where and when available.
- There will be short ‘ventilation breaks’ half-way through classes of one hour or less, and approximately every 40 minutes during longer classes. During ventilation breaks extra windows or doors will be opened, and/ or the ventilation systems boosted where available.
- CO2 monitors will be in place and active in the smaller halls (Trefusis, Storrow and the Committee Room) to make sure there is sufficient oxygen and air flow in these spaces.
- In Kennedy Hall, our largest space, the air exchange and filtration system works most efficiently when the outside doors remain closed, so there is no need to open the doors to increase ventilation.
- There will be no tea breaks during classes to minimise close interaction with others. Please bring your own drinks or snacks as needed.
- Please bring layers of clothing to keep warm as there may be colder temperatures in learning spaces due to the extra ventilation.
- Classes will be carefully laid out to maximise space between participants during teaching time and breaks – aiming for 1-2 metres between each person wherever possible.
- Tutors and students will avoid close contact and prolonged work face-to-face (they will be encouraged to wear face coverings when needing closer contact).
- There will be no sharing of musical instruments or other equipment between participants (such as morris dancing sticks or hankies).
- Dance tutors will carefully choose the repertoire of dances taught to minimise close contact. They will teach dances with less face-to-face contact and will give alternative moves to allow minimal close dancing between people from different households.
Further information
If you’d like to discuss any of these measures, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
