What is a hosted venue?

A hosted venue is a building whose main business is renting rooms for training, meetings and events, with staff on site to set rooms up and look after groups during the day. It sits between a self-service community hall and a hotel.

Is a community hall cheaper than a training venue?

Usually, on the hourly rate. But you set up the room, bring a projector and refreshments, and clear up afterwards. Count your own time and the extras before comparing prices.

When is a hotel the better choice?

When delegates need to stay overnight, for a residential course or a multi-day event with people travelling a long way. Then rooms, meals and training in one place is worth the higher price.

What does a day rate usually include?

It varies by venue, so ask. At the Maggie O'Neill Centre, training rooms start at £165 a day, and the room set in your layout, hosts on site, tea and coffee all day, the screen, WiFi and free parking are all included.

Training guide

Community hall vs hosted venue vs hotel

A community hall is the cheapest, but you set up, bring the tech and run the day yourself. A hotel looks after you, but room hire comes second to the bedrooms, and parking and refreshments often cost extra. A hosted venue sits between them: rooms are its whole business, so the room is set, the tech works and someone is on hand all day, at a day rate with the extras included.

Last updated: October 2026 · From the team at the Maggie O'Neill Centre

Three kinds of venue

Most training days and team meetings outside the office end up in one of three places. Each suits a different kind of day, and the hourly price is only part of what you pay.

A community hall belongs to a church, a council or a community group, and is used for many things across the week.
A hosted venue exists to rent rooms for training and meetings, with staff on site to set up and look after you.
A hotel sells bedrooms first, and rents its function and meeting rooms alongside.

How they compare

	Community hall	Hosted venue	Hotel
Who looks after you	Often nobody on site. You may collect a key.	Hosts on site all day, whose job is your room.	Reception staff, who also look after hotel guests.
Room set-up	You move the tables and put them back.	Set in your layout before you arrive.	Set up for you, often by events or agency staff.
Screen and WiFi	Bring your own projector. WiFi varies.	Screens and WiFi in every room, tested before you start.	Usually available, often charged as extras.
Tea and coffee	Bring your own, or use the kitchen.	Usually included, in or near the room.	Served at set times and charged per person.
Lunch	Bring your own or order in.	Arranged through a caterer, or bring your own.	In-house, usually as a per-person package.
Parking	Street parking, or a small car park.	Varies. Out-of-town hosted venues often have free parking.	Often paid, or limited at city-centre hotels.
Built for	Many uses: clubs, classes, parties, worship.	Training and meetings.	Overnight guests. Meeting rooms come second.
Price	Lowest hourly rate. Your time is the hidden cost.	A day rate with set-up, tech and drinks included.	Highest, usually per delegate, with extras on top.

When each one is the right choice

Choose a community hall when

Budget is the first priority and you have time to set up and clear away.
You are running something informal, such as a club, a class or a drop-in.
You have your own projector, laptop and refreshments, and someone to bring them.

Choose a hosted venue when

You want to walk in and start, with the room set and the screen working.
The trainer should spend the day training, not hunting for an extension lead.
You book regularly and want the same set-up each time.
You want one clear day rate, without a per-delegate charge for drinks.

Choose a hotel when

Delegates need to stay overnight.
The event runs over several days with people travelling from far away.
You want meals, bedrooms and meeting space on one bill.

Count the whole cost

To compare venues fairly, add up everything the day needs, not just the room:

The room hire itself, by the hour or the day.
Screen, projector and WiFi, if they are charged separately.
Tea and coffee, especially if a venue charges per person.
Lunch, and whether you must use the venue's caterer.
Parking for every delegate.
Your own time setting up, fetching equipment and clearing away.

A hall that costs less per hour can cost more once a member of staff has spent the morning setting up. A hotel quote per delegate can double once refreshments and AV are added. A day rate with everything included is the easiest to budget for.

Where the Maggie O'Neill Centre fits

We're a hosted venue in Huyton, near Liverpool, and a registered charity. Rooms are set in your layout before you arrive, hosts are on site all day, tea and coffee are in the room, every room has a screen you connect to wirelessly, and there are 50 free parking spaces, 30 seconds from the M57. Lunch comes from our partner, Superior Catering, or you can bring your own. Training rooms start at £165 a day, and the money funds Maggie's Meals and community support in Knowsley.

Planning the day? Read our training day checklist and guide to room layouts, or see our training rooms, meeting rooms and conference venue near Liverpool.