BRANDS HATCH 2015

GRAND PRIX BALLBrands Hatch Christmas Grand Prix Ball 2015Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

1. What is the dress code?Dress to impress! Smart dress - strictly no jeans or trainers. Black tie is optional but recommended.

2. Will the disco or any of the entertainers use strobe lights?No strobe lighting is used in any of the performances organised by MSV at this venue.

3. How do I submit my guests’ food and drink choicesFood and drink order forms, along with table plans, can all be submitted online for your convenience. We aim to send you all the information you require to make the final arrangements at least 4 weeks prior to your party night. We kindly request that all menu and drinks orders are submitted 14 days prior to your party night to enable us to provide you with an efficient service.

4. Can we run a bar tab?For shared party nights the short answer is no. Unfortunately, due to the overall capacity of the venue and the number of different groups it is not possible to operate multiple bar tabs. However we do offer pre paid drinks packages in the form of Wristbands or Drinks Vouchers. Both options are similar to bar tabs, in that the choice of how much to spend lies with the party organiser. Details of both options can be found below.

If you have hired a suite exclusively for your party night then we are able to arrange a bar tab up to your chosen value, please contact us for further details.

5. What is a Wristband?We offer three categories of Wristband:

Premium Wristband - £50 inc. VAT per personAll inclusive drinks including everything available to Alcohol or Soft Drink Wristband wearers, plus house Champagne by the glass*, Champagne cocktails*, bottled ciders, shots and liqueurs plus one free portrait photograph worth £10 per guest. *Champagne Lounge only.

Alcohol Wristband - £30 inc. VAT per personAlcohol Wristbands entitle wearers to unlimited draft lager and beer, bottled lager, house wine by the glass, soft drinks and single measure spirits and mixers plus Prosecco in the Champagne Lounge.

Soft Drink Wristband - £18 inc. VAT per personSoft Drink Wristbands entitle wearers to unlimited soft drinks (including energy drinks) and non alcoholic sparkling cocktails in the Champagne Lounge .

You will have the opportunity to order Wristbands when completing your order forms (see Section 3). Once ordered we will contact you for payment which must be received in full at least 7 days prior to your party night. On arrival at the venue the main contact for your party (or nominated representative) will be issued with the Wristbands for distribution amongst your guests (one per person).

If you opt for Wristbands then all members of your party must have one, however you may mix and match Wristband types.

Only Wristbands fastened around the wrist will be accepted at the bar.

Unfortunately we cannot replace lost or stolen Wristbands.

6. What if I don’t want to buy Wristbands?We also offer Drinks Vouchers for party organisers who may not want to pay for their guests’ drinks all night or have a smaller budget to work with.

We offer two categories of Drinks Vouchers:

Alcohol Vouchers - £4.30 inc. VAT eachValid for redemption against house wine by the glass, draft beer and lager, bottled lager or single measure spirits with a mixer.

Soft Drinks Vouchers - £2.50 inc. VAT eachValid for redemption against all serving sizes of draft and bottled/canned soft drinks including J20, energy drinks and orange juice and lemonade.

You will have the opportunity to order Drinks Vouchers when completing your order forms (see Section 3). Once ordered we will contact you for payment which must be received in full at least 7 days prior to your party night. On arrival at the venue the main contact for your party will be issued with the Drinks Vouchers for distribution amongst your guests. You may order any combination of Drinks Vouchers.

Please Note:Those with existing orders may order additional Drinks Vouchers on the night. We are also able to refund any unused Drinks Vouchers provided they are returned to us at the end of the night.

Unfortunately we cannot replace lost or stolen Drinks Vouchers.

7. I don’t want a drinks package, can I just purchase drinks on the night?Of course! There will also be a cash bar facility available for people who do not want to pre-order either Wristbands or Drinks Vouchers. We can also accept debit and credit cards (except American Express), however please bring cash if you can as this ensures a quicker service at the bar.

8. Can I pre-order wine?Yes, you will have the opportunity to pre-order wine for your table when completing your order forms (see section 3). Unfortunately, due to the overall capacity of the venue we are not able to facilitate other drinks pre-orders, however a cash bar facility will operate from arrival for guests to purchase alternative drinks during the evening.

9. What about the ½ bottle of wine per person included in the package?There is no need to pre-order your complimentary ½ bottle of wine per guest, we will ensure your allocation is on your table(s) when you arrive. As standard we will provide an even split of our House wines, Argento Pinot Grigio (white), Argento Malbec (red) and California Falls Zinfandel (rose) for each table, however please just let us know if your guests would prefer a particular colour of wine. Unfortunately your wine allocation is non-transferable and we are not able to upgrade the complimentary wines.

10. What time does the evening start and what time do I need to be there by?The venue opens at 19:00 for arrival drinks and appetisers. There will also be a photographer available to take shots of you and your guests on arrival so we would advise you to arrive as close to this time as possible. Dinner is served at 20:00 (call to dinner 19:45) and although we will not refuse entry after this time, guests may miss out on courses if they are not seated in time.

11. Can I leave my car overnight?Yes, we have ample car parking space on site. We would, however, request that you collect your car no later than midday the following day to enable us to clear the car parks in preparation for the following night’s event. Please also remember that although there is 24 hour security at the venue, vehicles are left overnight at the owner’s risk. If you do plan to leave your car overnight and require a taxi home, please remember to book this in advance (see section 24).

12. How do I get to Brands Hatch?Brands Hatch is located just off the A20 and is signposted from both the M25 and M20 motorways. Head to the Brands Hatch Main Entrance and the Christmas Grand Prix Ball is located in the MotorSport Vision Centre, on the right hand side as you enter the gate. Security will direct you to the car park if required.

13. Will I need a ticket to access the venue?No tickets are required this year but guests will be required to state their party’s booking name on arrival so that they can be checked off the guest list.

14. What size are the tables and do I have to provide a seating plan?Our tables seat a maximum of 12 guests. When you complete your online forms (see section 3) a seating plan template will be generated according to your number of guests. We would ask that you complete this template with your guests’ names showing where members of your party are to be seated. This will enable us to provide an efficient meal service on your party night.

15. What if I don’t like the menu?The menus are set but with three options available for each course, including a vegetarian option, we hope that there is something to suit all tastes. A Special Diets Menu, catering for most allergies, intolerances and dietary choices, is also available on request. You must inform us of any guests with special dietary requirements prior to your party night in order for us to cater for their needs.

Halal and Kosher meals can also be arranged but we must receive at least 14 days notice of this requirement.

16. Is there a cloakroom?Yes, a free of charge cloakroom will be in operation where guests may leave their coats and other small items e.g. umbrellas, small bags. Guests should note that all items are left at the owner’s risk. A ticket will be issued for all items checked in at the cloakroom and this ticket will be required in order to retrieve items at the end of the night. In the event of a lost ticket the guests will be required to wait until the end of the night to see if any belongings have been left.

17. How do I get to the rooftop Champagne Lounge and is it heated?The Champagne Lounge can be accessed via a flight of stairs at the far end of your suite. Signage within the suite will direct you accordingly. The Champagne Lounge is in a temporary structure (marquee) on the roof of the MotorSport Vision Centre. The marquee is fully heated and there is even a covered smoking area with patio heaters.

18. Is there wheelchair access to the party rooms?There is a small lift which can accommodate one wheelchair at a time. Please let us know if there are guests in your party with wheelchairs / impaired mobility and we will ensure your tables are close to the lift end of the suite.Please note: Regrettably there is no wheelchair access to the Champagne Lounge

19. Can I bring my own wine/drinks to the party nights?No, only drinks purchased at the venue may be consumed in the building.

20. Where is the smoking area?Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the venue, however there is a covered smoking area adjacent to the rooftop Champagne Lounge with patio heaters.

21. Are there photographers?Yes, there will be a photographer based in reception on the night who will take pictures of individuals, couples and groups. Prices start from £10 per picture. Please note: photographers only accept cash payments and photographs can only be purchased on your party night.

22. How does the casino work?There will be roulette and black jack tables in the rooftop Champagne Lounge where you can spend your house money after dinner. House money will be provided for each guest at their place setting for dinner. Prizes will be awarded at the end of the night for the most successful guests!

23. Can I bring my own table dressings / gifts for my guests?Yes of course however please call us in advance of your party night to confirm details and arrange appropriate access times. Any table dressings in addition to those we will provide should be discreet i.e. no heavy corporate branding, and should not be intrusive to other guests in the same suite.

24. What time does the party end?The bar closes at midnight and then the venue closes at 00:30. If you require a taxi to get you home we strongly advise you to book this well in advance. The Christmas party season is an extremely busy time for taxi services and late availability cannot be guaranteed. Please also ensure that your taxi driver is aware of the venue closing time. Taxi companies close to Brands Hatch are:

Swantax – 01322 612 612

Station Taxis – 01474 708 899

Diamond Taxis – 01732 820 063