FAQs

Opening Times

What are your opening hours?

We are open 7 days a week. Monday to Thursday 12pm – 11pm and Friday – Sunday 12pm – 10pm

We occasionally open early or book bands in later than our advertised opening hours in exceptional circumstances. Please contact us for more details

When is reception open?

Reception opens at 6pm in the weekdays and 12 noon at the weekends. There are staff present from 12 noon so if you have a booking or just drop by to rehearse there will be someone available to assist you. Just knock the door or call 0116 2230303 and someone will let you in

 

Booking a Hourly Rehearsal

How do I book a rehearsal?

We do our best to make booking a rehearsal as easy as possible. The main way to book is calling us on 0116 2230303 but you can text/ WhatsApp 07876127661 or message us from our Facebook or Instagram page. You are also welcome to email us using the form at the bottom of this page.  

Response time from email or messages may be 24 hours so if it’s an imminent inquiry then its best to call.
We will ask you for a booking name and telephone number to secure the booking. 

Why don’t you provide an online booking system on your website?

Because we want to provide you with a personal service so we can make sure you get the most out of your rehearsal and you have the opportunity to ask us any questions before you get here.

Is there a set amount of time I have to book for?

The minimum time for a booking is one hour but  you can book on the hour or on the half hour and you can choose to rehearse however long you like, two hours, two and a half hours, three hours – whatever is best for you. We are unable to book in 15 minute increments

How about if I want the same time, same room every week?

We can provide you with a ‘regular booking’ this will reserve your room each week don’t have to bother with repeatedly booking your rehearsals. We require that you cancel with us any weeks you know you cant do with as much notice as possible. Just ask the receptionist for this service.

Taking Payments

When and how do I pay?

You pay the receptionist upon arrival, you can pay by cash or card

Can we split payments between band members?

Of course, you can all part pay for the rehearsal when you arrive, you can also each choose to do cash or card

Cancelling

What is your cancellation policy?

We do not charge you any fees upfront or any fees for cancellation. We do ask that you give us as much notice as possible. The more notice we have, the more opportunity there is for someone else to book the slot.

What if I just don’t show up?

Then we’ll be very disappointed! We usually call you to inquire as to your absence but again we don’t charge you for this – we just hope you feel guilty

Rehearsing

What do I need to bring?

Drummers should bring their own cymbals, however we do have 5 sets (hihats, crash, ride) of Sabian Solar cymbals that you can use for the rehearsal. They are basic but hard wearing and in decent condition. They are free to use. We do provide clutch, cups, felts, and wing nuts but we don’t provide cymbal savers. Each room has drum pedal, stool and snare but feel free to bring your own if you prefer your own kit. We occasionally have drum sticks you can borrow but we do sell them in the shop at £4 and carry 2B, 5A, 5B and 7A

Guitarists, if you forget your lead or strap we have ones you can borrow. We also sell these in the shop along with plectrums, strings, tuners and other accessories. We have guitars available to hire for £2 for the rehearsal as well

Singers, we provide mics and leads but it’s worth mentioning our house mics get a lot of use so you might want to bring your own. We do clean them after each us 

If you’re not sure just call us and ask, we always try our best to provide you with whatever you need.

What comes in the room?

Each room, regardless of size has 2 guitar amps, bass amp, drumkit and PA. Each room has a different set up so you can pick the room that suits you best. We also provide cabs so you can bring your own head should you want to. On the occasion that equipment is out for service we will do our best to provide as similar make and model as what we advertise.

You have an extensive CCTV system, are there cameras in the rooms?

We have cameras in the Target Room and Pink Room for safe guarding when we are running a Rockschool exam days, but these are switched off in between. We will never record your rehearsal, this is your time and your space to be creative and enjoy the experience. We consider recording rehearsals to be an abuse of your rights to privacy.

Equipment

I want to rehearse in the Green Room but I like using the amp in the White Room, can I have this amp in my rehearsal?

Sorry but you will have to book the White Room if you want to use amps in the White Room room. We advertise and book each room inclusive of equipment so you are paying for the room and the equipment that comes with that room

What if I need an extra amp?

We always have spares of everything. If you need an additional amp or cab for your rehearsal just ask at reception. We don’t charge you to have extra kit, though this will usually be a Line 6 Spider combo. You can’t select amps out of other rooms as other customers will have booked these amps for their rehearsal.

What if I’m having difficulties with the equipment?

Please let us know straight the way if you are having issues e.g  problems with an amp or mic or a broken drum skin. The receptionist is there to help you get the most out of your rehearsal and will be able to solve any issues as quickly as possible so you can get on with making some noise!

I’m not sure how to set up the drum kit/ PA/ amp can you help?

Of course! That’s what we are here for, just ask the receptionist and they will be happy to show you what to do in the future. In busy times please bare in mind though that the receptionist might not be able to assist you immediately, but don’t ever feel awkward asking for help! Remember we’ve seen it all before and it’s all part of the service 

Resident Rooms

I really want a resident room, I have read you are currently full and have a waiting list but how long should I expect to wait?

This is a hard question as it depends on what happens with each individual band, so we can’t pinpoint a time for you. Our waiting list is long and often people move on before a room becomes available so we suggest re registering your interest every couple of months so you’re fresh in our minds when a room does become available

What is included with a resident room?

We don’t provide any equipment, it is an empty room that you can hire from us monthly

What are the benefits of having a resident room at Stayfree?

Well for a start of, you’re part of a community of many other bands and musicians that use of rooms. We have a manned reception, lounge area, snacks and drinks vending, bar outlet, spares shop:- all at your door. You also benefit from free customer parking, CCTV throughout the building and public liability insurance. Please note you will have to insure your equipment yourselves. We do not provide external keys to resident bands but will be available to give you 24 hours access as and when you need it.

Equipment Hire

I would like to hire equipment from Stayfree for my gig, how do I do this?

All of our equipment is available to hire subject to availability. Each amp has a label describing its make, model and hire price. Priority is given to rehearsal room use but if a piece of equipment hasn’t been booked for rehearsal it is available to hire. If you are interested in enquiring about availability please email Caroline; admin@stayfree.co.uk  The receptionist cannot book out equipment for hire, but they can pass on details for Caroline to get back to you. Once the hire has been booked in with Caroline, it will be ready for you to collect and/or test at the arranged time.

What do I need to hire equipment?

You will need to bring 2 forms of ID with you, photo and address. A UK driver’s license is good, alternatively passport and utility bill or bank statement less than 3 months old.  There is 100% of the hire price as deposit required also. E.g hire = £25 so deposit = £25 = £50 in total. We will return the deposit to you when the hire equipment is returned

It’s an emergency and I need a piece of equipment or drum hardware right now, help!?

Give us a call, we will help you the very best we can. We usually have spares of everything so there is bound to be something we can hire you. But remember you will still need to have ID on you to hire!

I need a PA for my bands gig, can you help?

This does depend on your requirements. We supply Vocal PAs which means they are for singers and maybe keyboards or a bit of backing track. They are not backline PAs. Backline PAs are also used to amplify guitar amps and bass amps. You will need to explain to us what the PA is being used for before we can tell if we have anything suitable.

What’s the minimum amount I can hire from you?

If you just need a drum stool or microphone and stand for example, that’s fine, our minimum hire fee is £10 (+ £10 deposit)

 

Music Spares Shop

Is the Stayfree Spares Shop just for people who rehearse at Stayfree?

No, it’s for anyone who needs it. As we are open until 10/11/12 at night each evening, it’s ideal for emergencies or if you are just passing and need some strings. Anyone is welcome.

The Spares Shop doesn’t have what I want

Then tell us! We regularly update our product lines. You can use our suggestions form at the bottom of this page

Bar sales

I see you sell alcohol at Stayfree, how does that work?

We still operate our Lock 42 Premises License so any alcoholic drinks you buy will be from Lock 42 Ltd. All staff have been trained by Lock 42 in the sale of alcohol and will operate a strict ‘Challenge 21’ one drink per ID policy. We have a locked beer fridge that is only accessible by the receptionist. It is designed for people who would like a beer during their rehearsal, it is not a bar and does not do any sort of volume.

Music Tuition

I see there is music tuition at Stayfree, how do I book a lesson?

Music tuition is organised by the providers so its best to direct your enquires towards them.

Feedback/ Your Experiences

I had a great time rehearsing at your place and want to let you know

We would love it if you reviewed us on our Facebook or Google page so others can see how we are doing.

I have some suggestions for you, what’s the best way to tell you?

You can use the suggestions form at the bottom of this page

I have had a negative experience using your facilities what should I do?

If something has happened that you are not happy about, we want to know so we can correct it for the future and also keep you as a customer. We would appreciate it if you contacted us directly with your grievance rather than give us negative reviews without giving us the opportunity to resolve your issue. The receptionist may not have authority to deal with the situation so we recommend emailing md@stayfree.co.uk. Here you’ll get a direct response from a Director who will want to resolve any issue you may have. We will aim to reply with a resolution within 5 working days.

Suggestions and Other

How do I get job at Stayfree?

We love employing local musicians as receptionists/ rehearsal room assistants. We might not have a job at the time of enquiry but we keep CVs on file for when positions become available. We don’t often advertise so the best thing to do is email us your CV and interest. Please remember to tell us about your band and other musical activities so we can put a face to the name.

I have a question that isn’t listed here, what should I do?

Please give us a call on 0116 2230303, we’re happy to help. Or email us; music@stayfree.co.uk