Located in Kettle Hill Road, Eastling, the Village Hall is an attractive modern building which opened in September 1998.

Facilities include: large main assembly hall, small meeting room, modern kitchen and toilets (including disabled persons facilities), a lawned garden area and car parking for up to 50 vehicles. A large marquee is also available which can be erected in the Hall garden.

The Hall is managed by the Eastling Village Hall Trust, registered with the Charity Commissioners (registration number: 1046827).

Trustees are appointed at an Annual General Meeting, open to all residents of Eastling Parish and held each April.

Regular activities

GARDENING CLUB - meets 3 or 4 times a year. For details see local clubs listings or contact Clive Jolliffe on ( 01795 890160.

KEEP FIT CLASSES: Every Wednesday evening. All levels welcome. Bums, Legs and Tums: 7pm-8pm. Fit Dance: 8pm-9pm.
Thursdays (during school term time): Fitness Pilates: 9.15am.
Thursdays at 4.15pm: Freestyle Dance Class IDTA - for age 8 to 16 years.
For details, see local clubs listings or contact Leigh on ( 01795 890149 or .

KUNG FU - meets Tuesday evenings at 8.30pm.

POP-IN SOCIAL: The "Coffee Pop-in" is held in Eastling Village Hall every Wednesday morning, during school term time, from 9am - 11am. For details see local clubs listings.

S CLUB (Sunday School) - third Sunday of the month from 9.50am to 11.30am.

SHORT MAT BOWLS - Fridays at 2.30pm and 7.30pm and also, in winter months, on Wednesdays at 2.30pm. For details see local clubs listings.

SNOOKER CLUB - meets Monday evenings: juniors 6.30pm-8.30pm; adults 8.30pm-10.30pm. For details see local clubs listings.

TABLE TENNIS - at any time when Hall is not in use; book through Bookings Secretary (see below).

Trustees and Management Committee

Chairman: Dr Julia Bailey , Churchfield Farm, The Street, Eastling, Faversham, ME13 0BG; ( 01795 890401/890746 or  (Village representative);
Hon Secretary: Mrs Sue Parry (co-opted member);
Hon Treasurer: Alan Willson (Eastling Neighbourhood Watch representative).

Other members:
Mrs Liz Bell (Eastling Parochial Church Council representative);
Mrs Helen Higgs, (Eastling Parish Council representative);
Tim Philpott (Village representative),
Roy Piles (Eastling Snooker Club and Short Mat Bowls Club representative);
Michael Thomas (Eastling Gardening Club representative).

Information and Bookings

Dr Julia Bailey , Churchfield Farm, The Street, Eastling, Faversham, ME13 0BG; ( 01795 890746 or .

Creating Eastling's new Village Hall

In 1993, Eastling villagers decided that they wanted a new village hall. The old one - a converted First World War military hut, acquired from the former Throwley aerodrome and erected in the 1920s - had fallen far short of what was needed.

With the involvement of Eastling Parish Council, representatives of the Committee for the "old" Village Hall and the village community at large, a Steering Group was formed to gather local opinion and investigate options.

By December 1994, a Fund Raising Committee had been formed, going on to raise over £40,000 in four years. An approach to Lord Harris, persuaded him to donate a plot of land in Kettle Hill Road as the site for a new Hall.

After widespread consultation on the scheme, formation of a Charitable Trust to operate the new Hall and preparation of a business plan, Architects Lee Evans de Moubray were appointed in June 1996.

In October 1996, Swale Council granted planning permission and in November 1996 offered Grants totalling £50,000. In September 1997, Kent County Council offered £84,500 towards the project. Delays in obtaining these grants had allowed time to improve the Hall design and in November 1997, planning permission was granted for modified scheme.

Building work by Fullers of Faversham started on the Kettle Hill Road site in December 1997..... only to be seriously delayed by wet weather in January and February.

With completion of building work, the £185,000 Hall opened on September 5 1998. The Hall Trust held its first Annual General Meeting in April 1999, electing a new Management Committee and Trustees.

This, in turn, encouraged a number of new activities in the village, including a horticultural society and a short mat bowls club.