Elm Court Indoor and Outdoor Boot Sales

Indoor Sales

These are held between mid-October and Easter, alternate Saturdays. 
There are 45 stalls, and we usually get between 300 and 400  public.
There is a snack bar with seating, selling teas/coffees, burgers, sandwiches etc.
Stalls must be booked in advance.
outdoors rest of year.
 Car Boot Weather
Location map

 Our car boot field - click to expand

Indoor Dates for 2009/2010:

31st October 2009 Good cause: Cats Protection All Stalls sold
14th November 2009 Good cause: The Green Room All Stalls sold
28th November 2009 Good cause: Warren Concert Party All Stalls sold
12th December 2009 Good cause: Hertfordshire Showband All Stalls sold
9th January 2010 Good cause: Elm Court
23rd January 2010 Good cause: Warren Concert Party All Stalls sold
6th February 2010 Good cause: Mount Grace School All Stalls sold
20th February 2010 Good cause: The Green Room All Stalls sold
6th March 2010 Good cause: Mount Grace School All Stalls sold
20th March 2010 Good cause: Hertfordshire Showband All Stalls sold

What time are buyers admitted and how much?
Normally 1.30pm.  But early buyers are admitted at the same time as stall holders on payment of £5.  Admission is free after 2.30pm.  Accompanied children are free.

Why the £5 fee for early buyers?
 We find the sellers prefer time to set-up before the general public are allowed in.  But then we found that some 'keen' buyers would book a stall just to get in at the same time as the sellers. But then they would leave the stall empty, which reduces the choice for others. So now we have formalised the £5 fee for early buyers.

How Much Does a Pitch Cost?
£15 for the first pitch, then £13 each after the first if you want more than one on the same day.

How Much Space Do I get?
Cost £15 per pitch. For each pitch we supply one table about 6 feet by 2 feet. Most pitches in the main hall are 7 feet wide by 6 feet deep, those in the small hall are 8 feet wide by about 5 feet deep, and those in the link are a different size again. For  SAFETY reasons, stalls must not extend into the aisles. How you use your area is up to you, but your whole stall, and your sales staff, must fit into this area. Extending into the aisles cannot be tolerated for safety reasons. We are very strict about this. In the main hall it is possible to re-arrange your pitch so that the table, and a 6 foot long dress rail can be accommodated without breaking this rule, but most stall holders find this re-arrangement very inconvenient. 
Click here for stall layout.

What time are stall holders admitted?
The centre will open at 12 noon for setting up. The sale will begin at 1.30pm. 
We reserve the right to re-let any stall not taken up by 1.15pm. Stalls not pre-paid must be taken up by 12.30pm. 

Does Elm Court supply tables?
For indoor sales yes, a table approximately 6 feet by 2 feet. For all pitches in the main halls (stalls 1-30) there is enough space to add your own pasting table behind the supplied table, making a total table top size of 6 feet by 4 feet.

Do I need to book?
Yes, for indoor sales it is almost essential to book.
For further information or booking ring Elm Court 01707 659602, 9am to 12 noon, Monday, Wednesday & Friday. Sorry no online booking.
Click here for booking information and form.
Click here for stall layout.

On nice days can I set up a stall in the car park or field
No.  Sorry, but this is rarely possible, and so not worth disrupting the sale when it is possible. Some sellers would want to move from indoors to outdoors, leaving others scattered around the hall in a less attractive selling area.

What is Disabled Access Like
The main hall, lower link and toilet access is step free from the car park. The small hall and upper link is accessible via a ramp from the car park.  There are steps between the small hall, upper link and main hall, but these can be avoided by going round the outside of the building which, if required, our staff will be pleased to help you with.  There are larger than normal cubicles in male and female toilets that can be accessed with a wheelchair.

What can I sell?
All the normal car boot stuff provided it is legal.
And not the following:
  Bottled, canned, and hot drinks and fresh food because the snack bar good cause have the monopoly.
  'fun bangs' and water bombs because these cause a mess inside the centre.
  Guns, including replicas and those that fire plastic pellets, and "weapon" knives because we disapprove and have caused problems.
  Alcohol or tobacco because it is usually illegal - even if they are left over from a party!!
The sale of counterfeit copies of CDs and DVDs, counterfeit designer clothes and perfumes etc will not be tolerated

Who is it in aid of?
 Elm Court Youth and Community Centre, a registered charity, take most of the proceeds from the stalls fees (the £15).  The money is used to maintain and enhance the Centre.  The good cause staffing the doors, car park and snack bar keep the proceeds from the public (the 50p), early buyers (the £5), snack bar profits and a small proportion from the stall fees.

Is there a Question you still have, which you think should be answered here?
Then email us:  email contact.

Outdoor Sales
 Outdoors, alternate Saturdays between Easter and mid October, indoors rest of year.
Sellers are admitted from 12 noon. Public are admitted from *1.30pm.
Sellers cars/vans: £12 - no booking.
Please note there is a maximum height limit on vehicles of 2 metres (6' 6")
Public are charged 50p until 2.30pm.
*But if they want to enter early, with the sellers, it is £4.
01707 659602 (24hr)

On a dry day we get between 100 and 200 sellers cars and about 1000 public ( see 2009 figures). The field is reasonably flat and cut (good enough for youth football). A very nice setting with trees and hedging on 3 sides, and the Elm Court Centre on the fourth. There are indoor toilets, an indoor snack bar with seating, selling teas/coffees, burgers, sandwiches etc. There is also usually a Snack Bar on the field with seating.

Outdoor Sales 2010:
Date Field good cause Snack Bar good cause Pitch fees (pitches) Buyers gate (£4 & 50p)
10th April TBA TBA
24th April TBA TBA
8th May TBA TBA
22nd May TBA TBA
5th June TBA TBA
19th June TBA TBA
3rd July TBA TBA
17th July TBA TBA
31st July TBA TBA
14th Aug TBA TBA
28th Aug TBA TBA
11th Sept TBA TBA
25th Sept TBA TBA
9th Oct TBA TBA

The first indoor sale of the following season is on 23rd October 2010.

Who is it in aid of?
Elm Court Youth and Community Centre, a registered charity, take most of the proceeds from the sellers fees (the £12).  The money is used to maintain and enhance the Centre.  The good cause staffing the gate and field keep the proceeds from the public (the 50p), early buyers (the £4), and a small proportion from the sellers fees. The good cause running the Snack Bars keep all their profits and a small proportion from the sellers fees.
How Much Space Do I get?
The field can get pretty full, so to be fair to everyone we limit the pitch length to 6 metres (20 feet) - that's over 3 normal pasting tables end to end.  If you want more space, then just let the field staff know, then you pay £1/metre over the 6 metre. Vans pay the standard £12 fee because they may want the same space as a car.  If they want more then they pay the £1/metre extra.
What if I Bring a Trailer
Trailers are charged extra to the £12 at the rate of £1/wheel on trailer. 
Why the maximum height limit of 6'6"?
We don't want greengrocers, butchers etc as this effects the local shops.  We are a Community Centre after all, and most of the Community want to maintain their local shops, even if they don't always use them.  Also heavier and bigger vans cause the field more damage.  And on the entrance to the field we have a low tree, and the entrance to the Centre has a height restriction bar.
Why the £4 fee for early buyers?
We find the sellers prefer time to set-up before the general public are allowed in.  But then we found that some 'keen' buyers would pay the sellers car £12 fee, just to get in at the same time as the sellers.  We often could not tell the difference between these bogus sellers and the genuine seller, so could not prevent this practice.  So now we have formalised the £4 fee for early buyers.   But please note we make no guarantee about how long in advance of the general public this will get you in.
Does Elm Court supply tables?
No, please bring your own.
Do I need to book?
No. We do not take bookings. If we're full, and this has only happened twice in 20 years, we give free entry vouchers for future sales to those we have to turn away.
What if it rains?
Unless the field is also waterlogged (see below), rain does not cause the sale to be cancelled. If it does rain during a sale, pitch fees are refunded at the rate of £2 for every 20 minutes of rain between 13.30 and 3pm to a maximum of £12. For example: a total of 19 minutes rain - no refund, a total of 21 minutes, £2 refund. Change may be required! Outdoor sales only. Tom’s or Barbara’s decision is final! If rain looks likely, we also offer sellers space inside. Space inside is usually much more restricted for the £12 fee.
What if the field is waterlogged?
With a waterlogged field the sale will usually be cancelled (sometimes it will be moved indoors - see below). Sales are usually cancelled either the evening before or about 9am on the morning of the sale.  We try to give as much notice as possible, but you must understand that the field can be dry until the Friday evening, then rain all night, and then be waterlogged in the morning. Phone 01707 659602 for 24hr info, but we prefer if you phone outside 9am to 1pm, Mon-Fri. We shall also try to update the web-site.
Do you move inside if the field is waterlogged?
Sometimes. With a waterlogged field the sale will usually be cancelled. This is because the field cannot be used for parking.  So however sunny it is on the day, we cannot park enough cars.  So we feel it is better to cancel than to have the chaos that insufficient parking would cause. There is an exception to this.  If we can predict that the field is going to be waterlogged sufficiently well in advance that the press adverts can reflect this, then we will have an indoor sale, like we hold in the winter.  If this is well publicised enough, then not nearly as many people turn up, and we can cope with the parking.
What can I sell?
All the normal car boot stuff provided it is legal.
And not the following:
  Bottled, canned, and hot drinks and fresh food because the snack bar good cause have the monopoly.
  'fun bangs' and water bombs because these cause a mess inside the centre.
  Guns, including replicas and those that fire plastic pellets, and "weapon" knives because we disapprove and have caused problems.
  Alcohol or tobacco because it is usually illegal - even if they are left over from a party!!
The sale of counterfeit copies of CDs, DVDs and videos, counterfeit designer perfumes and counterfeit designer clothes will not be tolerated
It there a Question you still have, which you think should be answered here?
Then email us:  email contact.

 

Outdoor Sales 2009:
Date Field good cause Snack Bar good cause Pitch fees (pitches) Buyers gate (£4 & 50p)
18th April PB children with special needs Warren Concert Party Cancelled Field waterlogged
2nd May A 2 B Cancer Research UK Scouts Swaziland Trip £2167 (197) £1080
16th May 3rd Potters Bar Scouts Mount Grace School £825 (75) £737 - wind and rain forecast
30th May Hertfordshire Showband Hertfordshire Showband £2200 (200) £988
13th June Scouts Swaziland Trip The Green Room £1969 (179) £920
27th June 5th Potters Bar Scouts PB children with special needs £1804 (164) £650
11th July Silver Phoenix Explorer Scouts 4th Potters Bar Scouts £1309 (119) £600 - some light rain
25th July The Green Room Cats Protection £2321 (211) £660
8th August 4th Potters Bar Scouts Warren Concert Party £2398 (218) £660
22nd Aug 57 SQD Air Cadets Cats Protection £2409 (219) £930
5th Sept 3rd Potters Bar Scouts Warren Concert Party £1947 (177) £900
19th Sept 5th Potters Bar Brownies PB Special Needs Group £2079 (189) £860
3rd Oct 5th Potters Bar Scouts 1st Northaw Scouts £1265 (115) £590 (high wind)
17th Oct 1st Little Heath & PB Scouts Mount Grace School £1357 (137) £687

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