Q. What is the Historical Halloween Ball?

A. The Historical Halloween Ball is a biennial historical costuming event, comprising a ceilidh, light buffet, and disco. The Ball is held every two years, and every Ball has a different spooky, Halloween themed dress code which puts a spin on historical attire, and which attendees must follow. The primary target audience is historical costume makers who wish to show off their creations, socialise with other costumers, and have an enjoyable evening.

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Q. Where and when is the ball?

A. The Historical Halloween Ball will be held at The Belgrave Rooms, 25 Goldsmith Street, Nottingham, NG1 5LB, on Saturday 31 October 2026. Doors open at 6.30pm, and dancing commences at 7.30pm.

 

Q. What does the ticket include?

A. The ticket covers the ceilidh, disco, and light buffet at half time. Drinks are not included and must be purchased from the bar.

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Q. Does the event have a minimum age requirement?

A. Yes. Due to the nature of the event (evening/night time, alcohol on sale, potential for scary decorations and costumes, etc), all attendees must be 18 or over by the date of the Ball (31 October 2026). We reserve the right, as do our venue, to ask for age verification ID and to refuse entry, or service, regardless of any purchase of a valid ticket.

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Q. I am not a member of The British Guild of Historical Costume Makers, can I still attend?

A. Yes. This event is open to all makers of historical costume, and their friends and families (provided they all wear a high standard of historical dress). The Guild does not have a formal membership process - you ‘join’  by taking part in our events, subscribing to our newsletter, or joining our online community space on Discord here. Newsletter subscribers and Discord members will have access to purchase tickets a week earlier than the general public.

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Q. Are there different ticket options available?

A. No - there’s just the one ticket type, priced at £60. These can be purchased directly by emailing info@historicalcostumemakers.co.uk, or on Eventbrite here (please note Eventbrite has a booking fee).

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Q. Are early bird discounts available?

A. No. This event is being organised by The British Guild of Historical Costume Makers, and the Guild is committed to offering accessible, fairly priced events for everyone. We understand that some people need more time to budget for events than others, and we do not want to rush them into purchasing a ticket. All attendees will be charged the same amount - £60 per ticket. Newsletter subscribers and Discord members will have access to purchase tickets a week earlier than the general public, but there is no discount on the price.

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Q. I’m not a costume maker, can I still attend?

A. Yes, but you MUST adhere to the dress code rules. You can purchase your costume from a reputable historical costume maker or supplier, but we cannot permit access to the event to anyone who has purchased their costume from online fancy dress shops, Shein, Wish, Aliexpress, etc. Please remember this is an event primarily aimed at the historical costuming community, so please respect the spirit of the event.

Gentlemen may purchase new or antique/vintage suits to wear, but they must be at least of a cut and style suitable for Edwardian, Victorian or earlier periods, and suitably accessorised. Please no modern suits or wedding attire.

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Q. I’m a costume maker, but I’ve purchased a few accessories to wear - is this allowed?

A. Yes, absolutely. The majority of your costume should be made by you or another historical costume maker, but accessories can be purchased new, vintage or antique. For example, jewellery, shoes, stockings, spectacles, hats, hairpins, canes, and spooky props.

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Q. I’m not much of a dancer, can I still attend?

A. Of course! Whilst we hope that you’ll join us for dancing the Dashing White Sergeant or Strip the Willow, or maybe later at night for a boogie during the disco, we appreciate that not everyone wishes, or is able, to take to the dance floor. There will be enough tables and seating in the dance hall so that if anyone wishes to just observe the dancing whilst enjoying a drink, they can.

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Q. I have special accessibility needs, can you accommodate me?

A. As this is a dance event, it may not be suitable for anyone who relies on a wheelchair or mobility device. There will however be tables and chairs in the dance hall for those who just wish to sit, relax, and observe the dancing. Access to the venue is up a flight of steps, so if you require use of the lift you must email us at info@historicalcostumemakers.co.uk no later than 2 weeks prior to the event so we can ensure this will be available for you to use. Once inside the venue, all rooms including the dance hall, bar, and toilets, are all on the same floor.

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Q. What food and drink will be available on the night?

A. The buffet constitutes of a selection of sandwiches, finger-food, and desserts. Finalised details of the menu will be made available nearer the date of the event. Non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks, including some special creepy cocktails, can be purchased from the bar. 

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Q. I have special dietary requirements, can you accommodate me?

A. A selection of Vegetarian food options will be available as part of the buffet on the night, but we regret that other special dietary requirements cannot be catered to. We advise any attendees with special dietary requirements to eat beforehand. The Corinthian Restaurant occupies the same building as the Belgrave Rooms and offers fine dining at affordable prices.

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Q. If I book my ticket online, how do I collect my ticket?

A. We do not issue out physical tickets. Your name will be checked against our guestlist at the door to the venue.

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Q. Can I buy a ticket at the event?

A. No. All tickets must be purchased online prior to the event.

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Q. Can I get a refund if I change my mind about attending?

A. Tickets are refundable up to 48 hours after purchase, but after this time are non-refundable. You are welcome to sell your tickets on, or swap the names on the tickets. Please email us for refunds or name-swaps: info@historicalcostumemakers.co.uk

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Q. If the event is cancelled, how do I obtain a refund?

A. In the unlikely event of the Ball being cancelled, you will receive an email confirming the cancellation, and a refund will automatically be processed to the card you used to purchase your ticket.

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Q. Is there a dress code for the event?

A. Yes. The dress code is integral to the event, so it is important that all attendees understand what is expected of them. You will be asked to confirm your acknowledgement of the event Terms and Conditions, including any dress code rules, before purchasing tickets. Read the full Dress Code here.

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Q. Where can I find information about the event agenda and schedule?

A. A rough itinerary can be viewed on the About page here. Timings are subject to change.

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Q. Is there preferred accommodation I can book?

A. Nottingham city centre has a wide selection of hotels to book, but we recommend the Premier Inn Nottingham City Centre (Goldsmith Street) which is just a 3-minute walk up the road from the Belgrave Rooms. Most rooms are available as twin rooms, making it ideal to share with a friend in order to half the cost.