Hallmaster, the Dorset software business whose venue booking platform is used by community halls, churches and charities across the UK and beyond, has been named a finalist in The Customer Loyalty Award at The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.
Founded in 2010 to solve the day-to-day operational headaches of shared venues, the company reports that its software now supports more than 3,500 organisations around the world, handling bookings, invoicing, payments and administration through a single system. Finalists were announced in July 2026, with winners revealed at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London on 10 November 2026.
Built for volunteer-run venues
Hallmaster operates in the venue management software market, serving village and community halls, churches, charities, sports clubs, theatres, golf clubs, schools, meeting spaces, local authorities and commercial venues. Many of its customers are volunteer-led organisations, which the business says makes ease of use, reliability and responsive support critical.
Rather than building features for their own sake, the company says every development is driven by direct customer feedback and practical operational need. The platform brings together bookings, invoicing, online payments, reporting, recurring bookings, resource management and integrations covering remote heating, payment, accounting and building access, helping venues cut administration and eliminate double bookings.
Loyalty measured in decades
The finalist entry leans heavily on longevity. More than 68 organisations have remained Hallmaster customers for over 12 years, according to the business, while independent reviews consistently highlight its knowledgeable UK-based support team. In the past year alone, the company reports welcoming more than 280 new organisations, delivering 12 major software updates, maintaining system uptime above 99.9 per cent and supporting over one million bookings annually. Growth, it says, has been built on long-term relationships and consistently strong customer service.
Backing the community venue sector
Beyond the software itself, Hallmaster works with sector bodies including Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), providing training, guidance and support. ACRE, whose annual Village Halls Week campaign champions the contribution of England’s more than 10,000 village halls, lists Hallmaster among the sponsors of the event and has published guest articles from the company on its website.
According to the company’s website, ACRE has chosen Hallmaster to be promoted as its preferred booking system for village halls in England and Scotland.
By reducing the time volunteers spend on paperwork, the company says it helps organisations focus on serving their communities, enabling millions of people each year to connect, learn, volunteer and take part in local activities. Hallmaster now joins the other finalists shortlisted for The Customer Loyalty Award, a category recognising companies that turn dependable service into enduring customer relationships, with the winners announced when The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony takes place on 10 November 2026.
