Before 1944 Otterhampton had no village hall, just a downstairs room at Jack Parsons’s home on Brookside, where they played Billiards and Whist. Jack’s house is still there today on the right side of the barn and water pump. The size of the room posed limitations on more varied activities.

The hall used to be an old malt house belonging to the Combwich and District Farmers Association and at one time was part of the property known as the ‘Towers’ owned by Henry Farthing-Leigh. In 1942 the malt house was sold to Frederick Henry and Muriel Amy Hawkins of Weston-Super-Mare.

The very first committee was made up of William Pardoe, Edward Jeanes, Alfred Bryer, Kenneth Haybittal, Sydney Kibby, Ernest Somers, William King, Walter Fielder, Louisa Redding, Margaret Stone, Eliza Cross and Mona Kibby.

Mr Haybittal the local bus proprietor was elected Chairman and Treasurer of the Village Hall committee and under his leadership the old malt house was renovated. Labour was supplied by villagers to excavate the floor and lay concrete but electricity had not yet arrived in Combwich at that time so an electric charging plant was installed. During the first two years a bar and skittle alley (in loft space above the main hall) were added.

Otterhampton Village Hall became a registered charity on 8th August 1949.

1970’s – further alterations were made with the help of a Community Council loan. The skittle alley was moved to its current home and further toilets were added to the ground floor.

1982 – 1989 – the short mat bowls room was created in the loft space of the former skittle alley with a single mat.

1987 – the Short Mat Bowls Club was formed and opened by Councillor Cartwright.

1991 – planning permission was obtained for further improvements.

1993 – Nuclear Energy donated £4,000 for improvements to the hall. This enabled the following works:
• Roof to be completely replaced and in doing so allowed the whole of the first floor to be restructured
• A meeting room along with male and female toilets were created
• A concrete fire escape was installed at the back of the skittle alley
• The short mat bowls added their second mat
• On the ground floor the kitchen was relocated to its present position
• The social club area was enlarged
• Cupboards were installed at the back of the stage
• New tables and chairs were purchased
• The old heating system was replaced throughout the hall along with improvements to the lighting and electrical systems.
• The majority of this work was carried out by volunteers from the Social and Bowls Clubs, creating the Village Hall we have today.