Hatfield House Music Festival

	Page
Reference and Administrative Details	1
Trustees' Report	2—4
Independent Examiner's Report	5
Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account)	6
Comparative Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account)	7
Balance Sheet	8
Notes to the Financial Statements	9—12

The trustees present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025.

Change of Charity Name

On 3 September 2026 the charitable company changed its name from Hatfield House Chamber Music Festival to Hatfield House Music Festival .

Objectives and Activities

Aims and Objectives

The charity's objects are to promote and advance the education and appreciation of the public generally in the study and practice of music and similar arts, in particular by means of presenting an annual music festival and other events.

In setting objectives and planning for activities, the Trustees have given due consideration to general guidance published by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit, including the guidance 'Public benefit: running a charity' (PB2).

Significant Activities

The policies adopted in furtherance of these objects are the design, marketing and presentation of musical and other arts events. Most events take place at Hatfield House Estate and there has been no change in these during the year.

The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.

Achievements and Performance

Main Achievements

In 2025 the Hatfield House Music Festival continued to offer a full programme of concerts, talks and other events, over a four-day weekend, 9 to 12 October, at venues in Hatfield House and its grounds. The Festival’s theme was ‘The Gift of Music’ and explored many aspects of generosity shown by composers and performers through the ages.

The theme gave the artistic team a chance to explore Handel’s particular link with the House and the Salisbury Family: the composer’s generous gift of a score and royalties from the Messiah to the Foundling Hospital helped establish this charity, which was built on land formerly owned by the Salisbury Family.

Ravel, Shostakovich and Orlando Gibbons were the anniversary composers in 2025 providing the perfect starting point from which to build a diverse Festival programme of music through the centuries, ranging from a concert of largely Baroque repertoire performed by Rachel Podger and colleagues, right up to the present day with the premiere of a new work for solo cello by Matthew Kaner. The Opening Concert performed by pianist Mishka Rushdie Momen encapsulated the development of keyboard repertoire through the ages, while Dame Imogen Cooper focused on a particular moment with the complete Schubert Impromptus—a wonderful gift to pianists. Other concerts explored a wide range of composers’ works over the weekend, from Mendelssohn and Beethoven String Quartets to Shostakovich Romances on Poems by Alexander Blok and Wynton Marsalis’ Meeelaan.

Learning and Participation remain at the core of the Festival’s activities and the new L&P Manager, Maria Thomas, devised an exciting programme of events. These were dedicated to the memory of HRH The Duchess of Kent, the Festival’s Patron, who sadly passed away in September and who had been so passionate about sharing the gift of music with everyone. Jazz musician and educator, Pete Letanka, ran the schools programme of composition and performance by local children, working with them to create their own new piece inspired by Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus. Gifted Purcell School musicians led the Family Concert and conductor Harry Bradford conducted the annual Come and Sing which this year explored Handel choruses. The concert days were also punctuated with interesting insights by writer and broadcaster Stephen Johnson in conversation with the performers from the stage in the Marble Hall.

Audience numbers continue to grow, with ongoing efforts to spread the word about the Festival attracting some new concert goers.

Financial Review

Financial Position

Income increased to £93,033 (2024 £66,102) and the charity made an overall surplus in the year of £11,383 (2024 £5,883). No funding has been received for education and schools activities resulting in a deficit on restricted activities. This deficit has been offset by a transfer of funds from unrestricted reserves. Overall reserves are £36,951 at 31 December 2025.

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Hatfield House Music Festival

Trustees' Report (continued)

For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

Reserves Policy

The Trustees intend to hold sufficient reserves to cover 3 months operating costs, which relate mainly to the cost of the Festival Manager.

Going Concern

After making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document

Hatfield House Music Festival is registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee and was set up by a Memorandum of Association.

Trustee Selection Methods

The management of the Company is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Articles of Association.

Other Information

Plans for future periods

The Hatfield House Music Festival continues to move forward with renewed confidence. An increased profit from 2025, plus a significant private donation, has allowed the trustees to plan a very ambitious, high-profile programme of events for the 15th anniversary and the 80th birthday of the Festival’s President, The Marquess of Salisbury, in 2026.

The theme is ‘Celebrations’ and the line-up of soloists and ensembles will be truly world-class, including Sir Andras Schiff, Iestyn Davies, Timothy Ridout, Harry Christophers and The Sixteen, The Academy of St Martin in the Fields String Ensemble, Fretwork, and Musicians of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. A featured composer will be John Dowland, whose patron was the first Lord Salisbury, and Sir James MacMillan will contribute a specially commissioned piece for choral ensemble and solo cello, featuring The Sixteen and the Festival’s Artistic Director, Guy Johnston. An extensive programme of learning and participation events is being planned to extend and complement the concerts.

The Trustees are keen to maximise the opportunities for raising the Festival’s profile in this significant year and a new post of Marketing Manager is being created to revitalise and extend all aspects of outreach to existing and potential audiences. North London has been identified as a particular target area (alongside Hertfordshire and its surrounding counties) given its easy proximity by train. Further fundraising including increased corporate sponsorship is also planned, along with the expansion of the Festival Friends scheme, including a new position of Head of Friends, and group bookings with bespoke hospitality packages offering a high-end experience in this unique venue. Meanwhile, programme plans for 2027 are already developing, with the aim to build on the hoped-for success of 2026.

More than ever, the trustees and managers of the Festival are working to broaden its appeal to audiences of all ages and provide unforgettable musical experiences.

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Hatfield House Music Festival

Trustees' Report (continued)

For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities

The trustees (who are also the directors of Hatfield House Music Festival for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing the financial statements the trustees are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP (FRS 102);
make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Small Company Rules

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees' report was approved by the board of trustees and signed on its behalf by:

Mr E Blakeman

Trustee

16 September 2026

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Hatfield House Music Festival

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Hatfield House Music Festival

For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Hatfield House Music Festival

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2025.

Responsibilities and Basis of Report

As the charity trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law), you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (“the 2006 Act”).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent Examiner's Statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Graham Hole Chartered Tax Advisers and Accountants

16 September 2026

Marine House
151 Western Road
Haywards Heath
West Sussex
RH16 3LH

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Hatfield House Music Festival

Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account)

For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account)

				2025	2024
		Unrestricted funds	Restricted funds	Total funds	Total funds
	Notes	£	£	£	£
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:
Donations and legacies	3	43,970	1,000	44,970	32,672
Other trading activities	4	48,063	-	48,063	33,430

		92,033	1,000	93,033	66,102

EXPENDITURE ON:
Raising funds	5	(3,070 )	-	(3,070 )	(2,440 )
Charitable activities:	5
Promote and advance education and appreciation of music and similar arts		(68,646 )	(9,934 )	(78,580 )	(57,779 )

		(71,716 )	(9,934 )	(81,650 )	(60,219 )

NET INCOME		20,317	(8,934 )	11,383	5,883

Transfers between funds	11	(8,934 )	8,934	-	-

NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS		11,383	-	11,383	5,883
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS:
Total funds brought forward		25,568	-	25,568	19,685

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD	11	36,951	-	36,951	25,568

The notes on pages 9 to 12 form part of these financial statements.

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Hatfield House Music Festival

Comparative Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account)

For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

Comparative Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account)

				2024
		Unrestricted funds	Restricted funds	Total funds
	Notes	£	£	£
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:
Donations and legacies	3	31,272	1,400	32,672
Other trading activities	4	32,385	1,045	33,430

		63,657	2,445	66,102

EXPENDITURE ON:
Raising funds	5	(2,440 )	-	(2,440 )
Charitable activities:	5
Promote and advance education and appreciation of music and similar arts		(51,164 )	(6,615 )	(57,779 )

		(53,604 )	(6,615 )	(60,219 )

NET INCOME		10,053	(4,170 )	5,883

Transfers between funds	11	(4,170 )	4,170	-

NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS		5,883	-	5,883
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS:
Total funds brought forward		19,685	-	19,685

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD	11	25,568	-	25,568

The notes on pages 9 to 12 form part of these financial statements.

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Hatfield House Music Festival

Balance Sheet

As At 31 December 2025

Balance Sheet

				2025	2024
		Unrestricted funds	Restricted funds	Total funds	Total funds
	Notes	£	£	£	£
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors	9	7,422	-	7,422	4,646
Cash at bank and in hand		31,139	-	31,139	21,612

		38,561	-	38,561	26,258
Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year	10	(1,610 )	-	(1,610 )	(690 )

NET CURRENT ASSETS (LIABILITIES)		36,951	-	36,951	25,568

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES		36,951	-	36,951	25,568

NET ASSETS		36,951	-	36,951	25,568

FUNDS OF THE CHARITY
Unrestricted Funds				36,951	25,568

TOTAL FUNDS	11			36,951	25,568

For the year ending 31 December 2025 the charitable company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved by the board of trustees on 16 September 2026 and were signed on its behalf by:

Mr E Blakeman

Trustee

The notes on pages 9 to 12 form part of these financial statements.

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Hatfield House Music Festival

Notes to the Financial Statements

For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

Notes to the Financial Statements

1. General Information

Hatfield House Music Festival is a company limited by guarantee, incorporated in England & Wales, registered number 07942156 and registered charity number 1147891 . The registered office is Hatfield House, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 5NQ.

2. Accounting Policies

2.1. Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)", Financial Reporting Standard 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Companies Act 2006.

The charitable company is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

2.2. Fund Accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for a specific purpose.

Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

2.3. Incoming Resources

All income is recognised once the Company has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.

2.4. Resources Expended

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. All expenses including direct costs and governance costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure headings. Expenditure on raising funds includes all expenditure incurred by the Company to raise funds for its charitable purposes and includes costs of all fundraising activities events and non-charitable trading.

Expenditure on charitable activities is incurred on directly undertaking the activities which further the Company's objectives, as well as any associated support costs. All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.

2.5. Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are basic financial assets and include cash in hand and deposits held at call with banks, other short-term highly liquid investments that mature in no more than three months from the date of acquisition and are readily convertible to a known amount of cash with insignificant risk of change in value, and bank overdrafts.

2.6. Financial Instruments

The Company only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

3. Income from Donations and Legacies

			2025	2024
	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total	Total
	funds	funds	funds	funds
	£	£	£	£
Donations and gifts	29,307	-	29,307	28,001
Gift aid	4,923	-	4,923	4,671
Grants	9,740	1,000	10,740	-

	43,970	1,000	44,970	32,672

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Hatfield House Music Festival

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

4. Income from Other Trading Activities

			2025	2024
	Unrestricted funds	Restricted funds	Total funds	Total funds
	£	£	£	£
Sponsorships	8,500	-	8,500	6,000
Concert ticket sales	25,995	-	25,995	19,735
Concert ticket sales - launch concert	9,137	-	9,137	6,362
Other events ticket sales	1,230	-	1,230	-
Income from tour of the House	1,631	-	1,631	-
Bar and programme income	1,570	-	1,570	1,333

	48,063	-	48,063	33,430

5. Analysis of Expenditure

			2025
	Activities undertaken directly	Support costs (see note 6 )	Total
	£	£	£
Raising funds	3,070	-	3,070
Promote and advance education and appreciation of music and similar arts	-	78,580	78,580

	3,070	78,580	81,650

			2024
	Activities undertaken directly	Support costs (see note 6 )	Total
	£	£	£
Raising funds	2,440	-	2,440
Promote and advance education and appreciation of music and similar arts	-	57,779	57,779

	2,440	57,779	60,219

6. Support Costs

	2025
	Promote and advance education and appreciation of music and similar arts
	£
General administration:
Venue and equipment hire	6,427
Insurance	610
Printing, postage and stationery	761
Print design and filming creative work	7,312
Website costs	660

...CONTINUED

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Hatfield House Music Festival

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

Subscriptions	269
Bank charges	99
Sundry expenses	583
Musicians and related costs	42,497
Festival management/education	18,395
Travel & subsistence	217
Governance costs:
Independent examiner's fees	750

	78,580

	2024
	Promote and advance education and appreciation of music and similar arts
	£
General administration:
Venue and equipment hire	4,516
Insurance	523
Print design and filming creative work	4,489
Website costs	620
Subscriptions	234
Bank charges	79
Sundry expenses	860
Musicians and related costs	25,486
Festival management/education	20,252
Governance costs:
Independent examiner's fees	720

	57,779

7. Independent Examiner's Remuneration

	2025	2024
	£	£
Independent examination of the financial statements	750	720

8. Average Number of Employees

Average number of employees during the year was: NIL (2024: NIL)

9. Debtors

	2025	2024
	£	£
Due within one year
Prepayments and accrued income	2,500	-
Gift aid debtor	4,922	4,646

	7,422	4,646

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Hatfield House Music Festival

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

For The Year Ended 31 December 2025

10. Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year

	2025	2024
	£	£
Accruals	1,610	690

11. Movement in Funds

	As at 1 January 2025	Income	Expenditure	Transfers	As at 31 December 2025
	£	£	£	£	£
Unrestricted funds
General:
General unrestricted fund	25,568	92,033	(71,716 )	(8,934 )	36,951
Restricted funds
Educational concerts and workshops	-	1,000	(9,934 )	8,934	-


Total funds	25,568	93,033	(81,650 )	-	36,951

	As at 1 January 2024	Income	Expenditure	Transfers	As at 31 December 2024
	£	£	£	£	£
Unrestricted funds
General:
General unrestricted fund	19,685	63,657	(53,604 )	(4,170 )	25,568
Restricted funds
Educational concerts and workshops	-	2,445	(6,615 )	4,170	-


Total funds	19,685	66,102	(60,219 )	-	25,568

Aim and use of restricted fund:

Educational concerts and workshops restricted fund was set up in a previous year to extend education and outreach work, with a focus on young people. The costs relate to the provision of concerts, workshops and other activities.

12. Transactions with Trustees

None of the trustees received any remuneration or any other benefits from an employment with the charity or a related entity during the current or previous year.

No trustee expenses have been incurred.

13. Related Party Disclosures

There have been no related party transactions in the reporting period that require disclosure.

14. Company limited by guarantee

The company is limited by guarantee and has no share capital.

Every member of the company undertakes to contribute to the assets of the company, in the event of a winding up, such an amount as may be required not exceeding £1.

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Trustees	Mr E Blakeman - Chair
	Mr A Arthur
	Lord C Cecil
	Ms E Fagg
	Mr J Boas
	Ms M Moseley
	Mr N Moorhouse
	Ms M Wegrzynowska (resigned 05/09/2026)

Company Secretary	Ms E Cranmer (appointed 15/09/2025)

Charity Number	1147891

Company Number	07942156

Registered Office	Hatfield House
	Hatfield
	Hertfordshire
	AL9 5NQ

Independent Examiner	Graham Hole Chartered Tax Advisers and Accountants
	GMBC LLP
	Chartered Tax Advisers and Accountants
	Marine House 151 Western Road Haywards Heath West Sussex RH16 3LH