Brailes Village Hall, Pavilion and Play Area Report May 2026

11 April, 2026

May is our AGM month and no jokes, we do need your help!  We would love it if some lovely new faces or even familiar ones from the Village would come along and offer to help swell our small friendly Committee so that we can continue the work keeping the Village Hall, Pavilion and Play Area open and thriving. Every offer of help is gratefully received so we look forward to seeing you on Thursday 28th May at 7pm in the Village Hall – FREE TEA/COFFEE AND BISCUITS!  Now there is an offer you can’t refuse! 😊. 
 
Before that there is the annual Three Hills Walk on Monday 4th May.  Sadly, no caravans joining us on the field this year but we hope to see the rest of you taking part and enjoying the wonderful views from the top of Brailes Hills, Castle Hill and Mines Hill and then back at the Hall for refreshments and a well-earned drink.  If you can help with any of the numerous jobs that make this event so successful, please contact Ben Venables email: be*@******il.com.  Funds raised go to Brailes School, the Pavilion and other worthy causes.
 
Just before the Walk on Saturday 2nd May St Georges Church will be holding their Spring Market at the Village Hall 10 to 12 noon with lots of stalls to tempt you.  Entrance is £2 to include unlimited tea, coffee and biscuits.  
 
Congratulations to Brailes Brownies who are celebrating their 70th Birthday this year and will be marking the occasion with an Afternoon Tea Party in the Village Hall on Saturday 16th May 2.30 to 4.30pm .  All welcome. 
 
Susan Gilkes reported that the Ladies in Pink Race night in March was a great success and raised over £1,400 for Cancer Research.  It was a great night with the usual yummy Fish & Chips.  Well done Ladies in Pink. 
 
Sometimes there are events on the Playing Field which limit general use temporarily.  We are sorry for any inconvenience at these times, but all these bookings help fund the Hall, Pavilion and Play Area. 
 
Lots of our regular classes that already run at the hall are always happy to welcome new members so if you are interested in Yoga, Zumba, Pilates, Pickleball, Fitsteps or Thai Chi please do get in touch and Lisa will put you in contact with the group leaders.   Also, there is a monthly Art Class in the Pavilion for those with an artistic flair. 
 
Lovely to see the sunshine lately which reminds us that it won’t be long until Brailes Show so now is the time to get growing, making, painting and planning and hopefully getting involved in this amazing event. Please get in touch with Katie Haycock email: ka***************@*****il.com.  Katie is also our fund raiser for the Play Area improvements, and the next goal (excuse the pun) are permanent goal posts and nets so please do get in touch if you are able to help.  The Pavilion Sub-Committee are planning a summer event to hopefully add to this.  Please look out for updates.  Thank you.   
 
Please do get in touch if you would like to book an event at the Hall or Pavilion.  Please do not hesitate to give Lisa a call if you would like any further details or have an enquiry. https://braileshallandpavilion.co.uk
 
If you have any questions or queries please get in touch with Susan Gilkes, Chair, su*@***********************co.uk  
Ness & Jon Boyce (Treasurers) email ne**@***********************co.uk  
or Lisa Bryan (Secretary) email: li**@***********************co.uk 07800 771368 (also for booking enquiries) 
Brailes Village Hall Committee. Registered Charity No. 522897.                                                     
Website : https://braileshallandpavilion.co.uk

Brailes Village Hall, Pavilion and Play Area Report March 2026

1 March, 2026

Sorry for the belated Happy New Year.  Hope you all are well and looking forward to Spring.  Fed up with just rain now, please stop!   Hopefully you all managed to get along to the Hall and see “Camelot the Panto”, looking forward to the pictures.   Remy who has overseen all things Panto is sadly leaving the Village so we wish him well back in France and thank you for a great show. 
 
Hopefully by the time you read this the Hall will be looking all posh with our new curtains in the Main Hall.  And fingers crossed you all approve of the colour.  A hard decision to make so well done to our Chair Susan Gilkes for the difficult decision (with input from some indecisive committee members 😊).  We are also applying for grants to improve the kitchen.  So with the help of Selina Hosell, who is kindly working her magic with the grant application, we have our fingers crossed. 
 
The 2026 diary is starting to fill up but if you would like to book, please do get in touch with Lisa.  We still have spaces for regular weekly or monthly classes in both the Hall and Pavilion especially on a Monday. So if you are thinking of starting a class or group please do give us call or drop us an email, we would be happy to discuss your requirements.   
 
Lots of our regular classes that already run at the hall are always happy to welcome new members so if Yoga, Zumba, Pilates, Pickleball, Fitsteps or Thai chi are your new year thing please do get in touch and Lisa will put you in contact with the group leaders.   Also, there is a monthly Art Class in the Pavilion for those with an artistic flair. 
 
There are also plenty of events to attend: Brailes Picturehouse is showing The Penguin Lessons on the 14thMarch, Ladies in Pink Race Night (details below) on 28th March , Brailes Brownies Coffee morning on Saturday 18th April and lost more that I am sure will be detailed in the rest of the Feldon.  
 
Back by popular demand is The Ladies in Pink Race Night with yummy Fish & Chip supper on Saturday 28thMarch so look out for tickets from Susan Gilkes email:  fi**********@********et.com.  Proceeds go to Cancer Research 
 
Please we aware that the car park will NOT be available to general parking including for school drop off and pick up on Friday 20th March to Sunday 22nd March.    Sorry for any inconvenience.    
 
One of the biggest Village fund raisers is Brailes Show so if you haven’t already go involved in this amazing event please get in touch with Katie Haycock email: ka***************@*****il.com.  Katie is also our fund raiser for the Play Area improvements and the next goal (excuse the pun) are permanent goal posts and nets so please do get in touch if you are able to help.   Thank you.   
 
Please do get in touch if you would like to book an event at the Hall or Pavilion for 2026.  Please do not hesitate to give Lisa a call if you would like any further details or have an enquiry. https://braileshallandpavilion.co.uk
 
If you have any questions or queries please get in touch with Susan Gilkes, Chair, su*@***********************co.uk  
Ness & Jon Boyce (Treasurers) email ne**@***********************co.uk  
or Lisa Bryan (Secretary) email: li**@***********************co.uk 07800 771368 (also for booking enquiries) 
Brailes Village Hall Committee. Registered Charity No. 522897.                                                     
Website : https://braileshallandpavilion.co.uk

Brailes Picturehouse – Our Film In March – The Penguin Lessons

24 February, 2026

Brailes Picture House – Saturday 14th March (one week early)
Doors open 6.15pm for 7.45pm start
Saturday 14th March  –  The Penguin Lessons
The Penguin Lessons, a true story, of Tom Michell.   At the time he was in his roaring twenties, single, free spirited, and seeking adventure.  He had a plane ticket to South America, a teaching position in a prestigious Argentine boarding school, and endless summer holidays  How it unfolded, was an unexpected journey, never to be forgotten.   

What he didn’t need was a pet.  What he really didn’t need was a penguin  However, while on holiday in Uruguay, he spots a penguin struggling in a oil slick and knows how he can help.  The result? ..  the penguin refuses to leave his side, leaving Tom with no choice but to smuggle it across the border, through customs, and back to school.  He named him Juan Salvador.  Whether it’s as the ruby team’s mascot, the housekeeper’s confidant, the host at Tom’s parties, or the most flamboyant swimming coach in world history, quite simply Juan Salvador transforms the livesof all he meets – including Tom, who discovers a compadre like no other ….   

Cast
Steve Coogan, Jonathan Pryce, Micaele Breque, Bjorn Gustafsson,  Alfonsina Carrocio,  eo name afew

Future Dates and Titles
Saturday 18th April – The Ballard of Wallis Island

Other Titles
Butch Cassidy (Tribute Robert Redford)
The Choral

Best wishes 
Deirdre and Team

Brailes Village Hall, Pavilion and Play Area Report February 2026

20 January, 2026

Sorry for the belated Happy New Year.  Hope you all are well and looking forward to Spring.  
Hopefully you all managed to get along to the Hall and see “Camelot the Panto”, looking forward to the pictures.   Remy who has overseen all things “Panto” is sadly leaving the Village in February so we wish him well back in France and thank you for a great show. 
 
Hopefully by the time you read this the Hall will be looking all posh with our new curtains in the Main Hall.  And fingers crossed you all approve of the colour.  A hard decision to make so well done to our Chair Susan Gilkes for the difficult decision (with input from some indecisive committee members 😊).  We are also applying for grants to improve the kitchen.  So, with the help of Selina Hosell who is kindly working her magic with the grant application we have our fingers crossed. 

The 2026 diary is starting to fill up but if you would like to book, please do get in touch with Lisa.  We still have spaces for regular weekly or monthly classes in both the Hall and Pavilion especially on a Monday.  So if you are thinking of starting a class or group please do give us call or drop us an email, we would be happy to discuss your requirements.   
 
Lots of our regular classes that already run at the hall are always happy to welcome new members so if Yoga, Zumba, Pilates, Pickleball, Fitsteps or Thai chi are your new year thing please do get in touch and Lisa will put you in contact with the group leaders.   Also, there is a monthly Art Class in the Pavilion for those with an artistic flair. 

There are also plenty of events to attend   Brailes Picturehouse is showing a classic on the 21st February “Shirley Valentine” and following that on the Sunday morning 22nd February there will be a community Big Breakfast in the hall to raise funds for Brailes School Traffic Safety Zone. 

Back by popular demand is The Ladies in Pink Race Night with yummy Fish & Chip supper on Saturday 28th March so look out for tickets from Susan Gilkes email:  fi**********@********et.com.  Proceeds go to Cancer Research 

Please we aware that the car park will NOT be available to general parking including for school drop off and pick up on Friday 13th February to Sunday 15th February and also in March from the 20th to 22nd.    Sorry for any inconvenience.    

One of the biggest Village fund raisers is Brailes Show so if you haven’t already go involved in this amazing event please get in touch with Katie Haycock email: ka***************@*****il.com.  Katie is also our fund raiser for the Play Area improvements and the next goal (excuse the pun) are permanent goal posts and nets so please do get in touch if you are able to help.   Thank you.   

Please do get in touch if you would like to book an event at the Hall or Pavilion for 2026.   Please do not hesitate to give Lisa a call if you would like any further details or have an enquiry. https://braileshallandpavilion.co.uk
 
If you have any questions or queries please get in touch with Susan Gilkes, Chair, su*@***********************co.uk  
Ness & Jon Boyce (Treasurers) email ne**@***********************co.uk  
or Lisa Bryan (Secretary) email: li**@***********************co.uk 07800 771368 (also for booking enquiries) 
Brailes Village Hall Committee. Registered Charity No. 522897.                                                     
Website :  https://braileshallandpavilion.co.uk

Brailes Village Hall, Pavilion and Play Area Report November 2025

2 November, 2025

Have you had a go yet! Yes the new slide in now up and looking great and the kids are making good use of it.  Well done to Katie Haycock and her Fund-Raising team for completing this project.  Thank you to the Free School Foundation, The Forge Garage, Brailes Show and all those that helped and supported the fund-raising activities that made this possible.

The Hall, Pavilion and Play area were very grateful to receive substantial donations from this years Brailes Show.  The Hall money will be put to good use to replace the curtains.  Susan is having fun with curtain samples and colours!   

It is 20 years since Deirdre Carney, a long time Committee member, came to us with the idea of a Rural Cinema and it has been going strong ever since.  A varied and eclectic mix of films have been shown over the years, from 1940’s black and white to the modern day block busters.  We are grateful to Deirdre and her team for bringing these monthly showings to the Hall for everyone to enjoy.  Please keep supporting so it can carry on. November’s film on Friday 14th is “Maria Callas” 

Dare we mention Christmas!  The Play area’s next fund-raising event is a Family Christmas Show on Sunday 7th December in the Hall, 3.30pm.  You can book on line at www.buytickets.at/stratfordtheatrecompany .  Great fun for all the family.  Refreshments and Christmas treat available  

The Brownies will be holding one of their Coffee Morning and Sales on Saturday 8th November in the Hall.  All welcome 10am to 12noon.

There will also be a Charty Christmas Bingo on Friday 12 December in aid of Midlands Air Ambulance at the Hall.  Door open 6pm, Eyes down 7pm.  

Apologies for the cancellation of this years Village Quiz, date clashes and low numbers didn’t help.   We look forward to Susan’s conundrums in 2026!  

Please we aware that the car park will NOT be available to general parking including for school drop off and pick up from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd and Friday 28th to Sunday 30th November.  

Please do get in touch if you would like to book an event at the Hall or Pavilion for 2026,  Some dates are already taken   Please do not hesitate to give Lisa a call if you need any further details or have an enquiry. https://braileshallandpavilion.co.uk/
 
If you have any questions or queries please get in touch with

Susan Gilkes, (Chair) – su*@***********************co.uk  
Ness & Jon Boyce (Treasurers) – ne**@***********************co.uk  
or Lisa Bryan (Secretary) –li**@***********************co.uk 07800 771368 (also for booking enquiries) 

Brailes Village Hall Committee. Registered Charity No. 522897.                                                    

Website :  https://www.braileshallandpavilion.co.uk/

New Playground Slide installed!

9 October, 2025

Exciting News – Our New Slide is Here!

We’re thrilled to announce that the brand new slide is now in place at the play area – and one or two have been down today already!

This fantastic addition wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing support from our community:

– A huge THANK YOU to The Brailes Free School Foundation, who funded 50% of the cost.

– Big thanks also to The Forge Garage Ltd for generously funding 25%.

The final part was made possible through Brailes Show and various community fundraising events.

It’s been a real joint effort – and we’re so grateful to everyone who’s helped make it happen!

But we’re not stopping here! To keep the play area safe, clean, and fun for everyone, we’re looking for volunteers to join our team and help with fundraising and upkeep. Just a little of your time can make a big difference.

If you’re interested in getting involved, please send us a message. Let’s keep this a brilliant space for all our children to enjoy!
#BrailesPlayArea #CommunitySpirit #ThankYou #VolunteerWithUs