Museums trust to reopen Blakesley Hall and Soho House

Blakesley Hall and Soho House will reopen to the public from 1 June 2023 for the summer season.

Both venues will open three days week, and schools visits, weddings and venue hires will continue as normal.

The re-opening is timed to coincide with the May half-term holiday (27 May - 4 June) meaning that families will be able to explore these important buildings whilst also enjoying a host of special events across Birmingham Museums.

Families can meet real live animals at the Urban Nature Day with ZooLabs at Blakesley Hall, and learn about the animals that Tudor people would have had in their homes, farms and gardens.

The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter host a Kids Jewellery Workshop, whilst Aston Hall are offering an interactive storytelling experience inspired by Beauty and the Beast. There are crafting days at Aston Hall, Soho House and Blakesley Hall, Nature Explorers at Sarehole Mill and a guided tour of Weoley Castle.

Back by popular demand, the photographic exhibition Blood and Fire: Our Journey Through Vanley Burke 's History will re-open at Soho House from 1 June. First shown as part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival, the exhibition takes visitors through a journey through the artist 's archives and the Black British experience.

Sara Wajid, Joint CEO of Birmingham Musesums Trust, explains: “Birmingham Museums Trust is a registered charity and as with all other organisations, the cost of running the charity has been increasing.

“As a result, we sadly could not afford to fully open Blakesley Hall and Soho House as we normally would at Easter. We 're delighted to now reopen them in time for the May half-term holidays, and there is an exciting programme of events for our visitors to enjoy. ”

Looking further ahead to summer, a busy programme of events is planned across Birmingham Museums.

The Crescent Theatre present The Taming of the Shew at Blakesley Hall, plus special events are planned to mark South Asian History Month and Windrush Day 75.

The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter will undergo essential roof repairs over the summer. A date for reopening later in the year will be confirmed as soon as possible.

Blakesley Hall is a timber-framed Tudor house, situated just a few miles from the centre of Birmingham. The beautiful Elizabethan house is one of the city 's oldest and most historically significant buildings. It was built over 430 years ago in 1590 by Richard Smalbroke, a member of one of Birmingham 's leading merchant families.

Soho House was the home of the industrialist and entrepreneur Matthew Boulton from 1766 to 1809, and became a favourite meeting place of the Lunar Society. This group of free thinking scientists and industrialists included Joseph Priestley, Erasmus Darwin, Josiah Wedgwood, James Watt and William Withering. Today, it stands as a beautifully restored monument that reflects the fashions and tastes of the late Georgian period.

May half-term and summer highlight events at Birmingham Museums are listed below. Admission charges apply - for full details, visit the website.