Guided visit to St Martin in the Bull Ring

 Wednesday 9 September 2026 at 10.30 am

It has been a fixture in the Birmingham Bull Ring for as long as we all remember but how many of us know about its long history or its work?  In fact there has been a church on this site since the 13th century and as such it is the original parish church of  Birmingham.  Furthermore it boasts Minton tiles, a Burne-Jones stained glass window with a charmed life and the oldest monument in Birmingham.  Our guide, Marion Woodward, is a TASBE member with a long association with this church and she will tell us all about its fabric and  history and also its charitable work today. 

A table is booked nearby at Browns for lunch if you would like to join us afterwards.

Date and Time: Wednesday 9 September 10.30 am

Meeting point : Outside main door of the church

 Duration: 1 to 1½ hours

 Access: There is disabled access both to the church and to Browns 

Cost: £12 members; £15 non-members   (Optional lunch at Browns to be paid for separately.) Cheque payable to TASBE or The Arts Society Birmingham Evening or Direct bank payment to A/C: 45091660; Sort Code: 77-85-21 (Ref: your surname followed by MART).

To reserve your place, please complete the application form online by clicking on the on line link below:

ST MARTIN

Alternatively, print off and complete the form located in the documents section of this website and either Post it to Lisa Gillespie, 11 Pinfield Drive, Barnt Green, Birmingham B45 8XA accompanied by your cheque, or Email it to birminghamevening@theartssociety.org ensuring your Direct Bank payment is made before you e-mail the form.

Queries to: Lisa Gillespie 07972716426 or by email to birminghamevening@theartssociety.org

Visit to Arley Arboretum & Estate, Lion Lane, Upper Arley, DY12 1SQ

Wednesday 22nd July 2026 at 10.30 a.m.

Situated above the River Severn, Arley is one of the oldest arboretums in Britain and is home to over three hundred species of trees from around the world, its restored Italian Garden and fountain being the jewel in the crown. It also features Britain’s longest laburnum arch, measuring sixty-five metres! The Arboretum and Estate are owned by the Roger and Douglas Turner Charitable Trust, which supports charities in Birmingham, the Black Country, Worcestershire, and Herefordshire.

Our visit will begin with a guided tour of the Arboretum with the Head Gardener and will be followed by a buffet lunch served in the Turner Suite in Arley House.

The visit also includes admission for the day to the Arboretum so after lunch there will be an opportunity to explore further, to enjoy the views across the valley and river to the Severn Valley Railway – or get lost in the maze!

Date and Time: Wednesday 22nd July 2026 at 10.30 a.m..

Parking: On Site.

Programme: 10.30 – Arrival.     11.00 – 12.00/12.15 Tour of the Arboretum.     12.45 – lunch in the Turner Suite in Arley House.

After lunch, there will be time to explore further in the Arboretum or visit the riverside village of Upper Arley                                                     

Access: Most paths in the Arboretum are accessible by wheelchair and step-free access is available to Arley House.

 Cost:                          £34.00 members; £39.00 non-members.  Cheque payable to TASBE or The Arts Society Birmingham Evening. Direct bank payment to A/C: 45091660; Sort Code: 77-85-21. Ref: your surname followed by ‘AA’

Queries to: Chris Arnott   07879 406105      Email birminghamevening@theartssociety.org

To reserve your place, please complete online the application form by clicking the link below:

ARLEY Apply Here

Morning Walk in Digbeth with Ian Jelf

Thursday 25 June 2026 at 10.30

 24 people maximum may participate so this is on a strictly first-paid first-served basis

Few of you need an introduction to Ian Jelf, a Blue Badge tour guide who has been showing visitors and locals alike around Birmingham since 1992 and today is giving us an insight into  Digbeth.  Think of Digbeth and you probably think of the coach station or – if you’re of a certain age! – concerts at the Civic Hall.   However, this is actually where Britain’s second city began as a simple crossing place some 1,600 years ago. 

Today, Digbeth is set to become one of the liveliest and most fashionable places in the city, with film and television producers and the BBC setting up shop here.  So, a walk around some of its hidden spaces lets Ian recount all sorts of stories on subjects ranging from tea to cotton and Hell’s Angels to UB40.   And this is one of the few chances you’ll ever have in central Birmingham to discover the city’s hidden river, the Rea.

Date and Time: Thursday 25 June 2026, commencing 10.30

Meeting Point: Main Concourse at Moor Street Station          

Duration of walk: Approximately 2 hours

Disability Access: Wheelchairs are welcome!

Cost:   £15 members; and £20 non-members

            Cheque payable to TASBE or The Arts Society Birmingham Evening or Direct Bank                        payment to A/C: 45091660; Sort Code: 77-85-21: ref your surname followed by Dig

We will finish this walk with lunch at the Old Crown in Digbeth.  Please indicate on your application form if you wish to join the lunch.

 To apply please fill in the on line application form by clicking on the link below:

DIGBETH Application

Queries to: Hilary Taylor 07821 972250 or email :  birminghamevening@theartssociety.org

alternative toon line application form a Hard copy of application form can be found in the documents section of this website which can be sent to Lisa Gillespie , 11 Pinfield Drive Barnt Green B45 8XA

Please note no refunds will be given forcancellations within seven days of the walk.

Shri Venkateswara Balaji Temple 

Visit and Tour

101 Dudley Road East, Tividale

Oldbury B69 3DU

        Tuesday 19th May 2026

Join us on a visit to the Shri Venkateswara Balaji- a Hindu Temple founded in the 1970s and now regarded as the largest of its kind in Europe with nearly half a million visitors and devotees attending each year. The journey began when a group of Indian diaspora from the Indian Sub Continent shared a vision to create a temple, a sanctuary for prayer and meditation.

Land in Oldbury was purchased and the inspiration was the Venkateswara (Balaji) Temple in Tirupathi in South India. The main Temple for Lord Venkateswara was completed and consecrated with a Kumbabishekam in August 2006. The site now comprises various buildings and shrines.

Date and Time: Tuesday 19th May 11 to 12 noon

Parking: Ample parking on site.

Meeting Place: In the lobby at Reception.

Duration: The tour will last approximately one hour, although food (Prasadum) at the temple is on offer after the tour at c12.30. 

Accessibility: There are lifts to upper floors and toilets and assembly areas have disabled access.

Cost: £10 members; £15 non-members.   

Direct bank payment to A/C: 45091660; Sort Code: 77-85-21; Ref: your surname followed by TEMP or Cheque payable to TASBE   

Note: Visitors are expected to remove shoes before entering Pooja Hall on the first floor

Lunch: As we anticipate a number of members will wish to participate in the Prasadum after the tour we have not booked a separate venue for lunch. Should any members want to go elsewhere for lunch we suggest - The Court of requests (Weatherspoons) on Chiurch Street, Oldbury B69 3AF. There is a pay and display car park across the road from the rear of the Pub.                         

Queries to: Bernard Singleton 07960 912738 or by email to birminghamevening@theartssociety.org

To reserve your place, please complete the application form online by clicking on the link below:

APPLY

Alternatively, print off and complete the paper form located in the documents section of this website and either Post it to Lisa Gillespie, 11 Pinfield Drive, Barnt Green, Birmingham B45 8XA or Email it to  birminghamevening@theartssociety.org ensuring your Direct Bank payment is made before you e-mail the form (or post cheque).

Guided Tour at RAF Cosford

 SORRY FULLY BOOKED 

RAF Museum, Cosford, Shifnal TF11 8UP

        Tuesday 14th April 2026

On this guided tour we will take a journey through the history of the RAF Bomber Command from its formation in 1936 through to its critical role during the cold war.

Our expert guides will take us up close to a range of iconic bomber aircraft including a newly restored Vicker's Wellington. We will also see Guy Gibson's Victoria Cross as well as personal letters from local pilots revealing the deeply human stories behind the machines that helped shape history.

Numbers are limited so this is on a strictly first-paid first-served basis and by 31st March 

Date and Time: Tuesday 14th April at 10.30 am for tour at 11.00.

Parking: There is large car park on site. Parking Charge is £7.50.

Meeting Place: By the Museum Entrance 

Duration: The tour will last approximately one hour. The Cafe (Airfield Kitchen) will be open for refreshments beforehand from 10am.

Accessibility: There is step free access around the site and wide aisles for wheelchairs. Lifts are available to upper floors.

Cost: £13 members; £18 non-members.   

Direct bank payment to A/C: 45091660; Sort Code: 77-85-21; Ref: your surname followed by RAF or Cheque payable to TASBE   

We have made a booking for afterwards at the Shrewsbury Arms Bar and Restaurant (a mile away) at 70 High Street, Albrighton, WV7 3LA. Please confirm on the application form whether you would like to join us there (menus will be e mailed out later in order to provide our pre ordered choices to the restaurant by 7th April).                             

Queries to: Bernard Singleton 07960 912738 or by email to birminghamevening@theartssociety.org

To reserve your place, please complete the application form online by clicking on the link below:

RAF COSFORD

Alternatively, print off and complete the paper form located in the documents section of this website and either Post it to Lisa Gillespie, 11 Pinfield Drive, Barnt Green, Birmingham B45 8XA or Email it to  birminghamevening@theartssociety.org ensuring your Direct Bank payment is made before you e-mail the form (or post cheque).

Anne Guest Studio Visit

  Dolphin Farm, Weatheroak Hill, Nr Alvechurch, B48 7EA

     SORRY FULLY BOOKED

   Thursday 19th March 2026

8 people maximum may participate on the tour so this is on a strictly first paid first served basis. However if there is sufficient interest a second tour for eight more people will be arranged for after lunch.

Anne Guest is an artist who 'uses the cyanotype process to integrate photography, printmaking and collage to create unique artworks inspired by the natural world: quirky or serious they are always the result of research and intrigue'.

Join us in Anne's studio for an insight into her work which isinspired by the beauty, fragility and vulnerability of the natural world. There will be some prints/cards etc for sale too.

Date and Time: Thursday 19th March at 11.00 am

Parking: There is off street parking.

Meeting Place: Dolphin Farm, Weatheroak Hill.

Duration: The tour will last approximately one hour fifteen minutes starting at 11am.

Accessibility: The studio is not wheelchair accessible.

How to get there: only 1 mile from junction 3 of the M42.

Cost: £15 members; £20 non-members.   

Direct bank payment to A/C: 45091660; Sort Code: 77-85-21; Ref: your surname followed by AGS or Cheque payable to TASBE   

We will make booking for afterwards at the Coach and Horses Inn (few hundred yards away) . Please confirm on the application form whether you would like to join us there.                            

Queries to: George Mitchell 07855371935 or by email to birminghamevening@theartssociety.org

To reserve your place, please complete the application form online by clicking on the link below:

ANNE GUEST

Alternatively, print off and complete the paper form located in the documents section of this website and either Post it to Lisa Gillespie, 11 Pinfield Drive, Barnt Green, Birmingham B45 8XA or Email it to  birminghamevening@theartssociety.org ensuring your Direct Bank payment is made before you e-mail the form (or post cheque).

Visit and Tour of the Highlights of the Sculpture Collection

The New Art Gallery, Walsall

Thursday 12th February 2026 at 11.00am

SORRY EVENT NOW FULLY BOOKED

15 people maximum may participate so this is on a strictly first-paid first-served basis.

We are delighted to have Dr Jennifer Young, a member of Tasbe, as our guide. The Collection Galleries were specifically designed to house The Garman Ryan Collection gifted to the people of Walsall by Lady Kathleen Garman, widow of Sir Jacob Epstein, and her friend, Sally Ryan.

After the tour attendees are encouraged to look at the paintings, drawings and prints by artists such as Picasso, Braque, Gericault and Delacroix.

For those interested lunch (to be paid for) has been arranged at The Brewers Fayre pub/restaurant which is adjacent to the Gallery. After lunch there is also the opportunity to visit The Leather Museum which is 5 minutes walk from the Gallery where a guided tour has been booked for 2.30pm, lasting about an hour, for which you pay £2.50 on the day.

The Leather Museum is threatened with closure so this may be your last chance to visit.

Date and Time:  Thursday February 12th 2026 at 11.00am.

 Meeting Place:   The entrance hall at the New Art Gallery, Gallery Square, Walsall WS2 8LG. There is a Costa café where refreshments can be purchased

Length of Tour:   1 hour starting at 11.00am

Transport and parking: The Gallery is 2 minutes walk from the railway station. There is parking at Crown Wharf Retail Park, Frederick St, WS2 9NJ                                   

Cost:    £12 members; £17 non-members     

Cheque payable to TASBE or preferably Direct Bank payment to A/C: 45091660; Sort Code: 77- 85 – 21; Ref: NAGW followed by your name.

 Applications need to be received fourteen days before the event

PLEASE NOTE THERE WILL BE NO REFUND POSSIBLE IF YOU CANCEL WITHIN FOURTEEN DAYS OF THE VISIT

Note:  There will be an opportunity for you to purchase a snack/lunch/drink after the tour at the Brewers Fayre which is adjacent to the Gallery.

Queries to: George Mitchell 07855371935 Or by email birminghamevening@theartssociety.org

To reserve your place, please complete the online form accessed by the following link:

WALSALL ART GALLERY

Curator’s Talk and Visit to Winterbourne House

     SORRY FULLY BOOKED

58 Edgbaston Park Rd, Birmingham B15 2RT

        Tuesday 20 January 2026

A chance to join Henrietta Lockhart, Curator at Winterbourne, for a rare opportunity to examine and handle items from the Winterbourne archive.  The session will include family letters, photos and diaries from the 1880s to the 1930s, some of which will touch upon the Moor Pool Estate in Harborne; catalogues and photos from engineering giant GKN; and rare plant specimens and botanical prints from the University Herbarium.

Numbers are limited so this is on a strictly first-paid first-served basis

Date and Time: Tuesday 20 January at 10.30 am for talk at 11.00.

Parking: There is parking on site, or in the unlikely event of this being full, on the upper levels of the multistorey pay and display car park (North East Car Park) a few minutes walk away in Pritchatts Road B15 2SA.

Duration: The talk will last at least one hour. The Tea Room will be open for refreshments beforehand but the delicate nature of some of the items being handled does mean that drinks may not be taken into the talk.

Access: The main car park is close to the House and limited disabled parking is also available outside the front door. There is a lift to all floors in the House.

Cost: £18 members; £23 non-members (includes access for the day to Winterbourne House and Gardens). 

Direct bank payment to A/C: 45091660; Sort Code: 77-85-21; Ref: your surname followed by WIN or Cheque payable to TASBE                                   

Queries to: Chris Arnott 07879 406105 or by email to birminghamevening@theartssociety.org

To reserve your place, please complete the application form online by clicking on the link below:

WINTERBOURNE

Alternatively, print off and complete the paper form located in the documents section of this website and either Post it to Lisa Gillespie, 11 Pinfield Drive, Barnt Green, Birmingham B45 8XA or Email it to  birminghamevening@theartssociety.org ensuring your Direct Bank payment is made before you e-mail the form (or post cheque).

 If you fancy lunch after the talk, we will be making a booking at the Edgbaston Park Hotel (https://www.edgbastonparkhotel.com/dining/bar-menu) a few minutes’ walk away across Edgbaston Park Road. Parking is free in the vicinity of the hotel subject to entering your registration number at Reception. Please confirm on the application form whether you would like to join us.

Christmas Concert

SORRY NOW FULLY BOOKED

Monday 15 December 2025

Symphony Hall and The Exchange

Get into the mood for Christmas!  Join us at Symphony Hall for a lunchtime concert of glorious Christmas music from the renowned Birmingham City Organist, Thomas Trotter, and the Hereford Cathedral Choir. Then round off the afternoon with tea and cake over the road at The Exchange which is the erstwhile home of the Municipal Bank built in 1933.

Date and Time: Monday 15 December at 1 pm.

Parking: Q-Park Brindleyplace and Q-Park Mailbox.  There is Blue Badge parking at ICC car park requiring registration with the B Music Access Scheme and advance booking.

Duration: The concert will last for about an hour.  Please note seating is unallocated..

Access: Symphony Hall is fully accessible and there is wheelchair space in the stalls and upper circle. There is disabled access to The Exchange via Bridge Street and the North Entrance where there is a ramp and fully automated doors. There is also a ramp at the South Entrance.

Cost: £20 members and £25 non-members   (Refreshments at The Exchange to be purchased separately on the day.)

Direct bank payment to A/C: 45091660; Sort Code: 77-85-21; Ref: your surname followed by XMAS or Cheque payable to TASBE                                   

Queries to: George Mitchell 07855371935 or by email to birminghamevening@theartssociety.org

To reserve your place, please complete the application form online by clicking on the link below:

XMAS CONCERT

Alternatively, print off and complete the paper form located in the documents section of this website and either Post it to Lisa Gillespie, 11 Pinfield Drive, Barnt Green, Birmingham B45 8XA or Email it to birminghamevening@theartssociety.org ensuring your Direct Bank payment is made before you e-mail the form (or post cheque).

Factory Tour at the Morgan Motor Company, Malvern Link

Monday 10 November 2025 at 11.00 am

SORRY NOW FULLY BOOKED

On this guided tour, we will step inside the historic Morgan workshops and witness first-hand the unique processes that go into building a Morgan car.  We will get within metres of the vehicles being crafted as we walk the production line.  A knowledgeable guide will explain the story and heritage of the Morgan company before taking us on this fascinating factory tour.

Date and Time: Monday 10 November 2025, commencing 11.00 am

Meeting Point: Morgan Experience Centre, Morgan Motor Company, Pickersleigh Road, Malvern Link, WR14 2LL

Parking: On site.

Refreshments: Available beforehand at the on-site café, to be paid for.   

Length of tour: Approximately two hours.  Please note we will be on our feet throughout although there are seats/rest areas around the factory

Disability Access: Wheelchairs can be accommodated.

Cost: £36 members; £41 non-members

Cheque payable to TASBE or Direct Bank payment to A/C: 45091660; Sort Code: 77-85-21- ref your surname followed by Morgan

PLEASE NOTE THERE WILL BE NO REFUND POSSIBLE IF YOU CANCEL WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF THE VISIT.

After the factory tour, for those interested we will lunch at The Swan Inn, Worcester Road, Newland, Malvern WR13 5AY.

We will have to pre-order our lunches and menus will be sent to those indicating they wish to stay for lunch for their choices to be made.

Queries to: Hilary Taylor 07821 972250 or by email :             birminghamevening@theartssociety.org

To reserve your place, please complete the online form accessed by the following link:

MORGAN APPLY

Alternatively, please print off and complete the form which is located in the documents section of this website and either:

Post it to Lisa Gillespie, 11 Pinfield Drive, Barnt Green, Birmingham B45 8XA or Email it to birminghamevening@theartssociety.org ensuring your Direct Bank payment is made before you send the form.

  Breakfast and Ballet at Elmhurst Ballet School

SORRY FULLY BOOKED    

Tuesday 21 October 2025

249 Bristol Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B5 7UH

Take an exclusive glimpse inside Elmhurst’s unique training environment to observe ballet classes and a rehearsal in action and enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet. This is a wonderful and inspiring opportunity to witness a morning in the life of our city’s future ballet and dance stars.

Date and Time: Tuesday 21 October at 10.30 am.

Parking: There is limited parking on site.

Duration: Approximately 2 hours 10 minutes, beginning with breakfast in the reception area, followed by a short introductory talk, a ballet class, and a performance in Elmhurst’s own 220-seat theatre.

Access: Subject to pre-booking, limited disabled parking is available on site. Step-free access is possible to the rear seats in the theatre, or via lift and two steps to the front row.

Cost: £23 members and £28 non-members

Cheque payable to TASBE. Direct bank payment to A/C: 45091660; Sort Code: 77-85-21(Ref: your surname followed by ELM)

Queries to: Chris Arnott 07879 406105 or by email to birminghamevening@theartssociety.org

To reserve your place, please complete the application form online by clicking 

HERE

Alternatively, print off and complete the form that can be found in the documents section of this website and either

Post it to Lisa Gillespie,11 Pinfield Drive, Barnt Green, Birmingham B45 8XA accompanied by your cheque, or Email it to birminghamevening@theartssociety.org ensuring your Direct Bank payment is made before you e-mail the form.

Visit to the Alexandra Theatre, Suffolk Street Queensway, Birmingham B5 4DS   

SORRY NOW FULLY BOOKED

Tuesday 30th September 2025 at 11.00 am

The much-loved “Alex” has been providing entertainment for Brummies for over a hundred years. It hosts a varied programme of drama, West End shows, stand-up comedy and pantomimes. Our tour will cover all parts of this historic building, giving us a chance to go on stage, peek into a dressing room, explore the auditorium and find out about its rich history.   

Date and Time:         Tuesday 30th September 2025 at 11.00 am

Meeting Point:          The Foyer, Alexandra Theatre, Suffolk Street Queensway, B5 4DS 

Parking:                    Multi-storey car parks in the vicinity.                    

Disability Access:     It may be difficult as there are no lifts. 

Duration:                  One to one-and-a-half hours including coffee and biscuits.

You may like to join us for lunch afterwards at the Ming Moon, a Chinese Buffet Restaurant at 16 Hurst Street, Birmingham B5 4BN, a short walk away.                                        

Cost:                           £15 members; £20 non-members

Cheque payable to TASBE or The Arts Society Birmingham Evening or  Direct Bank payment to: A/C 45091660; Sort Code 77-85-21; ref your surname followed by ALEX

Queries to: Pauline Burns  07791 395871or email: birminghamevening@theartsociety.org                                                                            

To reserve your place, please complete the application form using the link below

ALEXANDRA APPLY

or fill in the paper application form located in the documents section of this website and post it to Lisa Gillespie, 11 Pinfield Drive, Barnt Green, Birmingham B45 8XA or Email it to lisa.gillespie@live.com ensuring your Direct Bank payment is made.

Please note no refunds will be given for late cancellations (within 14 days of the visit)

A Tour with Guide of Harvington Hall,  Harvington Hall Lane, Kidderminster, Worcs DY10 4LR

on Thursday 4th September 2025 at 10.30am

Harvington Hall is a house of near untouched beauty hidden in the Worcestershire countryside. Harvington’s history-rich interior holds enthralling tales of devotion and Catholic persecution. There are no less than seven priest hides here (more than any other house in England), as well as an impressive collection of rare Elizabethan wall paintings and many more historical tales.

Why not come and join our guided tour of this remarkable Elizabethan Manor House?

Date and Time:         Thursday 4th September 2025, commencing at 10.30 am

Meeting Point:          Harvington Hall

Parking:                    On site

Length of tour:         One and a half hours

Refreshments: Coffee, tea and cakes can be purchased beforehand at The Malt House Coffee Shop which opens at 10.00am and is adjacent to the Hall.      

Disability Access: There are steps and stairs. No lift.                                        

Cost: £14 members; £19 non-members

Cheque payable to TASBE or Direct Bank payment to acct 45091660; Sort Code 77-85-21; ref your surname followed by Harv

You are welcome to join the party for lunch at The Dog Inn, Worcester Road, Harvington, DY10 4LN after the tour.

Please indicate whether you would like to attend lunch when you complete the application form below.

Queries to: George Mitchell. Tel: 07855371935 or email: birminghamevening@theartssociety.org

To reserve your place, please complete the application form online by clicking on the link below:

HARVINGTON APPLY

Alternatively, please print off and complete the application form to be found in the Documents section of this website and either:

Post it to Lisa Gillespie, 11 Pinfield Drive, Barnt Green, Birmingham B45 8XA or Email it to birminghamevening@theartssociety.org.

  Visit to Beckford Silk Mill

Ashton Road, Beckford, Tewkesbury, GL20 7AU

SORRY NOW FULLY BOOKED

Wednesday 16 July at 10.30 a.m. 

Beckford Silk Ltd is a family business specialising in dyeing and printing silk fabric, and is the largest supplier of printed silk for the heritage market.  You will find their scarves and garments in the V&A and other major museums.

Our guided tour will include a talk describing the design and production process and a visit to the workshops.  There will be an opportunity to browse in the shop selling quality silks and velvet at wholesale prices, and products such as ties and scarves.   This is a visit to appeal to all who are interested in fashion, fabric and the decorative arts.

Coffee and cake on arrival and lunch may be purchased from The Fantastically Fresh Eatery, the on site cafe.

Date and Time: Wednesday 16 July 2025 at 10.30 a.m..

Parking: On site.  A list of those attending will be circulated beforehand to facilitate car sharing.

 Programme: We will meet in the on site cafe for coffee, and then have a guided tour of Beckford Silk Mill before visiting their shop.  Our visit then can be rounded off with lunch at The Eatery. Weather permitting, lunch may be enjoyed in the courtyard or gardens, with your menu choices pre-ordered by us.

Access: Wheelchair access is available to all areas.

Cost: £15 members; £20 non-members

Cheque payable to The Arts Society Birmingham Evening. Direct bank payment to A/C: 45091660; Sort Code: 77-85-21. Ref: your surname followed by SILK

Queries to:  Lisa Gillespie - phone 07972716426 or email    birminghamevening@theartssociety.org

To reserve your place, please complete the on line application form by clicking the link below:

 BECKFORD APPLY HERE

or alternatively print off and complete the paper form found in the documents section of this website and either

Post it to: Lisa Gillespie, 11 Pinfield Drive, Barnt Green, Birmingham B45 8XA, or

Email it to: birminghamevening@theartssociety.org

“Death, Disease and Devastation in

         Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter”

    A Circular Morning Walk with Ian Jelf 

SORRY EVENT NOW FULLY BOOKED

Tuesday 24 June 2025 at 10.30

28 people maximum may participate so this is on a strictly first-paid first-served basis

Ian Jelf, a Blue Badge tour guide, has been showing visitors and locals alike around Birmingham since 1992 and on this walk is giving us a variation on a Jewellery Quarter tour as we learn of precious metals and shiny stones but more about precious souls and memorial stones!

The guided walk explores a part of the Quarter dominated by death and disease, looking at how Victorians dealt head on with mortality, before discovering the intricacies of plague, accidents, the Blitz, homelessness and an eclectic mixture of other stories in one of the most unusual city areas in Britain!

Date and Time: Tuesday 24 June 2025, commencing 10.30

Meeting Point: Outside Jewellery Quarter railway station, Vyse Street

Parking: A multi-storey car park at B18 6LP, (2 minutes walk from the station, accessible from Vyse St and Northampton St.)  There is no lift and It costs £3.40 for up to 4 hours and £5.40 for up to 6 hours payment with coins or by phone.

Street parking is also possible although some of the parking meters are very unpredictable in the vicinity!

 Length of walk: Approximately 2 miles  

 Disability Access: Possible within the constraints of a typical city and cemetery environment.                      

Cost: £15 members; £20 non-members     

Cheque payable to TASBE or The Arts Society Birmingham Evening. Direct Bank payment to A/C: 45091660; Sort Code: 77-85-21; ref your surname followed by JQCem

After the walk, for all those who wish to stay we will lunch at Pasta di Piazza, 11 Brook Street, B3 1SA.  Please indicate on your application form if you wish to stay for lunch.

Queries to: Hilary Taylor 07821 972250 or by email :             birminghamevening@theartssociety.org

To reserve your place, please complete the online the application form via the link below:

JQ WALK Application Form

Alternatively, please print off, and complete the form to be found in the documents sectionof this website and either:

Post it to Lisa Gillespie, 11 Pinfield Drive, Barnt Green, Birmingham B45 8XA or Email it to birminghamevening@theartssociety.org ensuring your Direct Bank payment is made before you e-mail the form.

Visit to Hasret Brown Art,

Branston Court Business Centre, 

Branston Street, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, B18 6BA.

SORRY EVENT NOW FULLY BOOKED

This is a rare opportunity to visit a contemporary artist’s studio, to learn about Islamic art, and see how Hasret gives a modern twist to its geometric patterns.  Adopting the centuries-old craftsmen’s methods, she painstakingly analyses and reconstructs these patterns using her own handmade paints and genuine gold leaf and shell gold.  The result mixes tradition with contemporary practice to produce stunning colourful work honouring her own Turkish heritage.

Numbers are very limited so this is on a strictly first-paid first-served basis

 Date and Time:          Thursday 29th May 2025 at 10.30am          

Parking: There is a multi-storey car park, accessible from Vyse St and Northampton St, about five minutes walk from Branston Court. Charges are (at time of writing) £3.40 for up to 4 hours.

On-street parking is also available in the area, with payment via RingGo.

The tram stop at Jewellery Quarter is also very close.

Access: Hasret’s studio is in a converted but traditional Jewellery Quarter building with two flights of stairs (approximately thirty steps) up to it. There is no lift.

Meeting Point: Meet at the main entrance gates of Branston Court on Branston Street.

Duration: About 1 hour, including tea and coffee, and an opportunity to see (and buy!) a selection of Hasret’s work.

 Cost: £15.00 members; £20.00 non-members       

Cheque payable to TASBE or The Arts Society Birmingham Evening

Direct Bank payment to A/C: 45091660; Sort Code: 77-85-21; Ref: your surname followed by ‘HBA’

There are a number of eating places in the Jewellery Quarter for those looking for an early lunch after the visit, but we suggest you join us at the nearby Jewellers Arms, 23 Hockley Street, B19 3AH, which is very cosy and serves real ales:  https://www.blackcountryales.co.uk/pubs/the-jewellers-arms  Please let us know if you are interested in joining us.

Queries to: Chris Arnott 07879 406105 or by email to birminghamevening@theartssociety.org

To reserve your place, please complete the on line application form by clicking the link below:

Hasret Brown Application 

or by completing the application form in the documents section of this website and Post it to: Lisa Gillespie, 11 Pinfield Drive, Barnt Green, Birmingham B45 8XA or Email it to: birminghamevening@theartssociety.org  ensuring your direct bank payment is made before you email the form.

Visit to Chillington Hall, Codsall Wood, Wolverhampton, WV8 1RE

Sorry Now Fully Booked

Wednesday 21st May 2025 at 10.30 a.m.

 Home of the Giffard family since 1178, the present Georgian house, the main part of which was designed by Sir John Soane, is the third to have been built upon the same site and during the visit you will be given an in-depth history of this family home, its ancestors, and its contents

 Upon arrival, our visit will commence with tea/coffee and biscuits, followed by the guided tour of the Hall. We will then be served a homemade Ploughman’s Lunch, after which there will be the opportunity to ride on a specially designed trailer through the Lancelot 'Capability' Brown designed park and woodlands down to the lake in the grounds, with its beautiful James Paine bridge and views of the Canal and Grecian Temple folly.

 Upon return to the Hall there will be a chance to explore the stunning gardens at your leisure.

 Date and Time: Wednesday 21st May 2025 at 10.30 a.m..

Parking: On Site.

 Programme: 10.30 arrival to tea, coffee and biscuits. 11.00 – 12.00/12.15 Tour of the Hall. 12.15 – 1.15 lunch. 1.15 – 2.00 trailer ride ¾ mile to the lake. 2.00 – time to explore the gardens.

Access: There are two high steps up onto the trailer, but staff will be on hand to assist if needed. This trailer ride takes 45-60 minutes.

Cost: £32.00 members; £37.00 non-members

Cheque payable to The Arts Society Birmingham Evening or Direct bank payment to A/C: 45091660; Sort Code: 77-85-21  Ref: your surname followed by ‘CH’

To reserve your place, please complete the on line application form by clicking on the link below :

APPLICATION FORM

alternatively print off and complete the application form which is located in the 'documents' section of this website and post or e mail to -  Lisa Gillespie, 11 Pinfield Drive, Barnt Green, Birmingham B45 8XA.

Queries to: Chris Arnott   07879 406105 

Or by email birminghamevening@theartssociety.org

APPLICATION FORM

Visit to Chillington Hall, Codsall Wood, Wolverhampton, WV8 1RE

Wednesday 21st May 2025 at 10.30 a.m.

Name (TASBE members)   ____________________________________________

                                                ____________________________________________

                                                ____________________________________________

Name (non-members)         ____________________________________________

                                                ____________________________________________

                                                ____________________________________________

Contact Person                    ____________________________________________

Contact phone no                ____________________________________________

Contact Email                       ____________________________________________

Dietary Requirements         ____________________________________________

Please Note: We regret that no refund can be made for cancellation within fourteen days of the date of the tour.

_________________________________________

Please complete the relevant option below to confirm that you are enclosing a cheque or have paid by direct bank transfer:

                        Cheque enclosed                             £……………………..

                        Direct bank payment made            £……………………..

Post:

Lisa Gillespie

11 Pinfield Drive

Barnt Green

Birmingham

B45 8XA

Email:

birminghamevening@theartssociety.org

For any queries:

Chris Arnott

c.arnott@blueyonder.co.uk

Mob: 07879 406105

A Tour with Guides of Avoncroft Museum,Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove B60 4JR

on Thursday 24 April 2025 

REQUESTS TO ATTEND ARE REQUIRED BY 1/3/25 AT THE LATEST

 Avoncroft Museum of Historic buildings is an award-winning museum of over 30 buildings spanning 700 years of Midlands heritage. All the exhibits have been rescued from demolition or dereliction and rebuilt in a peaceful corner of the Worcestershire Countryside. Avoncroft is England’s first open-air Museum, and the buildings range from a medieval town house to a fully-furnished 1940s prefab. Commercial buildings such as the 19th century windmill, Nailer’s forge and chain shop, all of which are still in use, provide a fascinating insight into the region’s industrial past.  The Museum is also home to the National Telephone Kiosk Collection, a traditional cider and perry orchard and a wildflower meadow.!

 Date and Time:       Thursday 24 April 2025, commencing 10.30 am

Meeting Point:         Museum entrance

Parking:                    On site

Disability Access:  Yes – wheelchair/mobility scooter friendly

 Programme:             10.30am                    Arrival, tea and coffee

                                    10.45am                    Introductory talk

                                    11.15am                    Guided tour of two buildings

                                    12 noon                     Free time to visit other buildings

                                    1.00pm                       Gather in shop to depart

Cost:                          £18.00 members; £23.00 non-members *

Cheque payable to TASBE or The Arts Society Birmingham Evening or Direct Bank payment to A/C: 45091660; Sort Code: 77-85-21; Ref: your surname followed by AVON

 Please see lunch details below.  If you wish to join the party for lunch, a £5.00 deposit per person is required.  Please add this to your payment (shown above) for the Avoncroft visit.

We have arranged lunch at the Jinney Ring Craft Centre, Hanbury Road, Hanbury, Bromsgrove B60 4BU – tel 01527 821272.  The main menu for the Farmhouse Restaurant is available on their website if you wish to check it out.  You can order from the table on the day.  The £5 deposit will be deducted from your bill when you pay at the end of the meal.

 TO RESERVE YOUR PLACE, please complete online the application form by clicking on the link below

APPLY HERE

 Alternatively, please print off and complete the printable version of the application form that can be found in the documents section of this website and either:  Post it to Lisa Gillespie, 11 Pinfield Drive, Barnt Green, Birmingham B45 8XA accompanied by your cheque or Email it to birminghamevening@theartssociety.org ensuring your Direct Bank payment is made 

Queries to: Bernard H Singleton – 0121 427 4486 or b.singleton@btinternet.com

RBSA Visit

The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, in the heart of the city’s Jewellery Quarter, is a place where our region’s creative talent gather to display their work. During their 200 years the RBSA have numbered among their members the likes of Edward Burne-Jones, William Morris and John Everett Millais. The RBSA Gallery stage a remarkable range of exhibitions which change at regular intervals. Our visit coincides with their photographic exhibition and we are delighted that some of their exhibitors will be on hand to talk to us about their work.

Numbers are limited so this is on a strictly first-paid first-served basis with final applications by 17th March

Date and time:           Thursday 20th March at 10.30am

Parking: There is paid on-street parking for two hours but extendable on the Ringo app. The Newhall St. NCP car park is closest and there is also the Vyse St. multi-storey

Public Transport: The gallery is within walking distance of St Paul’s Metro Station.

 Duration: Approx 2 hours including tea, coffee and biscuits from 10.30am

 Access: The RBSA Gallery is wheelchair accessible with a lift to allfloors.

Cost: £15 for TASBE members. £20 for non-members.

Cheque payable to TASBE or The Arts Society of Birmingham Evening.

Bank Payment to A/C 45091660 Sort Code 77-85-21 Ref: surname followed by ‘RBSA’

Following the visit, if you fancy lunch, Pasta de Piazza is across the road at 11 Brook St. Please confirm on the application for whether or not you wish to stay on for lunch.

Queries to: Pauline Burns 07791 395871 or paulineaburns@hotmail.com

To reserve a place please complete the on line application form (press on link below)

RBSA VISIT APPLY click here

Alternatively please print off and fill in the physical form that can be found in the documents section of the TASBE website and either: Post it to: Lisa Gillespie, 11 Pinfield Drive, Barnt Green, Birmingham B45 8XA accompanied by your cheque or confirmation that you have paid by bank payment or email it to: lisa.gillespie@live.com having made your bank payment.

Visit to 21 Yateley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3JP

on Thursday 27th February or 6th March 2025 at 10.30am

SORRY FULLY BOOKED

6 people maximum may participate on each visit so this is on a strictly first-paid first-served basis. Need to apply before 20th February.

This Grade 1 listed Arts and Crafts detached house and garden in a leafy Edgbaston street was designed as his family home by the architect H.T.Buckland in 1899 and occupied by his family until sold by his widow in 1951.Buckland’s work showed an originality that was much admired, helping make Birmingham the centre for a magnificent group of provincial architects. Alan Crawford, distinguished authority on the Arts and Crafts period, confirms that Buckland developed such a highly personal style of quality in domestic work that he must rank with the best of his time.

 Why not come and join our guided tour of this remarkably intact house? It is the only Birmingham Arts & Crafts house that is really well preserved, and for that reason it is one of only twenty-two buildings to be listed Grade 1.

Date and Time: Thursday 27th February 2025, commencing at 10.30am  or Thursday 6th March 2025, commencing at 10.30am

 Meeting Point:      21 Yateley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3JP

 Parking:                There is unrestricted parking on Yateley Road.

 Length of tour:      Two and a half hours

 Refreshments:      Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided

 Disability Access:  There are steps and stairs. No lift.

 Cost:   £12 members; £17 non-members (members take priority)

Cheque payable to TASBE or The Arts Society Birmingham Evening

Direct Bank payment to A/C 45091660; Sort Code 77-85-21: ref surname followed by Yat

Queries to:George Mitchell Tel: 07855371935 or email:george.mitchell3@gmail.com

To reserve your place, please complete the application form online by clicking on the link below:

Yateley Road Visit

Alternatively, please print off and complete the application form to be found in the Documents section of this website and either:   Post it to Lisa Gillespie, 11 Pinfield Drive, Barnt Green, Birmingham B45 8XA accompanied by your cheque, or Email it to birminghamevening@theartssociety.org ensuring your Direct Bank payment has been made

Visit to 21 Yateley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3JP

on Thursday 27th February or 6th March 2025 at 10.30am

SORRY FULLY BOOKED

6 people maximum may participate on each visit so this is on a strictly first-paid first-served basis. Need to apply before 20th February.

This Grade 1 listed Arts and Crafts detached house and garden in a leafy Edgbaston street was designed as his family home by the architect H.T.Buckland in 1899 and occupied by his family until sold by his widow in 1951.Buckland’s work showed an originality that was much admired, helping make Birmingham the centre for a magnificent group of provincial architects. Alan Crawford, distinguished authority on the Arts and Crafts period, confirms that Buckland developed such a highly personal style of quality in domestic work that he must rank with the best of his time.

 Why not come and join our guided tour of this remarkably intact house? It is the only Birmingham Arts & Crafts house that is really well preserved, and for that reason it is one of only twenty-two buildings to be listed Grade 1.

Date and Time: Thursday 27th February 2025, commencing at 10.30am  or Thursday 6th March 2025, commencing at 10.30am

 Meeting Point:      21 Yateley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3JP

 Parking:                There is unrestricted parking on Yateley Road.

 Length of tour:      Two and a half hours

 Refreshments:      Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided

 Disability Access:  There are steps and stairs. No lift.

 Cost:   £12 members; £17 non-members (members take priority)

Cheque payable to TASBE or The Arts Society Birmingham Evening

Direct Bank payment to A/C 45091660; Sort Code 77-85-21: ref surname followed by Yat

Queries to:George Mitchell Tel: 07855371935 or email:george.mitchell3@gmail.com

To reserve your place, please complete the application form online by clicking on the link below:

Yateley Road Visit

Alternatively, please print off and complete the application form to be found in the Documents section of this website and either:   Post it to Lisa Gillespie, 11 Pinfield Drive, Barnt Green, Birmingham B45 8XA accompanied by your cheque, or Email it to birminghamevening@theartssociety.org ensuring your Direct Bank payment has been made

House Tour followed by Christmas Dinner at Baddesley Clinton  Wednesday 11 December 2024 from 6-9pm

 20 people maximum may participate so this is on a strictly first-paid first-served basis      RESPONSES REQUIRED BY FRIDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2024 AT THE LATEST

 Some of you may know Baddesley Clinton already, a beautiful moated manor house and estate in the Forest of Arden outside Solihull, run by the National Trust.  Much of the house we see today was built in the late 1500s by Henry Ferrers for the Ferrers family who continued to own the house for nearly 500 years.  The house was a sanctuary not only for the Ferrers family but also for persecuted Catholics in the 1590s, who were hidden from priest hunters in its secret hiding places.

We have the opportunity to take a tour of the house, beautifully decorated for Christmas, followed by Christmas Dinner in the Barnyard Restaurant.

For early arrivals, there will also be the chance to visit the Shop – for some last-minute Christmas gifts maybe?

Date and Time:           Wednesday 11 December 2024, commencing 6pm

Meeting Point:             Visitor Welcome Centre and Shop, Baddesley Clinton, Rising Lane, Baddesley Clinton, Warks B93 0DQ             

Parking:                       On site

Disability Access:       There is wheelchair access into the house. The tour takes place around the house, with stairs to the upper floors.  An interactive tour on an iPad is available in the Drawing Room downstairs for those unable to access the upper floor via the stairs.

Dinner:    Traditional Christmas Turkey Dinner or a Festive Vegan Loaf with all the trimmings                                       

Cost:     £46.50 members; £51.50 non-members       

Cheque payable to TASBE or The Arts Society Birmingham Evening                 

Direct Bank payment to A/C: 45091660; Sort Code: 77-85-21 ref your surname followed by BC.       

 Queries to: Hilary Taylor. 07821 972250  or hilary@darbyshireconsulting.co.uk

To reserve your place, please complete the application form online by clicking on the link below: 

Baddesley Clinton Apply

Alternatively, please print off and complete the form to be found in the Documents section of this website and either

Post it to Lisa Gillespie, 11 Pinfield Drive, Barnt Green, Birmingham B45 8XA

accompanied by your cheque, or   Email it to birminghamevening@theartssociety.org

A Guided Tour of St Chad’s Catholic Cathedral, Birmingham

Wednesday 30 October 2024 from 10.00 am to 12 noon

24 people maximum may participate so this is on a strictly first-paid first-served basis

 St Chad’s Cathedral was the first Catholic cathedral to be erected in England following the Reformation.  It was designed by Augustus Pugin and built in 1841, with later additions by both his son and his grandson.  It features one of the finest decorated church ceilings in the Midlands and is known across the world as a beautiful building with a remarkable history and a rich heritage.  Why not come and join our guided tour to enjoy one of Birmingham’s hidden jewels.

 REPLIES REQUIRED BY 14/10/24 AT THE LATEST

 Date and Time:         Wednesday 30 October 2024, commencing 10.00 am

 Meeting Point:          St Chad’s Cathedral, 3540 St Chads Queensway, Birmingham B4 6EU

 Parking:         The Cathedral Car Park off Shadwell Street is unlikely to have spaces available for us but you may                                  try to find a space if you wish.

Three car-parking options near the Cathedral are listed below, the nearest first, and all three are within the Clean Air Zone.  They all appear to take cash/card/app payments -   NCP Birmingham Royal Angus, St Chads Queensway B4 6HY. -  B4 Car Park, 4 John Feeney Arcade, Weaman Street B4 6DG,  - Snow Hill Car Park, Livery Street B3 2BJ

Disability Access:     Yes.  Wheelchair friendly.

Cost:                           £13 members; £15 non-members

                                    Cheque payable to TASBE or The Arts Society Birmingham Evening

                                    Direct Bank payment to A/C 45091660; Sort Code 77-85-21; ref your                                                surname followed by SCCC

 We will finish our tour with a visit to The Bull, 1 Price Street, B4 6JU, which has a pay-and-display car park next door.  A link to The Bull lunch menu is here     menu    - as our food choices will be required in advance. If anything is unclear, please visit their website www.thebull-pricestreet.com.  If you wish to join the party for lunch, please indicate your menu choices on your application form.  Payment will be made individually to The Bull at the time.

 Queries to:    Hilary Taylor  - 07821 972250 - or email hilary@darbyshireconsulting.co.uk

 To reserve your place, please complete the application form online by clicking on the link below:

ST CHADS APPLICATION

Alternatively, please print off and complete the application form located in the Documents section of this website.

Post it to Lisa Gillespie, 11 Pinfield Drive, Barnt Green, Birmingham B45 8XA

accompanied by your cheque, or

Email it to birminghamevening@theartssociety.org ensuring your Direct Bank payment is made before you e-mail the form

Visit to Forge Mill Needle Museum and Bordesley Abbey, including refreshments on arrival, conducted tour of the museum and buffet lunch

Wednesday 11th September 2024

Situated on the A441 between Alvechurch and Redditch, the Forge Mill Needle Museum is set beside the River Arrow, and close to the ruin of Bordesley Abbey, a Cistercian monastery. In Victorian times Redditch produced 90% of the world’s needles, not just for sewing but also for surgery and fishing. With the aid of models and vividly recreated scenes our guide will show us how they were made and the toll taken on the lives of the workers.

 The museum is packed with examples of needle industry related memorabilia and photographs. There will also be an opportunity to look around a contemporary textile and quilting exhibition, and to explore Bordesley Abbey and see many of the artefacts found during its excavation.                              

            10.45 am - on arrival tea or coffee and cake provided

            11.15 am - tour of the Needle Museum

            12.15 pm - tour ends- free time to look at the rest of the museum

            12.45 -1.00pm - buffet lunch served with tea or coffee

            Free time after lunch to explore the Bordesley Abbey visitor centre and to go over to the Abbey ruins (a very short walk)

26 people maximum may participate so this is on a strictly first-paid first-served basis

Date and Time: Wednesday 11th September 2024 at 10.45am

Venue: Forge Mill Needle Museum & Bordesley Abbey Visitor Centre, Needle Mill Lane, Riverside, Redditch B98 8HY.Telephone 0152762509

 Parking: There is ample parking

 Accessibility: The Museum is housed in what was once a Victorian Needle Mill which means it is a typical three storey building with stairs. However most parts of the museum are accessible and there is a slope leading to the main doors which does have handrails on both sides.The Basement, where the story starts of how a needle was made, is also accessible avoiding stairs.The Scouring Mill where you see the waterwheel machinery has some steep winding stairs. The ground floor of the scouring mill is fully accessible by wheelchair/mobility scooters.The Top Floor of the museum is not accessible to wheelchair users but there is an interactive guide to the top floor which shows photos of all the exhibits and displays.

Bordesley Abbey: the ruins of the medieval Abbey are in the meadows adjacent to the museum. There is a path that leads to the Abbey but it is over uneven ground.

Parking: There is ample parking.

Cost: £25.00 members; £27.00 non-members

Cheque payable to TASBE or The Arts Society Birmingham Evening

Direct Bank payment to acct: 45091660; Sort Code: 77-85-21 (Ref: surname followed by ’FM’)

 Queries to:    George Mitchell  07855 371935 Or by email george.mitchell3@gmail.com

To reserve your place, please complete the application form online by clicking the link below

Forge Mill APPLY HERE

Alternatively, please print off and complete the form which can be found on the Documents section of this website and either

Post it to Lisa Gillespie, 11 Pinfield Drive, Barnt Green, Birmingham B45 8XA accompanied by your cheque, or Email it to birminghamevening@theartssociety.org ensuring your Direct Bank payment is made before you e-mail the form

Victorian Radicals: from the Pre-Raphaelites to the Arts and Crafts MovementThe Gas Hall, Edmund Street, B3 3DH - Thursday 25th July 2024 at 10.15 a.m.

 Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery has an outstanding collection of Pre-Raphaelite Art. Join us for a tour of their Victorian Radicals Exhibition guided by curator Victoria Osbourne. She will give us an expert view of more than 160 exhibits, from vibrant paintings and drawings by artists including Birmingham’s own Edward Burne-Jones to exquisite jewellery, glass, textiles and metalwork by pioneers of the Arts and Crafts Movement inspired by William Morris. This is both a celebration and a homecoming. It showcases the first phase of the museum’s gradual reopening after its refurbishment, as well as the collection’s welcome return to the city after almost 5 years following an award-winning tour of the United States.

Date and Time:     Thursday 25th July 2024 commencing at 10.15 a.m.

Meeting Point:      Gas Hall Entrance Hall, Edmund St., Birmingham, B3 3DH

Parking:                Town Hall multi-storey, Brunel St.B1 1TA or Livery St. multi-storey B3 1TX.

 Public Transport:Colmore Row buses and Town Hall Metro Station are within a 5-minute walk. New Street Station is less than 10 minutes on foot.

Cost: £26.00 members; £28.00 non-members

This includes entry to the Gas Hall. However, for TASBE members who are Museums Trust or Friends of Birmingham Museums members entitled to a concession, the cost is appropriately reduced as shown on the Application Form, subject to compliance with the Trust’s terms and to producing on the day a membership card or proof of entitlement to a concession.

Payment by:  Cheque payable to TASBE or The Arts Society Birmingham Evening

Direct bank payment  A/C: 45091660; Sort Code:77-85-21;Ref: your surname followed by ‘VR’

Lunch: for all those interested, we will lunch at The Cosy Club, Bennetts Hill. We will need to reserve tables so please indicate on your application form if you would like to join us, and tables will be booked from 12.30pm.

Queries to: Pauline Burns   07791 395871         email: paulineaburns@hotmail.com  

 To reserve your place, please complete the attached application form online by clicking here

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Alternatively, please print off and complete the form which can be found on the Documents section of this website 

Walk around University of Birmingham Campus and surroundings with Ian Jelf on Wednesday 3 July 2024 at 10.30

 24 people maximum may participate so this is on a strictly first-paid first-served basis

Our favourite local Blue-Badge Guide, Ian Jelf, is taking us on a walk around the campus of the University of Birmingham and its surroundings.  The University of Birmingham is not only one of Britain’s largest and most respected universities, its campus is without doubt one of the most interesting and beautiful.

We will go on a circular walk around the area to discover some of the many stories it holds in store - and these are a lot more varied than you might think!  We will learn about the people behind the University, academia, the wide range of building styles and even manage to include Romans, landed gentry and medical pioneers!

 It promises to be a full and varied couple of hours so do join us if you can!

Date and Time:           Wednesday 3 July 2024, commencing 10.30

Meeting Point:             University North Gate, Pritchatts Road, B15 2SA

Nearest Parking:         University of Birmingham North East Car Park, B15 2SA (off Pritchatts Road) 

Disability Access:       Yes

Cost:                           £14 members; £18 non-members     

Cheque payable to TASBE Direct Bank payment to A/C: 45091660; Sort Code: 77-85-21; ref your surname followed by IJBUW

 Lunch afterwards: for all those interested, we will lunch at The Bell pub, Old Church Road, Harborne B17 0BB.  We will need to reserve tables so please indicate on your application form if you would like to stay for lunch.

 Queries to: Hilary Taylor - 07821 972250 Or by email -  hilary@darbyshireconsulting.co.uk 

To reserve your places, please complete the application form online by clicking here

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Alternatively, please print off and complete the form which can be found on the Documents section of this website and either

Post it to Lisa Gillespie, 11 Pinfield Drive, Barnt Green, Birmingham B45 8XA accompanied by your cheque, or Email it to birminghamevening@theartssociety.org ensuring your Direct Bank payment is made before you e-mail the form

Madresfield Court. - SORRY NOW FULLY BOOKED

Madresfield Court is a moated stately home which has been in the Lygon family for nearly 900 years and is currently home to the 29th generation of that family.

The house is an architectural masterpiece and played a significant part in nurturing the Arts and Crafts movement, as well as acting at least in part as the inspiration for Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited. It also contains a fine collection of paintings, furniture and ceramics.

The tour allows you to see a large part of the house and the guides are a fount of knowledge and anecdote. A book, ‘Madresfield - The Real Brideshead’ by Jane Mulvagh (available on the internet), tells the story of the house and family in lively and readable form.

Date and Time: Tuesday 11th June 2024 at 10.30 a.m.

Parking: There is parking a short walk from the Court.

Duration: The tour lasts one and a half hours, and although Madresfield does not currently have any facilities for refreshments, we will be offering coffee at 10.15 a.m. before the start. After the tour you will be free to explore the gardens, which extend to sixty-nine acres and include a Pulhamite rock garden!    

Access: The tour does include a lot of stairs, so if you think that this may be a problem, please let us know when booking as Madresfield are willing to see if reasonable adjustments can be made to accommodate you to ensure your visit is as enjoyable as possible.

Cost:                          £18.00 members; £22.00 non-members

Cheque payable to TASBE or The Arts Society Birmingham Evening and sent to Lisa Gillespie, 11 Pinfield Drive, Barnt Green, B45 8XA

Direct bank payment to A/C: 45091660; Sort Code: 77-85-21;

Queries to:       Chris Arnott  07879 406105      Or by email.   c.arnott@blueyonder.co.uk

For the On line application Form please click here  Madresfield 

Morton Hall Gardens

Looking over the Vale of Evesham this seven acre private garden has it all, from spring meadows to woodland walks.  Enjoy a guided tour with the owner of Morton Hall and/or the head gardener and learn about the garden’s history, design and planting.  The visit will include a light lunch of soup or quiche.

 If using satnav, choose the route to Morton Hall Gardens from the Holberrow Green end of Morton Hall Lane as there is no access from Morton Under Hill. The entrance to the lane is marked by a circular wooden bench around an oak tree.  We are asked to car share where possible and to avoid gathering or parking in the lane. On arrival drive up to the main entrance and press the intercom as directed and the gates will automatically open.

 Numbers are limited so first come, first served!

 Date and Time:       Tuesday 14 May at 10.50am for a prompt 11am start.

 Parking:                    Limited parking is available.

 Access:                               Paths and steps are a little uneven in places, and only the formal garden has wheelchair access.

Duration:                  1½ -  2 hours, including a light lunch.

Cost:                          £19.00 members ; £22.00 non-members.

Queries to:               Lisa Gillespie            07972 716426 birminghamevening@theartssociety.org

 application Form for this visit can be found in the documents section of this website Morton Gardens

Elmhurst Ballet School - Sorry Now Sold Out

Dress Rehearsal Performance of ‘Mode’ by Elmhurst Ballet Company 

Celebrating Elmhurst’s twenty years in Birmingham, its graduate year Elmhurst Ballet Company presents ‘Mode’. The young company perform a wide range of repertoire including Wayne McGregor's FAR, an excerpt from Yuri Grigorovich's Spartacus, and one of the most celebrated pieces in all classical ballet - The Kingdom of the Shades from Marius Petipa's La Bayadère. The production also features specially created new works, including a first-time collaboration with Birmingham City University's School of Fashion and Textiles celebrating all things fashion.

 In addition to the performance, which will take place in Elmhurst’s two-hundred seat theatre, an optional buffet lunch is offered beforehand.

 Date and Time: Wednesday 8th May 2024 at 2.00 p.m. – Buffet Lunch (if booked) at 1.00 p.m..

Parking: There is limited parking on site. More details of parking arrangements will be sent out nearer the date.

 Duration:The performance lasts approximately two hours and includes an interval during which refreshments will be served.

Access: Subject to pre-booking, limited disabled parking is available on site. Step-free access is possible to the rear seats in the theatre, or via lift and two steps to the front row.

 Cost:    £15.00 members; £20.00 non-members; Lunch (if Reqd. £15.00)

Application form and further details click HERE

SORRY - NOW FULLY BOOKED

The Hook family have been associated with the Mother of Pearl trade since 1824. The original factory was located in the Hockley area being one of many that worked with Mother of Pearl mainly in the button making industry.

The Hook family subsequently became involved in the working of the shell for many other items such as handles for cutlery and revolvers along with jewellry and inlays for furniture.

the introduction of plastic buttons sadly saw a lot of pearl button factories close, and George Hook is now the last remaining. George, the firm's sole remaining employee, still produces his own items and for those with a fascination for Birmingham and its tradition of creativity a chance to meet George and learn about his trade offers a rare treat.

The visit is restricted in numbers and will last around 1.5 hours including tea and coffee from 10.45am.

Click here for more details and the application form GeorgeHook

We know no-one will need an introduction to Cadbury, and many will have taken children to Cadbury World.  However this visit offers an opportunity for an adult view of the brand, Bournville and the Quaker ethic.  Take a trip down the memory lane of all those Cadbury adverts, enjoy a sequence of special effects cinema presentations, and see a demonstration of traditional chocolate-making skills.  
There will also be a talk at which you can ask all the chocolatey questions you’ve ever thought of.  Last but not least enjoy an afternoon tea with sandwiches and scones.

Commences 1pm and ends at 4.15pm 

Plenty of Parking

Meeting Point is Cadbury World, 69 Linden Road, Bournville, birmingham, B30 1JR

Access: Full 

£22 Members and £25 for non Members