Lightwoods House and Park, located in the Bearwood area of Smethwick, is undergoing some exciting new refurbishments and enhancements to its offer this year.
Work has already started on the Grade II listed 18th century house and the park with over £220,000 of combined council and National Lottery funding to be used to make improvements to the play and skate areas, along with a new interpretation for the Shakespeare Gardens.
There will be a new wedding offer, which will include premium and standard packages, putting Lightwoods House on the map as a wedding venue of choice. This includes new wedding facilities and a range of new packages that make this an affordable and special wedding experience.
A refreshed programme of activities, community events and community engagement will be supported by a new pop-up coffee bar at the weekends and during the summer months.
The opening hours during the summer will be extended and the café area will receive a new lease of life.
The funding will also support the maintenance of the Heritage elements of the building and park.
As part of these improvements, the council is tendering for a new catering provider to operate the café, with plans for the new operator to be in place by the end of 2023.
A relaunch of new improvements is planned for May this year and as part of these works there will be a temporary disruption to catering and venue hire offer throughout February, March and April.
Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Tourism, Councillor Laura Rollins, said: “Lightwoods House and Park has benefited from a multi-million-pound programme of works over the last five years through funding from Sandwell Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
“It is exciting to see the positive developments at Lightwoods House and Park continue, and the opportunities available to residents, visitors, community groups and businesses expand.
“I would like to thank the National Lottery Heritage Fund, our excellent Lightwoods House volunteers, our tenants and the many people who booked the house for weddings and events, and Jonathans in the Park as well as the community groups who have been involved in activities,.
“I look forward to building on this excellent work and ensuring Lightwoods House and Park remain a jewel for Sandwell residents.”
The project is part of Sandwell Council’s previously announced three-year Green Spaces Strategy. The £4.45million programme is made up of £2.11m of council funding and £2.34m from external funding streams. Details of the full programme can be found on the council's Green Spaces