Cheltenham Community News & Events | All Things Cheltenham

Hello, I'm Reg, your host, and this is All Things Cheltenham, your weekly roundup of local news, events and community stories. Today is Sunday the 26th of April 2026, so let's get started. And as always, we start with the local news. Plans for Cheltenham's so-called Silicon Valley development near GCHQ has taken a major step forward. The Golden Valley project, a£1 billion development in West Cheltenham, is designed to create a new hub for cyber technology and innovation right next to the GCHQ headquarters. Detailed plans for the first phase have now moved forward, meaning construction could begin soon on the site, including a new innovation centre and supporting infrastructure. The development is expected to bring new jobs, training opportunities and investment into the area, helping position Cheltenham as a leading centre for cyber and advanced technology in the UK. Often described as Cheltenham's own version of Silicon Valley, the project is seen as a long-term investment in the town's future, with further phases expected to include housing, immunities and community spaces. Now, concerns have been raised over the future of Cheltenham's municipal offices with fears of planned sale of the building could fall through. The council had previously agreed to sell the historic Promenade Building to be turned into a luxury spa hotel as part of wider plans to modernise its operations. But questions are now being asked after reports that some council staff are being moved back into the building, leading to uncertainty about whether the sale will go ahead. The concerns followed the recent collapse of the Gloucestershire airport sale, with some drawing comparisons between the two situations. Council leaders have been asked to clarify the situation as the future of one of Cheltenham's most recognizable buildings remains unclear. Now Cheltenham Jazz Festival is set to return later this month, celebrating a major milestone as it marks its 30th anniversary. The festival runs from the 29th of April through to the 4th of May, bringing a mix of jazz, pop, blues, soul, and RB to venues across the town. This year lineup includes big names like Jesse J, Van Morrison, Josh Stone and Jack Savarotti, alongside international renowned jazz artists such as Joessa Redman and Bill Frizzle. As well as headlining performances, there'll be a wide range of shows across the Festival Village in Montpellier Gardens and venues throughout the Cheltenham Plus 3 performances popping up around the town. It's one of Cheltenham's biggest cultural events of the year's, attracting thousands of visitors and showcasing both global stars and emerging talent. Now a Cheltenham Sports Club is celebrating what's been described as the award of a lifetime after receiving national recognition. East Gloss Club has been named Club of the Year at 2026 LTA Awards, beating more than 300 nominations from across the UK to take the top honour. The award recognises the club's outstanding growth, innovation, and its strong impact in local community, particularly through tennis and paddle. Based on Old Bath Road, the club has expanded significantly in recent years with new facilities, growing membership, and a wide range of inclusive programs designed to make sports accessible to all. Club officials said they were honoured to receive the award, highlighting the contribution of members, staff, volunteers and coaches in making the club a success. Well, well done to the East Gloss Club. Congratulations from me at all things Cheltenham. Right, a high end bakery chain could be heading to Cheltenham with plans submitted to open a new cafe on the Promenade. Gales, a well known bakery brand with sites across London and the UK, have applied to take over the formal Russell and Brombury store at 100 Promenade. The plans include transforming the space into a cafe and bakery with internal changes designed to suit food service while keeping the character of the historic building. If approved, this would be the first gals location in Gloucestershire, with the nearest branch currently in Bristol. The move forms part of a brand new wider expansion across the UK as it continues to grow beyond its traditional London base. And of course, I will keep my eyes open and my ears open to find out if that becomes more reality, and I will let you know. Now one of Chumpnum's most popular venues is getting a fresh new look. As the brew house and kitchen prepares to reopen in the brewery quarter, the venue has been closed for a short refurbishment with a full glow up designed to refresh the space while keeping the character that regular knowers know and love. It is set to reopen on Friday the first of May when customers have been invited in throughout the day to check out the new look and try the updated summer menu. The venue will also be celebrating a big milestone later in the month, marking 10 years in Cheltenham, with a special event on Saturday, the 16th of May. Plans for the celebration include live music, family-friendly activities, and drinks at the original 2016 prices for one day only. The popular brew pub will continue to produce its beers on site, with its signature brewing equipment remaining as part of the key experience. And talking about food and drink, well, Chuckland's much-loved food and drink festival is set to return this summer, bringing a real taste of the season back to Montpellier Gardens. Taking place from the 19th to the 21st of June, the festival will once again showcase the very best of the local and national food and drink, with over 100 traders expected to attend. Visitors can look forward to live cooking demonstrations from top chefs, plenty of street food and artisan produce, and a lively atmosphere across the weekend. It is one of Cheltenham's big summer events and a real highlight in the town's calendar, drawing thousands of people each year. More details, including the full lineup, are expected to be announced soon. Now, just before we move on to the community notice boards, if you have anything you want to talk about or say about what you've heard on today's podcast, or you want to promote an event, a new business, or wish to send me a press release for or for any other reason, you can get in touch via the website, social media, or of course you can email me at info at all thingscheltenham.co.uk. Okay, on to Cheltenham Community Notice Board. Now the PDSA charity shop here in Cheltenham will be closing its doors on Saturday the 13th of June 2026. The team have let me know that you are very welcome to pop in over the coming weeks to show your support, grab a bargain, and help make the most of the time they have left. It is always sad to see a familiar local shop go, especially one connected such an important charity supporting pets and their owners. So if you've ever donated, volunteered, or picked up something from there, now is a great time to pay them one last visit. I will keep you updated if I hear anything further, but for now, that's the heads up for the PDSA here in Cheltenham, the charity shop closing on June the 13th. I will clarify that when I get um notifications on the shop windows, but that's what I've heard from the actual store people themselves, and that includes the manager. Right now, talk about stores closing. I've been asked to put out this by the shoe zone store here in Cheltenham. They are not closing. Please, they're not closing. Instead, the company's running a warehouse clearance cell. The shoe zone is currently closing a number of its warehouses, and as a result, they're shifting a large amount of stock, which means shoppers can expect reduced prices and clearance deals across a wide range of footwear. So if you've walked past and spotted the closing down signs, then don't worry about the shop itself. It's a very much staying open. It's just a good opportunity to grab a bargain while the clearance is on. So it's worth a look if you're in town over the next few days. It's rehonest, it's the company's bad advertising. It does look like they're closing down. I got this because I went in thinking exactly that. And that's why I was told this information. Now, we've really got an important one for the community section, and this is something worth knowing if you or you or someone you know enjoys a night out in Cheltenham. The Cheltenham Garden, just like that again. The Cheltenham Guardians Safeguarding Team is a registered charity that's been supporting people in the town's nighttime economy since 2015. Their work is centered around something called the India Protocol, created in memory of India Chip Chase. In simple terms, it means their team actively checks on people who may be vulnerable, particularly those who are alone, to make sure they're safe and okay. You'll find the Guardians out every Saturday night from 10 p.m. through till 4 a.m., either on foot patrol around the town centre or in their response vehicle. They're easy to spot in their bright orange uniforms, so if you ever need help, you can flag them down. They're also run a female only safe space called the Night Care Hub based at 1 Royal Crescent near the coach station. It's there for anyone who might need support, whether it's first aid, a safe place to sit, help charging your phone, access to water or essentials, or even just somewhere to wait for a taxi. While the team itself is made up of female volunteers, their support is available to anyone who needs it. Over the years they've helped thousands of people and even saved lives through their work. So if you're heading out in Cheltenham, it's reassuring to know they're there. And if you see someone who might need help, don't hesitate to point them in the direction of the Guardians. You can also contact them directly on O1242 35030. That's O one two four two three five O three three O. Or find them out, find out more at Chaplinham Guardians.org. Now over on Henrietta Street there's a brand new addition to Chupman's music scene. Motive Music Academy, which opened in January, is offering lessons in drum, guitar, bass, vocals and piano for all ages and all abilities. The Academy focuses on modern, relaxed approach to learning, giving both beginners and more experienced musicians the chance to build confidence, develop skills and just enjoy making music. They also support young musicians with things like bands, performances and exams while offering adults a low pressure weight to try something new. Now if you fancy giving it a go, at the moment they're offering a£10 trial session with no commitment required. And coming up, they are hosting a bank holiday taster day on Monday the 25th of May, where you can learn a song in just 25 minutes or for just five pounds. Motive Music Academy is currently open Monday to Thursday with flexible lesson times. For more information or if you want to book a trial, you can visit MotiveMusic style that again Motive MusicAcademy.com or email them at MotiveMusic Academy at gmail.com. So that sounds great fun. I can play a little bit of piano, i.e. I can hit the keys, and I've tried guitar, but I just can't get the guitar threats right. Now, moving on to some upcoming Cheltenham events. So of course we have to mention the big one, which is the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, gets underway from the 29th of April through to the 4th of May, with live music across the town and in Montpellier Gardens. Now there's a bank holiday fun day at the plough in Prestbury on Saturday with live music, family entertainment and food. And I say Saturday, I think it's the 2nd of May actually. Smoky Joe's continues its run of live music nights with gigs and ticketed events taking place throughout the week. And there's also regular pub quizzes across the town, including at the Exmouth Arms on Sunday and the Brew House and Kitchens on a Wednesday. But uh obviously that's not until they reopen, I'd imagine. And don't forget Cheltenham car boot and car boot sales and markets at the race course running on Sunday mornings, and a great spot if you want a bargain. Also at Southern Market as well. And for more details and more events, head over to my new events in Cheltenham website where there's a full calendar. That's eventsincheltenham.co.uk. Look for the calendar link, and there's loads of events on there. And of course, you can also follow me on Instagram, events in Cheltenham, with some daily updates and stuff. And check out the new weekly Stub Substack newsletter. I'm still getting used to saying that word. And keep an eye out for new monthly Events in Cheltenham podcast, which is coming very soon. And in fact, if you look up Events in Cheltenham podcast, I'm putting out an update to more about that on Monday. So do check that out. And I will put links to these um places directly in the description. So there we go. That's it for this week's episode of All Things Cheltenham. If you've been enjoying this, um please do follow and subscribe and let your friends know. Thank you so much for listening. And I'll be back same time, same channel, next week. Until then, have a great time in Cheltenham. Bye for now.