Residents of Priston attended a celebratory lunch last Saturday, to mark the re-opening of their village hall. This followed a major programme of repair and improvement that included fixing the leaking roof, making improvements to heating and ventilation, enhancing the kitchen and toilet facilities, and redecorating throughout.

The Grade II listed building was originally the village work-house, and then a school, until this closed in 1970. Since then, it has been managed as the Village Hall by a committee of villagers. The project cost around £90,000.

Raising this sum was a major challenge for the village, which only numbers around 230 residents. A fundraising campaign attracted substantial donations from villagers and local organisations, and also included a very successful auction of promises. Major grants from the National Lottery Community Fund and the St. John’s Foundation were also key to making the project possible.

Priston Village Hall is located in the heart of the village next to the Ring o’Bells pub and is a key social hub for the village. It boasts a main hall, with a capacity of 100 standing/70 seated, a stage and kitchen and is equipped with ultrafast broadband from TrueSpeed.

The building hosts a wide range of activities, including a Saturday café, tai chi, Pilates, yoga, keep-fit, chiropody clinics, parish council meetings and village concerts. It performs a key role in the village May Day and annual Priston Music Festival. Further

information can be found on the village website at: www.priston.org.uk