Hello! And a huge thank you for supporting the next generation of musicians by booking your tickets to the National Youth Brass Band Championships, aka, Youth Champs!
Please find below important information about your visit.
Youth Champs: Saturday 23 March | Dean Close School, Cheltenham
Timings: The building will be open for audience members from 8am.
Hot drinks and breakfast options will be served from the catering kiosk outside Hall 1 (the Bacon Theatre), as well as a food stall inside the foyer of Hall 1.
Parking: to avoid issues with availability of spaces we advise you to park at Cheltenham Spa Railway station, open 24-hours and a 10-minute walk from the school site.
Closer parking options are listed below however please bear in mind that parking is extremely limited on the site.
- Blue Bange visitors: Car Park 1: Enter via the Hatherly Road entrance and turn left at the Swimming Pool. Spaces will be reserved here for blue badge holders.
- Grass pitch: Car Park 2: ‘Humpty Dumpty’ car park is the closest parking to the building for non-Blue Badge holders and will be open all day. Access this via a small lane on Shelbourne Road - just south of the school and opposite Morris Court. Please note, this car park is a grass pitch, so in the case of bad weather it is recommended that only 4x4 use this area.
- Car Park 3: Further parking is available at Dean Close Prep School, accessed via Shelburne Road.
- Car Park 4: Further options include Premier Inn/ TGI Friday’s opposite the school - rates might apply. 374 Gloucester Rd, St Mark’s, Cheltenham GL51 7AY.
- Car Park 5: Cheltenham Spa Railway Station - large car park (400 spaces), a 15-minute walk to the school’s Bacon Theatre. 78 Queen’s Rd, Cheltenham GL50 2NE.
We recommend that you factor extra time into your journey to park and make your way to the site entrance.
Arrival & ticket collection: Please access the site via the Hatherly road entrance on foot. You will then be directed to the Bacon Theatre foyer (follow the signs for Box Office and Hall 1) where you can collect your event tickets.
This is the 10th anniversary of the National Youth Brass Band Championships being run by Brass Bands England. Want to support us so we can put on next year’s? You can help by purchasing your programme and any other goodies when you pick up your tickets.
Performance spaces: The Besson Prodige Showcase Section and World of Brass Champion Section will play in Hall 1. The Yamaha Performance Section will play in Hall 2. See the band schedule here. Please note that timings are approximate. Signs and staff will direct you. Please do check signage to ensure that you are in the correct hall prior to the performance.
Catering: From 10:30am, hot dogs will be available from the catering kiosk, and a selection of sandwiches and lunch items will be available from the inside stall.
You can also bring your own packed lunch - there will be an allocated lunch area in the Helen Porter Hall.
Please do not take food or hot drinks into the performances spaces. Alcohol is not permitted anywhere on the premises or grounds.
Social and packed lunch space
The Helen Porter Hall located within the music building has been designated as an additional social space for this year’s event, to eat or relax between bands.
Accessibility: The whole site is accessible by wheelchair. Hall 1 (Bacon Theatre) has reserved wheelchair spaces. Hall 2 is fully accessible.
Photography & filming: You are permitted to take photos of the performance using a mobile phone but please note that flash photography is strictly prohibited anywhere in the building. We ask that you not film the performances. A recording of performances will be available after the day via the wobplay subscription service. A professional photographer will be onsite and photos will be shared publicly after the event via the Brass Bands England Facebook page. Please note that whilst we make every effort to do so, we cannot guarantee that every band will be photographed.
About the contest: You might notice that the lower Sections are permitted some adult performers in non-principal positions to support the bands. If you’d like to find out more about the rules and how the contest works, visit our Youth Champs page.
Get involved: you can join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #YouthChamps2024 and by following Brass Bands England on Instagram and X.
Your child: If you are attending to see your child perform or support someone in a band, please note that parents cannot enter the backstage areas (holding room/ rehearsal rooms) if they are not one of the band's designated chaperones. If you are arriving early with your child and are arranging to meet the band on site, please coordinate a place to hand them to the band's care (the Helen Porter Hall or Hall 1 foyer would be a recommendation). Young people should always be within the care of either their guardian or the band - please ensure you coordinate a plan in advance if you need to drop off or collect your child on site with your child’s band.
Where to find help: Brass Bands England staff will be wearing branded black or coloured polo shirts and our volunteer team will be visible in orange t-shirts. Staff will be located throughout the site and at the ticket desk in the foyer. You can also contact us at info@bbe.org.uk or via Facebook messenger.
What next? Don’t forget to send us your feedback and purchase photos (bands will send a booking link out), and vote in the Brass Bands England Awards.
We hope you have a great day at Youth Champs!
Kind regards,
The Brass Bands England team