AVONCROFT Museum in Bromsgrove will be reopening to the public sooner than expected to mark the early May bank holiday weekend.

The museum grounds will be open from May 1 every weekend 10am to 5pm and tickets must be purchased in advance.

Avoncroft’s buildings will be closed but staff are hoping the 19 acres of outdoor space will entice visitors to come and explore.

The attraction has recently been granted £92,000 in the second round of the Government and Arts Council England’s Culture Recovery Fund.

Bromsgrove Advertiser: Staff and trustees of the museum have decided to mark May Day bank holiday by reopening the museum grounds to the public.Staff and trustees of the museum have decided to mark May Day bank holiday by reopening the museum grounds to the public.

Director of Avoncroft Museum, Zoe Willems, said: “We have a very small staff team at the moment, and a positive army of volunteers and supporters who are helping us to get ready to open to the public. We think it’s more important to be open than to be perfect, so we hope visitors will come and enjoy the 19 acres of open space and understand that we are still a work in progress in some areas. As a further thank you to everyone for their support during these difficult times, we’ll only be charging £5 per ticket until the late May bank holiday.”

The museum is also reopening its tea rooms, offering a takeaway service for drinks, food and its much-loved ice-cream.

Nick Sturgess, deputy director of Avoncroft Museum said: “Everyone has fond memories of our traditional May Day celebrations. Unfortunately, due to restrictions we won’t be able to put these on this year – but it’s a good symbolic weekend to celebrate opening up to the public once more. We hope people of Bromsgrove will make the most of the safe, open air space and the re-opening offer of £5 tickets for all – and then visit again in summer when limited activities and events will resume and buildings will be open again.”

Avoncroft Museum is set to fully reopen to the public on weekends and Wednesdays from May 29.

Tickets can be purchased from the museums website.