New kitchen opens in North Devon as community raises £835 for children’s charity

A new kitchen at Bradworthy Hall has officially opened, thanks to a grant from The National Lottery Community Fund. The launch was marked with a free Big Community Brunch on 11 January 2026.

More than 120 people attended the event, which raised £835 for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).

Donations included £720 collected via buckets and envelopes during the brunch, £40 through JustGiving, and £75 from a tombola run by CHSW volunteers based in Bude.

Johnny Cowling, the entertainer and patron of CHSW, officially declared the Hall’s kitchen “open” during the event.

The previous kitchen, which had been in use for around 30 years, was no longer considered fit for purpose.

ABOVE: The old kitchen

Organisers said the new kitchen, featuring electric ovens and a hob, replaces the Hall’s reliance on bottled gas and represents a step towards a more sustainable future.

“It’s such a joy to have electric ovens and hob now!” said a spokesperson from the Hall.

The Big Community Brunch was free to attend, encouraging as many members of the local community as possible to take part. Attendees were served a cooked breakfast and invited to make voluntary donations to CHSW.

ABOVE: The new kitchen

Organisers said the event successfully combined fundraising with community engagement. The Hall hosts a variety of activities throughout the year, and information about the new kitchen and upcoming events is available on the Hall’s website at www.bradworthyhall.co.uk .

CHSW provides care for children with life-limiting conditions and supports families across the South West.

Volunteers from Bude helped run the tombola and collect donations during the event, helping to bring the community together in support of the charity.

The new facilities at Bradworthy Hall are expected to make future events safer and more efficient, while also allowing organisers to continue hosting gatherings that benefit both local residents and charitable causes.