Paws at The Lexicon promises tail-wagging family fun this May half-term

Zoe Gater

Posted on

Bracknell

From Bluey appearances and agility courses to face painting and family trails, The Lexicon is hosting a brand-new dog-themed half-term event in Bracknell this May – with free activities and fundraising for Guide Dogs.

From agility courses and face painting to a special appearance from Bluey, Bracknell’s The Lexicon is going dog-friendly this May half-term with a brand-new event celebrating all things canine – while raising money for Guide Dogs.

Families, dog lovers and four-legged friends are invited to enjoy ‘Paws at The Lexicon’, taking place from Friday 22 May to Monday 1 June 2026, with a packed programme of free activities and interactive experiences across the town centre.

Supporting locally based charity Guide Dogs, the event will transform The Lexicon into a canine celebration, with a mix of dog-friendly experiences and themed activities designed for visitors of all ages.

One of the highlights includes a Dog Agility Course in Union Square, opposite Boots, running from Tuesday 26 to Friday 29 May. Dogs taking part will receive treats and rosettes, while a special soft toy-only session on Friday 29 May gives younger children the chance to join in the fun too.

Children will also have the opportunity to meet much-loved character Bluey in Princess Square on Saturday 30 May, appearing at intervals throughout the day.

Elsewhere across the week, visitors can enjoy a dog caricature artist creating personalised keepsakes on Tuesday 26 May, followed by craft sessions and storytelling in Princess Square on Wednesday 27 May.

Face painting will be available on Thursday 28 and Friday 29 May in The Avenue, before moving to Princess Square on Saturday 30 May. Visitors will also have the chance to meet Guide Dogs volunteers and their four-legged companions on Saturday 30 May.

All activities will take place between 11am and 4pm.

There will also be plenty of opportunities for families to get involved throughout the half-term, including a free interactive trail encouraging children to spot pups hidden in shop windows, complete a trail leaflet and enter for the chance to win prizes.

Visitors can also take part in the ‘Snap, Tag & Share’ competition by posting photos of their dogs during their visit and tagging The Lexicon and MIL Pet Photography online, with one winner receiving a dog photography experience and wall art worth £200.

Adding to the celebrations, The Lexicon Express will be running throughout the event with a special limited-edition sticker available for visitors.

Sue Boor, Head of Marketing at The Lexicon, said: “As a dog-friendly town centre, with well-behaved dogs welcome in over 70 of our stores, we’re delighted to introduce Paws at The Lexicon for the first time this May half-term.

“It’s exciting to trial a new type of event for us, bringing together families and dog lovers for a fun-filled half-term.”

For more information, visit thelexiconbracknell.com/events/paws-at-the-lexicon.

Get the latest news straight to your inbox

Choose which newsletter:

See some of the world’s most famous movie cars at The Lexicon in Bracknell

Zoe Gater

Posted on

Bracknell

See Lightning McQueen, the Batmobile Tumbler, Bumblebee and more as The Lexicon in Bracknell hosts a free movie car spectacular this February half term, with charity fundraising and a family-friendly film trail.

This February half term, The Lexicon in Bracknell is giving visitors the chance to see some of the world’s most famous cars, drawn from movies spanning the last 20 years.

Running from Saturday 14th to Sunday 22nd February 2026, the town centre will play host to iconic car stars such as Batmobile Tumbler, the Mutt Cutts van from Dumb and Dumber, Bumblebee from Transformers, Ghostbusters Ecto-1 Cadillac and more.

Tom Henderson, centre director at The Lexicon, says: “It’s not often you can get up close and personal with such spectacular film stars. We hope that our event will appeal to film fans of all ages, offering a unique opportunity to take a selfie next to one of your movie car heroes.”

Also appearing at The Lexicon, a Flintstones car and three of the characters from Disney’s Cars – Lightning McQueen, Tow Mater and Professor Z.

Tom adds: “During the week, we will also be seeking to raise money for The Lexicon Charity Fund, which helps local community groups, by offering visitors the chance to sit inside one of the Cars character vehicles for a £1 donation per car.”

The charity opportunity will run from Monday 16th to Friday 20th February 2026, between 10am and 4pm, outside Boots.

The eight cars will also form part of a movie themed trail with prizes from Cineworld.

For more information, visit The Lexicon’s website.

Get the latest news straight to your inbox

Choose which newsletter:

Eighties fun at The Lexicon

Karen Neville

Posted on

Bracknell

Enjoy an 80s style roller disco rink, follow the sticker trail and take your seat for top class sporting action this summer at The Lexicon

Embrace the retro colour and music vibes of the 80s with a fabulous roller disco at The Lexicon this summer holidays.

The roller disco will open every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday until September 8th, with bookable 30 minute sessions throughout the day.

Sensory-friendly sessions, featuring quieter music and dimmed lighting will also be available at 11am every day the rink is open.

The Summer Sticker Trail is open to everyone guiding you around the town centre, searching for 10 huge old-style stickers placed in shop window. Not only is it a fun, free activity but there is also the chance to win one of five £200 gift cards from The Lexicon.

The sports screen on The Avenue will remain until September 8th, showing live screenings of Wimbledon, The Olympics, and the Paralympics at a temporary sports terrace located opposite Pandora.

There’s plenty of tables and chairs, so grab your favourite snacks and drinks, perhaps a couple of friends, sit back and enjoy the sporting entertainment.

For younger visitors, The Gruffalo, Paddington™ and Bluey & Bingo will all be visiting The Lexicon this summer. Meet The Gruffalo on 5th, Bluey & Bingo activation on 12th and Paddington™ story narration, 19th.

The character visits are free, but space is limited, so booking is required.

Another free favourite is also back this summer with The Lexicon Summer Proms on Saturday, 7th September, from noon to 7pm.

Sue Boor, head of marketing at The Lexicon, says: “We hope that the range of activities that we are running throughout the school holidays will appeal not only to children but also to adult visitors to the town centre, whether rolling skating, watching sport, listening to local entertainers or following the trail.”

Susan Halliwell, chief executive of Bracknell Forest Council, added: “There’s lots going on at The Lexicon this summer to encourage people to come along, get active, be entertained and explore our wonderful town centre. I hope as many people as possible come along and enjoy the fun.”

For more information and booking details, please visit The Lexicon Shopping, Bracknell, Berkshire.

Latest posts

Get the latest news straight to your inbox

Choose which newsletter:

High Score opening at The Lexicon

Round & About

Posted on

Bracknell

Ready, set, go! Family-fun in abundance at Bracknell’s new free-play gaming centre

School’s out! And, as the summer holidays kick off, High Score opened its latest location at The Lexicon shopping centre in Bracknell. At the launch weekend on the 20th and 21st July eager kids (and adults) were treated to a meet and greet with Mario & Luigi and were invited to Spin the Wheel for prizes. Inside, a gaming wonderland awaited providing endless fun for all ages.

High Score is packed with over 100 games that are all set to free play which means you can have unlimited goes for the duration of your 60-minute session without the need to keep feeding the machines with more coins. All the amusements are rated under 18 so it is a safe environment for the whole family to get involved.

Games range from retro classics to modern titles with an area dedicated to under 7s that includes fairground amusements and air hockey. Legendary favourites such as Guitar Hero, Dance Dance Revolution, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games and Candy Crush all feature, and as a child of the 80’s, I loved reminiscing with a game of Pac Man. Avoiding those pesky ghosts and filling up on flashing dots was elevated by playing it on a giant floor-to-ceiling screen.

My six-year-old son was hooked on Harpoon Lagoon which has up to four players so we could all try our luck at catching the biggest fish. He was easily able to get the hang of this game and even caught a shark for top points. As a huge Nerf fan, he also had a blast shooting targets for high scores at the Nerf Arcade machine.

Our whole family went head-to-head on the multiplayer racers with my husband thrashing me on both the superbike and supercar leader boards. However, I managed to redeem myself by pulling off some sick tricks on the Winter X Games SnoCross.

The price for a 60-minute session is £11.95 per person which is great value for unlimited play. A wealth of games and controlled sessions meant that there was no need to queue for any machines and we thoroughly enjoyed an hour of continuous action.

To book a session at High Score Bracknell visit – The Lexicon Bracknell

Latest posts

Get the latest news straight to your inbox

Choose which newsletter:

Biodiversity Fun

Round & About

Posted on

Bracknell

This May half term, The Lexicon has teamed up with garden and nature specialists Little Muddy Boots, to demystify the meaning of biodiversity for children, in a fun and engaging way.

From Friday, May 24 to Sunday, June 2, 2024, visitors to Bracknell town centre can embark on the Little Things Count trail, where they will discover fascinating facts about bugs, bees, blooms, birds, and butterflies.

In addition to the educational experience, participants have the opportunity to win two fabulous hampers from The Lexicon. On Tuesday, May 28, Berkshire Birds of Prey will grace The Lexicon with their majestic presence, offering visitors an unforgettable close encounter with these magnificent birds. Furthermore, CBBC’s Blue Peter Gardener, Skinny Jean Gardener, will lead a day filled with wildflower seed sowing, education, music, and fun on both Friday, May 31, and Saturday, June 1, 2024.

Little Muddy Boots will host a series of engaging workshops from May 28 to June 1, 2024, providing children with the chance to discover how small actions can make a significant impact on local wildlife. These workshops offer various activities, including exploring, planting, and crafting items such as bug hotels, wildflower seed bombs, and bird snacks to take home.

Sue Boor, head of marketing at The Lexicon, expresses hope that this fun and educational initiative will help children comprehend the crucial roles played by different forms of life in maintaining environmental health. Additionally, a dedicated web page featuring short educational videos and downloadable activity sheets has been created to further children’s learning about bugs, bees, blooms, birds, and butterflies.

For more information about Little Things Count and details on how to book for the different workshops please visit https://www.thelexiconbracknell.com/

Get the latest news straight to your inbox

Choose which newsletter:

Home Hub Academy to boost skills

Karen Neville

Posted on

Bracknell

A new training programme is helping to develop the skills of Bracknell tradespeople

A new learning academy has been launched to develop the skills of local people in the Bracknell area by independent window and door specialist, Home Hub.

The Home Hub Academy is an 18-month training programme which combines classroom learning, course work, and hands-on workshops in the company’s dedicated 2,000sqft facility in Bracknell. The programme aims to broaden the knowledge and skills of local installers from product knowledge to customer service, providing the recruits with the right skills to thrive within a growing local business and flourish in the construction industry.

There are currently nine people taking part, with the aim for 28 to be fully qualified each year. Curtis Lockyer, 24, who is currently taking part in the academy, said: “I’m excited to finish the Home Hub Academy and be a fully qualified installer. It’s a great opportunity to be part of a growing company, that wants to ensure they offer the best for their customers and employees because they care about the future.”

As well as being salaried, trainees taking part in the programme benefit from an energetic, fun learning environment where they build their skills under the wings of a team of fully qualified installers. Upon completion trainees will receive a fenestration apprenticeship qualification.

Laurence Tuck, Founder and Managing Director, at Home Hub Group, said: “We wanted to create our own training programme to ensure the windows and doors we supply, from award-winning brands like Origin, are installed the right way, every time and to broaden the opportunities available to those who want a career in construction. Our training programme is open to anyone, and we are really excited to have created a safe environment where people feel valued, learn a new skill, and will be financially rewarded from day one.”

Visit Home Hub’s website to find out more about its window and door installation academy.

Get the latest news straight to your inbox

Choose which newsletter:

Celebrate Christmas at The Lexicon

Karen Neville

Posted on

Bracknell

Enjoy festive fun activities for the whole family at Bracknell’s leading shopping centre

Shoppers at The Lexicon will be greeted by glittering lights, a 10-metre Christmas Tree and festive market stalls, as part of an array of festive activities for all the family from Saturday, 26th November to December 24th.

One of the borough’s spectacular forest giants, Will Wildwood will return to Princess Square, dressed for the festive season complete with festive forest foliage and frost-tipped sparkling lights to help raise money for Bracknell Foodbank. Every time someone uses the Winter Will Wildwood slide, The Lexicon will donate 20 pence to the foodbank up to a maximum of £5,000.

There’s a Snowflake Trail for families to follow around the town centre, using spectacular artwork created by local children with a chance to win a fabulous family prize from Cineworld and Gymfinity.

But, the star of the show is a magical virtual sleigh ride. Families will be transported across the world as they give Santa’s brand-new sleigh a trial flight before Christmas Eve.

Begin your journey by being transported into a virtual bay using a VR headset with a fully immersive experience including 360-degree views and matching movements. Hold on to your hats everyone, this could be a bumpy ride!

SEND sessions available.

For more information about Christmas at The Lexicon and to book tickets for the sleigh ride visit https://www.thelexiconbracknell.com/.

Get the latest news straight to your inbox

Choose which newsletter:

Happy 5th birthday to The Lexicon

Karen Neville

Posted on

Bracknell

Bracknell’s fabulous shopping centre is celebrating and you’re invited to join them

Celebrate The Lexicon’s fifth birthday with forest giants, seedling sprites, night forest theatre and a special birthday proms taking place in the town centre from August 24th to September 4th.

The Bracknell Giants, so popular last year, will return with two new friends. Bracknell Forest Guardian Elderma and the adventurous Will Wildwood, boasting an integral slide.

Also new for this year is The Night Forest theatre show, where younger visitors and their families will meet five fabulous forest creatures. Using holographic technology, these characters will appear to come to life as part of this interactive show. Places to attend The Night Forest Show can be pre-booked, with all proceeds going to The Lexicon Charity Fund.

Younger visitors and their families will meet five fabulous forest creatures

There’s also a Seedling Sprite Trail to follow, pick up a trail sheet and unlock the secrets for the chance to win some wonderful prizes, a host of fun entertainers, giveaways, a special birthday Proms taking place on Saturday, 3rd September and much much more.

The birthday proms will feature performers giving away birthday badges, tote bags and cupcakes.

From Monday, 5th September The Lexicon will be giving away five fabulous prizes donated by Beaverbrooks, Pandora, Marks & Spencer, Wagamma and Primark so keep your eyes on their Facebook page!

They will also reveal which local community groups have been awarded £5,000 each from The Lexicon Charity Fund.

Bracknell Forest Council and The Lexicon have teamed up to create the Bracknell Forest Festival so make sure that you put a note in your diary now.

Find out more

Find out more by visiting www.bracknellforestfestival.com

Get the latest news straight to your inbox

Choose which newsletter:

Allelujah all! Christmas concert in Bracknell

Round & About

Posted on

Bracknell

Music-lovers can enjoy the dulcet tones of Thames Voyces at their annual visit to St Joseph’s Church in the centre of Bracknell at 7.30pm on Saturday, 15th December

Thames Voyces will sing a selection of seasonal choral music and audiences can also enjoy readings, and carols (some with audience participation) from 7.30pm. Some seasonal refreshments will also be served in the interval if your singing comes up to scratch! The choir will be under the baton of musical director, Nick Austin, and accompanied by Ben Giddens.

The choir will present Christmas music from across the centuries, from cradle songs such as the Coventry Carol and Away in a Manger, to more celebratory music such as Deck the Halls and perhaps the fastest one-horse open sleigh in Berkshire! What better way to start your Christmas with one of Berkshire’s top chamber choirs?

Thames Voyces rehearse in the splendid surroundings of the Recital Room in South Hill Park on Tuesday evenings. They continually strive to give high quality concerts in the Bracknell area, regularly performing concerts in Binfield and Crowthorne, as well as what is becoming their annual carol concert at St Joseph’s.

The choir are grateful for St Joseph’s for kindly hosting the concert and, following the concert, there will be a retiring collection to assist the work that St Joseph’s undertakes, in association with other Bracknell churches, to assist the homeless and those in need this festive season.

For further information on this concert and others in Crowthorne and Binfield next year, please visit www.thamesvoyces.org.uk  

Get the latest news straight to your inbox

Choose which newsletter: