How to find us
From London:- On the M4, leave at Junction 18 following the A46 to Stroud. Turn left onto the A432 to Chipping Sodbury, following signs to Chipping Sodbury Town Centre (High Street). Go through the high street and down Bowling Hill. The Packard Dance Centre is the first turning left after the Traffic lights, at the end of the "Ridgewood" buildings. Go down the narrow drive and turn left at the end of the buildings, into our carpark.

From Wales:- On the M4, leave at Junction 20 (the A38 for Gloucester). Turn right onto the B4059 for Yate. At Yate, turn left at the roundabout towards Chipping Sodbury. Turn right (before you reach the traffic lights) and go down the narrow drive at the side of the "Ridgewood" buildings and turn left at the end of the buildings, into our carpark.

A map of where the Packard Dance Centre is situated is available here

and a detailed area map is available here

The group of buildings in which the Packard Dance Centre is situated, were once a workhouse, designed to house up to 160 paupers.

The builder that was appointed to undertake the work quoted £2090 and it was stipulated that the exterior work was to be completed by 20th August 1839, with the interior work being completed by 25th March 1840.

The contract was duly signed and sealed on 21st November 1835, with the building being ready for use by May 1840. Over the years, the building had several changes of name and use......

  • 1840 - The Chipping Sodbury Union Workhouse
  • 1918 - The Chipping Sodbury Union Institution
  • 1929 - The Public Assistance Institution
  • 1930 - The County Infirmary
  • 1949 - 244 Station Road, Yate (the front part) and Ridgewood for the rear buildings.
  • 2003 Compete refurbishment undertaken
(From: "Whispers from the Workhouse - The story of 'The Spike'")

The Packard Dance Centre is situated in part of the rear of "Ridgewood" buildings, situated between Yate and Chipping Sodbury. Our studio was completely refurbished in 2003 to provide what is probably the best dance venue in the district, for your dancing enjoyment. The studio is open Monday to Saturday, with afternoon and evening lessons available and Saturday evenings for social functions.

We are immensely proud of our studio. We have an obligation to uphold the reputation that we have established in everything we do
from the moment you walk in the door for the first time until you leave a better, more confident, dancer.