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Events, What's On

Win Guide to August

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It’s definitely summer in Winchester, despite what the weather might have us believe.  Let’s see what’s on offer this month:

Cult Screens are back this summer with some “luxurious” outdoor cinema treats in Cathedral Close. Tickets are priced according to the type of al fresco seating you would like.  There are food and drink options as well, including craft beers from independent breweries, superb wines, cocktails, fresh popcorn and fantastic food at most venues. You can also bring your own food.  For more details, visit the website here.

3 August – Back to the Future, 7pm for 8.45pm start
4 August – Rogue One, 7pm for 8.45pm start
5 August – Mama Mia, 7pm for 8.45pm start.

If you venture out of the city, the Wickham Festival celebrates its 10th birthday this year, 3-6 August, with a fabulous line-up including  KT Tunstall, 10CC, The Levellers, Seth Lakeman and many more. Rated one of Britain’s best boutique and family friendly festivals by the Guardian, it’s well worth a visit.   Camping tickets have sold out now, but there are still day and weekend tickets available.  To find out more, visit the festival website here. Elsewhere, the Boomtown Fair is back at the Matterley Bowl, 10 – 13 August.  Chapter 9 acts include M.I.A, Cypress Hill, AJ Tracey, Alix Perez and more.

We’re rather intrigued by the Cheese and Chilli Festival taking place at the North Walls Recreation Ground, behind the Leisure centre, 19-20 August. Activities include; Live Music, Motorbike, Quad and Mountain Bike Stunt Shows from the amazing Jez Avery, Falconry display, Magic Shows, Punch & Judy, Inflatables, a Chilli Eating Competition, Real Ale and Real Cider Bars, Craft Tent, Sand Art, Ballon Modelling, Wine Tastings, Cooking Demonstrations, Chilli Presentations, not to mention all the amazing produce and crafts for sale at the show. For a full schedule of activities, visit the website. Children 16 and under get free entry and tickets are cheaper if you purchase them in advance.

Aside from running its theatre workships for young people this summer, the Theatre Royal will be presenting local youth theatre company RicNic’s West Side Story, 23-26 August.  Watch the Jets and the Sharks battle it out in Bernstein’s much-loved musical. For more information or to book tickets, visit the website here.

There are a couple of drinks events of note this month.  The Hambledon Vineyard is hosting its wine festival 6 August, 11am -4pm. Tickets are £10 and available to book here. The Whiskey Affair is taking place at the Guildhall on 26 August, with two sessions running 1-5pm and 7-11pm.   There will be Scotch, Bourbon, Worldwide Whiskey and Cocktails to try out with some live entertainment, a photo-booth and food available to buy.  For more details visit the website.

We’ll be bringing you a preview feature on the September Heritage Open Days later in the month.  And don’t forget the Littleton and Harestock Show taking place Saturday 2 September at the Littleton Recreation ground, with gates opening at 11am. It’s a must if you are looking for a traditional village fete, a part of the village life since 1921!

Meanwhile, keep an eye on twitter @Win_Guide for more tips on what’s on in August. Have a wonderful summer, whatever the weather…

Events, Feature

Win Guide to July

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It’s summer in the city.  Let’s see some of the highlights on offer this month:

It’s the Winchester Festival, 7 to 15 July.  Celebrating its twentieth year, this is one of the city’s oldest festivals.  Enjoy nine days of curated music, talks, drama and visual arts in a programme that includes homages to Rachmaninoff, Queen Victoria, Shakespeare and, in the year that marks the 200th anniversary of her death, Jane Austen. There will also be Winchester walks on offer. For full details, visit the website here.

The Chesil Theatre will also be celebrating Jane Austen with their sold out production of Persuasion, 15 to 22 July.  Fear not, if you missed out on a ticket this time, as Chamber Opera Tours present Jane Austen’s Persuasion: A New Musical Drama at the Theatre Royal Winchester.  For more details, and to book tickets, visit here.  The Bank of England will be unveiling a brand new £10 note at Winchester Cathedral on 18 July, featuring Jane Austen from 2.30pm. Registration for tickets has closed now but the Cathedral will remain open as normal.  For other Jane Austen events, don’t forget to visit the Jane Austen 200 website.

The Pedal, Paddle, Pace triathlon will take place on 16 July, in support of Macmillan.  With a 20k cycle ride, 5k run and 2k kayak (supplied), individuals or groups can enter.  PPP was established in 2004 and has raised over £100,000 since. For more details on how to participate, visit the website here.

The 2017 edition of the Winchester Science Festival will take place 28 – 30 July.  There are plenty of events for all age groups, with talks and participatory exhibits.  The festival takes place at the Winchester Discovery Centre.  For a full schedule of events and details about how to book passes, visit the festival website here.

Don’t forget to take a look at the Popcorn in the Planetarium  programme at the Winchester Science Centre. It’s a good chance to watch a big blockbuster movie screening for little ones, teens and grown-ups in the planetarium cinema space.  For the full schedule, visit here.

Finally, for food connoisseurs, keep an eye on the Hampshire Fare Food Festival running all month.  For a tasty programme of events across the county, visit the website here.

We’ll bring you more tips on Twitter throughout the month @Win_Guide, meanwhile enjoy!

Events, What's On

Win Guide to May

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Welcome to May, one and all.  Here’s our guide to what’s on in Winchester this month:

For photography fans, look no further than the Discovery Centre for the opportunity to view this year’s finalists for the Winchester Photographic Societies Annual Exhibition, at the City Space.  The event is free and donations are welcome.  The event is open until the 7 May, Monday – Sunday and times are available here.

The beautiful Ballet Black will be performing a Triple Bill at the Theatre Royal, 3 May.  Now in its 16th year, Ballet Black’s company of British and international dancers of black and Asian descent has been delighting a new generation of dance fans with its “dash, daring and joie de vivre” ( The Guardian). This is a company not to miss.

Sparsholt College, Countryside Day, 21st May, 2016

Sparsholt College will be hosting their annual Countryside day, 13-14 May.  The Taste of Hampshire Food Festival will run alongside the Countryside day stalls, rides, animal displays and live music.  The medal winning Horticulture Team will present a mock build of their entry to the 2017 RHS Chelsea Flower Show – an exciting opportunity to see this wonderful garden ahead of the prestigious show. Parking is available onsite, disabled access and an early bird discount.  For more details and to find out about booking tickets, visit here.

Little people might be interested in visiting the Theatre Royal to see David Walliams’ ‘The First Hippo on the Moon’. The production has been adapted for the stage by acclaimed award winning theatre company Les Petits, sister company to Les Enfants Terribles so this should be a real treat for young space and theatre fans.  Tickets and times are available a the Theatre’s website here and the show is running between 25 – 28 May.

For adult theatre fans, don’t forget to visit the Chesil Theatre later this month for After Electra by April de Angelis, directed by Peter Andrews.  Running 20 – 27 May at 7.45pm,  this is a moving black comedy that re-imagines the meaning of family. April de Angelis’ After Electra premiered at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth in April 2015 before playing at the Tricycle Theatre in London. You can book tickets from the Chesil Theatre here.

SHOCC Dances will be bringing a Ceilidh to the Winchester Guildhall, 20 May.  Doors open at 19:15 for a 19:30 start and the dance finishes at 23:30. There will be a licensed bar serving real ale. Tickets are available here. Whilst you are at the Guildhall, The House of Gin Festival returns 27 May, with a brand new format in association with Winchester Distillery, Twisted Nose Gin and Fentimans / East Imperial tonic and mixers. The festival will have three Gin bars showcasing a wide range of Small Batch and Award Winning Gins. There will also be the Copperhead Gin and De Borgen Cocktail Bar. A £7.00 ticket entry includes your complimentary ‘House of Gin’ Rocking Glass for you to keep and use at the event. For more details, visit the Guildhall website here.

Gin connoisseurs may also enjoy the Spring Gin Dinner at the Running Horse.  Gin cocktails to taste, spring dishes to enjoy and lots of fun to be had. The evening will start from 7.30pm where you will be welcomed with a gin tipple with three delicious courses soon to follow. £33.50 per person, Saturday 27th May and you can book here.

Enjoy the spring offerings and we’ll be bringing you more tweets and tips @Win_Guide throughout the month.

Events, Feature

Win Guide to April

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April is going to be a great month in Winchester.  Easter is upon us, and the city is gloriously decorated with vibrant spring flowers.  Here’s our Win Guide to some of the events to enjoy this month:

William the Conquerer is coming to the Railway Inn, 8 April.  This isn’t a lazarus moment for the Norman King, but the Americana band whose album Proud Disturber of the Peace and will be out on 4th August.  There’s plenty to look forward to at Winchester’s music venue, including the longest running Open mic night, Roots every Monday at 8.30pm and a Poetry Platform, 4 April at 8.30pm. For full listings and details, visit the Railway website here.

There’s a treat at the Chesil Theatre this month in the form of the classic Victorian thriller ‘Gaslight’ by Patrick Hamilton, running 1 – 8 April. Tickets are available to book here and this is the trailer:

The Corner House have set up a Jazz night in collaboration with the Winchester Jazz Festival team.  There will be live music on a Thursday evening from 7.30pm.  The Richard Abrahams Duo will be playing on 13 April.  For more details, visit here.

The fabulous John Godber Company and Theatre Royal Wakefield present The Empty Nesters’ Club at the Theatre Royal, 6-8 April.  If your children have left home and the nest is empty, this is the group for you! There’s lots of Young Theatre Royal projects to enjoy this month too.  Keep an eye out for Sasha Regan’s all male ‘The Mikado‘ by W.S Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, 24 – 29 April.  It’s a timely chance to have a giggle at British Institutions with the G&S brand of musical wit. 

Dulwich Opera Company will be visiting St Paul’s Church on 29 April for ‘A Night at the Opera’, evening of operatic arias, duets, and trios, including music by Mozart, Bizet, and Rossini.  Visit here to book tickets online and the evening starts at 7.30pm. The company brings professional artists to smaller venues in an annual season of touring work, and it sounds like a rare opportunity to experience opera in an intimate space, close to home.

So, there are some egg-celent events to look forward to this month.  But we must not forget the Easter festivities.  There will be several egg hunts taking place throughout the city and at nearby attractions.  The National Trust will be continuing its annual Cadbury’s easter egg trail at local venues including the Winchester City Mill, 14 – 17 April.  The Easter bunny hop will be taking place throughout the city, 8 – 23 April.  This is an annual event where families can crack a code by exploring local participating venues to win a treat. Pick up your form from the Winchester Tourist information centre.  The Westgate Museum will be running its annual egg hunt, with clues hidden among the museum displays.  It’s a free hunt with a treat for egg-splorers.

Finally, don’t miss Sparsholt College’s Easter Bunny weekend, 14 – 17 April.  Find Humpty Dumpty on an Easter Trail, meet the Easter Bunny and Animal Characters from Nursery Rhymes. Enjoy lots of craft activities including Easter baskets and make your own pea-green boat. There will also be plants for sale grown by the Horticulture department, refreshments, face painting and pony rides.  For more details and to buy tickets, visit here.

We’ll be bringing you more tweets and tips @Win_Guide throughout the month.  Enjoy the sunshine one and all.

Events, What's On

Win Guide to March

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Spring is springing! March is here and hopefully the sun will start to make an appearance to warm up the flowers that have started to bloom.

Let’s see how Winchester will be entertaining and amusing this month:

We're going on a bear huntWe’re Going On A Bear Hunt is playing at the Theatre Royal if you’d like to provide some storytelling adventure for little people. Running from 2 to 5 March, this adaptation of Michael Rosen’s hit book has just finished its West End run and has commenced an international tour. One to watch and please visit the Theatre Royal website for more details.  Alternatively, keep an eye out for David Almond’s ‘Heaven Eyes‘, by Théâtre Sans Frontières, 6 March. The production was recommended by the British Theatre Guide as one of the Best Family Shows in the North East of 2014. If you miss these productions, fear not, for there will be a chance to see another West End hit adaptation, this time of The Tiger Who Came To Tea, 22 – 23 March.  The production is a musical play adapted and directed by David Wood, based on the celebrated book by Judith Kerr.  For more details, visit the Theatre Royal website.

Pin Drop Comedy will be hosting their monthly free open mic night on 2 March.  Doors open at 7.30pm and the bar is open throughout.  Some lucky Wintonians will be shimmying on down to the Guildhall on 4 March to enjoy the Magic of Motown. The event has sold out and will feature classic covers of the Supremes, Temptations, Jackson 5, Isley Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie and more. Whist we are at the Guildhall, there are still some tickets left for the Real Ale and Cider Festival, 17 – 18 March.  This event usually sells out so get booking here if you are keen.

For some fresh and live music, call into the Railway Tavern this month. Fighting Caravans, the alternative rock sextet from Leeds will be on stage 10 March.  Big Boy Bloater and The Limits will be bringing their “raucous” R&B to the city on 17 March, and there are many more exciting acts across different genres booked in throughout the month. For full listings and details visit the Railway website here. 

Swansea City Opera are in town at the Theatre Royal on 15 March, performing Lakmé by Léo Delibes in English.  This opera is best known for the ‘flower duet’, so this is a great chance to restore the oft used music to its original context.  Tickets, dates and times are available here.

The critically acclaimed Bristol Old Vic production of Owen Shears’ Pink Mist  will be staged at the Theatre Royal, 20 – 21 March.  Pink Mist tells the story of three young men deployed to Afghanistan. As the physical and psychological aftershocks of war take their toll on the loved ones they left behind, Arthur, Hads and Taff find their journey home is their greatest battle. Pink Mist was inspired by 30 interviews with returned servicemen and first staged in 2015. Watch the production trailer here and visit the website for more details.

Why not treat mum to an early mother’s day treat with a Ukulele Introductory Workshop at the Theatre Royal on Saturday 25 March.    No prior experience required just pick up the instrument which should be accessible and easy to learn.  Mother’s day is on Sunday 26 March so don’t forget flowers, chocolates, lunches and gifts for all those super mums in the city.

We’ll be bringing you more tips @Win_Guide throughout the month. Have a great month, one and all.

 

Events, Feature

Win Guide to February

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February is here and whilst it may be grey, spring is not so far away now.  It’s a short month this one, so let’s make it count.

Seven SantasLamenting the loss of Christmas?  It’s been a while, hasn’t it?  Well fear not, for Gallows Theatre will be treating us to Seven Santas by Jeff Goode at the Discovery Centre, 3 – 4 February at 7.30pm.  It’s the follow-up to The Eight Reindeer Monologues. Scandal erupts at the North Pole when the most powerful man on Earth is sentenced to rehab for a minor traffic violation. But when he finds himself in a detox program run by the estranged Mrs. Claus, Santa’s desperate struggle to conceal the truth about his arrest, uncovers yet another sordid secret that could mean the end of Christmas-as-we-know-it. To book tickets, visit here.

Winchester Cocktail WeekWinchester Cocktail Week is upon us, 6-12 February.  Scattered across the city, participating venues will be hosting masterclasses, and discounted signature cocktails.  The perfect way to celebrate a dry January, or to simply celebrate.  The event is organised by the Cabinet Rooms.  We’ll also be toasting Gary and Marcus, founders of the Cabinet Rooms as they have recently announced that they will be taking over the Art Cafe in Jewry Street.  Producers of delectable events involving fine food and drink experiences, we’ re sure there will be some exciting plans afoot! For details about the Winchester Cocktail Week or to buy your tickets, visit the website here.

Pin Drop ComedyPin Drop Comedy will be back at the Guildhall on the 9 February at 7.30pm for their monthly open mic night.  It’s free entry, and the bar and kitchen will be open throughout.  The Guildhall is participating in Winchester Cocktail Week, so wristband wearers will benefit from promotional prices.  Enjoy the cocktails and chuckles.

The Yorke Dance Project will be back at the Theatre Royal Winchester, 15 February presenting Rewind Forward, an evening of contemporary ballet. It looks like a really exciting programme, including Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Sea of Troubles, two world premiere’s from Charlotte Edmonds, the Royal Ballet Young Choreographer and Yolanda Yorke-Edgell, as well as work by Robert Cohan. For more details and to book tickets, visit the website here.

Did you know it is the year of the Rooster?  Winchester Theatre Royal will be hosting a Chinese New Year Extravaganza, 17 February at 7.30pm. Chinese acrobatics, elegant Chinese dance, energetic kung fu, and a highly skilled puppeteer that can perform the ancient magic of Face Changing, it’s going to be a night to remember.  For tickets, visit the theatre website here.

The Chesil Theatre will be presenting  Titter Ye Not on the 25 February, a portrait of Frankie Howard both on and off-stage. An affectionate look at the man, his life and his work, and the highs and lows of his career with glimpses into his, sometimes traumatic, personal life. Written and performed by Paul Harris, tickets are available online here.

The Winchester 10k Road Race will take place on Sunday 26th February.  The event starts outside the Guildhall, with the route heading up the High Street, and through the city to the village of Kingsworthy and back for the finishing line at the Winchester City Football Club ground. There’s still time to enter, and for more details visit the website here.

Have a great month, one and all.  Don’t forget to keep an eye @Win_Guide for more tips throughout February.

Events, Feature, What's On

Win Guide to January

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It’s a new year in the UK’s number one city. Here’s our guide to starting your 2017 in the finest Wintonian style:

1upThe Railway Inn has a weird and wonderful selection of events on offer to tempt city folk out this month.  The weekly free Poetry Platform runs on the first Tuesday of every month, Winchester’s longest serving poetry open mic. This month’s event is on 3 January at 8.30pm. Or for the gaming community, 1 Up Retro Video Gaming night is Winchester’s first pub-based retro video games event. From Master System to the Gamecube there will be classic games available every week, with tournaments and leader boards. 1 Up will run every Friday from 8.30pm, starting on Friday 6 January and entry is free. Hip Hop duo, Dr Syntax and Pete Cannon will be live on 20 January from 8.30pm.  For more details, visit the website here.

wsc-web-content-event-or-film-banner-splendiferous-science-2Winchester Science Centre will be hosting BBC Bitesize science presenter Jon Chase for a Splendiferous Science Weekend, 14 – 15 January.  Participants are invited to delve into the whoopsy waffling worlds of Roald Dahl, to make James and his Giant Peach fly or discover George and his marvelous medicine. The shows will run for an hour at 11am and 2pm, and booking is advised.  The Winchester Science Centre’s science experts will also be demonstrating their own favourite Roald Dahl themed science throughout the day so there’s plenty for young people and their adults to enjoy.  For more details, visit the Science Centre website here.

imageFancy taking up a new skill?  The Discovery Centre will be running a beginner’s workshop for budding Taxidermists on Saturday 21st January, 12-4pm.  Mabel Edwards will lead students through a practical session to create a life-like mount of a mouse.  To find out more or to book a place, visit the Discovery Centre website here.

platform-4Winchester’s Platform 4 will be previewing Invisible Music: Variations on a Theme, a new project at the Theatre Royal on 24 January with tickets available for free. The project is a sound-piece inspired by a series of interviews with Winchester’s lip reading group. Booking is advised, so visit the Theatre Royal website for details here.

For more theatre, img-5107-a4-landscape-website-crop_1_origwhy not book to see the Chesil Theatre’s  Blood and Ice by Liz Lochhead, 21 – 28 January, directed by Alec Walters. Four young romantics compete to write a spine-chilling tale. Two of them are England’s greatest poets, the third a rebellious runaway, and the fourth, free-thinker, Mary Shelley. For more details or to book tickets, visit the website here.

Winchester Cocktail WeekDon’t forget to book your tickets for next month’s Winchester Cocktail Week, 6-12 February.  Probably to most decadent way to fall off the wagon, 26 different cafes, bars, restaurants and shops in Winchester will be offering discounted signature cocktails and hosting special events and parties. For more details and to book, visit the Cabinet Rooms website here.

Wishing everyone a prosperous and happy 2017. We’ll be tweeting more updates @Win_Guide throughout the month.

Events, Feature

Win Guide to October

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Autumn has arrived in Winchester. Crisp mornings, chilly evenings and vibrant colour contrasts.  Once more our fine city has a lot to offer this October. Here’s our Win Guide:

Winchester Cathedral Harvest FestivalThe tractors are twitching, the pumpkins are plump – it’s harvest time.  Winchester Cathedral will be holding their annual free weekend of Harvest celebrations, 1-2 October from 10am – 5pm. Expect vintage tractors, falconry displays, farm animals, horse-drawn wagon rides, Hampshire Fare market and, new for this year, a grape and grain tent featuring local breweries and English wines. The whole event is supported by a number of partnerships, notably The New Forest Show, NFU, Country Landowners’ Association, Hampshire Council, and Hampshire Fare. Don’t forget to bring a brolly!

Pin Drop ComedyFancy a bit of standup?  Pin Drop Comedy in partnership with the Winchester Guildhall will be celebrating the first year anniversary of their monthly standup on 6 October, so expect a bumper night of it.  Running on the first Thursday of the month at the Wintonian Bar, Winchester Guildhall, entry is free and the Doors open at 8pm. The bar is open throughout and food is also available. The event is hosted by James Ross & Andrew Johnston.

10 x 10 new writingThe Chesil Theatre will be celebrating the dearly missed icon David Bowie in their 10 x 10 new writing festival.  From the sublime to the ridiculous, daring and curious, heart-breaking and hilarious,  10 new Bowie inspired 10-minute plays will premiere 8-9 October, 2.30pm & 7.45pm. Tickets are available to book here.

pinocchioThe Jasmin Vardimon company are coming to the Theatre Royal, 13-14 October with their new adaptation of Pinocchio. Visit the theatre website to watch the trailer or to find out about booking ticktets.

There are two festivals to look forward to this month.  The Winchester Poetry Festival returns 7-9 October. Workshops, readings and events will be taking place at the Discovery Centre, Theatre Royal and the Art Cafe.  For full programme details, visit the festival website here.

Silent SonataWe’re rather excited about the Winchester Film Festival, a partnership between the Theatre Royal and University of Winchester.  Films are only £5 to attend and will take place in unusual venues across the city.  Here’s a full programme:

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)
Fri 14 October
BOOK NOW

Silent Sonata (2010)
Sat 15 October
BOOK NOW

An Inspector Calls (1954)
Sun 16 October
BOOK NOW

Under the Skin (2013)
Fri 21 October
BOOK NOW

Nashville (1975)
Sat 22 October
BOOK NOW

Johnny Guitar (1954)
Sun 23 October
BOOK NOW

National Trust Images/John MillarAn October couldn’t pass without mentioning half-term or Halloween and there are a number of ghoulish goings on to mention. There’s a Hallowe’en witches and wizard trail at the Winchester City Mill with prizes on offer as well as pumpkin carving, apple harvest activities, baking demonstrations and spooky storytelling. For full details, visit the schedule here.

Supernatural toursThere will be a family friendly Halloween ghost walk through the city on the 29 October at 6.30pm and an adults only version on the 31 October at 8pm. Advanced booking is available here. The Westgate museum will be getting its spook on with a horror spotters quiz, and will be open throughout half-term week. Admission is free. Winchester’s Supernatural tours will also be hosting their spooky tour of the city, 31 October, 8.30 – 9.30pm with live actors and theatrical shivers.

Harvest away, Wintonians and enjoy!

Events, Feature

Culinary Cocktails in Winchester

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ginchester-forte-2016-adrienne-photography-10039Following the success of the first Kitchen Cabinet event in July, Winchester’s Forte Kitchen will be opening its doors after-hours again for two further events designed for gastronomes and cocktail enthusiasts alike. Cabinet Rooms and Forte Kitchen are working together to offer a menu of sharing plates and complementary cocktails influenced by the new seasons’ flavours.

Co-founder of Cabinet Rooms, Gary Whiter, said, “We are very much looking forward to opening up the Kitchen Cabinet again and offering new drinks menus that pair with Forte Kitchen’s delicious, seasonal dishes.”

ginchester-forte-2016-adrienne-photography-10209Olly Biggs, Co-Founder and Head Chef at Forte Kitchen, explained, “We are entering one of our favourite times of year with some incredible fruits and vegetables coming into season. With apples, pears, blackcurrants and figs, to name but a few, we have real scope to offer some great autumnal and wintry flavours at our upcoming events.”

At the Kitchen Cabinet, as well as a range of Forte Kitchen’s small plates and sharing platters, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy some of Cabinet Rooms’ signature cocktails – such as the Twisted Vesper, using local Twisted Nose Gin and Pear Vodka – as well as new drinks inspired by Forte Kitchen’s menu.

“At July’s Kitchen Cabinet,” explained Gary, “the Pancake Martini, our homage to Olly’s superb breakfasts and made with our homemade bacon vodka, was a real hit with our guests. We have a few more ideas up our sleeve for this autumn and can’t wait to bring some new, delectable drinks to the table for the discerning people of Winchester.”

ginchester-forte-2016-adrienne-photography-10288The Kitchen Cabinet will be open from 7pm to 11pm on Friday 30 September and Friday 25 November. Entrance is free. Table service only. A small number of tables can be booked for two-hour slots by calling Forte Kitchen on 01962 856 840.

For the latest news follow Cabinet Rooms and Forte Kitchen on Twitter (@CabinetRooms and @ForteKitchen) and on Facebook (/CabinetRoomsWinchester and /Forte-Kitchen).

Events, What's On

Winchester Cabinet Rooms: Beatnik Supper

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Jazz Festival Dont miss: Saturday 24 September 2016 at 7pm.

Live jazz, live poetry, great food and delicious cocktails.

For one night, Cabinet Rooms will offer guests who join them at the “Beatnik Supper”.

Winchester’s Forte Kitchen will be transformed into a 1950’s jazz den by the Cabinet Rooms.  It’s all part of the city’s inaugural Jazz Festival.

Brought to you by Gary and Marcus, from Cabinet Rooms., the team behind Winchester Cocktail Week and the Ginchester Fête.  Did you know the Ginchester Fête was named by Stylist Magazine as one of the top ways to celebrate World Gin Day in June?

Winchester Jazz Festival“When we heard that Winchester was getting its very own jazz festival,” said Gary, “we knew straight away the kind of evening we wanted to host for it. There are a lot of creative, bohemian people in Winchester and we are very excited to recreate a cool 50’s vibe right here with them at our very own Beatnik Supper.”

WuInspiration will be drawn from the writings of Beatniks such as Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg as well as the organisers’ own travels to San Francisco. The evening will commence with a Beatnik cocktail and guests will enjoy a three-course meal prepared by the chef at Forte Kitchen. Live jazz music will be played by Duo Theory with Tamas Teszary on vibraphone and Wu Yen Chan on bass. Southampton’s Poet Laureate for Children, Matt West, will be there to read Beatnik poetry and, in true spirit of the movement, will be writing a poem based on thoughts and ideas offered by guests on the night.

“This is going be a Jazz Festival event like no other,” said Gary, “and we can’t wait to celebrate with the city’s hippest cats. Be there or be square!”

TamasThe event starts at 7pm on Saturday 24 September. Tickets cost £49.95 per person and include a cocktail on arrival, three-course dinner, live jazz and live poetry. Spaces are limited so advanced booking is essential via www.cabinetrooms.com

For the latest news follow Cabinet Rooms on Twitter and on Facebook