Winchester Brew - 15th January '26

This week’s line-up has that pleasing mid-January mix of cosy and chaotic: book groups and study days on one end, pop punk tributes and candlelit concerts on the other.

Our featured pick is Graffiti Classics at The Arc on Thursday, a comedy string quartet that treats classical music like it’s allowed to be fun (and loud, and slightly unhinged).

Beyond that, it’s a strong week for theatre and live nights out, from The Judas Kiss at Chesil Theatre to Scummy Mummies and The Elvis Years at Theatre Royal. Add in jazz at The Nutshell, a ceilidh for all at Holy Trinity, film nights at Cabinet Rooms, and a few slower-paced options (writing group, vintage bicycles, and a William Morris study day) for anyone easing back into civilisation.

And to everyone who’s joined recently: welcome aboard. Really glad you’re here, and hope this week’s picks help you plan something small or brilliant.

🎶 16 strings, 8 dancing feet and 4 voices in 1 electrifying and hilarious musical show! Graffiti Classics are a comedy string quartet who never sit down, bursting the perceived elitist boundaries of traditional classical music with their hilarious all-singing, all-dancing musical comedy show.  

Wickedly funny, the group energetically leap and clown their way through an eclectic musical landscape from Beethoven to Elvis, all virtuosically accompanied on their own instruments, this ground-breaking group is on a mission: to make classical music irresistibly fun. 

This isn’t just a classical concert - it's a virtuosic mix of musical comedy, gypsy-folk, opera, bluegrass, stand-up comedy and dance! Expect lots of laughs, dancing and singing, all tied together with cheeky audience interaction. 🎶

When: Thursday 15th January, at 7:30pm

Where: The Arc

How much: £20

Sponsor: A message from our supporting partner.

A curated list of events from the next seven days. We try to only include events that still have availability, though things can sell out quickly so best to check ahead. Cheapest adult ticket price option shown unless otherwise stated.

🎭 The Judas Kiss, Chesil Theatre, Friday for 8 nights. At the height of his career, Oscar Wilde finds himself prosecuted for ‘gross indecency’. With only hours before the police arrive to arrest him, he faces a life-altering decision: flee England and avoid imprisonment - or stay and risk everything for love and principle. £18

🎤 Scummy Mummies: Hot Mess, Theatre Royal Winchester, Wednesday for 2 nights. Mums' Night Out! Helen and Ellie are back with a brand new comedy show that will have you laughing till you wee. From menopause to mansplaining, teenagers to Tinder, no subject is safe. Featuring brand new songs, sketches, stand-up, and of course, sparkly new catsuits… It's a big Scummy party! £19

🖼️🎓 Thursdays Drawing & Painting 5 Week Course with Rosie, The Color Factory, at 10:00 AM. Build confidence in your art and learn new skills within an art historical context. Rosie Parmley’s classes offer a rich learning experience that build confidence within a vibrant art community. £216

🎶🎈 JAZZBOPS: Toby Evans Duo, The Nutshell, at 1:45 PM. Join us for our monthly lunchtime jazz concert made especially for grown-ups and their little ones (ages 0-4) - a jazz club designed with grown-ups in mind. £12

📚 P&G Wells Book Group, P&G Wells, at 6:30 PM. Started in 2023, the P&G Wells Book Group has gone from strength to strength. The meetings are friendly and relaxed, and new joiners are welcome.

🎭 Ronnie, Reggie and Me with Fred Dinenage, Theatre Royal Winchester, at 7:30 PM. The definitive insight into the real lives of Britain's most notorious gangsters, from their trusted official biographer. £15

🎶 The Nutshell Jazz Club: Ant Law & Brigitte Beraha, The Nutshell, at 8:00 PM. ‘Ensconced’ is an exciting new collaboration initiated during the pandemic years between leading UK guitarist/composer Ant Law and Milan-born British/Turkish vocalist, composer and lyricist Brigitte Beraha. £25

🎓 Home Educator Day - Science of Me workshop, Winchester Science Centre. Home educators - we've got your back when it comes to science! Are you ready to explore science, engineering and space? Arrival from 10am, workshop start times are 11am or 1pm, ends 3:30pm. £13

🎶🎓 Ukulele Improvers, Theatre Royal Winchester, at 12:00 PM. Ukes for All host a series of intermediate ukulele classes. There’s no complicated theory or having to practice scales and things like that. Simply learn by playing songs in a friendly and relaxed environment and having a lot of fun. £13.50

🎶 WinQeilidh, Holy Trinity Church, at 7:00 PM. Lively, energetic folk dancing for everyone! Ceilidh, also known as barn dancing, emphasises the sociability of dances. Everyone is encouraged to dance with each other. The dances we do come primarily from an English tradition, but also French, American, Scottish, Irish, and more. £10

🎶 The Elvis Years, Theatre Royal Winchester, at 7:30 PM. From the heart of the West End, with more than 20 years of critical acclaim and a Number One appearance on Top of the Pops, The Elvis Years is the ultimate celebration of The King. £25

🎶 Blink Daze, The Railway Inn, at 8:00 PM. Welcome to Pop Punk Paradise! BLINK DAZE are the ultimate tribute to the legends of pop punk, covering the biggest and best hits from Green Day, Blink 182, The Offspring, Sum 41, New Found Glory, Bowling For Soup, Good Charlotte, and much more!  £15

🎤 Barnstormers January 2026, Paddy Lennox, Stephanie Laing, Joe Wells & Kevin Precious, The Arc, at 8:00 PM. Our regular comedy night at The Arc, Barnstormers Comedy presents a line-up of three top acts from the London comedy circuit and beyond: many of them Comedy Store regulars. £12.50

🎬🍷 Film Society: Carrie (1976), Cabinet Rooms, at 9:00 PM. Over 18s only. Book in advance. Drink included. £15

🧘 YSC at Thrive & Wild, Kings Worthy, at 8:00 AM. Start your weekend off with some Yoga Social Club time in their new slot at Thrive & Wild. Optional supervised soft play sessions as well for the little ones. £10

🏃‍♀️🌳 South Wonston Circular Walk, South Wonston, at 9:45 AM. Join me for a circular walk from South Wonston. It's fairly flat, mostly going around fields with wide open views, going past an active oil field (yes, in Hampshire!), historic remains from WW2 and a water tower. Walk is c9km long. £2

🏃‍♀️ Winchester Rugby vs Tottonians, North Walls Park, at 2:30 PM. Come along and support the Winchester 1st XV in their next home match.

🎶 Lumos Live Candlelit Concert in the Chapel, The Hospital of St Cross, at 5:00 PM. A Classical Vivaldi & Mozart Tribute. Seatings at 5pm and 7pm £20

🎶 Ultimate Coldplay, Theatre Royal Winchester, at 7:30 PM. Since launching in 2017 Ultimate Coldplay have been widely recognised as being the world's most accurate Coldplay tribute. They are frequently described as the 'next best thing' to one the UK's most famous bands. The band are frequent fliers, performing in many different countries around the world, including tours in Europe and Asia. £19

🎶 Gary Fletcher (with Nick Ritchie), The Arc, at 7:30 PM. A founder and member of The Blues Band with Paul Jones, Tom McGuinness and Dave Kelly throughout it’s existence. His music is a compelling mix of originals including Blues Band classics such as ‘Greenstuff’ and the odd classic cover straddling blues, Americana and folk. Live he plays guitar, slide, banjo, and mandolin. £14

🎤 Daniel Foxx: Work in Progress, The Nutshell, at 8:00 PM. Join award-winning comedian Daniel Foxx as he road-tests brand new material and has a good old natter. Described by Rolling Stone as "utterly hilarious and effortlessly charismatic”, Daniel is co-host of the hit podcast 'Welcome To Hell' and author of 'Bedtime Stories For Privileged Children'. £13

🎶 Martin Stephenson (The Daintees), The Railway Inn, at 8:00 PM. Inspired by early Cure and the Brighton scene, Martin Stephenson began his career as a busker aged 15. He then spent three years plying his trade as the guitar player in various bands in the North East of England. £16.50

📚🤝 Winchester’s Writing Group: Long Prompt Writing session + social, The South Downs Social, at 10:00 AM. Come along to get to know a friendly group of fellow writers. In this session, we will have a prompt for you to write something about for an hour. This will be followed by time to share what you've written to the group if you want to. After the writing session, we'll go to a nearby pub.

🏛️ Vintage Bicycle Display: Veteran Cycle Club, the Square, from 11:00 AM. Join the Veteran Cycle Club at Winchester City Museum to celebrate the birthday of Dickie Frost, a Winchester resident and champion cyclist of the 1890s. Discover historic bicycles from the Victorian period through to the late 1930s on display in the Square.

🧘 Sunday Sundown Self Care Sessions, Elevate Fitness Studios and Cafe R0st, at 5:00 PM. Think relaxed Ibiza evenings, think relaxing yoga, think about time after class with your community. Finish your weekend by joining us for a calming yoga session followed by chilled socials. £10

🎬 Mesmerica 360, Winchester Science Centre, at 7:15 PM. Discover Mesmerica 360: the smash-hit multi-sensory experience where time stands still, and a new kind of magic surrounds you to soothe the senses - specifically designed to unwind. £24.50

🎶 Simon Maggs & People Like Us and The Ben Poore Project, The Railway Inn, at 7:30 PM. Hampshire based, with roots from around the UK, Simon Maggs and People Like  Us craft melodic, literate folk-tinged indie marked by thoughtful, wry, relatable  storytelling. £10

🖼️🎓 Named/Nameless: William Morris Study Day, The Arc, at 9:30 AM. Programmed to coincide with the gallery exhibition Beauty of the Earth: The Art of May, Jane & William Morris, this day aims to explore lines of thought and practice relevant to social, political, artistic and environmental matters, deriving both from the Morris family and those who have or will engage with them. £5.75

🎬 The Royal Opera cinema screening La traviata, Theatre Royal Winchester, at 6:30 PM. At one of her lavish parties, celebrated Parisan courtesan Violetta is introduced to Alfredo Germont. The two fall madly in love, and though hesitant to leave behind her life of luxury and freedom, Violetta follows her heart. But the young couple's happiness is short-lived, as the harsh realities of life soon come knocking. £15

🤝 Nutshell Network: Creative Co-Working, The Nutshell, at 10:00 AM. As part of our commitment to fostering creative exploration and connection, we are opening our doors on select Tuesdays from 10am-3pm for creative co-working

🎬🎓 Night Sky Live: Family, Winchester Science Centre, at 5:00 PM. Are you ready for a family astro adventure? Head outside with us and discover the stars and planets of the night sky, live! £17.50

📚 Read It and Weep book club, The Railway Inn, at 7:00 PM. Join us on the third Tuesday of every month in Platform 2 for The Railway Inn’s new book club, Read It and Weep, as we sink our teeth into a juicy book (and probably enjoy a glass of wine or three!)

🎬🎓 Night Sky Live: Adults, Winchester Science Centre, at 7:30 PM. Are you ready for a family astro adventure? Head outside with us and discover the stars and planets of the night sky, live! £17.50

🎶 Ben & Tom Waters: A Very Special Night of Boogie, Blues & Rock 'n' Roll, Theatre Royal Winchester, at 7:30 PM. When Ben and Tom Waters take the stage together, audiences witness something rare: a deep musical bond between father and son that fuses experience, passion, and instinct. £19

🎓 Copper Bowl Workshop with Emily, The Colour Factory, at 6:00 PM. Pop along to Emily’s workshop in the new studio and learn how to transform a simple sheet of copper into a functional vessel, a handmade bowl. This workshop will take 3 hourrs; all materials are included but you have the choice to purchase extra pieces of metal. £75

🎬🍷 Film Society: Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), Cabinet Rooms, at 6:30 PM. Over 18s only. Book in advance. Drink included. £15

🎶🎤 The Nutshell Scratch Night, The Nutshell, at 7:00 PM. The Nutshell Scratch Night is an evening dedicated to the development of brand-new, untested performance work. It provides a crucial platform for artists to put initial creative thoughts and ideas in front of a live, supportive audience to see what truly works.

❤️ 30s & 40s Single's Mixer with Love at First Sign, Winchester Stable, at 7:00 PM. A singles experience blending cosmic data and real time connection in a beautiful and safe setting! And remember, you don't have to be an astrology lover to make the most of these fun single's events! £20

🎶 Winchester Philharmonic Choir Concert Bach Mass in B Minor, Winchester Cathedral, at 7:30 PM. Under the direction of Sarah Baldock, Winchester Philharmonic Choir will be joined by Winchester College Choral Society and Chapel Choir and Winchester Cathedral Chamber Choir to perform one of the finest works in the choral repertoire, Bach’s Mass in B Minor. £15

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Could your home be their forever place?

A bit of froth to end on…

Did You Know? Winchester’s first known local newspaper, the Winchester Journal, launched in 1748 — nearly 25 years before the Hampshire Chronicle — placing the city among England’s early adopters of provincial journalism.

Brain Teaser: I’m the beginning of the end, and the end of time and space. I’m essential to creation, and I surround every place. What am I? Last week’s answer: Teapot.

Till next time,