Winchester Brew - 1st January '26

Happy New Year from Winchester Brew. New Year’s Day always feels like a reset button, and this week’s weather is making a very persuasive case for choosing your outings carefully and dressing like an onion… so consider this your permission slip to plan the week around warm rooms, good company, and a few events that give you a reason to leave the house.

It’s a shorter, but lovely mix to ease you in to January: free heritage bus rides around town on New Year’s Day (the Friends of King Alfred Buses are back on The Broadway), a low-pressure Paint & Sip late night at Bella Crafts, and a couple of “embrace the dark evenings” options like Film Society nights in the Cabinet Rooms. If you’re after something bigger, Saturday’s got everything from Saturday-football at the Charters to a candlelit concert in the Cathedral, plus live music at The Railway.

As always, if this edition helps, please share Winchester Brew with a friend. And if you’re running an event in Winchester or nearby, send it our way so we can include it in a future issue.

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.

🐆 Glow Marwell, Marwell Zoo, runs until Saturday. Explore Marwell in a whole new light. Follow the enchanted nature light trail through a magical world of breathtaking new displays that will fill you with wonder for the natural world. £24.95

🎭 Puss in Boots, Theatre Royal Winchester, runs until Sunday. A traditional family panto full of PAW-some gags, original songs and loads of audience participation, it's MEOW-gic! £12

🚂 Steam Illuminations, Watercress Line, runs until Sunday. Step aboard a steam train transformed into a dazzling spectacle of colour, music, and festive cheer! £25

🔐 Christmas Escape Game: Sleigh Bells & Sabotage, No. 45 Southgate Street, runs until 18th January. There’s trouble brewing at the Winchester Sleigh Depot. Follow a trail of missing melodies, stolen stockings, misplaced ingredients and one extremely impolite note as you uncover who’s been stirring up festive chaos. £22

🏛️ Friends of King Alfred Buses on New Year's Day, The Broadway. Welcome in the New Year with free rides around Winchester city and its surroundings on magnificent heritage buses. Run by Friends of King Alfred Buses, the day will see free buses depart from the Broadway.

🖼️ Paint & Sip Late Nights, Bella Crafts, at 6:00 PM. Your booking includes entry to our Paint & Sip Late Night with Drink and Nibbles on arrival - Bring your own bottle (optional). You can bring your own project along and simply use our space or choose one of our Walk-In Workshop Activities which include pottery painting, decopatch, glass painting, fabric painting and simple jewellery. £7.95

🍽️ RØST COMMENSALITY #016 | GERMANY |, Cafe R0st, at 7:00 PM. Join us for an intimate communal dining experience where 10 guests come together to explore the flavours, stories, and traditions of a different country’s cuisine every month - all reimagined through the creativity of plant-based cooking. £30

🎬 Film Society: An American Werewolf In London (1981), Cabinet Rooms, at 9:00 PM. Over 18s only. Book in advance £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

⚽ Winchester City vs Didcot Town, Charters Community Ground, at 3:00 PM. Proper Saturday-football energy at the Charters, with Winchester City hosting Shaftesbury in the Southern League Division One South. Turn up a bit early, grab a hot drink, and enjoy the game. £13.50

🎶 Loud and Clear Night in Winchester - No Alcohol or Drugs, Unit 12 CIC, Winnal Lane, at 7:00 PM. We bring together DJs, dance music, an awesome sound system, and custom reactive visuals to create an uplifting rave experience without alcohol or drugs. Expect high energy, deep bass, and a friendly, welcoming crowd.

🎻 A Viennese Christmas by Candlelight, Winchester Cathedral, at 7:30 PM. Experience the enchantment of Viennese Christmas at our spectacular concert! The perfect crescendo to your Christmas season. Invite family and friends to wave goodbye to Christmas and welcome the New Year together. £21

🎸 King’s Road, The Railway Inn, at 8:00 PM. Local Mods Kings Road are a Paul Weller influenced band dedicated to keeping the fire, passion and skill of the Jam live experience alive. £10

🏛️ Meet a Roman!, City Museum, from 11:00 AM. Pop into City Museum to quiz their resident Roman about what the Romans did before Christmas, then get stuck into the hands-on bits: crafts, making a Saturnalia card, and even challenging your Roman to an ancient board game. £7.10

🧘 Evening sundown yoga with Sophie House, Elevate Fitness Studios, 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

🖼️ Six-week Introduction to Oil Painting Course with Rachael Alexander, The Colour Factory, at 9:30 AM. This six-week course is designed to introduce you to the world of oil painting, de-mystifying techniques and providing you with the skills to continue your oil-painting journey with confidence. £260

📜 Treasures Tour, Winchester College, at 1:30 PM. A guided look at highlights from the College’s collections, including works of art and rare books not usually on display, with time in the original museum and parts of the Fellows’ Library. £15

🖼️ Six-week Intermediate Oil Painting Course with Rachael Alexander, The Colour Factory, at 2:00 PM. This six-week course is aimed at those who have had some previous experience using oil paints and are looking to move further forward on their oil painting journey! Ideally you will also have some knowledge of colour mixing, and creating composition, along with some basic drawing skills. £260

🎤 Roots Open Mic Night, The Railway Inn, signups from 7:30 PM. Winchester's longest running open mic night. Free entry every Monday. Signups from 7.30pm, music from 8.00pm.

🗃️ Archives Tour, Winchester College, at 11:00 AM. A rare chance to view medieval archive rooms and selected historic documents and artefacts, delivered by the College Archivist. £15

🖼️ Tuesday Drawing & Painting Evening 6 Week Course, The Colour Factory, at 6:30 PM. Rosie Parmley’s classes offer a rich learning experience that build confidence within a vibrant art community and offer an opportunity to exhibit in the Summer Exhibition at The Colour Factory. £260

✏️ Winchester Life Drawing Club Take Over: Spring 2026, The Arc, at 1:00 PM. Winchester Life Drawing Club are taking over twice a week to bring untutored Life Drawing into the The Arc. Everyone should try life drawing at least once - book your place and experience one of the art worlds oldest art practices! £14

🎬 Film Society: I’m Not There (2007), Cabinet Rooms, at 6:30 PM. Over 18s only. Book in advance £15

Got an event we should feature in the Winchester Brew? Click the button below and add your event details!

Could your home be their forever place?

A bit of froth to end on…

Did You Know? In medieval England, New Year’s Day fell on 25 March, not 1 January -and as a former capital and major royal city, Winchester ran on that calendar too. For centuries, the year didn’t officially begin here until spring.

Brain Teaser: What common English verb becomes its own past tense when its letters are rearranged? Last week’s answer: A candle.

Till next time,