Winchester Brew - 20th November '25

Winchester hits full festive stride this week. The Cathedral Christmas Market opens its doors once again - twinkly, busy, brilliant as ever - and the first wave of mulled-wine wanderers will be out in force. Early birds can pair it with something a little different: maybe a weekend pop-up exhibition from Canvas Creatives, just down the road at The Nutshell, showing original work from eight local artists.

And then comes Monday’s Lantern Parade, that perfect festive moment when hundreds of glowing creations drift through the city. It’s always wholesome, slightly chaotic, and strangely moving - and this year’s theme nods to Jane Austen’s 250th birthday with plenty of sparkle.

Around all that, the city’s doing its usual trick of packing every spare corner with something interesting: jazz mornings for little ones, candlelit Vivaldi, ceilidh nights, prog rock, abstract art workshops, planetarium rock shows, local football fixtures, comedy at The Arc, jewellery-making at the Cathedral, and a whole lot more in between.

A warm welcome to everyone joining us this week. Lovely to have you here. 🎄

Our featured pick of the events this week.

🎁🛍️🎄 Winchester Cathedral’s Christmas Market is back from this Friday and it’s worth weaving into your December plans if you haven’t already. The wooden chalets, the smell of mulled wine drifting through the air, the mix of handmade gifts and cosy food stalls - it’s the same charming setup we all know, and it always manages to be a must-do on our Christmas list!

We know it does get busy, so the gentler moments are usually early in the day or on weekday evenings. The Food Court is reliably good this year, with everything from hog roasts to samosa bowls and crumble pots, plus plenty for anyone avoiding meat or gluten. It’s the sort of place you can wander into “just for a look” and somehow end up staying for a snack and a warm drink.

And while you’re there, it’s worth stepping into the Cathedral for a moment of calm. The carol concerts and Advent events give it a really warm feel this time of year. Once you head back out, the whole city has that gentle December buzz…plenty going on, but never so much that you can’t just wander around and enjoy it. The market is simply a nice anchor point for a wintry afternoon.

When: From 21st November to 22nd December. Open till 6pm Mon-Weds, 7pm Thurs, 8pm Fri-Sat and till 5pm on Sundays.

Where: Cathedral Grounds

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 where available.

🖼️ Canvas Creatives: Local Emerging Artists, The Nutshell, Saturday and Sunday, from 10 AM to 4 PM. A vibrant group of eight local artists will be holding a weekend-long art exhibition, coinciding with the opening of the city’s famous Christmas Market. The exhibition is free to attend and will feature a wide range of original artwork and prints - perfect for seasonal shoppers and art lovers alike.

📚🎄 Christmas Lights Storytime, P&G Wells Bookshop, at 5:00 PM. Pop in before the turning on of the Kingsgate Christmas Lights for some stories and seasonal activities. The Lights will be turned on at 6:00pm and we will all be able to enjoy singing Christmas Carols led by Pilgrims' Chamber Choir.

🎶 The Nutshell Jazz Club: HARRY DIPLOCK TRIO, The Nutshell, at 8:00 PM. Guitarist Harry Diplock brings together some of the UKs most exciting musicians to capture a modern take on the world of acoustic jazz. ‘Harry Diplock Trio & Friends’ pushes the envelope of acoustic jazz guitar. £25

🎶 A Formal Horse, The Railway Inn, at 8:00 PM. “Avant-rock awkward squad” Prog Magazine readers poll “Best Unsigned Band” 2019 £12.50

🍽️🎓 Masterclass: Matty Edgell's Afternoon Tea, Lainston House, at 10:00 AM. Join GBBO winner Matty Edgell for a hands-on Afternoon Tea class featuring sausage rolls, caramel tart & Paris Brest with praline cream. £230

🎶🎓 Ukulele Improvers, Theatre Royal Winchester, at 12:00 PM. Simply learn by playing songs in a friendly and relaxed environment and having a lot of fun. £13.50

🛍️🎄 Christmas Market, Abbey Mill, at 4:00 PM. Join us for a cosy evening of late-night shopping, mulled wine, festive tunes and marshmallow-toasting by the fire. 🔥

🎶💃 WinQeilidh - Winchester’s Ceilidh dance, Holy Trinity Church Hall, at 7:00 PM. Lively, energetic folk dancing for everyone! Ceilidh, also known as barn dancing, emphasises the sociability of dances. Because everyone dances with everyone, you don't need to come with anyone. This ceilidh is gender-free, queer-, trans-, and family-friendly, and always welcoming. £10

🎶 Evil Villains, The Railway Inn, at 7:30 PM. Drawing influence from bands such as Converge, Alice In Chains and Mastodon, Evil Villains are getting ready to release their debut EP and bring their crushing riffs to the stage! £9

🎶 Piccadilly Sinfonietta: Vivaldi Four Seasons at Christmas, Winchester Cathedral, at 7:30 PM. Step into the warm glow of candlelight this festive season and experience the magic of Christmas through the timeless beauty of classical music, set within the enchanting surroundings of Winchester Cathedral. £20

🎶 Luther Vandross – The Candlelight Concert, The Guildhall, at 7:30 PM. A Soulful Tribute Under the Glow of Candlelight. Join us for a heartfelt evening honoring the timeless music of Luther Vandross, as a gifted vocalist and an incredible live band bring his greatest hits to life in a stunning candlelit setting. £38.75

🎤 Barnstormers Comedy, 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

🚶‍♀️🌳 Organised Walk: Winchester, Itchen Abbas Circular Walk, Juniper Carpark, Farley Mount, at 9:45 AM. We will walk through Hyde, the Winnall Moors Nature Reserve, then follow the Itchen out through Easton, Avington and the Worthy’s to Itchen Abbas where we will join the Watercress Way for a few miles following a different route back to Winchester. Although this walk is longer than normal at just under 10 miles it is a relatively easy, with no notable hills, suitable for people of moderate fitness. £2

🖼️🎓 Autumnal Abstract Watercolours at The Arc, The ARC, at 10:00 AM. Join a days workshop with Artist Nicky Bell exploring the wonders of watercolour on a seasonal theme of Autumn/Winter, wondering through watery lands, embracing our diverse environment and changing seasons. Suitable for beginners to experienced artists looking to learn new techniques. £55

🖼️🎓  Christmas Wreath Painting at Holy Trinity Church Hall, at 2:00 PM. Step into the festive spirit and join artist Scarlet Standen for a joyful wreath painting workshop - perfectly timed to add some handmade magic to your holiday season! £35

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

🎶🎬 After Dark - Led Zeppelin: The Planetarium Experience, Winchester Science Centre, at 6:00 PM. Get set for an audio and visual experience like no other as the music of the iconic Led Zeppelin comes to life in the Planetarium! Experience surrealistic environments and mood-provoking abstract art that will propel fans on a trip down memory lane. We've got a Whole Lotta Love for this show! £20

🎶🎬 After Dark - Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon, Winchester Science Centre, at 7:15 PM. Immerse yourself in the original, pyschedelic, fulldome Planetarium visualisation of Pink Floyd's iconic album, The Dark Side of the Moon. Showtimes at 7:15pm and 8:30pm. £25

🎶 Winchester Symphony Orchestra: November concert, New Hall, Winchester College, at 7:30 PM. Winchester Symphony Orchestra, conductor Daniel Hogan Bernstein: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story Barber: Violin Concerto – soloist Fenella Humphreys Tchaikovsky: Symphony no.4 £18

🎭 The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Chesil Theatre, at 7:30 PM. A witty and savage satire of Hitler's rise to power, telling the story of gangster Aruto Ui as he seizes control of the vegetable trade in 1930s Chicago. With echoes of Charlie Chaplin, Al Capone, Shakespeare and Goethe, Brecht's compelling parable continues to have relevance wherever tolatarianism appears today. £18

🎶 Curved Air, The ARC, at 7:30 PM. CURVED AIR, with a real band attitude and a zest for life; this is a band you want to see live for the sheer artistry of how to deliver the musical goods. (Lee Dorian, Classic Rock) £20

🎶 Deeply Purple : Monsters of Classic Rock, The Railway Inn, at 8:00 PM. Not to be missed! Deeply Purple are renowned for their organ rocking, guitar kerranging, virtuosic recreations of Deep Purple music. £15

📚🤝 Winchesters Writing Group meetup, The South Downs Social, at 10:00 AM. This is the regular meet up for Winchester Writers’ Group. Come along to get to know a friendly group of fellow writers. Chat about writing and ongoing projects. Share ideas and advice. We're doing an hour of writing this week, so please bring a laptop. There will be an optional chance to read work to the group at the end.

⚽ Winchester City Flyers FC vs Reading, Charters Community Stadium, at 2:00 PM. Come and support the Flyers in their next home match. £5

🎬 Film Society: Wicked, The Cabinet Rooms, at 3:00 PM. Shhhh... don't tell everyone but we show films downstairs in our Foreign Office. You'll have to hurry if you want to book though. There's only ten seats and spaces can sell out fast. £16.75

🧘 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

🏮🚶‍♀️Lantern Parade, Winchester Cathedral, at 5:30 PM. Fun for all the family, Winchester Cathedral's popular Winter event returns and everyone is welcome to join in. The annual lantern parade returns to Winchester Cathedral, and this year the theme is Light, bright, and sparkling. The theme is inspired by Jane Austen’s description of Pride and Prejudice. Such a fitting theme as we celebrate Jane’s 250th birthday this year.

⚽ Winchester City FC vs Westbury United, Hillier Way, at 7:45 PM. Come and support the Citizens in their next home match. £13.5

🪩🕺🏽 Dance Yourself Dizzy Jive Class, Guildhall Winchester, at 8:00 PM. Dance Yourself Dizzy is re-opening at Winchester Guildhall for class nights every Tuesday! Spread the word, bring your friends & spread the Modern Jive love! £10

🎶 Danny & the Champions of the World, The Railway Inn, at 8:00 PM. "Kicks on from their alt-country foundations to embrace influences from Bowie to free jazz” 8/10 UNCUT £18

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? Winchester’s last official population count in the 2021 Census put the city at 48,478 residents, with today’s estimates hovering just over 50,000.
That’s a long way from the 5,826 people counted in the first national census of 1801 - a city rebuilt after centuries of plagues, siege and political upheaval.

Riddle Me This: I was 25 in 1990 but only 15 in 2000. How is that possible? Last week’s answer: The letter “R”.

Brain Teaser: On an analog 12-hour clock, how many times do the hour and minute hands overlap in a 24-hour day? Last week’s answer: He’s playing Monopoly.

Till next time,