Winchester Brew - 2nd October '25

We’re only just stepping into autumn - leaves turning, pumpkins displays popping up, the first hints of Halloween creeping in - and yet Christmas seems to be sneaking into view as well. Mince pies on the shelves, advent calendars in the shops, and even the odd festive song on the radio. It feels like the seasons can’t quite decide who gets the spotlight.

Which is why it’s nice to keep things simple. Winchester Brew is all about the here and now: a hand-picked guide to the very best of the next seven days in and around Winchester. Gigs, theatre, art, family fun - all ready for you to explore this week.

Don’t let your friends be the ones saying “I didn’t even know that was on.” Forward this issue their way and help them stay in the loop.

Our featured pick of the events this week.

🖼️🎶🍷Enjoy a magical evening where art meets music, and creativity comes together right now. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned painter, this event is guaranteed to be a ticket to ride.

What’s Included:

When: Friday, 3rd October. 6:30 PM to 9 PM.

How much: £16 per person, including all materials and a glass of wine OR soft drink

Where: The Arc, Winchester

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.

🎈🌳 PYO Flowers, Stem and Green Flower Farm, Worthy. Pick Your Own (PYO) bucket of our beautiful blooms and to enjoy the surroundings of our three acre flower farm and a cup of tea and cake. Fri 3rd and Sat 4th 10AM till 3PM https://www.stemandgreen.co.uk/pages/pick-your-own

🎭🎈 The Smeds and The Smoos, Theatre Royal Winchester. A stellar show based on the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler  A joyful tale of star-crossed aliens Music, laughs and interplanetary adventures for everyone aged 3 and up. £12. Showings on Fri, Sat and Sun. https://www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk/whats-on/smeds-and-smoos

🎤📚 National Poetry Day with Mark Rutter and Julian Stannard, University of Winchester, at 4:30 PM. Celebrate National Poetry Day 2025 with readings and a workshop hosted by University of Winchester. Guest facilitators are poet-artist Mark Rutter and International Troubadour Prize, and Shelley Prize winner Julian Stannard. https://www.winchesterpoetryfestival.org/wpf25fringe

🎬📚 Peter Sellers - A Centenary Celebration, Pump House, at 7:00 PM. The Pump House is delighted to welcome back Peter Lydon to talk about his BAFTA nominated BBC documentary, The Peter Sellers Story. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/peter-sellers-a-centenary-celebration-tickets-1700775137219

🤝 UK Careers Fair, Winchester Guildhall, at 10:00 AM. Looking for a new Career? Looking for your next Hire? Meet local and national employers face-to-face, and apply directly for hundreds of vacancies at the Winchester Careers Fair. https://www.ukcareersfair.com/event/winchester-careers-fair

🎶 Acoustic Cafe: Taba Chake + Taylor Latham + ELI, The Arc - Bar, at 7:00 PM. Taba Chake is a prominent Indian Nyishi finger-style guitarist, multiinstrumentalist and multilingual singer-songwriter from Arunachal Pradesh. His music blends folk, indie, and contemporary style. https://www.arcwinchester.org.uk/event/acoustic-cafe-taba-chake-taylor-latham-eli

🎶🎬 The Phantom of the Opera + Live Score by Minima, The Nutshell, at 7:30 PM. This is the original film version of Phantom which inspired numerous remakes. Minima’s electrifying original score captures the horror of the story, but also finds pathos, romance and humour. £13 https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/the-nutshell-arts-cic/the-phantom-of-the-opera-1925-live-score-by-minima/e-rgrlkz

🎶 Will Whisson, The Railway Inn, at 7:30 PM. Will Whisson is a British singer-songwriter and musician renowned for his emotive storytelling and genre-blending sound that traverses folk, rock, and indie-pop. £12 https://railwayinn.pub/shows/will-whisson-2025-10-03

🎶 Jam Night, Projects Winchester, at 7:30 PM. Get up and join in. Or sit back and relax. We serve beer, food, wine and good times. https://www.facebook.com/projectswinch/?locale=en_GB

🖼️🎓 Sleep Tight Baby Blanket 3 Week Crochet Course, The Colour Factory, at 10:00 AM. Join Rebecca Miles on this three week course learning how to make a Sleep Tight Baby Blanket using the classic Granny Square. It is a perfect first project if you are starting your crochet journey and would be a beautiful present for a new baby. £85 https://www.thecolourfactory.org.uk/events/sleep-tight-baby-blanket-course-with-rebecca-miles

🖼️🎓 Chinese Calligraphy Lessons by CultureEx, The Arc, at 2:00 PM. Come join CulturEx for a fun and interactive Chinese Calligraphy Workshop. Whether you're a beginner or have some experience, this workshop is perfect for learning the art. £27 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chinese-calligraphy-workshops-winchester-hands-on-experience-tickets-1511105159209

📚 War Cloister Tour, Winchester College, at 2:00 PM. These thought-provoking tours bring to life stories of those who died in both World Wars, and also explore the architecture, symbolism, and impact of War Cloister today. £15 https://www.winchestercollegeheritage.org/whats-on/war-cloister-tour-2/

🎶🍽️ Espresso Yourself Day Party, Kavi Coffee, from 2:00 PM. House / Disco / Funk / Latin / R&B & more! Cool DJs & good vibes Coffee, cocktails, mocktails, matcha, food & cake. Come as you are. Dance, sip, connect. This is about community, music, and fun. https://www.facebook.com/groups/459066645600304/posts/1311164770390483/

🛍️ General Auction, Badger Farm Community Centre, at 2:00 PM. We hold popup auctions in and around Winchester. Sellers drop their items off in the morning. We open for viewing at 12:30pm The auction starts at 2pm. https://www.auctionsinaday.co.uk/

🌳🏛️ Crime and Punishment Walking Tour, The Broadway, Winchester, at 2:30 PM. A walk considering misdeeds, misdemeanours, police and prisons in Winchester's past. £12 https://winchestertouristguides.com/

⚽ Winchester City FC vs Bideford AFC, Hillier Way, at 3:00 PM. Come and support the Citizens in their next home match. £13.50 https://www.winchestercityfc.co.uk/whats-on

🏉 Winchester Rugby vs Ellingham & Ringwood, North Walls Park, at 3:15 PM. Come along and support the Winchester Rugby’s 1st XV in their next home match. https://winchesterrugby.rfu.club/

🎶 Loud and Clear Night in Winchester, 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. https://loudandclearparty.co.uk/

🎭🎤 The Wittering Whitehalls Barely Alive, University of Winchester, at 7:30 PM. The Wittering Whitehalls are bringing their unique brand of charm and wit to Winchester and, if you’re one of their dedicated DLs, you won’t want to miss this live version of their popular podcast. £30 https://winchesterhospice.com/our-events2/2025/10/4/wittering-whitehalls

🎤 Jenny Eclair: Jokes Jokes Jokes Live!, Theatre Royal Winchester, at 7:30 PM. Comedian, novelist, and professional show-off Jenny Eclair comes to Winchester with a brand-new autobiographical show. £30 https://www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk/whats-on/jenny-eclair-jokes-jokes-jokes-live

🎶 The Little Unsaid, The Railway Inn, at 8:00 PM. The Little Unsaid’s live shows are renowned for audience connection, catharsis and celebration in the face of things – which have drawn audiences to the band’s last three sold out UK tours. £15 https://railwayinn.pub/shows/the-little-unsaid-2025-10-04

🎶🎗️ A Ludovico Einaudi Candlelight Experience, The Hospital of St Cross, at 9:00 PM. Lumos brings you enchanting concert experiences paying homage to world famous artists. £20 https://www.lumos-experiences.com/events/winchester/

🖼️🎓 Cyanotype & Coffee, The Nutshell, at 10:00 AM. Step into the world of cyanotype - a historic photographic printing process known for its striking blue tones - in this relaxed, hands-on workshop led by photographer and artist Simon Bray. £40 https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/the-nutshell-arts-cic/cyanotype-coffee/e-joebdk

🎤📚🎓 Game Poems Drop-in with Jordan Magnuson, Winchester School of Art, from 10:00 AM. Can videogames be poems? Experimental game designer and new media poet Jordan Magnuson curates an innovative collection of small, poetic videogames that anyone can play and enjoy. https://www.winchesterpoetryfestival.org/wpf25fringe

🎈🏭🚰 Autumn Rally, Twyford Waterworks, at 11:00 AM. The whole site will be open for you to explore and enjoy, including visiting exhibits and a 'Twyford 125' exhibition. Southern Water will be on hand to help children enjoy some free creative art in our Discovery Zone using water colour paints. https://www.twyfordwaterworks.co.uk/opendays

⚽ Winchester City Flyers First vs Yeovil Town, Charters Community Stadium, at 2:00 PM. Come and support the Flyers in their next home match in the cup. https://www.winchestercityflyers.co.uk/teams/282109/match-centre/0-6361176

🎶🎗️ Crowdfunder Show with Boru Beats, The Railway Inn, at 6:30 PM. Boru Beats are Winchester’s premier party band. Specialising in hits that will have you dancing all night long your feet and throat will be sore the next morning! All funds go to save the Railway. £13 https://railwayinn.pub/shows/crowdfunder-show-with-boru-beats-2025-10-05

📚 Winchester College Treasure Tour, Winchester College, at 1:30 PM. Explore the treasures of Winchester College’s collections, including works of art and rare books that are not normally on public display. £15 https://www.winchestercollegeheritage.org/whats-on/treasures-tour/

🎭 Ice Cream for A Broken Tooth with Robin Ince, P & G Wells, at 6:30 PM. Robin Ince reads from his debut poetry collection. As part of Winchester Poetry Festival 2025. £10 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ice-cream-for-a-broken-tooth-readings-with-robin-ince-tickets-1635287602239

🎬🎶 Nosferatu Screening (with live score), Theatre Royal Winchester, at 7:30 PM. Experience an unforgettable cinema screening of Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror. The silent masterpiece with a brand-new live score by Chris Green. £10 https://www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk/whats-on/nosferatu

🎶🎭 Play On Words: A musical celebration of P. G. Wodehouse on Broadway, Theatre Royal Winchester, at 7:30 PM. P. G. Wodehouse’s  step-Great Grandson Hal Cazalet, with pianist Simon Beck, transports us back to the Golden Age of stage and screen through stories and song. £14.50 https://www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk/whats-on/play-words-musical-celebration-p-g-wodehouse-broadway

🎈📚 Author Signing: Kirsty Applebaum, P&G Wells Bookshop, at 4:00 PM. Drop in to the bookshop to meet Kirsty Applebaum, who will be signing copies of her brilliant, gripping new children's book The Strange Disappearance of Imogen Good. https://www.pgwells.co.uk/

🎭 Animal Farm, Theatre Royal Winchester, at 7:30 PM. Olivier Award winner, Guy Masterson, veteran of smash hit solo works such as Under Milk Wood, A Christmas Carol and Shylock, reprises his globally acclaimed interpretation of Orwell's classic fable. £15 https://www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk/whats-on/animal-farm

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

Could your home be their happy place?

Every week we’ll recommend a walking or cycling route in or near the Winchester area.

Some fun to end on…

Did You Know? Winchester was the site of the last woman to be judicially beheaded in England: Lady Alice Lisle in 1685. It’s believed she spent her final night at The Eclipse Inn in The Square, from which she stepped directly onto the scaffold for her execution.

Riddle Me This: What belongs to you, but other people use it more than you do? Last week’s answer: The future

Brain Teaser: You have two fuses and a lighter. Each fuse burns for exactly one hour, but they burn at inconsistent rates. For example, the first half of a fuse might burn for 40 minutes, and the second half for 20 minutes. How can you use these two fuses to measure exactly 45 minutes? Last week’s answer: The person in the front was wearing a black hat.

Till next time,