Winchester Brew - 6th November '25

One of the city’s biggest annual traditions returns this Saturday, bringing the crowds, the glow and plenty of sparkle to the skyline. But that’s far from all that’s happening - this week’s Brew is packed with live music, craft and painting sessions (some with a drink in hand), plus films and shows to enjoy as the nights draw in.

As always, we’ve rounded up the best of what’s on across Winchester and the surrounding villages for the next seven days - a mix of events to warm up your week, whatever the weather.

Thanks for reading Winchester Brew, and a big welcome to all our new subscribers this week - it’s great to have you with us! 🎇

Our featured pick of the events this week.

🎆🎇 Winchester Bonfire & Fireworks, North Walls Rec. Ground, Saturday 8th Nov

Where: The Torchlit Procession starts at the Guildhall, goes up the High Street and across Jewry Street before heading to North Walls Recreation Ground for the bonfire and fireworks.

Timings: The procession starts from 6:00pm, and bonfire is lit at 7:15 and fireworks start around 7:45pm

Price: Torchlit procession is free. Entry to the fireworks and bonfire display is £10 per person. All proceeds from the event will be donated to various charities across the district.

Top tip: Winchester will be buzzing tonight, so give yourself plenty of time to get in. If you’re driving, skip the centre and hop on the Park & Ride - it’ll save you the parking stress.

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.

🎃🎭 The Addams Family, Theatre Royal Winchester, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM, and Saturday at 2:30pm. Get ready for a frightfully good time, as Winchester Musicals and Opera Society brings The Addams Family musical to the Theatre Royal. Characters from the cult-favourite films including Gomez, Morticia and Wednesday will be joined by new friends for some hilariously dark adventures. £20

🖼️🍷 Paint & Sip Late Night Adult Craft Night, Bella Crafts, at 6:00 PM. 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. £5.95

🎓🍷 Taste & Learn with Christien Hay, Kingsgate Wines & Provisions, at 6:00 PM. Christien will break down the nuances and misconceptions around food and wine pairings, as he walks us through a thoughtful selection from his wines. A cosy, indoor seated tasting for up to 20 people with picky bits from the shop being served throughout. £35

🌍🌳🍺 People, Planet, Pint - meetup, Roebuck Inn, at 6:00 PM. Pop down to your local People Planet Pint meetup to find more about what's going on locally with sustainability and how you can get involved.

🤝🥂 Viva Le Donne - Women’s Wellbeing Event, The Pump House, at 7:00 PM. An evening of women’s health & wellbeing, with expert talks, Q&A, mingling and an opportunity to browse the latest fashion trends from SOLO MIA. £10

🎶 Mark Stanway’s KINGDOM of MADNESS (ex-MAGNUM), The ARC, at 7:30 PM. Former members of legendary rock band Magnum reunite as Kingdom of Madness for In the Beginning, a two-set live show celebrating both the band’s early Jet Records years and their chart-topping Storytellers era. £25

🎬🍷 Film Society: The World's End (2013), Cabinet Rooms, at 8:00 PM. Over 18s only. Book in advance £14

🍽️🎓 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

🖼️ Never Say Never Again Exhibition Opening Event, Winchester School of Art, at 5:00 PM. 30 new works by solo exhibitors from the early years of The Winchester Gallery and 15 gallery models of site-specific installations. Free to attend.

🎶🎬 James Hood’s Mesmerica, Winchester Science Centre, at 6:00 PM and 7:15 PM. With the mesmerizing music of Grammy-nominee James Hood, and hypnotic 3D motion art from leading visual artists, Mesmerica is an experience unlike any other. £23

🎆🌳 HURSLEY COMMUNITY FIREWORKS, Hursley Sports and Social Club, at 6:00 PM. GATES OPEN AT 6PM FIREWORKS LAUNCH AT 8PM. The Clubhouse and Food Village will have a variety of food and drink to purchase on the evening. Free parking for over a 1000 cars. £10.50

🖼️🍷 Cezanne still life & Mont St Victoire Paint and Sip, The ARC, at 6:30 PM. Unleash your inner artist in this relaxed, wine-friendly painting session inspired by Cézanne’s revolutionary techniques. You’ll create your own masterpiece while enjoying good company and creative conversation. £16

🎶 Chris Payn & The Parade, The Railway Inn, at 7:00 PM. Chris Payn is a dynamic rock/pop artist whose musical genius shines through his electrifying vocals, multi-instrumental prowess, and unforgettable songs. £10

🎶🎗️ An Evening of Jazz piano with Robert Carter, St Paul’s Church, at 7:00 PM. Enjoy a night of world-class jazz as Robert Carter performs his trademark mix of classics by Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Keith Jarrett and Charlie Parker, reimagined standards from the Great American Songbook, and his own original compositions. £15

🎶 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.

🎶🍷 Acoustic Cafe with Rob Johnston, The ARC, at 7:30 PM. Rob Johnston is a seasoned performer at many major acoustic festivals, art centres and venues as well as playing live several times on BBC radio. His virtuoso acoustic guitar playing fuses many styles (and guitars!) with powerful rhythms.

🚶‍♀️🌳 Old Winchester Hill, Exton and Meonstoke Circular Walk, Old Winchester Hill, at 9:15 AM. This is a beautiful circular route (7mi/11.5 km), which will take us through the Old Winchester Hill National Nature Reserve before dropping down into the Meon Valley to visit the villages of Exton and Meonstoke. £2

💍 Introduction to Ethical Jewellery: A Workshop, The Colour Factory, at 10:00 AM. A workshop introducing the concept of ethical jewellery; an opportunity to learn about the context and to learn how to make something new. £100

🖼️ Oil Painting Taster Session with Rachael Alexander, The Colour Factory, at 1:00 PM. Rachael will introduce you to the beauty of oil paints. From the pure joy of mixing colour, to creating an underpainting, discover how to build a small painting in easy to follow steps. £55

🖌️🎄  Christmas Wreath Painting, 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 City FC vs Falmouth Town, Hillier Way, at 3:00 PM. Come and support the Citizens in their next home match. £13.50

🔥🏃‍♀️🎗️ Firewalk at Marwell Zoo, Marwell Zoo, at 3:15 PM. Face the flames and walk through fire for wildlife. Are you brave enough to walk across hot coals for conservation?Join us at Marwell Zoo for an unforgettable evening as you take on the ultimate test of courage - the firewalk! £30

🍽️🎆 Bonfire Night with Field & Furnace, Abbey Mill, at 4:00 PM. Come and get some amazing food before watching the Winchester fireworks! We open at 4 so plenty of time to fill up on steak, warm up with mulled wine! Then head to the fireworks….🎇 Take Away available.

🎶 Biffy McClyro, The Railway Inn, at 8:00 PM. Biffy McClyro has been formed by die hard Biffy fans, for die hard Biffy fans. £14

🧶 Needle Felting - Mushrooms, Bella Crafts, at 1:00 PM. Invest some time in you with this workshop in the wonderful art of needle felting. Our tutor will teach you all the basics of needle felting while you create your cute autumnal decoration. You'll leave with all the know how to create more 3D shapes and decor! £25

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

🎬🍷 Film Society: Hot Fuzz (2007), Cabinet Rooms, at 3:00 PM. Over 18s only. Book in advance £14

🎭 Dear Loll: A Wartime Marriage in Letters, Theatre Royal Winchester, at 3:00 PM. A moving stage adaptation of wartime letters between journalist Gerard Fay and his wife Alice, capturing four years of love, humour, and endurance during World War II. £16

🎶 Bones Ate Arfa, The Railway Inn, at 7:30 PM. Bones Ate Arfa are a UK psychedelic street punk/desert rock three piece, made up of Bones (guitar), 8 (drums), and Arfa (vocals & bass). £10

🎭 National Theatre Live: Mrs. Warren's Profession, Theatre Royal Winchester, at 7:00 PM. Five-time Olivier Award winner Imelda Staunton (The Crown) joins forces with her real-life daughter Bessie Carter (Bridgerton) for the very first time, playing mother and daughter in Bernard Shaw’s incendiary moral classic. £17.50

🏛️ Conflict and the Cathedral Tour Remembrancetide special, Winchester Cathedral. Step inside history and ascend through the layers of time on a unique, reflective journey through one of England’s most architecturally and historically significant cathedrals. £13

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

🎬 Winchester Film Society: Vermiglio, Winchester Science Centre, at 7:00 PM. In a beautiful but isolated Italian Alpine village at the end of WWII, Lucia is the eldest daughter of the patriarchal school teacher. When Pietro, a Sicilian soldier and deserter arrives; they fall in love. But can their relationship survive these turbulent times? £8

💃🎭 VENUS 2.0, Theatre Royal Winchester, at 7:30 PM. Follow the scandalous true story of a Suffragette-turned-Fascist in this time bending cabaret. VENUS 2.0 is a high-octane dance theatre experience exploring the chaos and turmoil of the early 20th-century. £12

🪩🕺🏽 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

🎤📚 Jack Reacher: An Evening with Andrew Child, The ARC, at 7:00 PM. Andrew Child will be joining us live at The Arc, Winchester, all the way from his home in America. There will be an audience Q+A and a book signing with Andrew. £18

🎭 The Wassail with Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden, Theatre Royal Winchester, at 7:30 PM. Long before the tradition of carolling, festive revellers would go house-to-house, exchanging songs for money, food and ale. Coming from the old English waes hael, 'wassail' is a toast wishing good. £28

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Could your home be their happy place?

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

A bit of froth to end on…

Did You Know? Before producing hits for U2 and Coldplay, musician and producer Brian Eno studied at Winchester School of Art (1966–69) - where he began experimenting with new ways to create music using tape loops and unexpected sounds, paving the way for ambient music.

Riddle Me This: Which five-letter word sounds the same after removing four of its letters? Last week’s answer: A ton.

Brain Teaser: A chessboard’s two opposite corners are removed. Can 31 dominoes (each covers two squares) tile the board perfectly?: Last week’s answer: “Which door would the other guard say leads to freedom?” Then take the opposite door.”

Till next time,