Winchester Brew - 8th January '26

Winchester’s properly back in full flow now. After that slightly quiet first week of the month, the calendar’s waking up again and the city feels like it’s found its pace.

The little white dusting of snow this week has helped too… not a full-blown snowfall, just enough to make the city feel a bit more magical. If it holds, it will create some beautiful views for Sunday’s Winchester Hiking Challenge, this week’s featured event.

The rest of the line-up is a good one too: a strong Theatre Royal programme (we’ve only listed the shows still available), creative workshops at The Arc and Yard Studios, plus live music, comedy, Mesmerica 360, a City FC home match, community meet-ups, and film screenings across the city.

And if you make it all the way to the end of the newsletter, don’t skip the poll at the finish… it’s our highly unscientific way of taking the city’s temperature on the topics that really matter 🙂

🥾🏅 After welcoming over 1,000 participants last year, this popular Hampshire hike and walking event is back and better than ever. Designed for those seeking a scenic countryside adventure to kick-start their New Year, this event offers a memorable experience for walkers of all abilities.

Start 2026 with purpose and take on a rewarding challenge that blends beautiful landscapes with a sense of achievement. Whether you're a seasoned walker or new to organised hiking events, this well-loved challenge showcases some of the finest off-road routes near Winchester.

When: Sunday 11th January, at 9:00am

Where: Starts at Sparsholt College

How far: Half Marathon (21.4km) or Hiking Trail (12.1km) distances available

How much: £46 for the Half Marathon or £41 for the Hiking Trail. Includes finishers goodies and medal!

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.

🎶🎭 Oh What a Night!, Theatre Royal Winchester, on Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm. Oh What A Night! takes you back in time on a musical journey through the incredible career of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. £31

🖼️🎓 The Art of Nature: A William Morris Inspired Course, The Arc, at 10:30 AM. Step into the world of William Morris - artist, designer, and champion of beauty in everyday life. In this 5-week hands-on workshop, discover how Morris’s love of gardens, nature, and craftsmanship can inspire your own creative journey.

🏃‍♀️ Beginners Running: Coached to 5k, New Energy Fitness, at 7:30 AM. Join our 8-week beginner friendly running course and confidently reach your 5k goal! Whether you are brand new to running or looking to build a solid foundation, this programme will guide you every step of the way. £90

🤝♀️ Community Maven Mixer, Maven, Charlecote Mews, at 10:00 AM. This Friday is our first Community Maven Mixer of 2026! Join us - we’ll be catching up and chatting all things The Maven Awards. It’s free for first timers.

🎶🎓 Ukulele Beginners' Course, Theatre Royal Winchester, at 10:30 AM. Ukes for All host a 12 week course of beginner ukulele classes. Go from absolute beginner to playing your favourite songs in a matter of weeks. £150

🎶🎓 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

🖼️🍷 Arc after Dark - Constable Paint and Sip with Alan Beckett, The Arc, at 6:30 PM. Discover your artistic potential with easy-to-follow instructions suitable for all skill levels - you can decide whether you would like a template, a grid or a blank sheet! Enjoy time with your friends and loved ones in a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. £16

🎶 Riteoff, The Railway Inn, at 8:00 PM. Based in the South Coast of England, Riteoff are a four-piece band infusing the fuzz and heavy distortion of grunge and punk into their own unique sound. £10

🧘 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

🖼️🎓 Sumi-e Japanese Ink Painting – Snowdrops, The Yard Studios Winchester, at 10:00 AM. Japanese Sumi-e ink painting workshop for a small group up to 6 people. Running for 3 hrs. £45

🖼️🎓 Nature's Timeless Patterns: A William Morris Watercolour Workshop, The Arc, at 10:30 AM. This workshop is for fans of the Arts and Crafts Movement, interior design enthusiasts, those interested in historical patterns, and crafters looking to learn a new skill. £55

📚 War Cloister Tour, Winchester College, at 2:00 PM. These thought-provoking tours bring to life the stories of the pupils and teachers from Winchester who died in both World Wars and subsequent conflicts, who are remembered in War Cloister. The tours also explores the architecture, symbolism, and impact of War Cloister today. £15

⚽ Winchester City FC vs Frome Town, Hillier Way, at 3:00 PM. Come and support the Citizens in their next home match. £13.50

🎶🎬 Mesmerica 360, Winchester Science Centre, at 7:15 PM. Discover the smash-hit multi-sensory experience where time stands still, and a new kind of magic surrounds you to soothe the senses. With mesmerizing music and hypnotic 3D motion art from leading visual artists - specifically designed to unwind. £24.50

🎤 The Nutshell Comedy Club: January, The Nutshell, at 8:00 PM. Kicking away the winter blues we welcome back our ever popular, and ever hilarious, comedy club featuring some of the best UK comedians on the UK stand-up circuit for your laughing pleasure! £18

🎶 Pet Shop Boys, actually, The Railway Inn, at 8:00 PM. Join Pet Shop Boys, Actually, for an electrifying tribute to the iconic Pet Shop Boys! Relive the hits and experience the magic live. A night of synth-pop nostalgia you won’t want to miss! £15

📚🤝 Winchester’s Writing Group: Writing session (+Reading), The South Downs Social, at 10:00 AM. 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.

🥾🌳 Winchester Ramblers Walk: 8 miles - Farley Mount, Monument Car Park, Farley Mount, at 10:00 AM. Fields, tracks and minor roads with a mystery tour of West Wood at the end. An ideal chance to walk off any festive season excesses. This is a picnic walk. Please bring all refreshments. Free to members. £3.75/mth to signup.

🪵🔥🎓 Pryography Workshop, Bella Crafts, at 1:00 PM. Ever wanted to try your hand at pyrography? Come and learn a new skill for the new year! We will provide the tool needed to create a beautiful unique item to take home. One of our talented team members will talk you through how to do this new skill. £30

🎬🍷 Film Society: Rocketman, Cabinet Rooms, at 3:00 PM. Over 18s only. Book in advance. Drink included. £15

🧘 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

🎬🍷 Film Society: The Doors, Cabinet Rooms, at 5:30 PM. Over 18s only. Book in advance. Drink included. £15

🎬🇫🇷 La France fait son Cinéma: Pétaouchnok, The Arc, at 7:00 PM. Escape for the evening with our French Film Night organized by Zest for Languages, at The ARC, showcasing the acclaimed film Pétaouchnok. £15

🎤 Janet Street-Porter is Off The Leash, Theatre Royal Winchester, at 7:30 PM. The nation's favourite pi*sed-off pensioner brings comedy, tragedy and gossip in equal measure, a tour de force rant against growing old gracefully. £30

🎤 Poetry Platform, The Railway Inn, at 7:30 PM. Winchester's maddest open mic welcomes writers and audience of old and new to our celebration of words and all their joy.

💍🎓 Ring Carving Workshop with Emily, The Colour Factory, at 2:00 PM. This session will be dedicated to carving and shaping a piece of ring wax. We’ll size the ring so it fits you, then play with a number of tools and techniques to make something you really love! Your wax ring will then be posted off to be cast in silver. £145

🎶 The Magic of the Beatles, Theatre Royal Winchester, at 7:30 PM. Features an incredible cast that not only look and sound like John, Paul, George, and Ringo, they also generate that same, famed incredible excitement that was the trademark of the greatest group the world has ever seen – with the Fab Four's unique sense of humour thrown in for good measure too. £24

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? Hampshire’s name in Old English was Hamtunscīr (“the shire of Hamtun”), with Hamtun referring to Winchester’s original name.

Brain Teaser: What begins with T, ends with T, and has T in it? Last week’s answer: ‘EAT’ can be rearranged to ‘ATE’.

Till next time,