Things to Do

The UK’s leading Japanese food brand, YO! Is opening its doors at Rushden Lakes on Good Friday, 29th March 2024. The retail and leisure destination will be home to a new format of the famous YO! sushi restaurant. YO! promises to be a quick and convenient option for visitors, who can find the new store between neighbours, Five Guys and Greggs. On the extensive menu will be new customisable donburi rice and noodle bowls inspired by the Japanese food scene, you will find, restaurant quality, sustainably sourced, hand-crafted sushi, and the best of Tokyo Street food. Ramen, poke, and salads will also be readily available, as well as Kid’s Bentos and dessert options including Little Moons Mochi. Visitors will also have the option to click and collect. Donna French, Rushden Lakes Centre Manager said, “We’re delighted to welcome YO! to Rushden Lakes. YO! is joining an already impressive line-up of restaurants..

Grab your walking shoes and your sense of adventure because English Tourism Week is back! From the 15th to the 24th of March, it's time to celebrate all things British. Whether you're a local looking to explore hidden gems, or eager to soak in the rich tapestry of English culture, we've got it all here across the county. Lamport Hall Nestled in the picturesque Northamptonshire countryside, Lamport Hall stands as an attraction of history and elegance. Its origins trace back to the late 16th century when the mansion was built by the Isham family. Over the centuries, Lamport Hall has witnessed lots of historical events and societal changes. Today, visitors can stroll through its grand corridors, marvel at its exquisite architecture, and find out all about  the rich history through guided tours and special events. Chester House Estate Chester House is a testament to Northamptonshire's architectural heritage. Originally built in..

Are you searching for the perfect way to keep the little ones entertained during the Easter half-term? Look no further! We’ve got you covered with everything from Easter egg hunts, pottery classes, meeting the Easter bunny, face painting and lots more! Delapré Abbey Delapré Abbey will show you how to make good use of the natural materials sourced from its grounds at its Spring Wreath Making Workshop. There are two sessions – 10am-midday and 2pm-4pm – on March 22 and March 24, so that you can learn the art of making a wreath from scratch using buff willow as the base, before decorating with natural foliage and pretty spring flowers. The historic setting also has its Easter Eggstravaganza from March 29 – April 1, with a Walled Garden egg hunt, or a house trail including a petting zoo. Or purchase the package that entitles little folks to do both activities...

With zero chance of seeing the real mccoy play live again, fans of Brummie based genre creators Black Sabbath have no choice but to embrace the tribute thing to get their live fix these days, and SBD Promotions has booked Sabbra Cadabra (March 2) to give it to you. They will be cutting loose a fiery set of Ozzy era excellence with a two-hour long set. Get set for masterpieces including Planet Caravan, Fairies Wear Boots, Sweet Leaf and Paranoid. “The finest of the Black Sabbath tribute bands, Sabbra Cadabra were magnificent,” said Jim Simpson, following a show, “As Black Sabbath’s original manager, I can vouch for their uncannily authentic performance, taking me right back to the ‘Henry’s’ of 1969.” SBD hooks up with Headcharge Club (March 22) for a night of new sounds over at The Lab on Charles Street. Dig The New Breed will deliver ‘dream pop from..

What started in our local pubs more than 25 years ago, has grown and evolved into the UK’s premier festival for fans of psychobilly. As the 2024 instalment of Bedlam Breakout prepares to go live at the Northampton Roadmender, festival founder Tobe Wright spoke with Pulse’s Sammy Jones about his passion for the sounds... “The scene was pretty hit and miss in the mid-noughties so we decided to do something to keep it going,” Tobe said, recalling the idea to put on a series of shows at the Racehorse. Plenty has changed since those days; the venue still exists, but has been spruced and relaunched as The Black Prince, of course, and what started as the occasional live show is now a full-on weekender hosted at The Roadmender. Bedlam is all about the psychobilly, rockabilly and garage sounds, and Tobe’s ears were tempted by the genre while he was at..

The Derngate has so many comedy nights ahead this month that Sammy Jones has had to write her own one-liners to give them all a plug! It’s not all comedy though; death and disease in the Middle Ages gets a mention, and The Old Savoy is bringing smart lady Coleen Nolan to the stage. Here’s the lowdown... The giggles start with Stewart Lee (Derngate, March 1) who returns for another outing of Basic Lee. The man who is known for his groundbreaking high concept shows involving overarched interlinked narratives, massive sets and enormous comedy props, is doing an about turn with this delivery; just one man and his mic. Al Murray is back as The Pub Landlord in Guv Island (March 2), Axel Blake, 2022’s winner of Britain’s Got Talent will be In Style (March 3, Royal), and Miles Jupp (March 5, Royal) presents On I Bang, ‘a tale about..

Families are invited to join this year’s St George’s Day celebrations, with free children’s activities and traditional dancing taking place at Northampton Guildhall on Saturday, 20th April between 11am and 2pm. The Mayor of Northampton, Cllr Stephen Hibbert, will officially open the event by the Old Guildhall steps at 11am, before activities begin in the courtyard, with St George and his giant friendly dragon entertaining visitors throughout the day. Juggling Jim’s Silly Knight School is set to open from 11am - 12.30pm, where children can try challenges to become a knight of the castle, followed by Circus Workshops from 12.30 – 2pm, teaching juggling and balancing skills. Adventure education company The Wild Tribe will run themed crafts and storytelling between 11am and 2pm, while face painting, glitter tattoos and balloon modelling with Agin will also be available for the duration of the event. Councillor Daniel Soan, member of Northampton Town..

Rushden Lakes is celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD) 2024 by gifting beautiful bouquets to visitors. On Friday 8th March, find the blooms in various locations around the destination to take home for free or re-gift to an inspirational woman. In collaboration with a woman-owned local florist, In Bloom, each flower bouquet has been carefully created with a mixture of flowers using the IWD colour scheme, Green, Purple and White. According to the organisation's website, “Purple signifies justice and dignity and being loyal to the cause. Green symbolises hope. White represents purity, albeit a controversial concept.” There will be 20 bouquets in total for visitors to find, each with a message from Rushden Lakes featuring a quote from an inspirational woman, including Michelle Obama and Serena Williams. They’re limited availability, so be quick! If found, Rushden Lakes is encouraging posting on social media to spread the IWD #InspireInclusion message and promote the..

Families in Northampton have been invited to help a team of ‘Doggie Detectives’ solve the mystery of the Easter Bunny’s missing friends in an augmented reality trail around the town centre. The trail, organised by Northampton Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) and delivered by High Street Safari, will run from Monday 11th March until Monday 1st April – giving families free entertainment during the school holidays. All those taking part can simply use their phone to scan a QR code from posters displayed in the windows of 10 town centre businesses. An augmented reality image will then appear on screen, bringing the characters to life and providing further instructions. Mark Mullen, operations manager of Northampton Town Centre BID, said: “We’re looking forward to providing families with a fun and interactive activity to keep little ones busy in the Easter break. “This is an opportunity to get out into the..

Looking to spoil the special women in your life this Mother's Day in Northamptonshire? Look no further – we've got the lowdown on some fantastic spots. Whether you want to treat your mum, sister, auntie, friend, or grandparent, these restaurants will ensure you all celebrate a memorable other's Day. The Cromwell Cottage Freshly refurbished and reopening on 1st March, The Cromwell Cottage boasts a new look with impressive decor and vibrant vibes. Their Mother's Day menu offers three delicious courses for £33.95, featuring options like roast pork belly, sirloin of beef, and even a dirty burger. Vegans are catered for, and dessert choices range from homemade brownies to pavlova. You can even swap dessert for a cocktail! The Fox and Hounds For a stylish and relaxed celebration, head to The Fox and Hounds in Harlestone. This premium pub and restaurant, centrally located in Lower Harlestone, offers a three-course set menu..

February promises shows that are funny, fruity and fabulous. Strictly speaking, Giovanni Pernice’s return to the Derngate stage (Feb 4) will be an unforgettable experience for fans of delectable dance – and the show title promises as much; it’s called Let Me Entertain You. Giovanni will be joined by a cast of West End players. They won’t put a foot wrong! At The Royal, the Rabbit Hole Detectives podcast will be recorded live (Feb 10) with friends Richard Coles, Cat Jarman and Charles Spencer pooling passions and knowledge to investigate the strange and curious pockets of history, and they’ll be answering the questions you wouldn’t even think to ask. Whether you are a history buff yourself, or just chronically curious you can expect a wonderful evening of forensically researched, beautifully observed explorations of history with a hearty serving of personal anecdotes and giggle-inducing tangents. Simply, this will be ace! The..

It’s all about Independent Music Week shows as February gets under way, and Phil Moore has come up trumps with SBD Promotions, by bringing in a feast of fabulous to The Black Prince, but each with a very different USP. Empyre (Feb 1) are still riding high on the critical acclaim that followed the release of their second album, Relentless, last year. Once described as ‘the love-child of Pink Floyd and Soundgarden’ this is a band for those who like their atmospheric rock taut and dark. Ten Tonnes, aka Ethan Barnett, issued his debut album through Warner Bros, and then? Everything changed. In the four years between that self-titled opus and the next, he became an independent artist, stepped out of London, began therapy, focused on the introverted part of his brain and now he’s back; with an album about reflection, growing up and carving a different path for himself...

Whether he is stepping into the ring, or onto the stage, Chris Jericho can be counted on to make a real entrance. A wrestler with numerous titles to his name, including plenty of World Titles, Jericho knows a thing or 10 about putting on a show, as he told Pulse’s Sammy Jones. Later this month, Chris will bring the party to The Roadmender when his band Fozzy wrap up a 10-date UK tour in our neck of the woods. Of course there are similarities between the two disciplines at which he excels. “It’s all the live element of connecting with a crowd, and that could be wrestling or music or stand-up comedy or a Shakespearean actor on the stage. If you are doing something live, you want to connect with the audience and make them interested in what it is you are doing, and be the party host, so to..

The creators of Towcester Food Festival and Bite Street NN are launching a brand new gastronomic extravaganza this summer – the Delapré Food Festival. The food and drink festival will take place within the beautiful surrounds of Delapré Abbey, which organiser Crispin Slee says is tailor-made for the event. He said: “It’s such a special place and the perfect spot for the festival. We want to bring the grounds to life for a grand summer weekend celebrating artisan food and drink.” Delapré Food Festival will feature all the temptations that made Towcester Food Festival so popular – bustling with food and drink stalls, hourly chef demos, tasting sessions and masterclasses. The outdoor street food market will be curated by Bite Street NN, the Northampton street food pop-up, which regularly features the best traders for miles around. Many top local chefs are already lined-up to take part on the demo stage...

Looking for a local restaurant to celebrate with the one you love this Valentine's Day? Whether you'd like to head out for a meal with your significant other, or celebrate Galentine's with the girls, these businesses have got you covered. Here's where to head for Valentine's Day in Northampton... The Fox and Hounds Harlestone At The Fox and Hounds in Harlestone, romance takes centre stage with an exquisite three-course Valentine's menu available from the 12th to the 17th of February. Treat a loved one to three courses for £35pp or you can make it extra special by upgrading to £55pp which includes a bottle of luxury wine or Moet champagne. Book your spot here. The Plough at Shutlanger The award-winning Plough at Shutlanger have not one, but three different course options this Valentine's Day. Choose two courses for £35.50, four courses for £50.00 or five courses for £60.00. Book here...