Things to Do

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...

The Castle Theatre is delighted to announce that its 2023 pantomime Cinderella saw a record breaking audience enter the venue. The pantomime started on Friday 1st December with a press and gala evening, and ended on Sunday 31st December with a total of 57 shows. From this, they had a total of 16 school performances. Due to the popular demand and the incredible success of Jack and the Beanstalk, they took measures to cater to everyone and listened to invaluable feedback. Therefore they increased the number of shows from 46 (2022) to 57 (2023). The total number of Cinderella audience members climbed to 20,681 which showed a huge increase on previous figures of 15,498 audience members from Jack and the Beanstalk in 2022. This increase of 5,183 over 11 extra shows, averages to 471 seats taken in each extra performance. The ever growing popularity of the pantomime has also seen..

Miles Hunt is back in Northampton (Jan 13) with a date at The Black Prince for SBD, and The Wonder Stuff fella will arrive armed to the back teeth with material – he’s got nearly four decades worth of produce to choose from, including material from his latest album, Things Can Change. There was no new formula when it came to rustling up tracks for the opus; he just made use of the tried and tested way; writing about things that were happening around him, and the things that had happened to him in the past. Oh, and he wanted to make the music as uplifting as possible, accepting that we live in a constant state of flux, and that things can, and will change. Indie-soul trio Skinny Living (Jan 30) are coming to Shoe Town from their homeland of Wakefield. Are they any good? Well, 75 million worldwide streams..

Hoppy talkin’, talking, hoppy talk! A show produced by Royal & Derngate plays on the Royal stage and helps get the new year off to a flying start. Read all about it and then stop pond-ering and go book tickets, says Pulse’s Sammy Jones as she casts an eye over January’s stage shows in the town... Already a celebrated West End hit, 2:22 A Ghost Story will bring chills to the Derngate (Jan 5-13), with a cast of class including The Wanted’s Jay McGuiness, Emmerdale actress Emma Wade, Call the Midwife’s George Rainford and Vera Chok from Hollyoaks. This supernatural thriller bagged the gong for Best New Play at the Whatsonstage Awards and is funny and adrenaline-fuelled in equal measure. Jenny believes her new home is haunted, but her husband Sam isn’t having any of it. They argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren and new partner Ben...

Ambitious adventurers looking for a new challenge to kick off the new year can sign up to take on the three highest mountains in the UK in aid of a local hospice. Northampton-based Cynthia Spencer Hospice has launched its National Three Peaks Challenge fundraiser for 2024 and is looking to recruit dedicated trekkers for the peak trilogy. The aim is to climb Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England and Snowdon in Wales one after the other and within 30 hours between 31st August and 2nd September. Michelle Leighton, Community and Events Fundraiser Lead for Cynthia Spencer Hospice, completed the challenge in 2023 with a group of Cynthia Spencer fundraisers. She said: “Taking part in the National Three Peaks Challenge was the most amazing experience, the group were so supportive, keeping each other motivated and looking after each other, especially when the going got a bit tough. “This group..

Looking to get some last-minute gifts for Christmas? Here's where you can get some unique presents whilst supporting local across Northamptonshire. Mooch With shops on St Giles Street and Rushden Lakes, Mooch is a great spot for some local gifts. They have lots of unique presents that loved ones will love such as candles, personalised items, sports memorabilia, and lots more. Vintage Guru Vintage Guru on St Giles Street is a fantastic vintage haven. They have everything from gifts and xx, through to clothes and unique items. There will absolitely be something for everyone in this shop. The Artisan Collective The Artisan Collective Farmshop, joined Midsummer Place Shopping Centre to offer small businesses a place to sell their fresh produce and home-made crafts. Located next to LEGO, The Artisan Collective Farmshop includes multiple local retailers on a rotation basis. It's the perfect place to find a great present for the..

It’s the most magical time of the year, and pantomime is a huge part of that family entertainment, with lost slippers, ‘wooden actors’ (read the feature!), talking mirrors, lost children and all sorts of bonkers stories waiting to be told. Sammy Jones once again picked up the magical wand and sprinkled some fairy dust to bring you the ultimate guide to pantos in the area. Oh, yes she did! Panto: Cinderella Starring: Brian Conley is swapping Albert Square for the new city – and his daughter Lucy will join the cast this time Where: Milton Keynes Theatre When: Saturday, December 9 2023 –Sunday, January 14 2024 What to expect: Another top class production from the team behind Crossroads. They say: “This Cinderella is a bit different, so I think you are going to want to see it. Even though you might have seen Cinderella before, this is a nice, different..

Are your kids on the good list this year? If they are, get in the festive spirit by booking your visit to Santa. With everything from encounters with Santa at historic locations, through to festivities at local garden centres and shopping centres, there's something for everyone! It's a perfect day out for all the family and something that the little ones will love. Here's where to visit Santa in Northampton this Christmas... Grosvenor Centre, Northampton Families will be able to visit Santa’s Grotto in Grosvenor Shopping Northampton every weekend in December prior to Christmas, as well weekdays from Monday 18th December to Friday 22nd December. The grotto will be open from 10.30am - 4pm and is located in the upper mall, next to The Lewis Foundation Outlet Store. Families will be able take their photo with Santa, as well as receiving a gift. Tickets are £1 and all proceeds will..

Are you on the hunt for the ultimate Christmas gift for the thrill-seeker in your life? Your search ends here! Treat your loved one to an unforgettable Helicopter Flight Discovery Day with Sloane Helicopters at Sywell Aerodrome, where the adventure of a lifetime awaits! What’s Included: Immerse yourself in the thrill of flying with a one-hour AW109 simulator lesson, providing hands-on experience of piloting a helicopter. The cutting-edge simulator mirrors real-life flying conditions, allowing you to navigate anywhere in the UK, in all weather conditions. It’s the perfect opportunity to unleash your inner aviator. After mastering the simulator, it’s time to take to the skies in a Robinson R22 helicopter for a 30-minute flight with an experienced instructor. During the flight you’ll put the skills learnt during your simulator lesson to the test and take the controls of the helicopter. As you soar through the air, enjoy the Northamptonshire countryside..

Saints rugby and panto stars will join Northampton Town Council for a stocking-stuffed line up of free festive fun at the Northampton Christmas Lights Switch On event in Becket’s Park, on Saturday, 25th November. Visitors can enjoy a day of live stage entertainment between 11am and 6pm, hosted by BBC Radio Northampton’s Bernie Keith, featuring children’s entertainers, music from The Nene Valley Community Band and The Starlight Sisters, plus a Deco Theatre Panto preview, performances from Kristina Rihanoff’s Bespoke Ballroom Dance & Drama Academy and Born to Perform, wrapped up with a festive finale from the Royal & Derngate Community Choir, led by renowned music director Gareth Fuller. Panto Stars Ore Oduba, Wendi Peters and Bob Golding from the Royal & Derngate’s ‘Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs’, along with Tyger Drew-Honey and Daisie-Belle from The Deco Theatre’s ‘Cinderella’, will be joined on stage by Santa, the Mayor of Northampton..

Construction students at Northampton College have got themselves on the nice list this Christmas by designing a purpose-built grotto for Santa. The grotto is taking pride of place in Grosvenor Shopping Northampton as part of the town centre’s festive celebrations, and will be home to Santa in the build-up to Christmas. Level Three carpentry students were involved in the design and build of the grotto, having been commissioned by Northampton Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) to create the festive centrepiece. More than 1,000 families are expected to visit the grotto this Christmas. Mark Mullen, operations manager at Northampton Town Centre BID, said: “Giving local students the opportunity to play their part in our festive celebrations is really important to us as we urge everyone to take pride in their town and shop local this Christmas. “The students have done a fantastic job and our grotto is the perfect place..

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and Rushden Lakes are pulling out all the stops for their visitors. The advent calendar is bursting with festive events, Christmas crafts and family-friendly activities. So, if you’re on a mission to find ways to get into the spirit, look no further than Rushden Lakes - your one-stop destination for shopping, dining and festive fun throughout November and December. Fly on over and Discover the Wonder at Rushden Lakes this Christmas. On Monday 20th November, Rushden Lakes are kicking off the season of giving by offering you the chance to WIN this Christmas. One lucky winner will get their hands on a prize worth £1,000, to equip them with everything they need to Discover the Wonder of Rushden Lakes during the festive season. L’Occitane, Bill’s, Accessorize, The Wildlife Trust and Paradise Island Adventure Golf are just some of the big brands included...

Christmas arrives at Bell of Northampton this month as the luxury lifestyle store throws open its doors for its annual Christmas shopping extravaganza. Being held on Thursday, November 16 between 6pm and 9pm it promises to be an evening to remember with live music, cookery demonstrations and enough gifts and treats to satisfy every name on your Christmas list. Cool Jazz Collective will be performing as shoppers browse through the beautiful, local pop-up shops featuring Tropics Skincare, Fleur Fields, Usborne books, Tiny Men Big Balls, Flamingo Paperie, Little Wolf Silver and many more, while live cookery demonstrations from Carmela’s Kitchen, BORA and Pitboss will provide visitors with plenty of inspiration for their festive meals. Norwegian Stove brand Jøtul and its Danish sister company Scan will be unveiling their stunning displays of wood-burning stoves, guaranteed to give you all the inspiration you need to prepare your home for the festive season...

Remembrance Sunday will be marked in Northampton with a large military parade and church service in the town centre on 12th November. The parade, arranged by Northampton Town Council and the Royal British Legion, is set to start from Derngate at 9.30am, then follow a route onto St Giles’ Square, along Wood Hill and down Mercers Row, pausing for the Service of Remembrance at All Saints’ Church, between 10 and 10.45am. Following the service, a wreath-laying ceremony will take place at 10.45am in the Town and County War Memorial garden behind the church on Wood Hill, with the playing of the Last Post and a two-minute silence observed at 11am. The memorial garden will remain open for the public to lay wreaths and pay their respects. At 11.45am the parade will re-assemble and march past the Guildhall to salute the Lord-Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, Mr James Saunders Watson Esq and the..