After only just waving goodbye to the warmer days of 2025, summer 2026 is already shaping up nicely with Wychwood Festival dropping its first big name.

Indie legends Kaiser Chiefs will headline Saturday night, 30th May, bringing their riotous energy (pun very much intended) to Cheltenham Racecourse for the festival’s 20th anniversary celebrations.

After its biggest-ever year in 2025, Wychwood is well and truly cemented as the Cotswolds’ ultimate summer curtain-raiser. Each year, thousands flock to the Racecourse for three glorious days of music, comedy, family fun and a few pints under the sun, and 2026 looks set to raise the bar yet again.

Headlining in the shadows of Cleeve Hill, the Kaiser Chiefs will belt out all the big ones; ‘Ruby’, ‘I Predict a Riot’, ‘Everyday I Love You Less and Less’ and ‘Never Miss a Beat’. Expect frontman Ricky Wilson to charm the crowd with his trademark energy and quick wit, as one of Britain’s best-loved live bands take centre stage once more.

It’s a fitting choice for a festival that knows exactly how to get a field full of families, friends and free spirits singing together. Following a record-breaking 2025 featuring Doves, James, Shed Seven and more, Wychwood has proved itself to be the little festival that punches well above its weight.

Festival Director Graeme Merifield couldn’t be more excited:

“After such an incredible milestone year in 2025, we wanted to come back with something really special. Kaiser Chiefs know how to unite a crowd and bring pure joy to a festival field — it’s going to be a moment to remember.”

With half of all camping tickets already snapped up, under-10s going free, and unbeatable weekend ticket prices, it’s clear the Wychwood faithful are ready for another unforgettable weekend.

So, dust off your wellies, gather the gang and prepare to raise a glass to 20 years of one of the friendliest, most feel-good festivals in the country.

Wychwood Festival 2026 takes place 29th–31st May at Cheltenham Racecourse.

Priority tickets are available from 10am, Thursday 16th October, before the general sale at 10am Friday 17th October.

www.wychwoodfestival.com/buy-tickets

Nestled in village of Ewen, just a stone’s throw from Cirencester, The Wild Duck is preparing to make a much-anticipated return next spring. Once one of the area’s most beloved pubs before its closure in March 2019, the 16th-century coaching inn will soon reopen its doors under the expert care of Sam and Georgie Pearman, the duo behind the acclaimed Country Creatures collection.

Having breathed new life into the wonderful Double Red Duke and Mason’s Arms in Clanfield, The Wild Duck will become the third addition to their Cotswolds family, promising the same blend of warmth and quiet sophistication that has become their hallmark.

Originally the gardener’s cottage for nearby Ewen Manor, The Wild Duck is steeped in history and charm. Its latest chapter will see a full restoration that honours its past while reimagining it for a new generation of guests. Inside, Georgie Pearman will oversee the design of 20 beautiful new bedrooms, each thoughtfully created to reflect the inn’s rustic heritage with a contemporary Cotswold touch.

www.countrycreatures.com

There are few spectacles in sport that can match Cheltenham in March. The Cheltenham Roar, the finest jump horses on earth, and enough tweed to upholster the Cotswolds twice over. Yet even the Home of Jump Racing knows that greatness isn’t achieved by standing still.

​For 2025/26, Cheltenham Racecourse is sharpening its act once more, with a series of enhancements designed to ensure The Festival remains as memorable as it is magnificent.

“This is about evolution, not revolution,” says Chief Executive Guy Lavender, who has wasted no time in stamping his vision on Prestbury Park. “Our goal is simple: world-class racing at a world-class venue.”

Breathing Room, Not Bustling Crowds
This year’s Festival will welcome fewer racegoers each day – a deliberate reduction from 68,500 to 66,000. It may not sound dramatic, but anyone who has ever tried to elbow their way through a soggy bottleneck in Tattersalls will appreciate the difference. Space, after all, is a luxury.

Pints and Prosecco
In news guaranteed to bring a cheer almost as loud as the roar itself, the price of Guinness is going down. Yes, back to £7.50 a pint – a rare case of racing history repeating itself in the punter’s favour. Spirits follow suit with reductions of their own, and Prosecco joins the line-up for the first time for those looking to toast their winners in sparkling style.

Removal of Drinks Restrictions
After a successful trial run last season, Cheltenham has done the decent thing and lifted the final drinks restrictions in the Club Enclosure for 2025/26. In short, you may now wander the course pint in hand without fear of being corralled. The change not only makes for a more civilised flow of racegoers (and shorter queues at the bar), but also restores a sense of freedom that pairs rather well with a Guinness. The only corners of the course where a glass remains unwelcome are those reserved for Officials​.

New Homes for Old Favourites
Hospitality also gets a lift. The Tented Village will boast a new covered food court, while the Cottage Rake and Mill House bars are reborn as the stylish Prestbury View. The Green Grazer food hall will champion local produce – a nod to both sustainability and the Cotswolds’ rich culinary heritage.

Sharper Sound, Smarter Screens
Gone are the days of muffled commentary or squinting at the big screen. A state-of-the-art PA system promises crystal-clear race calls, while upgraded Racecourse TV will deliver more data, more insight, and more drama straight to your eyes and ears.

Ladies Day Returns
Wednesday of The Festival sees the return of Ladies Day for the first time since 2019. Think £10,000 in Style Awards prizes, fashion partnerships with Debenhams and Holland Cooper, and the sort of glamour that turns Cheltenham’s enclosures into catwalks with a soundtrack of hooves.

Value, From Ticket to Pillow
Cheltenham is also taking the sting out of logistics. Tickets once again start from £35 if booked early enough, with extended discount windows to keep costs sensible. The “Room to Race” initiative expands, working with more hotels to tackle the notorious Festival price hike.

Cheltenham is already the sport’s crown jewel. But Lavender’s direction makes clear that it intends to sparkle a little brighter each year. More space, sharper facilities, a cheaper pint, and the return of Ladies Day.

After all, The Festival isn’t just about four days of racing. It’s about four days of being part of something utterly, unmistakably special.

www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham-festival

There is something about the turning of the leaves in the Cotswolds that makes a racing person’s pulse quicken. The mornings grow sharper, the gallops glisten with dew, and from every stable yard drifts that intoxicating mixture of steam, sweat and hope.

The Cotswolds has always been more than a backdrop: it is the very heartbeat of jump racing. Wander the lanes around Naunton or Guiting Power and you may well be passing future champions in the making, ears pricked against the autumn breeze. The names of past heroes are written into the very soil and on the walls at The Hollow Bottom, but the real joy is that each fresh season arrives bearing its own mysteries, its own cast of characters waiting to burst from unknowns to festival hopefuls. And how lucky we are that the Cotswolds, with its trainers of genius and horses of great promise, remains the stage upon which this marvellous old drama continues to unfold.

The wonderful Paul Ferguson has once again given us his 10 horses from local Cotswold yards to follow for the 2025/26 season. 

​Now in its 19th year of publication, Paul Ferguson's Jumpers To Follow is an essential guide for any racing enthusiast and available to purchase now. It includes leading prospects for the season ahead, a focus on Irish contenders, views from leading jockeys and lots more. And most importantly, multiple winners are identified. 
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​This year’s list is a little O’Neill-heavy, with five of the 10 selections trained by Jonjo & A J. I make no apologies, however, as I expect the training duo to enjoy a fruitful campaign and this Grade 2-winning novice hurdler can be expected to improve for the switch to fences this winter. A winner at Carlisle and in Sandown’s Winter Novices’ Hurdle, he started last season with a flourish and should develop into a Graded-class performer over fences. Whilst he is likely to start off over an intermediate trip, I would expect him to be back up to 3m or thereabouts before too long. He remains exciting and whilst testing ground might not be essential to him, he copes with it when others can’t.
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​Down on numbers in recent seasons, it is pleasing to see Tom George with another exciting prospect on his hands, in the shape of this imposing Walk In The Park mare. An impressive 9½-length maiden Point winner, she cost her current connections £280,000 at Cheltenham last December and duly started to repay that hefty sum when winning a Newbury bumper in fine style. A three-parts sister to former Welsh Champion Hurdle and Betfair Hurdle winner Glory And Fortune, the five-year-old looks capable of making her presence felt at a decent level in the mares’ novice hurdle division.
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​The first of three Point-to-Point recruits to have joined the Jackdaws Castle team, this five-year-old was actually in training with the O’Neills during the second half of last season but didn’t make it to the track due to drying ground in the spring. Runner-up to Clay Pigeons at Boulta last December on his second start (fell on debut), the winner went on to win a Point-to-Point bumper at Cork and this full-brother to Blue Baloo (winner of a bumper and over hurdles for Sandy Thomson) will carry the silks of Dan Walker (owner of Bill Joyce). Given that he is now five, I would expect him to go straight over hurdles.

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​A four-year-old who made a winning debut in a maiden at Loughbrickland in March, he is by one of the sires of the moment in Poet’s Word and was bought for £305,000 at Aintree, on the back of a 2-length success. He moved well through that race and the front two pulled a long way clear in a quick time. He is now in the ownership of JP McManus.
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​Won three times over hurdles last season for Ben Pauling and JP McManus, before finishing a close-up third in the EBF Final at Sandown, having looked the most likely winner when taking over on the run to the final flight. Up 5lb to a mark of 133 for that reversal, the five-year-old can be expected to make a big impact in the novice chase division. Pauling won Grade 1 novice chases with both The Jukebox Man and Handstands last season and whilst it would be asking a lot for the Watar gelding to reach those lofty heights, he can be expected to continue his upward trajectory after just four starts under Rules.
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​A dual bumper winner the season before last, he made the perfect start to his hurdling career at Aintree last November, winning in a canter over 2m4f. Forced to miss the majority of the season, he returned to action at the Grand National meeting and despite a 146-day ​lay-off and his undoubted inexperience, he ran a huge race in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle, looking all over the winner as he cruised to the front two out. A mistake at the last didn’t help but he tired quickly on the run-in, suggesting that the interrupted preparation might have caught up with him. With that in mind, I was a little surprised to see him take his chance at Perth just 19 days later and having never travelled, I would be happy to put a line through that performance. Now rated 136, he will be of interest in either staying handicap hurdles to begin with, or if he is sent straight over fences, as he remains a high-class prospect, capable of winning at a Graded level at some stage.
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​Disappointed in the Baring Bingham at the Cheltenham Festival, he had earlier looked hugely promising when winning at Leicester and Huntingdon, before completing the hat-trick – at the expense of Potters Charm (another bright prospect from the area) – in the Classic Novices’ Hurdle on trials day. The six-year-old son of Affinisea finished runner-up in an Irish Point before joining Ben Pauling (moved to Fergal O’Brien last summer) and won a Sandown bumper impressively on his Rules debut back in February of last year. Set to go novice chasing, he looks to be another exciting recruit to the division and although he should stay 3m, I would expect him to start off over an intermediate trip.
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​A winner at the second attempt between the flags in Ireland, he created a really good impression when winning a Market Rasen bumper on decent ground, scampering right away from Espresso Milan, who wasn’t disgraced at the Punchestown Festival on his next start. The Twiston-Davies team resisted the temptation of running the five-year-old in Grade 2 company at Aintree and the son of Muhtathir can be expected to develop into a very nice novice hurdler this season. Given that the stable tends to hit the ground running, he could be one to note in the early part of the season.
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Another winning Irish Pointer, the son of Kayf Tara beat just two finishers at Tallow in February but did so in devastating fashion and recorded a very quick time in the process (fully 36 seconds quicker than Hitintheheadlines who won the four-year-old maiden on the same card and is now in the care of Dan Skelton). Already five, he is another who could embark on a hurdling campaign straight away and forms what appears to be a very strong team of exciting young horses at Jackdaws Castle.
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​Another for the novice chase division, he is rated just 128 at present so is likely to reappear in a novices’ handicap. Pulled-up when last seen – in the Grade 2 Premier Novices’ Hurdle at Kelso – he had earlier looked exciting in beating George’s Lad (won next time and now also rated 128) and Rubber Ball (won his next two and again, now rated 128) at Huntingdon, before defying a penalty in a weaker race at Ludlow. Still quite green last season, he will hopefully mature with experience and remains a horse of considerable potential.

The nights draw in over Prestbury Park with a sense of anticipation that would warm the bones of the coldest soul. As the shadows lengthen across Cleeve Hill and the first breath of autumn mist curls over the paddocks, it can only mean one thing: the jumpers are back, and Cheltenham once more takes its place as the beating heart of the National Hunt game.

No other place stirs the spirit in quite the same way. Flat racing may have its silks and splendour, but the raw honesty of Cheltenham, the thunder of the hooves, muddy goggles, steam rising off a chaser’s flanks and the roar of a crowd is something that gets into the blood. The course is a theatre, and the drama played out upon its famous turf is nothing short of life itself: triumph, despair, courage, and above all, the sheer nobility of the horses.

This season promises all the ingredients that makes Cheltenham the Mecca of our winter game. Old warriors return, new pretenders lie in wait, and the whispers from the gallops are enough to stir that delicious mixture of hope and doubt that keeps us coming back year after year.

The Showcase is the unfurling of the first page in Cheltenham’s great winter tale, the raising of the curtain on a season that will carry us from the mellow fruits of autumn through to the bursting daffodils of spring. On Friday 24 and Saturday 25 October 2025, the Home of Jump Racing will once more echo to the rolling percussion of galloping feet, the skipped heartbeats at the last obstacle and that unmistakable hum which only Cheltenham can conjure.

For many, this is less a return to a racecourse than a pilgrimage home. A mingling of fresh expectation and the fond familiarity of old friends reunited make The Showcase a tonic for the soul. Seven fiercely contested races on each day ensure the atmosphere is set ablaze from the first fall of the starter’s flag. This is the first sip of the vintage to come, and it tastes all the sweeter for having been missed all summer.

Friday is the true start of Cheltenham’s grand campaign, a day when form and anticipation walk arm in arm. It is a chance to reacquaint oneself with the greats of the sport, both equine and human, spot the seedlings of future stars, and enjoy that first tantalising glimpse of the narratives that will carry us through the season ahead. The form book may remain light, but the air itself feels heavy with promise.

Another seven races await us on Saturday, each offering not only fierce competition but early clues as to who might flourish throughout the winter months. These are the first brushstrokes on the season’s canvas, painted in mud, muscle, and courage

When the last race is run, The Centaur awaits, where the band Mojo will bring proceedings to a rousing close with songs that lift the heart and loosen the voice, ensuring the day ends in full chorus.

Younger race-goers can enjoy a fun activation zone, where they'll have the chance to ride around the home of jump racing with the ultimate VR experience and have their photograph taken with the Gold Cup, and as is now a Cheltenham tradition outside of the Festival, under-18s race free.

The Showcase is no mere meeting. It is the ignition spark, the rekindling of the old flame and the long-awaited fanfare that announces: the jumpers are back, and all roads now lead to March. It is about more than just winners and losers, it's the thrill of the horses, the roar of the crowd and the clink of glasses among old friends. The curtain lifts, the play begins anew, and the great drama of another Cheltenham season is ready to be written.

BUY TICKETS FOR THE SHOWCASE

​There are weekends that pass without incident, and then there are weekends that feel like they ought to be chiselled into the walls of the Cheese Hub as a reminder of why we endure the long English winter. The Big Feastival, once again, delivered the latter. Under skies that behaved themselves with uncharacteristic good manners, Alex James' farm became a sun-dappled playground for music, food, drink, and more happy faces than one field should reasonably contain. Quite simply, it was the best weekend of the year.

​Friday got off to a start that was both nostalgic and effervescent. Scouting For Girls bounded onto the stage with the sort of energy that made you forget that their heyday had supposedly passed. They had the crowd onside instantly, and by the time Rizzle Kicks took over, the field was bouncing like it was 2011 all over again. The duo reminded us what pop-rap sounds like when it’s fun, cheeky, and completely unpretentious. It was a perfect opening salvo; big smiles, bigger choruses, and the first hint that this weekend was going to be special.

Saturday leaned into pure indie nostalgia. The Pigeon Detectives transported us back to 2007, when jeans were tighter, haircuts were sharper, and indie disco ruled the night. Their set was a joyful reminder that guitars, when deployed with enough northern swagger, are still capable of lifting a crowd to euphoric heights. Tom Walker followed, and if the Pigeons were all youthful abandon, Walker brought heart and heft. His voice soaring over the farm, rich and gravelly, commanding the sort of hushed reverence that only a proper singer-songwriter can conjure. Then came The Wombats, who brought chaos, colour, and choruses sharp enough to slice the night in two. It was the sort of set that demanded you dance, sing, and then immediately Google when they’re next touring. Faithless’ headline set was electric and was beautifully capped by a poignant tribute to maxi Jazz during “Insomnia” that turned the field into a mid-nineties dancefloor. 

In among all of this, over in the Cheese Hub, James Buckley, Simon Pegg, and Woody Smith spun awesome DJ sets that felt like the ultimate afterparty in the middle of the day, chaotic and brilliant in equal measure.

The final day included Caity Baser, the rising star of pop, who brought a breezy confidence that felt perfectly pitched for a Sunday afternoon. Then, as the sun dipped low over the Cotswold hills, Travis took to the stage. There are moments at festivals that transcend the ordinary, and this was one of them. As Fran Healy’s voice floated across the fields with "Why Does It Always Rain On Me?", the irony was not lost, we’d been gifted pretty much flawless weather all weekend. It was spine-tingling, communal, and utterly unforgettable. To close, Alex James’ Britpop Classical wrapped the weekend with sweeping strings, guest appearances from some stars of the time, including a trip back in time with Parklife and Phil Daniels, and a celebration of the genre that made him famous. It was both tongue-in-cheek and grandiose, a fitting curtain call on a festival that understands how to end with style.

Of course, The Big Feastival is as much about food as it is music, and 2025 did not disappoint. Poor Boys’ shrimp and chicken mixed box was an unashamed crowd-pleaser among our group: smoky, spicy, crunchy, and entirely addictive. The Bab House won many a heart with their birria tacos, a messy, glorious indulgence which we waited all weekend to enjoy. Banquet 1415 brought a piece Argentina to the Cotswolds with their grilled meats, smoky and succulent in a way that would make a gaucho weep with pride. And then there were the burgers from local boys Smiths; juicy, towering creations that proved once again that simple can be incredibly delicious.

The drinks side of things was equally well covered. The Cotswolds Distillery kept us cool and just the right side of merry with their gin slushies. Cold, sharp, and refreshing, they were the unofficial currency of the weekend, clutched in both hands as we meandered back and forth to the main stage and street food stalls. It was the kind of drink that made you wonder why anyone ever bothers with lager.

But beyond the music, the food, and the drink, what really makes The Big Feastival the highlight of the year is its atmosphere. It is, quite simply, for everyone. Toddlers danced in ear defenders, parents swayed with gin in hand, teenagers screamed the words to songs that their parents had introduced them to last week, and the veterans of Glastonbury past nodded approvingly at how civilised the whole affair has become. It is joy distilled into a weekend, with the added bonus that it’s just ten minutes down the road for those of us lucky enough to call this part of the world home.

And that luck is not to be underestimated. For all the talk of acts and eats, the quiet hero of the weekend is Alex James himself. To open his farm, year after year, to tens of thousands of revellers, and to curate an event that manages to be both a world-class festival and a neighbourly gathering, is no small feat. We should be grateful, not just for the music and the food, but for the spirit of generosity and community that underpins it all. Without him, our August bank holiday would be infinitely poorer.

So, what can be said of The Big Feastival 2025? That it was sunlit, spirited, and satisfying in every possible way. That it reminded us why festivals matter: because they bring us together, make us dance, feed us well, and send us home happier than when we arrived. It was, in short, everything you’d hope for from the best weekend of the year. And until next August rolls around, we’ll all be quietly humming Wombats choruses, craving birria tacos, and wondering if gin slushies can be made at home.

Early Bird tickets for Big Feastival 2026 are on sale now - bigfeastival.com

Bourton on the Water is the sort of village that looks like it was designed to lull you into a false sense of calm, with the River Windush trickling obligingly under tiny bridges and where tourists clutch cameras and phones as though the scenery might vanish if unphotographed for the umpteenth time. However, if you go in the middle of summer it's anything but calm. It’s also, possibly, the last place you’d expect a burger that could outshine some of London’s finest. And yet, tucked into a modest side street, Smiths of Bourton has quietly been turning patties into an art form, proving that culinary audacity often thrives where you least expect it.

The story begins in 2020, when the world collectively paused and hospitality teetered on the brink. The Smith family’s tea room closed its doors, and the sensible thing would have been to wait it out. Instead, with a leap of faith and youthful confidence, the two brothers Theo and Seb did the brilliant thing: they started serving burgers to locals from the tiny kitchen. It was a survival tactic with swagger and Smiths as we know it today was born.

In less than five years, Smiths has gone from takeaway experiments to national recognition with a much bigger kitchen. Their “MR.P” burger scooped third place at the 2025 National Burger Awards, and they were crowned Best Burger in Gloucestershire. But accolades, as the brothers would happily tell you, are just frosting on a very juicy patty. The real magic is in their 'Passionate About Patties' ethos. That passion permeates everything that the restaurant has to offer, from the service, the music and the ever-evolving menu, turning every visit into a carefully orchestrated, indulgent experience.

This year, Smiths takes on yet another stage: The Big Feastival. For something that started with a handful of buns and a pinch of optimism, this is a remarkable step. The Big Feastival is one of the UK’s most celebrated food festivals. It’s a gathering of culinary talent from all over the UK and, for us, it's great to see a Cotswolds brand taking centre stage. As well as offering a selection of their classics, the pair have been working on the Big Feastival Stack; a one-off creation designed to wow both eyes and taste buds. It’s a burger that makes a statement without shouting and one every patty-loving Feastival-goer should try.

Yet awards, festivals, and viral Instagram reels and TikToks tell only half the story. Smiths is ultimately a tale of resilience and they continue to innovate and refine their product to be the best it can possibly be. From a crisis-born experiment to a nationally recognised brand, it’s powered by sheer determination, creativity, and a healthy dose of stubborn charm and every burger served is a testament to what happens when ambition meets craft, and when a tiny village kitchen refuses to be ordinary.

The bridges in Bourton on the Water will still get their fair share of photos, but we all know the real attraction is now served in a bun.

www.smithsofbourton.com

This autumn, Cheltenham will once again become the beating heart of the literary world as The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival returns from 10 - 19 October. For ten days, more than four hundred events will fill the Regency town with the voices of celebrated novelists, poets, historians, political thinkers, chefs, comedians, actors and musicians, alongside the most exciting new talent in publishing. Now in its eighth decade, the Festival remains the world’s longest-running celebration of the written and spoken word. This year continues its Read the World theme, bringing together international voices both in person and online to explore some of the most pressing issues of our time, from the reach of big tech and the fate of free press in Afghanistan to breakthroughs in longevity research and the shifting boundaries between sickness and health.

Familiar literary greats will share the stage with fresh and trailblazing voices. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie will receive The Sunday Times Award for Literary Excellence and discuss her decade-in-the-making novel Dream Count. Ian McEwan will present his speculative new work What We Can Know, and audiences will hear from celebrated international authors including Sayaka Murata, Bora Chung and Andrew Walden. Closer to home, Richard Osman returns with the fifth instalment of The Thursday Murder Club, Mick Herron delivers another twist-laden spy story, and Jojo Moyes explores the chaos of family life in We All Live Here. The relaunch of the much-loved Big Read will unite book lovers around British-Cambodian author Kaliane Bradley’s acclaimed debut The Ministry of Time, while the Festival’s New Voices programme introduces this year’s most talked-about debuts and the ever-popular proof parties offer a tantalising preview of next year’s literary stars.

The Festival has always been about more than books, and this year is no exception. The Nook on Five, Cheltenham’s rooftop restaurant, will host dining experiences with Nigel Slater and Matt Tebbutt and an afternoon with The Times food critic and columnist Giles Coren and Esther Walker who will be doing a live recording of their hit podcast Giles Coren Has No Idea. Dunkertons Taproom will provide a lively mix of spoken word, music, tastings and debates. Art lovers can look forward to Martin Parr in conversation, David Shrigley’s singular take on creativity, and Andrew Graham-Dixon’s fresh insights into Vermeer. History enthusiasts can immerse themselves in Tudor intrigue with Tracy Borman, explore the legacy of D-Day with Max Hastings, or reflect on the Silk Roads with Peter Frankopan. The Times food critic and columist Giles Coren and Esther Walker will be doing a live recording of their hit podcast Giles Coren Has No Idea, where audiences can watch the couple's hilarious kitchen routine unfold.

For families, the Return to Wonderland programme will enchant visitors with free storytelling, arts and crafts and the chance to meet the Mad Hatter in celebration of 160 years of Alice in Wonderland. Comic workshops, a new Comic Corner and the youth-focused VOICEBOX stage, offering a free programme for audiences aged 18 to 30, reflect the Festival’s commitment to accessibility and inspiration across generations. Meanwhile, conversations on current affairs promise to be as lively as ever, with Nick Clegg, Jens Stoltenberg, Cass Sunstein and Saad Mohseni among those addressing AI, geopolitics, ageing, masculinity and media manipulation. The 10th anniversary of Brexit will be marked with reflections on the forces that shaped it, while debates on democracy, identity politics and the shifting global order will offer fresh perspectives.

Classic literature will be celebrated with events marking Jane Austen’s 250th birthday and reappraisals of D.H. Lawrence, while Michael Morpurgo reflects on a lifetime of storytelling. Amy Jeffs will blend live music, illustration and myth in a reimagining of British ballads. Food and drink will be woven throughout the programme, from Tim Siadatan’s Tuscan-inspired dinner with Amber Guinness to Julia Bradbury’s health-focused dining event, and from Indian culinary explorations with Roopa Gulati and Romy Gill to an artisan cheese and cider pairing with Michael Finnerty and Dunkertons’ Alistair Duncan.

Lifestyle events will see Katie Piper and Caroline Hirons discuss redefining beauty standards, Mary Portas share her retail revolution, and Carol Klein offer gardening wisdom. Sporting legends Mark Cavendish, Bradley Wiggins, Mike Atherton and Ebony Rainford-Brent will reflect on their careers, while travel tales will come from Michael Palin’s journey through Venezuela and Sophie Elmhirst’s true story of love, shipwreck and survival. Memoir will be well represented, with Sebastian Faulks’ reflections on post-war Britain, Jung Chang’s long-awaited sequel to Wild Swans, and candid accounts from Penny Lancaster and Tulisa Contostavlos. Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason and her children will discuss music and identity, and Ed Davey will shed light on the realities of caregiving.

Science and nature will also have their moment, with Sir Tim Berners-Lee telling the story of the World Wide Web, Tim Spector exploring the benefits of fermented foods, and Lara Lewington and Charlotte Blease examining AI’s potential in healthcare. Nature lovers can enjoy Hamza Yassin’s wildlife adventures, Chloe Dalton’s lyrical Raising Hare, and Tristan Gooley’s guide to reading the natural world. Poetry will be celebrated through Simon Armitage’s first major collection in eight years, Billy Collins’ evening of wit and tenderness, and Antony Szmierek’s blend of spoken word and music. Entertainment will include live podcasts, comedy sets and music events, from Mark Kermode’s deep dive into film scores to punk retrospectives.

The town itself will transform during the Festival. Beyond ticketed events, over 30% of the programme is free, including locally sourced bookshop crawls, drop-in family activities in The Wild Wood, and live Times Radio broadcasts from the Festival Village. Visitors can browse the BBC Audiobooks tent, discover charitable initiatives in the Benefact Group Lounge, or simply soak up the atmosphere among fellow lovers of words. The Festival’s impact extends far beyond October, with its Literature for Schools programme inspiring over 12,000 pupils each year and a special 80th anniversary campaign aiming to bring cultural joy to 80,000 children, a target already halfway met.

Booking for the Festival opens to Cheltenham Festivals Members on Thursday 28th August and public booking opens on Thursday 4th September.  

www.cheltenhamfestivals.org
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Some places in the Cotswolds are so perfectly arranged you half expect to find a National Trust volunteer polishing the scones. The Straw Kitchen is not one of them.

This place is a delightful oddity in more ways than one. It feels like one of the Cotswolds' best-kept secrets that somehow everyone seems to knows about, and bar the pottery itself, the only neighbour of note is the Cotswolds Distillery a couple of miles down the road, which is a fine if your plans involve whisky before noon, but less immediately helpful when you’re seeking coffee, eggs and bacon.

In a world where cafés look like they’ve been born of a mood board, paint charts and week-long branding meetings, The Straw Kitchen laughs in the face of coordinated colour palettes. As you walk in from the car park, you are greeted by an artfully chaotic jumble of mismatched tables, chairs in a red-sided canopy tent stuck to the side of what looks like an old stone barn, half-hidden behind some plants tall enough to demand planning permission. 

Walking into the barn, you are hit the waft of coffee like the opening bars of your favourite song, a kitchen alive with clatter and chatter and a much more rustic feel with wooden beams, panels and tables. The walls are a happy muddle of art that doesn’t match, books stacked on shelves that don’t care, clay pots keeping company with yet more books, and a few old tennis rackets which, for reasons I can’t explain, look like they’ve always lived there. It's like boho-chic experiment gone gloriously right and manages to feel both thrown together and utterly deliberate. 

It was wonderfully busy and we found a small table next to an open window in the red tent. Just inside enough to be out of the direct sun of this third life-threatening heatwave of the summer, but outside enough to feel like we're not scared. The menus are all above the kitchen inside the barn so it's a case of taking enough photos on your phone to take back to the tables with you, while picking up your cutlery, napkins and bottle of organic tomato sauce on the way past.

The menu, thankfully, keeps things gloriously simple. A Paddock Farm bacon sarnie, homebaked toast, homemade beetroot relish and homegrown leaves (£7.50) or Paddock Farm eggs on toast (£6.50), again all homemade and a choice of poached, scrambled or fried. There are some extras you can add too. 

I joined the queue behind someone who was still deciding when ordering and in front of a cyclist in full lycra from a table spandexed-clad gents in the garden, settled in for their mid-ride refuel. I will never fully understand the confidence with which a grown man will stroll into a civilised breakfast wearing cycling lycra, an outfit that leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination, and order scrambled eggs as though he’s in trousers. I ordered poached eggs on toast with added bacon (+£3.50) twice and two flat whites. 

The flat white was, naturally, served in a Whichford Pottery mug. There’s something deeply pleasing about drinking from a vessel made just metres away, knowing you could wander in afterwards and take one home. The breakfast arrived, yes on a Whichford Pottery plate, with a couple of eggs ready for the runny yolk fork test with a pile of beautifully smoky thin-cut bacon and leaves on the side. Where breakfasts in the Cotswolds usually cost more than your first car, finding one for a tenner was as refreshing as the charm and character of our surroundings.

The pottery itself is just a short along the path through the middle of the vibrant garden, past the empty table that the cyclists vacated and dogs and humans sheltering under parasols and canopies. Shelves and tables are stacked with the cups and plates you just drank from and ate off and lots more you can buy, so don’t be surprised if you leave clutching a Whichford mug like it’s a trophy. There is an abundance of assorted garden pots too for any budding Monty Dons out there, with one designed in tribute to his old dog, Ned and handmade by the pottery.

We left with full stomachs, a new mug, and that contented feeling that comes from having spent a morning somewhere that matters to the people who run it. It's rare it is to find a place that manages to be both unpretentious and authentically warm. and one that wears its quirks like a badge of honour. It's a breakfast spot for those who want to be fed and not fussed over in a wonderfully  unpretentious,  relaxed atmosphere that’s welcoming without being twee.

If you like your breakfast with a bit of character, your coffee in a handmade mug, and the company of a crowd that’s equal parts dogs, cyclists, locals, and pottery pilgrims, then The Straw Kitchen is worth the detour, worth the time, and worth telling your friends about, though selfishly, you might also be tempted to keep it to yourself. 

www.whichfordpottery.com/visit/straw-kitchen

​Whichford, Nr. Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, CV36 5PG

Open: Wednesday to Saturday: 10am to 4pm
​Closed: Sunday to Tuesday​

Gloucester Rugby’s 2025/26 season is set to be a thrilling campaign packed with intense matchups across the Gallagher Premiership, Premiership Rugby Cup, and Investec Champions Cup. The action kicks off early with two home fixtures in the Premiership Rugby Cup against Exeter Chiefs and Bristol Bears in mid-September, offering fans a taste of competitive action at Kingsholm. As the season progresses, Gloucester faces a balanced mix of home and away ties against traditional rivals and formidable opposition, including Sale Sharks, Northampton Saints, and Harlequins.

European action also makes a highly anticipated return in December, with Gloucester drawn against Castres, Munster, Edinburgh, and RC Toulon in the Investec Champions Cup, a challenging but exciting pool. Key Premiership clashes include a marquee matchup against Leicester Tigers at Villa Park on March 28th and crucial late-season games against Northampton Saints and Newcastle Falcons. With several fixtures still to have their times confirmed, the season promises both unpredictability and excitement, and Gloucester fans will be eager to see how the squad rises to the occasion across all competitions.

For all tickets, hospitality and any further information, visit www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk

​In partnership with Gloucester Rugby
www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk

As British institutions go, few embody the spirit of refined celebration quite like Salon Privé. With its unique blend of motoring heritage, luxury lifestyle, and sartorial distinction, the event has come to define the modern English garden party with an immaculate blend of classic cars, cutting-edge supercars, Champagne flutes, silk pocket squares and plenty of good conversation.

Returning from 27–31 August 2025, the UK’s most prestigious five-day automotive gathering will mark its 20th anniversary within the resplendent grounds of Blenheim Palace in characteristically spectacular fashion.

This year’s event promises the most dazzling edition yet. Expect everything from pre-war grand tourers to the latest hypercars, alongside world-class brands like Boodles, Pommery, Qatar Executive and Gatineau. The newly introduced Salon Privé Gallery, a refined atrium-style pavilion overlooking the lawns, will offer guests a shaded, luxurious vantage point without losing the party’s famously relaxed elegance.

The Week at a Glance

Wednesday 27 August
The Salon Privé Concours presented by Aviva Private Clients opens the show with a parade of the rare and remarkable. From grand tourers to Le Mans legends, each car is meticulously judged by an international panel.

Thursday 28 August 
Concours day two sees the presentation of awards, the Concours Parade and an air of quiet prestige. It’s the perfect setting for collectors and casual admirers alike to get up close with automotive masterpieces — all while enjoying a glass of something cold and a view of something beautiful.

Friday 29 August 
One of the most anticipated days of the Season. Ladies’ Day brings elegance centre stage, as guests step out in summer finery for a chic garden party unlike any other. The Boodles Best Hat competition adds a touch of playful glamour, while a 20-year celebration of the Bugatti Veyron, a showcase of contemporary supercars and highlights from the Blenheim GT Tour ensure the cars remain just as eye-catching as the attire.

Saturday 30 August
With more than 1,500 sports, super and hyper cars descending on Blenheim’s grounds, the Salon Privé Club Trophy presented by Lockton is a celebration of passion, engineering and private motoring enthusiasm at its most vibrant. The family-friendly atmosphere offers something for every generation — whether you're into carbon fibre or chrome bumpers.

Sunday 31 August
New for 2025, Supercar Lifestyle Club Day caps off the week in suitable splendour. Mixed-marque and single-marque clubs alike display their best alongside the debut of the Concours de Vente, a judged exhibition where every car is for sale. For collectors, it’s an opportunity. For the rest of us, it’s a dream in polished metal.

Whether you come for one day or all five, Salon Privé offers an experience tailored to your taste. Tickets start from £55, with luxury hospitality options available up to £645 for those seeking the full five-star experience.

To purchase tickets to Salon Privé visit www.salonpriveconcours.com or to enter your vehicle into the Concours, complete an application at www.salonpriveconcours.com/apply-to-enter

Each summer, Big Feastival transforms Alex James's Cotswold farm into a heady weekend of live music, incredible food, and family-friendly mischief. But this year, it’s not just back, it’s back with strings attached. Whether you’re a foodie, a music lover, or just someone who enjoys cheese with your dancefloor, here are five unmissable highlights at this year’s Big Feastival.

​WOODLAND DINNERS AND FIRE PIT FEASTS 

Dining is a serious affair here. The Big Kitchen plays host to culinary royalty, with Raymond Blanc (Friday), Simon Rimmer (Saturday) and Si King (Sunday) cooking up a storm in front of live audiences. For those in search of more immersive indulgence, Fire Pit Feasts and Lazy Lunches by Ben Quinn promise four-course revelry under canvas, with smoke, fire and finesse in equal measure.

Thursday’s Woodland Feasts will see intimate gatherings amidst the trees, serving up Cotswold-reared beef and James’ own Blue Monday cheese, a nod to terroir and tradition alike. Meanwhile, a brand-new BBQ Cook School invites budding firemasters to get hands-on with the grill, while Little Cooks with Prept keeps younger chefs entertained, informed and very well fed.
​

THE CHEESE HUB

As dusk falls, the party continues. What began as a quirky tent filled with Alex James’ cheeses has become one of the festival’s hottest nightspots. The Cheese Hub returns with a DJ line-up that’s equal parts nostalgic and wildly entertaining: Simon Pegg, James Buckley, Chris Stark, Edith Bowman and more. 
​
One of our highlights from last year was Woody Cook who returns again to The Cheese Hub on the Sunday. 
​

STREET FOOD, OBVIOUSLY 

We don't know another music festival where the food as just as popular as the music, but Feastival absolutely nails both. What sets Big Feastival’s street food scene apart is not just the quantity, but the quality.

Whether you're craving something charred, spiced, slow-smoked or plant-based, there’s something for every palate and enough variety to make even the most indecisive eater deeply content. From bao to brisket, ramen to roti, it's a global tour of bold flavours without having to leave the farm.

​THE BIG TOP

The Big Top returns as the beating heart of Big Feastival’s family fun and a vibrant hub packed with entertainment and activities for younger festivalgoers.

It's the place ypu will find Barrioke, an hour-long sing-a-long with Eastenders star Shaun Williamson. Highlights for 2025 include School of Beatbox, Mad Science Live, Little Yogi Festival Flow and Ninja Masters, promising music, movement and interactive learning. New for 2025, kids will also get to enjoy the world’s biggest bouncy castle, which will be on site for the first time.

Across the weekend, families can enjoy live shows from favourites like MC Grammar, Evie Pickerill, The Marvellous Myth Hunters and Bubblemania. Big Feastival will also welcome back children’s TV legend Justin Fletcher, Strictly star Oti Mabuse, and introduce the daring thrills of Chris Bullzini’s High Wire – a jaw-dropping spectacle high above the festival fields. This year also sees the biggest comedy line-up in the festival’s history including Lucy Beamont, Lou Sanders & Bridget Christie to name a few.


The Big Feastival takes place on Alex James' Farm in Kingham from Friday 22nd - Sunday 24th August 2025.

bigfeastival.com

One of the Cotswolds’ most iconic racing pubs, The Hollow Bottom, is set to reopen its doors on Friday 25th July 2025, under the experienced stewardship of chefs Nathan Eades and Liam Goff.
 
Situated just 25 minutes from Cheltenham Racecourse in the heart of the Cotswolds, The Hollow Bottom has long been a favourite among racing fans, locals, and visitors alike. 

​Nestled within a few miles of the legendary stables of Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies and Jonjo and AJ O’Neill Racing, the pub’s strong horse racing heritage will continue to be celebrated at its core.
 
Eades and Goff, who already run two acclaimed pubs - the Michelin recommend Halfway at Kineton and Horse and Groom in Bourton on the Hill that was awarded a coveted Bib Gourmand in 2025 - bring with them a passion for honest food, warm hospitality, and breathing new life into beloved village pubs.

“We’re incredibly proud to be taking on such an important local institution,” said Nathan Eades. “The Hollow Bottom is more than just a pub, it’s a huge part of Guiting Power and the local farming and racing community, and we’re honoured to carry that legacy forward and give the village their much-loved pub back. It’s sadly lost its way in recent years and we very much want to take it back to its glory days of yesteryear.”
 
Guests can expect daily-changing menus with some local favourites, drinks that pay homage to the pub’s heritage, cracking wines and a vibrant warm welcome. 

The kitchen will be headed up by Josh Murphy, who has worked in Michelin starred establishments, including Lucknam Park near Bath and Le Champignon Sauvage in Cheltenham. He will be supported by Nathan and Liam’s long standing chef Felipe Escoda, formerly of The Cross at Kenilworth, The Ritz and, more locally, The Wild Rabbit.

he pair, alongside Operations Director Silviu Dinu, have appointed Claudio Liquori as Restaurant Manager where they all worked together at The Wild Rabbit.

Miles Partridge, who has worked in pubs locally in the last few years, will be assisting and ensuring the bar runs like clockwork.

Eades added “We are just very excited to get going and welcome everyone back to ‘The Hollow’ to enjoy its unique atmosphere, outstanding hospitality, and rich heritage.”

“Our main aim is to put the heart and soul back into this fantastic pub, with daily happy hours, racing and other on the TV, a buzzing garden and high-quality food on the plates”
 
The pub will open its doors on Friday 25th July 2025. For reservations, please contact the restaurant at [email protected]

www.thehollowbottom.com

Get ready to pack your wellies and picnic blankets as Big Feastival 2025 is back, bigger and tastier than ever!

Set against the backdrop of Alex James’ farm in Kingham from 22 - 24 August 2025, the weekend is a glorious mash-up of top-tier live music, dining experiences, family fun and, of course, incredible street food.

If you're there for all three days or just one, here is some of the best food that you need to try.
​

We couldn't start with anyone else than our fellow Cotswoldians, Smiths of Bourton.

Brothers Theo and Seb have been smashing awesome burgers in their parent's old tea room in Bourton on the Water since 2020, and will be appearing at Feastival for the first time. 

You can expect huge flavours in their hand-pressed beef burgers made with Aubrey Allen dry-aged beef, buns from Marks Cotswold Bakery, homemade sauces and a while lot of love.

www.smithsofbourton.com

Our favourites from last year's festival, Bab Haus specialise in Mexican Street Food with a focus on pure, bold flavours and fresh ingredients. Their food is a fresh mix of authentic Mexican recipes with strong influences from LA and the West Coast. 

Their loaded nachos are awesome, but the Birria Taco is next level and an absolute must.

www.babhausmex.co.uk

If wild game is your thing, then you need to visit Game and Flames. 

Created by Cai Ap Bryn, a renowned wild food chef, hunter, and outdoor cooking expert with a deep passion for field-to-fork cuisine, Game and Flames not only caters using wild game but also sources high-quality meat from across the British Isles, supporting sustainable and ethical farming practices. Combining culinary creativity with traditional skills, Cai and his team deliver unforgettable, flame-fired feasts that reconnect people with the origins of their food

www.gameandflames.com

​At Banquet 1415, you can expect delicious Beef Short Ribs to Argentine Sausage, Pork Collar and mixed grill with the famous chimichurri that will have your taste buds dancing. 

Insta: @banquet1415

These guys have been a staple of Feastival for a few years and are a must if you're going this summer. 

Serving classic New Orleans and Regional American flavours with their and Buttermilk Fried, don't be surprised if you venture back more than once!

eatpoorboys.com

That’s It Pancit is your go-to for bold Filipino BBQ, loaded noodle bowls, and crispy fries with a twist.

​They're all about big u, street food vibes, and sharing the love for pancit—Filipino-style stir-fried noodles—done right. Whether it’s juicy skewers fresh off the grill, saucy pancit packed with toppings, or fries drizzled with our signature sauces, we keep it simple, fun, and full of Filipino soul. 

Inspired by classic European bistros, neighbourhood bars and cafés that have influenced Australasian culinary duo Melanie Brown and Sami Harvey, The Laundry will be bringing their masterfully slow-cooked caramelised NZ spiced pork belly, a rich and creamy Mac'n'Cheese with smoked manuka and crispy Pangrattato, as well as a BBQ Brekky Bun to kick-start your day at Big Feastival.

thelaundrybrixton.com

If, like us, you love Mexican food, you will definitely love Elote Tacos. 

If you are a regular at Gloucester Food Dock, you will be familiar with these guys, and they will be bringing their flavour-packed authentic Mexican cuisine to the farm for the first time in 2025.

elotetacos.com

For anyone with a sweeter tooth, look no further than Blondies Kitchen. Founded in 2016 by two blonde foodies and professionally trained chefs, Kristelle and Chelsie, the girls became obsessed with American style cookies and have taken the cookie world by storm with their unique flavours and irresistible taste. 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/blondieskitchen

We absolutely love Dumplings and these hand-crafted Himalayan ones are a thing of beauty. Their usual offering includes traditional pork and leek, signature beef and their vegan ones too.

​A restaurant in London for over a decade, Chick 'N' Sours have been taking their awesome fried chicken and flavours around the UK and is just another you should be trying at Big Feastival this August.

www.chicknsours.co.uk

The 2025 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia promises to be a blockbuster series, reigniting one of rugby’s most storied rivalries. With the Lions returning to Australian soil for the first time since their thrilling 2-1 series win in 2013, anticipation is at fever pitch. The Wallabies, under new leadership and hungry to restore pride, will be determined to seize the opportunity on home turf.

After heartbreak in South Africa in 2021, the Lions will be looking to get back to winning ways under new Head Coach Andy Farrell.

Australia, meanwhile, has seen a resurgence in Super Rugby form and will lean on dynamic backs and a hardened forward pack to challenge the tourists.

This series is more than just a tour, it’s a clash of hemispheres, cultures, and rugby ideologies. With national pride and legacy on the line, the 2025 Lions tour is set to deliver drama, intensity, and unforgettable moments.

Here are the big ones:

First Test: Saturday, July 19 – Brisbane - 11am (GMT)

Second Test: Saturday, July 26 – Melbourne - 11am (GMT)

Third Test: Saturday, August 2 – Sydney - 11AM (GMT)

Naturally, many rugby clubs will be showing the games, but here are some more places where you can watch the games locally.

Head to The Centaur at Cheltenham Racecourse for an unforgettable live stream event of The British & Irish Lions first test match against the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium. The superb duo of Luke & Ash will be playing through the day with a variety of musical delights. There will be a bar and food onsite so you can enjoy a hearty breakfast before the test match and finally, we'll be joined by a mystery Lions Legend on the day for an interactive Q&A session!

This is a Lions Rugby Club event. It's to become a member and entry to this event is free, although spaces are limited. 

You can find all the information here - www.thejockeyclub.co.uk

If you have been to Dunkertons before, you will know how good it is. They will be showing all the games so round up your mates, grab a pint of Guinness (or a morning coffee) and enjoy a awesome Woozy Pig breakfast in a brilliant atmosphere.

It's completely free, and you can secure tickets here  - www.dunkertonscider.co.uk/products/british-irish-lions-tour-2025

It's never too early for a pint of Deya Rolling Man, is it? If the answer is yes to that then there will be coffee from their neighbours at Ritual and breakfast/brunch from the guys at Pit Kitchen.

All the Lions' games will be show in their taproom.

www.deyabrewing.com/pages/events

If you are a 25/26 Club Member or 1873 Member at Gloucester Rugby, check your inbox for an invite to the exclusive British & Irish Lions Watch Party at Kingsholm on July 19th. Big screen, big atmosphere - don’t miss it!

www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk

Located in the heart of Cheltenham, Tailors has 17 screens dotted around the pub making it a great place to enjoy the best sport on TV.

Breakfast will be served from 10:30am - 11:30am and includes breakfast baps, a full English and a a veggie full English.

tailorscheltenham.co.uk

Situated on Bath Road in Cheltenham, The Brown Jug has made a name for itself for showing all major sporting events in the pub.

​Breakfast will be served from 10am.

thebrownjugcheltenham.co.uk

Radio 2 DJ and all-round music legend Jo Whiley will be bringing her 90s Anthems to Dunkertons on Saturday 20th September.

She will bring you all the best tracks from the greatest decade for music. Think Blur vs Oasis, Fatboy Slim, Primal Scream, The Verve, The Chemical Brothers, Faithless, The Prodigy and a whole lot more.

Jo Whiley is quite simply the ultimate authority on British music – and the voice and face of a generation. Jo is headed your way with a dazzling new show as she rummages through her record bag to dig out the very best of 90s Anthems.

No-one knows the 90s like Jo – she was right there on the cutting-edge, leading the charge as Britpop blew up, dance music exploded and indie went wild.

Now you can relive those magical memories on a dancefloor once again with the queen of the 90's. Let Jo take you on a personal tour of her finest musical memories of the decade that defined them all.

You can find all the info and tickets HERE.

If you have ever experienced the Woozy Pig food, you will probably be as excited as we are about their brand-new restaurant on Suffolk Road in Cheltenham.

Opening its doors of Friday 9th May, the restaurant will offer their classic burgers, sides and tater tots, as well as an awesome brunch menu on a Sunday including the Woozy full English, waffles and, of course, brunch burgers.

You will find local brewers Deya on the taps with a quality selection of cans and bottles from the fridge, alongside a few cocktails including a Spicy Mango Marg, Spiced & Stormy and a Woozy Groni.

You can check out the restaurant here www.woozypig.co.uk.

Illustrations: Punkross
Tables: Barebones
Photos: The Same Grain

It has been confirmed today that season 4 of the superb Clarkson's Farm will land on Amazon Prime on Friday 23rd May.

The series follows Jeremy Clarkson and Kaleb Cooper's ups and downs in the world farming and now, of course, the hospitality industry with Jeremy's pub The Farmer's Dog opening in the Cotswolds last summer.

Season 3 of the show breaking Amazon Prime UK's ratings record and we wouldn't be surprised if Season 4 does the same!

The Big Feastival have today announce their line-up for this year's festival in August.

Travis, Nelly Futado, The Wombats, Faithless, Tom Walker and Sophie Ellis-Bextor will all play across the Bank Holiday weekend at Alex James' Farm in Kingham.

The Pigeon Detectives, Rizzle Kicks, Maximo Park and Scouting For Girls will also be playing.

The festival takes place from the 22nd-24th August 2025.

For the full line up, visit bigfeastival.com

Kingham Plough Head Chef Ashleigh Farrand will represent the South West on the new series of the Great British Menu on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

Keep your eyes peeled this coming Tuesday 4th February at 8pm.

We wish Ashleigh all the very best!

Get your Christmas celebrations off to a perfect start at Cheltenham Racecourse for a weekend of top-quality racing on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 December. With the festive season about to enter the home straight, The Christmas Meeting brings joy and excitement for all, this two-day meeting is a highlight of  the Christmas racing calendar and kick starts the festive sporting season.

The Friday boasts a fantastic festive atmosphere with lots of racegoers celebrating their work Christmas parties by enjoying the fantastic racing and superb entertainment.

Last year saw Dysart Enos give local trainer Fergal O’Brien some extra Christmas cheer, when she thundered up the hill and hit the finish line in front and Ginny’s Destiny following up on his win at the November Meeting when beating Grey Dawning.

Saturday is a Christmas Extravaganza themed family fun with a Santa's Grotto and superb racing action. Embrace and enjoy the Christmas buzz, with Grade 2 action on the track, providing those all-important Cheltenham Festival clues and an abundance of festive treats – it is the ultimate Christmas sporting day out.

With Grade 2 and 3 racing action, including some highly competitive Cheltenham Festival trials, including the JCB Triumph Hurdle trial and the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle trial, it is a key race meeting for Cheltenham Festival clues.

The December Gold Cup went the way of local trainer Richard Hobson and his charge Fugitif in a nail-biting finish under jockey Gavin Sheehan.

Off the track, join Richard James as he returns to Quevega's for an afternoon of feel good favourites and Christmas classics; and experience the magic of the Got2Sing Choir and Hornbrokers brass trio around The Plaza's Christmas Tree.

For the younger racegoers, you can make their day at Cheltenham extra special with a magical Christmas pony ride, a visit to Father Christmas in his Grotto and getting stuck into his fun elves' workshop activities!

Under 18’s race free, apply for your free children's ticket online.

Tickets and further info here - www.thejockeyclub.co.uk

The festive period is fast approaching and it's the time of year when family and friends get together to celebrate.

For many of us non Grinches and according to Andy Williams, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year and we thought we would give you a helping hand on where to enjoy the festivities in the Cotswolds.

From awesome sport to cinema, here are our top 10 festive things that you can explore throughout December, Christmas and the New Year.

FRIDAY 13TH - SATURDAY 14TH DECEMBER

Commence your Christmas celebrations at Cheltenham Racecourse over a weekend of top-quality racing on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 December.

​With the festive season about to enter the home straight, The Christmas Meeting brings joy and excitement for all, this two-day meeting is a highlight of  the Christmas racing calendar and kick starts the festive sporting season.

Under 18s race free!

INFORMATION & TICKETS

NOVEMBER 15TH 2024 - JANUARY 1ST 2025

Discover a festive atmosphere like no other at Blenheim Palace. The historic Palace and Gardens come alive with thousands of twinkling lights, seasonal scents, sparkling baubles and the warmth of the festive season. 

You can also find light trails at Adam Henson's Cotswold Farm Park, Sudeley Castle and Westonbirt Arboretum.

www.blenheimpalace.com

FRIDAY 20TH DECEMBER

The Cherry & Whites welcome Harlequins to Kingsholm on Friday 20th December, making it the perfect fixture for families and friends to start their Christmas festivities.

www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk

25 NOVEMBER 2024 - 04 JANUARY 2025 - THE BARN THEATRE, CIRENCESTER

The perfect swash-buckling Festive five-star musical adventure for all the family with set and costume design by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.

Get ready for a hilarious, high-energy retelling of this classic tale, packed with daring duels, quick wit, and plenty of surprises, and brings D'Artagnan more than he could possibly have imagined, or even dared to dream.

barntheatre.org.uk

20TH NOVEMBER - 21ST DECEMBER 2024

Treat yourselves to a wonderful, relaxing two-or three-course lunch with family, friends, or colleagues in the beautiful surroundings of the Orchard Room Restaurant at the home of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
www.highgrovegardens.com

FRIDAY 20TH & MONDAY 23RD DECEMBER

Get into the festive spirit with an adults-only screening of the Christmas classic (and best Christmas film in our humble opinion!), Elf! Your ticket includes an elf-themed cocktail and sweet treats. 

thelivingroomcinemachippy.co.uk

THURSDAY, FRIDAY & SATURDAY EVENINGS THROUGHOUT DECEMBER - EVENLODE, NR STOW ON THE WOLD

Join Circus Chef Ols and his partner Amber as they bring their passion for wildly delicious food to a remote Cotswold location this December.

This is magically unique evening just for couples and small groups, perfect for a romantic getaway or a festive reunion with friends. Each course will be a delightful surprise, unveiled with a flourish and a story.

josserrestaurant.com

No village or town in the Cotswolds does Christmas quite like Broadway.

Visit after dark to soak up all the festive feels and grab a bite to eat or drink at one of the pubs, restaurants or coffee shops.

THURSDAY 26TH DECEMBER

Continue the festivities at The Bull in Charlbury for their Boxing Day Spit Roast, mulled wine and live music from 4pm.

thebullcharlbury.com

WEDNESDAY 1ST JANUARY 2025

The best way to see in the New Year and shake off any cobwebs from the night before is with some awesome racing at Cheltenham.

Always a good card, this is the perfect day out with friends and there's lots of fun to be had in the Family Fun Zone, and once again, under 18s race free.

BUY TICKETS

It was three weeks ago when a video popped up on Instagram and opened with the words "Please, Please, Help... Please!" splattered across the screen.

It was a plea from Ols Halas, probably best know for being "The Circus Chef" at Giffords Circus, who had got his 25-tonne wag’n’drag lorry stuck in a field near South Cerney. This wasn't just a lorry getting stuck in a field, this was the home of Ols, his partner Amber, their four-month-old baby Zephyr, black lab Steve and their business. In layman's terms, they were royally buggered.

A week later, thanks to some lads with tractors, they were out and on their way.

Their next destination was a bit of a secret, unless you looked on their website which told you it was another field (what could go wrong?) in Evenlode, three-four miles from Stow on the Wold.

The reason I had access to their website was because I was sent an invite to the "soft launch".

I then did something I never ever do, I accepted.

This was for a few reasons;

1.  I really like Ols and really loved his food at Gifford's.
2. The invite came from a friend and amazing creative wizard who was helping Ols create this brand and promote the restaurant. 
3. Seeing them stuck in the mud two weeks earlier, how could I possibly say no?
4. I wanted to meet Steve.

A donation to their gofundme page and a cash tip after I had eaten eased the guilt slightly.

We arrived at the new site on a mizzly, November, Thursday evening and I wondered whether "summer under canvas" would be a better idea than Christmas.

From the outside, it was a canvas awning on the side of a lorry. However, inside (when we eventually found the "door") was a beautiful. warm space full of oak tables, candelabras, foilage and a raised kitchen from an adjacent trailer.

We were greeted by Ols who showed us inside the lorry. "Once you start living this life, it's hard to escape it" he mentioned as we walked up the steps. The interior was ridiculously impressive with a Scandi-like wooden cabin feel. A double bed took up one end which Steve sleeps under.

Back "downstairs" it was a case of sitting wherever we liked, before being greeted with wine, homemade sourdough and a butter softened by a candle wick.

It wasn't long before the stunning, crispy and zingy ​King Prawn Butterfly, Spiced Cocktail Sauce and Avocado arrived.

Naturally, I had read the menu before we arrived and was very excited about the Roast Hereford Beef, Braised Blade, Sticky Dates, Hazelnuts, Root Vegetable Pave, Winter Greens main which was truly immense, but I think the prawns were the highlight of my evening.

Between those two courses were some delicious, festive feeling Chestnut Cream Canoli with a rosehip jam, before the meal concluded with the most insane Winter Berry Knickerbocker Glory.

Another reason I never accept soft launch invites is because you are obliged to say something positive, even when it's actually mediocre.

However, this was anything but. This was cooking of the highest quality in the most wonderful unique setting, and you can't get much more unique than sitting in a the middle of a field in early November. And, we never got to meet Steve which gives us the perfect excuse to go back, as if we needed one.

josserrestaurant.com

​Christmas Under Canvas officially starts on Thursday 28th November and is available on Thursday, Friday & Saturday Evenings. 

They are also doing the most incredible sounding Sunday lunch under the canvas too which start on December 1st.

There are 28 seats for every sitting which makes it a beautifully intimate and truly special dining experience.

Photographs: www.crosscreative.uk

The November Meeting takes place from Friday 15 - Sunday 17 November and is Cheltenham's biggest meeting outside of the Cheltenham Festival.

As well as three thrilling days of racing, there is lot's to enjoy off the course too.

There is live music on all three days, during and after racing.

FRIDAY

The Guinness Village - pre racing and between races
Cheltenham favourites The Lucky 15s return to The Guiness Village to play all of your favourite Irish hits, along with plenty of Pop classics too. Expect irish jigs, celtic reels and toe-tapping tunes that will have you giddy with glee.

Quevega's Bar - pre racing, between races and post racing
Tommy and his piano will be filling Quevega's with a colourful selection of timeless favourites, guaranteed to lift your spirits. Sit back, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy!

Champagne Bar - pre racing, between races and post racing
Oozing with Golden Age Hollywood glamour, The Femmes will be performing in The Champagne bar, whisking you back to the glory of the 1940s, infusing classic vintage sounds with a contemporary twist.

Guinness Village - post racing
Join The Revue in the Guinness Village for an hour of feel-good favourites that'll have you singing along and soaking up the good vibes - it's the perfect way to end your day at Cheltenham.

SATURDAY

Tattersalls Sales Arena Bar - pre racing, between races and post racing
Enjoy a curated mix of smooth beats and chilled classics from DJ Lisa Unique. Whether you're catching up with friends or just enjoying the music, it's the ideal spot to enjoy a laidback afternoon.

The Guinness Village - pre racing, between races and post racing
Cheltenham favourites The Lucky 15s return to The Guiness Village to play all of your favourite Irish hits, along with plenty of Pop classics too. Expect irish jigs, celtic reels and toe-tapping tunes that will have you giddy with glee.

Champagne Bar - pre racing, between races and post racing
Oozing with Golden Age Hollywood glamour, The Femmes will be performing in The Champagne bar, whisking you back to the glory of the 1940s, infusing classic vintage sounds with a contemporary twist.

Quevega's - pre racing, between races and post racing
Tommy and his piano will be filling Quevegas with a colourful selection of timeless favourites, guaranteed to lift your spirits. Sit back, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy!

Centaur - post racing
Join The Mark Walby Band in the Centaur for an hour of feel-good tunes that'll have you singing along and soaking up the good vibes - it's the perfect way to end your day at Cheltenham.

SUNDAY

The Guinness Village - pre racing and between races
Cheltenham favourites The Lucky 15s return to The Guiness Village to play all of your favourite Irish hits, along with plenty of Pop classics too. Expect irish jigs, celtic reels and toe-tapping tunes that will have you giddy with glee.

Quevega's Bar - pre racing and between races
Tommy and his piano will be filling Quevega's with a colourful selection of timeless favourites, guaranteed to lift your spirits. Sit back, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy!

Champagne Bar - pre racing and between races
Oozing with Golden Age Hollywood glamour, The Femmes will be performing in The Champagne bar, whisking you back to the glory of the 1940s, infusing classic vintage sounds with a contemporary twist.

THE FEED ROOM
The Feed Room was a fantastic addition to the course last season and is located in the heart of the Tented Village.

Championing seasonal British produce, their team of expert chefs have created six pop-up street-food concepts, from bao buns to pizzas there's something to cater to all tastes and budgets, offering high-quality dishes at affordable prices.

Open at The November Meeting, New Year's Day Racing and Cheltenham Festival only.

MANDARIN GASTRO PUB (walk-in restaurant)
The Mandarin brings the cosy charm of a Cotswold pub to life, with interiors inspired by the rustic appeal of a country stable. Exposed wooden beams, quirky racing artefacts, and a menu filled with seasonal favourites, it's the perfect spot for a relaxed and inviting dining experience. Start your raceday in the best way possible with their delicious brunch until 12pm or you can head into the Mandarin for lunch. Racegoers will be able to simply walk in and request a table and tuck into delicious pub favourites such as The 'Bookies' favourite starter Traditional Scotch Eggs and the Local Burger.

NEW MEAL DEALS
Cheltenham have introduced a new 'Meal Deal' option where you can buy a main, drinks and side for just £15, available in Winged Ox, Vestey and Quevegas.

Elevate your raceday to a new level with and enjoy one of the best views in the racing world.

You can choose from the Racecourse View which gives you a seat overlooking the finishing line or soak up the atmosphere in The Village Grandstand opposite the last fence and includes undercover seating, bars and tote betting.

Friday is Countryside day at Cheltenham and there is always lots going on.

Beagle Parade
11:00 to 11:20

Misslechalke Gundog Display
11:30 to 11:55

Fly Fishing Demonstration
12:05 to 12:25

Get a taste of life as a jockey at the Jockey Gym, as well as the chance to challenge friends and family to see who's stronger than a winning jockey with the team from Great British Racing.

With an array of exciting challenges, the Jockey Gym gives you the chance to show us what you’re made of! Are you stronger than a jockey... or better still… can you top the leaderboard?

Of the course on the Sunday at The November Meeting,  it's all about family fun.

From meeting Peppa Pig and Freddie the Pony to face painting, circus acts + more, Cheltenham is the place to be for all families on Sunday 17th November.
​

You can find all the info here - www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham/events-tickets/the-november-meeting

I decided to take Birdsong with me on holiday this summer. It's a book I read, and loved, a long time ago. I have watched the BBC adaptation starring Eddie Redmayne and saw the stage adaptation 10 years ago, however, my recollection of all the minor details and the trauma of war had faded (probably intentionally) over the years.

As I lay on the beach in Greece, the characters came back to life quickly and my hatred for René Azaire and Monsieur Bérard returned as if remembering a bully from school.

It has been 30 years since Sebastian Faulks' book was published and is still, arguably, his finest piece of work. It's a story that is cherished by different generations and it was up to Rachel Wagstaff to bring it to life on stage.

It's a mesmerising and intense story of love and courage, set both before and during the Great War, and centred around young Englishman Stephen Wraysford (James Esler) and Isabelle Azaire (Charlie Russell), wife of René Azaire who owns the factory in which Stephen is in France to visit. Both Esler and Russell are magnificent throughout.

As in the book, the play is set over three acts; pre-war, wartime, and post-war. It wanders ever so slightly from the original story, but never strays from the deep love, horror and camaraderie displayed in the novel.

With all of that said, if Birdsong is one of your favourite books, you will need to go with an open mind and to not pick any holes in the story conveyed on the stage. 

​At the start of Act One,  we meet John who is trying to find his namesake's grave (yes, we know it was Stephen's granddaughter Elizabeth Benson who was searching for more information about her grandfather in the book), before entering the Azaire household as Stephen arrives.

We meet the family, including Jeanne, and Monsieur Bérard who is far less odious on stage, and sometimes even quite funny.

Although lots of the build up to Stephen and Isabelle's affair was missing, the steamy encounters and the oppressed nature of Isabelle's abusive marriage was very much portrayed.  

We are deep into the Great War at the start of Act Two, with the now Lieutenant Wraysford leading his troops into battle.

This is where we meet show-stealer ​Jack Firebrace (Max Bowden) and his closest sapper companion Arthur Shaw whose friendship embodies the harrowing, dark and lonely sense of life underground in the tunnels and trenches.

Other standout performances come in the shape of the underaged and shellshocked Tipper, the violin playing and beautiful singing-voiced Brennan and Evans, who brings most of the stories and humour that along with the drinking and prostitutes, would become a necessity during those horrific times.

The individual readings of the final letters that were sent home were brought to life by music and incredibly moving.

​The minimalist stage design, perfectly subtle lighting and occasional seat-shaking explosions helps transport us in some small way to the hell and horror of war, and is no more evident than when we find Jack and Stephen trapped in a tunnel underground, with their shared losses, fight for survival and underlying friendship that makes up the majority of the final act.

The play had a lot to live up to and manages to do it brilliantly.

This is incredible theatre with truly exceptional performances throughout. It honours the sacrifices and loss of millions of lives, while managing to celebrate the triumph of love and friendship during humanity's darkest years. 

The Birdsong Tour continues until February 2025

www.birdsongplay.com