Our guide to the best events in and around Sussex. Edited by Erica Gilbert
23 June-19 July - Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup Cowdray Park
Four weeks of high goal action in the Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship, starting on 23 June. Ranked in world polo terms alongside the Argentine and USA Opens, polo enthusiasts can expect to see the majority of the world’s leading players in action. The action-packed Final takes place on Sunday 19 July.
For more information and tickets visit www.cowdraypolo.co.uk
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25-28 June - Goodwood Festival of Speed
The 2015 Festival of Speed centres around the theme Flat-Out and Fearless: Racing on the Edge, and pays tribute to the drivers and constructors throughout history that threw caution to the wind in pursuit of victory. Highlights include:
• MotoGP superstar Valentino Rossi making his Goodwood debut
• Five current Formula 1 teams to appear in revamped F1 Paddock
• Incredible 28-litre Fiat S76 to have first public run for 101 years at Goodwood
• Largest ever US representation including NASCAR’s Richard ‘The King’ Petty and a Goodwood debut for drag racing’s godfather Don Garlits.
For more information and tickets visit www.grrc.goodwood.com
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30 June - The Sixteen: Choral Pilgrimage 2015
Ardingly College Chapel
7.30pm As part of their annual Choral Pilgrimage visiting Britain’s finest churches and cathedrals, The Sixteen will be bringing the music of 16th century Spain to Ardingly’s magnificent Chapel of St Saviour.
Tickets: £20-£25. Contact music@ardingly.com or tel: 01444 893230 or book online www.ticketsource.co.uk/musicatardingly.
Ardingly College, College Road, Ardingly, Haywards Heath.
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3-5 July - Love Supreme Jazz Festival
The Love Supreme Jazz Festival, which returns to Glynde Place in East Sussex this July, features a broad selection of superstar international acts and outstanding emerging talent from the worlds of jazz, soul, R&B, pop and beyond. The line-up features the likes of Chaka Khan, Van Morrison, Lisa Stansfield, Ginger Baker and Neneh Cherry.
For more information and tickets visit www.lovesupremefestival.com
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4-26 July - Eastbourne Festival
Drama, comedy, classical and choral music, burlesque and artists’ open houses will be on offer throughout the town for this year’s Eastbourne Festival. Eastbourne Choral Society performs Ahoy There! at All Saints’ Church and the brilliant Japanese pianist Yoko Ono is at the Under Ground Theatre. At the wackier end of the spectrum will be Paul Gunn’s presentation of Noel Coward meets the Bonzos and a Burlesque Circus. The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company will perform in the Italian Gardens and six concerts can be enjoyed at St Mary’s Church, Old Town.
For more information visit www.eastbournefestival.co.uk
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10-12 July - Perch Hill Feast of Cooking
Perch Hill is a beautiful farm and garden situated in the High Weald of East Sussex, devoted to the ethos that growing and making your own is the future. Writer, cook, broadcaster and teacher Sarah Raven is hosting another Feast this year at Perch Hill, dedicated to cooking, with a scattering of growing. Featuring food and demos from the team at Ottolenghi, Sam Clark from Moro and Antonio Carluccio, plus food tours, cider tasting and forager walk with Nick Weston from HunterGatherCook.
For more information visit www.sarahraven.com
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11-12 July - Parham Garden Weekend
10.30am-5pm. Parham House is celebrating its 22nd annual and hugely popular Garden Weekend with an official opening by the celebrity gardener and broadcaster, Rachel de Thame. Parham’s annual Garden Weekend attracts a wide spectrum of quality specialist nurseries and is one of the best garden weekends in the South East of England for viewing and buying really top quality plants for your garden. For more information visit www.parhaminsussex.co.uk
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9 July 2015 - Eat your Words
A candle-lit night of poetry, prose and an all-you-can-eat buffet at Munch Coffee Bar, Worthing. Award-winning Zimbabwean poet, Togara Muzanenhamo, will be reading from his second collection, Gumiguru. He will be supported by poet and translator, Caroline Maldonado and local novelist Niyati Keni. The authors will be discussing the themes that connect their work: landscape, belonging and displacement. The entry price of £6 covers an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Tickets are available online through www.skiddle.com
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13 July-5 September - Mack & Mabel
Based on the true romance between Hollywood legends Mack Sennett and Mabel Normand, this dazzling musical comedy is both a poignant love story and a riveting tribute to the grit and glamour of the era of silent movies. Starring Michael Ball. Times vary. Tickets: £15-£50.
Festival Theatre, Chichester: 01243 781312
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15 July-1 August - The Petworth Summer Festival
This year’s summer festival features a stellar line-up of artists from across the world of classical, choral and world music, jazz, comedy and theatre.
Highlights include the extraordinary South African soprano Pumeza Matshikiza accompanied on piano by Julius Drake; multi award-winning jazz vocalist Jacqui Dankworth; and the Little Baroque Company perform J S Bach’s Coffee Cantata as you’ve never seen if before.
For more information and tickets visit www.petworthfestival.org.uk
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18 July - Bexhill Roaring Twenties
10am-6pm. A vibrant period event on Bexhill’s elegant Edwardian seafront which features: the Charleston World Record attempt; a free airshow which includes Lancaster Bomber; full displays by the Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane, in tribute to the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain; Twenties music and dance and much more. Evening open-air free screening of Bugsy Malone on the terrace of the De La Warr Pavilion.
For more information visit www.bexhillroaring20s.org.uk
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24 July - The Jungle Book
Chapterhouse Theatre Company Michelham Priory, Hailsham
Your favourite animal characters are brought to life to create an enchanting and fun-filled musical show for children of all ages. Children are invited to dress up in their favourite animal costume and join in the Jungle Parade in the interval.
For more information and tickets visit www.chapterhouse.org
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‘Wild Woodies’ summer holiday club - Sussex Wildlife Trust
From bug-hunting, survival skills, camouflage games and rock-pooling, to arts and crafts from natural materials; there is something for everybody. Wild Woodies clubs are running at Woods Mill Nature Reserve near Henfield; Stanmer Park, Brighton; Seven Sisters Country Park near Seaford; Rye Harbour Nature Reserve and Tilgate Park, Crawley. Clubs are fully supervised. Online booking is essential.
For further information on age suitability, activities, times, dates and prices please visit: www.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk and click the ‘What’s On’ tab or call 01273 497561.
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28 July-1 August - Qatar Goodwood Festival
The Qatar Goodwood Festival, affectionately known as ‘Glorious Goodwood’, is a quintessentially English event, where Champagne and strawberries are in abundance. Glorious Goodwood has always attracted the very best from the international world of horseracing and race-goers come from far and wide to experience the Festival’s unique atmosphere.
For more information visit www.goodwood.com
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28 July-2 August - The Longines Royal International Horse Show
Every day of the Longines Royal International Horse Show, the official show of The British Horse Society, boasts fantastic equestrian competition. Highlights include:
• 30 July: Amlin Plus Eventing Grand Prix Day
• 31 July: Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup
• 1 August: Templant Events Queen Elizabeth II Cup
• 2 August: Longines King George V Gold Cup (the British Grand Prix)
• Dress to impress on the Saturday at Hickstead’s Ladies’ day, held in aid of the Mark Davies Injured Riders’ Fund, featuring a host of prizes on offer to the most elegantly attired ladies.
For tickets and more information visit www.hickstead.co.uk
