Lewes List Awards, Bonfire, Brazilian stars at the Pan, Sokoni night market, Christmas fairs and more

The November 2024 issue of the Lewes List

The Lewes List Reader Awards
We are very pleased to say our reader awards are back for their third year. In 2022 and 2023, hundreds of you voted for your Lewes favourites – including best pub, café and market stall in a series of hotly contested categories. Get voting now – entries close on 29 November. Winners will be revealed in the December issue of the Lewes List.

Bonfire
You don’t need us to tell you about Bonfire – although there are guides, tips and a map on this website for the uninitiated – but here are few things that caught our eye:

– No34 will be open from 5pm until 11pm on 5 November serving a casual supper of lentils and sausages, some rather special cheese and salad. Wine is included and the idea is to drop in as you wish through the evening. £45. This is a ticketed only event and only ticket holders will be admitted through the back door down Walwers Lane. Book here. 

– The Brew Cafe in Malling is open from 3-11pm, promising a big outdoor bar, beers, mulled cider and some pretty impressive views. See the cafe’s Instagram page here. 

– The traditional Bonfire day swim is taking place at Pells Pool – the sauna by Nomadic Sauna is back open to warm you up after. More here and here. 

– Depot is closed on the fifth, but opening an hour earlier at 9am on 6 November for a Bonfire Breakfast – there’s a little bit more here. 

Christmas
16 November: Lewes Christmas Market will be hosted upstairs at The Royal Oak.
Gifts from local artists, makers and shops, mulled drinks, mince pies and “heart expanding sounds” from Voca Choir. 10-4pm. More here.

30 November: Artelium Wine Estate on Streat Lane is hosting its Christmas Makers Market with a range of items from ceramics and textiles to jewellery and homeware from some amazing local producers. More here. 

30 November: The Bevern Trust, a Sussex disability charity, is hosting an Artisan Christmas Fair at Barcombe Village Hall. Handcrafted gifts, mince pies, cake, tea and more. 10.30am-4pm, More here  

5 December: Late Night Shopping is back, with road closures from 6pm, Santa's Grotto at Lewes House, live music, food and drink stalls. More here. 

14 December: Gun Brewery is hosting its popular Christmas Market, featuring more than 20 traders at its picturesque location on Gun Hill, Heathfield. It promises mulled cider, Indian street food from Curry Squad and beer. More here. 

Food & Drink
14 November: Depot is hosting a special Ukrainian Supper club following a screening of The Flowers of Ukraine, part of CINECITY festival (more of which here). The evening has been organised with Ukrainian Hearts, a group of Ukrainian women who live in Lewes and work to raise money and awareness about the ongoing war in their home country. More here.

News: Seasons has a number of Taster and Meet the Maker Days coming up in November, including vegan chocolate, 360 Botanics skincare and a Seggiano Christmas Special. More on their Instagram here.

Culture
News: There are two new shows at Charleston in Lewes (see here): the last Sunday of the month is Pay What You Can Day, 10am-5pm, with free entry and a donation (here).

News: Meanwhile, two new exhibitions open at Charleston in Firle on 16 November: Cedric Morris and Arthur Lett-Haines (here) and Vanessa Bell: Portraits by Duncan Grant (here) – both run until 23 February 2025. On 7 December, Rupert Everett will discuss his debut collection of short stories, The American No, with actor, author and director Simon Callow.  More here.

Tonight: Shed Party will feature funky house and disco beats from DJ Browneyedgirl; Nigerian disco and Afrobeat from DJ Otto; and visuals from Innerstrings. There are also prizes for best Halloween costumes, so dress to impress. Tickets are £10 here and also available on the door.

11 November: Lewes History Group’s first online talk for the season is by Chris Taylor on Lewes Council Housing 1920-1970. It starts at 7.30pm and lasts about an hour. More here.

30 November: There will be a special performance by The Buxted Symphony Orchestra, in support of The Bevern Trust, at Holy Cross Church, Uckfield. Expect works by Mozart, Dvorak, Fauré and Haydn. 3pm. Tickets £14 at the door. More here.

23 November: Night market Sokoni is back for 2024 following a brilliant launch event last year, with more local makers, designers, food producers, drinks and DJs. 4-10pm at The Sheds, 14 Phoenix Place. More here. 

29 November: Pass the Peas, a funky night of disco, funk, soul and rare groove, takes place at Lewes Con Club, with DJ Daddy Marcus on the decks. Earlybird tickets start from £8, here.

30 November: The Artists & Makers Fair is back for 2024, with more than 80 stalls selling gifts and original wares handcrafted by local artists and makers, with warming winter food, drinks and fun for all ages – all funds raised go to support the brilliant Western Road Primary School. Opening night is Friday 29 November (6pm-8.30pm), with the main event on 30 November (10am-5pm). More here. 

Sport & community
News: Lewes FC’s Dripping Pan has been chosen to host a charity game on 17 November after Lewes Women face AFC Wimbledon. StriveAid will see Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos’s team face compatriot and former Arsenal star Gilberto Silva’s team in front of an expanded capacity at the Pan. More big-name players and celebrities will be announced closer to the time. More here. 

News: The Lewes STEM Festival, a celebration of all the science, technology, engineering, mathematics activity in the local area, is back for 2024. The STEM Speakers Symposium on Saturday 16 November includes talks on the ‘accidental universe’ and artificial intelligence from leading experts. On 17 November, the STEM Fair will feature exhibits from local companies, charities and Brighton and Sussex universities. The fair, which is popular with families, is entirely free and you do not need tickets. More here.

News: Clayful Hands is running a four-week pottery course at Malling Community Centre, starting 6 November, for beginners/improvers, and with a Christmas focus. More here.

News: Grown in Lewes is a new book about cultivation in Lewes. With contributions from 50 local writers, it is a fascinating collection of stories, photos and illustrations, and will be available to buy at seasonal fairs and markets across the town soon.  See Instagram here for more info and how to order a copy (£16.50). 

News: The Unity Centre has opened Lewes's first four-machine Pilates Studio, kitted out according to the original designs of Joseph Pilates. Find out more and book your first private class, with consultation, here. 

News: The Body Box, a personal training studio, is moving from its location in the yard at Abyss to a space in the Needlemakers. More here.

News: Shy, a studio for wellness, beauty, piercings and tattoo artists, has opened at 35 High Street, founded by Sabrina Falk, with plans to also run workshops, talks, and events. See the website here. 

Family
Until 3 November: Lewes Castle is hosting a Firework Fairy and Tinkering Troll Trail, with Bonfire-themed crafts and live medieval combat (here). On 2 November, the Castle will host Live Combat, Arming of the Knight & Medieval Surgery, 11am to 4pm, with live demonstrations of medieval warfare.