Spaniel racing, swift celebrations, music festivals and three new openings

Rejoice, it’s the April 2025 issue of the Lewes List

Food

News: Little Barista is officially open (having opened for a short period in February), Monday-Friday, from 8am in the yard of Orange Vehicle Rental (BN7 2UF), opposite the Premier Inn. More here.

News: Well, we’re certainly not short of places to get a cuppa… Blend Coffee Co is set to open soon at 37 Cliffe High Street (it has other locations in Portslade and Worthing). It says to expect “speciality coffee, loose leaf teas, locally baked pastries, sweet & savouries, retail beans and home brewing equipment”. More here.

News: There’s also a wine shop opening next to Richard’s Butchers, as posted on Lewes Present, here. More details to follow.

News: Slow Down Sundays are back at Field Food: there’s a laid-back brunch on Sunday 27 April with a seasonal menu of sweet and savoury dishes made from “the most lovingly sourced local produce.” On 10 May, there’s a fermenting workshop with Rachel de Thample. More here.

20 April: Spaniel racing – which, to the uninitiated, is exactly what it sounds like – is back at The Lewes Arms. The pub’s dwyle flunking event returns 4 May (of which you can read a potted history here). See more on Instagram here.

Culture

News: Artist Bruce Asbestos’ exhibition NEW POP MAX comes to the BN9 Studio in the Marine Workshops in Newhaven this spring. Concurrent with his commission for the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern, the exhibition is organised by Look Again in collaboration with Towner Eastbourne and Lewes District Council. Organisers say the free-to-visit exhibition is a “bold and colourful mix of epic inflatables and paintings, guaranteed to amuse and inspire people of all ages.” Free creative workshops take place every weekend. More information and pre-booking, here.

News: Lewes District Council has granted Charleston a 25-year lease of Southover House, meaning its Lewes location will continue. Both sites have new exhibitions starting this month, including work from Japanese artist, Izumi Kato, California-based artist Koak and Small Things, BIG! Ideas – an exhibition showcasing the work of Year 9 students at Priory School (more here). Meanwhile, there are some impressive names at Charleston Festival including Richard E Grant, Roxane Gay, Nigel Slater, Ruth Jones, Led By Donkeys, Shirley Collins, Julia Donaldson and Shon Faye. See more here.

16 April: Taking place at a secret location near Barcombe, Singing with Nightingales is an immersive evening in the woods with musicians Sam Lee and Zara McFarlane – alongside the sound of nightingales. It looks great, although it’s pricey – tickets and more details are here.

18 April: A Lenten Meditation from Baroque Collective Singers promises “dramatic masterpieces for Holy Week”: Manuel Cardoso’s Lamentations for Maundy Thursday and Heinrich Schütz’s St Matthew Passion at St Michael’s Church, at 7pm. Tickets £18 (under 16s free) here.

25-27 April: More than 90 makers have been selected to showcase a wide and diverse range of pottery at a three-day artisan market at Glynde Place. Potfest runs daily 9.30am- 4.30pm. More here.

26 April: Let’s Get Funked – funk, soul and reggae music for “grown up dance lovers who like to party early” – is back at the All Saints Centre. Half price bar before 8.30pm, with music from DJ Earl E Riser with stunning party visuals. Bar till 11pm. More here.

8 May. The Mekons – who emerged during the punk era and were once described by rock critic Lester Bangs as the most revolutionary group in the history of rock’n’roll – are playing the Con Club. More here.

6-8 June: Lewes Music Festival is now on sale: three days of music, stalls, food, camping and glamping, a Rugby 7s tournament on Saturday morning (and possibly a hockey tournament and a strong man competition) down at Lewes Rugby Club. Musicians include The Sugarhill Gang and the Artful Dodger. More here.

26 July: Strange Magic – a contemporary printmaking fair at Lewes Town Hall – promises incredible art from talented printmakers; contemporary and experimental hand produced works including screenprint, collage, zines, book arts, woodcut, lino and monoprinting. See more here.

Sport & community

News: Last year, Lewes Town Council gave Lewes the status ‘A Swift Friendly Town’. From 23 April-31 May, Lewes Swift Supporters will be celebrating this – alongside the return of our swifts – through a season of events at Lewes Climate Hub. The Climate Hub is also hosting a Local Democracy Unwrapped season, with events including a live Q&A with James MacCleary MP and discussion exploring what the proposed Mayoral Combined Authority for Sussex and Brighton might mean for Lewes. More here.

News: The next Repair Café takes place 5 April from 2-5pm at Landport Community Hub, with last orders at 4.30pm. Volunteers can help with textile, electrical and general repairs for free. There’s more here (and here is a great piece in the Guardian about why they’re important).

News: Kirsten Norbury has a colour workshop for artists; a beginner drawing class and beginners painting class this month. See all events on her website here.

Last chance: Entries for The Rooker Prize – a literary competition where you write and submit the first 250 words of your book – close on 5 April. Run by Lewes FC, the winner receives a hand-carved wooden trophy plus £250 to go to the charity of their choice, as well as an hour’s feedback and coaching session at Hachette UK’s offices in London where their entry will be discussed with an experienced editor. More here.

Reminder: Harmonia Contemporary Choir is a new community choir that meets on Mondays, 7.30-9pm during term time at the Lewes Subud Centre, singing original arrangements of contemporary pop, rock and folk songs. Everyone is welcome; no auditions or previous singing experience needed. The first session is free, after that it's £12 per session or £10 with a term pass. Get in touch here or see Facebook here.

11 May: The Three Beaks trail running day is back, with three different runs to choose from: a 25km, 17km and 8km. Beak says “all runs are fun, self-supported runs (not races) and will take place on the South Downs.” There’s more here, and you can also follow Beak Running Club on Instagram for its regular runs (the next is April 25).

Family

5-21 April: There are three ‘prehistoric adventures’ at Lewes Castle as part of its Easter Dino Quest: Prehistoric Pursuit Trail, running all day from the 5-21st April, 10am to 4pm; the Past In Your Hands, on Sunday 6 and Friday 18 April, from 11am to 2pm, where kids can touch a real Iguanodon bone and explore a giant mammoth tooth; and Eggs-traordinary Animal Art & Crafts on Saturday 12 and Saturday 19 April, from 11am to 2pm. More here.

News: There are also holiday clubs from Outdoors Project (here); Kirsten Norbury, who is providing children's art club Star Brewery with full and half days available from 7-10 April (here); Clayful Hands has an Egg & Spoon Workshop on 10 April for children ages 6-16 (here), there’s an Easter egg trail over at Sheffield Park (here).