Your Weekly Local Newsletter on everything going on in Horsham District
Thursday, 21st May 2026
Hello everyone,
Half term is almost here, and so, it seems, is summer. Temperatures are climbing all week, hitting 29°C on Saturday, 31°C on Sunday, and peaking at 32°C on Bank Holiday Monday. If you've been waiting for a reason to get outside, this is your week.
The Steyning Festival opens its doors tomorrow for ten days of comedy, theatre, literature and music across Fletchers Croft and venues throughout the town. With weather like this, the atmosphere around the Big Top is going to be something special but popular events sell out fast, so don't leave it too late to book.
Closer to home there's plenty going on. Leonardslee's rhododendrons are still at their peak and the gardens have children's workshops running through the weekend. Amberley Museum has a James Bond themed day on Sunday and half term activities all week. The Horsham Toy and Comic Fair lands at Broadbridge Heath on Sunday morning, free entry after 10am. And on the water, the Wey and Arun Canal Trust are running cream tea cruises and short canal trips through some of the most beautiful countryside in West Sussex.
In town, the Carfax Bandstand has live music on Saturday, the pubs and taprooms have a packed week of open mics, vinyl nights and quiz nights, and Knepp's Friday Night BBQ continues into another warm evening.
Enjoy the half term, enjoy the sunshine. 🌞
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📰Digest
📋 Reorganisation Consultation — Closes 15th June — The second technical consultation on local government reorganisation in Sussex is now open. It covers two potential modifications, including a proposal to place Chichester District into a unitary authority alongside Crawley Borough, Horsham District and Mid Sussex District. Read me
🎉 Half Term in Horsham — A packed schedule of free and low-cost activities for families all week. Highlights include medieval tile-making at Horsham Museum, a free transport children's trail, a free outdoor session at Bennetts Field on Thursday, 28th May, and free children's shows at the Park Podium. Read me.
🚛 Name That Food Truck! — Primary School Competition Opens Horsham District Council is inviting primary school classes to come up with a fun name for one of its new food waste collection trucks, which are now travelling across the District. The winning entry wins £50 for their school, and a special visit from the truck bearing their name before the end of term. The Council has partnered with Wastebusters, who provide a free school pack with everything needed to get pupils learning about food waste and recycling. A fun one for the kids this half term. Read more
🏡Local Business Spotlight
With a week like this forecast, there's never been a better time to dust off the bike. MeloVelo offer professional, hassle-free and affordable bike repairs and servicing from their workshop just outside Henfield, with free collection and delivery within 5 miles. Simply put, they come to you, fix it, and bring it back.
📍 Henfield, West Sussex 🔗 www.melovelo.co.uk or Insta
🗓️ What’s Happening
Events are subject to change. Please confirm details with the host.
🌹 Rhododendron Celebration — Leonardslee Gardens 📅 Thu 21 May onwards all week | ⏰ 9am | 📍 Leonardslee Gardens, Lower Beeding | 💷 Ticketed The rhododendrons are still putting on a show. One of the great seasonal spectacles in West Sussex, and with this weekend's forecast, the timing couldn't be better. Read more
🎪 Steyning Festival Opens 📅 Fri 22 May | ⏰ From 10am | 📍 Fletchers Croft Big Top & venues across Steyning | 💷 Ticketed Ten days of comedy, theatre, literature, music, walks and more. One of the largest volunteer-run festivals in the UK. Read more
🚢 Cream Tea Cruise - Wey & Arun Canal Trust 📅 Fri 22 May | ⏰ Check with venue | 📍 Wey & Arun Canal | 💷 Ticketed A cream tea on a canal boat through the West Sussex countryside. Hard to think of a better way to spend a warm Friday afternoon. Read more
🍔 Street Food — The Coot 📅 Fri 22 May | ⏰ 5pm | 📍 The Coot, Horsham | 💷 Check with venue Read more
🍔 Friday Night BBQ — Knepp Wilding Kitchen 📅 Fri 22 May | ⏰ From 6pm | 📍 Knepp Estate, Dial Post | 💷 Ticketed Seasonal food cooked over fire, live music, and the courtyard atmosphere. Food served from 6pm, arrival between 6pm–7.30pm. Read more
⛳ Lions Club Charity Golf Day — Slinfold Golf Club 📅 Fri 22 May | ⏰ Check with venue | 📍 Slinfold Golf Club | 💷 Entry fee applies The Billingshurst & District Lions Club annual golf day takes place at Slinfold Golf Club on Friday 22nd May, with all proceeds going to PCaSO. Read more
🚗 James Bond at Amberley — Amberley Museum 📅 Sun 24 May | ⏰ 10am | 📍 Amberley Museum, near Arundel | 💷 Admission applies A themed day at Amberley Museum, expect Bond vehicles and all the trimmings. A great half term Sunday option. Read more
🌸 Leonardslee Children's Workshops — Leonardslee Gardens 📅 Sun 24 May & Wed 27 May | ⏰ Check with venue | 📍 Leonardslee Gardens, Lower Beeding | 💷 Ticketed Half term workshops for children in the stunning surroundings of Leonardslee. Read more
🧸 Horsham Toy & Comic Fair — Broadbridge Heath 📅 Sun 24 May | ⏰ 9am–2pm (free after 10am) | 📍 Broadbridge Heath Village Centre | 💷 Free after 10am The Horsham Toy and Comic Fair returns to Broadbridge Heath Village Centre with traders selling brand new and preloved toys and comics — Lego, Star Wars, Pokémon, Transformers and more. A great half term outing for families. Book / Read more
🌲 Holiday Camp — Woods for Learning, Horsham Rugby Club 📅 Mon 25 May | ⏰ Check with venue | 📍 Horsham Rugby Club | 💷 Check with venue Outdoor learning and woodland activities for children over the bank holiday. Read more
🧠 Quiz Night — Hen and Chicken 📅 Mon 25 May | ⏰ Check with venue | 📍 The Hen and Chicken, Horsham | 💷 Check with venue Read more
💃 Salsa Mondays — The Red Deer 📅 Mon 25 May | ⏰ 7:15pm | 📍 The Red Deer, Horsham | 💷 Check with venue Read more
🏊 Southwater Country Park — Half Term Days Out 📅 All week | ⏰ Dawn–dusk | 📍 Southwater Country Park, Southwater | 💷 Free entry (parking charges apply) Southwater Country Park offers woodland walks, a café, Dinosaur Island, and a watersports centre, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding and fishing all available on the lake. A reliable half term day out with no entry fee. Read more
🎨 Half Term Crafts — Horsham Museum & Art Gallery 📅 Tue 26 May & Wed 27 May | ⏰ Check with venue | 📍 Horsham Museum, Causeway | 💷 Check with venue Read more
🧱 Brick Bus Workshop — Heron Way 📅 Wed 27 May | ⏰ Check with venue | 📍 Heron Way Catchment, Horsham | 💷 Check with venue A LEGO-themed workshop for children — a half term favourite. Read more
🏺 Amberley Museum — Half Term Activities 📅 Wed–Sun throughout half term | ⏰ 10am–4.30pm | 📍 Amberley Museum, near Arundel | A 36-acre open air museum on the edge of the South Downs, just a short drive from the District.
Family trails, hands-on craft activities, a narrow-gauge railway and vintage bus rides all included in admission. Pre-booking recommended during half term. Read more
🐾 Animazing Animal Encounters — Horsham 📅 Tue 26 May | ⏰ Hourly sessions | 💷 £2.50 Meet some of the wonderful animals, reptiles and insects from Animazing, with hourly sessions running on Tuesday 26th May. Read more
🎩 Children's Magic Show — Horsham Park Podium 📅 26, 27 & 28th May | ⏰ 2pm & 3.15pm | 📍 Park Podium, Horsham Park | 💷 Free Jonathan Cann brings his Magic Show to the Park Podium. No need to book, just turn up.Read more
Always check with venues directly before heading out, as details can change. Know of an event we've missed? Get in touch to have it included next week! Share it with us.
🎵 Live Music & Entertainment
Events are subject to change. Please confirm details with the host.
🎵 Bring Your Own Vinyl — Firebird Brewing Co, Rudgwick 📅 Thu 21 May | ⏰ 6pm | 📍 Firebird Brewing Co, Rudgwick | 💷 Check with venue Bring a record, play it to the room. A great Thursday evening concept at the Firebird taproom. Read more
🎤 Open Mic Night — The Kings Arms 📅 Thu 21 May | ⏰ 7pm | 📍 64 Bishopric, Horsham | 💷 Free Read more
🎲 Bring Your Own Board Game — The Red Deer 📅 Thu 21 May | ⏰ 7pm | 📍 The Red Deer, Horsham | 💷 Check with venue Bring a game, meet some people. Read more
🎤 Open Mic — The Bedford 📅 Thu 21 May | ⏰ 7.30pm | 📍 6 Station Road, Horsham | 💷 Free The reliable Thursday open mic. Come and play, or come and listen. Read more
🥁 Karaoke Night — The Coot 📅 Thu 21 May | ⏰ 7.30pm | 📍 The Coot, Horsham | 💷 Check with venue Read more
🧠 Quiz Night — Bax Castle 📅 Thu 21 May | ⏰ 8pm | 📍 Bax Castle, Horsham | 💷 Check with venue Read more
🛒 Saturday Market — Carfax & West Street 📅 Sat 23 May | ⏰ 9am | 📍 Carfax & West Street, Horsham | 💷 Free entry Read more
🎶 East Sussex Concert Band — Carfax Bandstand 📅 Sat 23 May | ⏰ 11am–1pm | 📍 The Carfax, Horsham | 💷 Free The East Sussex Concert Band return to the Carfax. A lovely free morning in the sunshine. Read more
🎸 Crowley's Curse: Triumph Takeover — The Plough Inn, Lower Beeding 📅 Sat 23 May | ⏰ 2pm | 📍 The Plough Inn, Lower Beeding | 💷 Check with venue Read more
🎸 Tim Newman — Firebird Brewing Co, Rudgwick 📅 Sat 23 May | ⏰ Check with venue | 📍 The Old Brickworks, Lynwick Street, Rudgwick | 💷 Check with venue Read more
🎶 The Fab Cats — The Malt Shovel 📅 Sat 23 May | ⏰ 8pm | 📍 15 Springfield Road, Horsham | 💷 Check with venue Read more
🎱 Bingo Night — Horsham Brewery Co 📅 Sat 23 May | ⏰ Check with venue | 📍 Horsham Brewery Co | 💷 Check with venue Read more
🛒 Billingshurst Artisan Market 📅 Sun 24 May | ⏰ 9am | 📍 The Great Little Farmers Market, Billingshurst | 💷 Free entry Read more
🎶 Live Music Sundays — The Wheatsheaf, Handcross 📅 Sun 24 May | ⏰ 1pm | 📍 The Wheatsheaf, Handcross Road, Handcross | 💷 Check with venue Read more
🎉 Bank Holiday Party — The M Bar 📅 Sun 24 May | ⏰ Check with venue | 📍 The M Bar, Horsham | 💷 Check with venue Read more
Got an event going down? Share it with us.
🏡House of the Week
A genuinely rare find. Built in 2001 within the former grounds of Wykehurst Park, Carisbrooke Manor sits in an elevated position between Warninglid and Bolney, surrounded by open countryside and accessed via a long driveway through forest and farmland.
The house itself is substantial, a galleried entrance hall, music and drawing rooms with grand ceilings, a main sitting room with an outstanding fireplace, and an adjoining wing housing a full indoor swimming pool and jacuzzi. Five bedrooms on the first floor, including a principal suite with dressing room, conservatory and private balcony. A further two bedrooms on the second floor, plus a vast study and reading room.
Outside, things get interesting. Alongside the outdoor pool and patio, the converted stable block provides four connected office spaces, a meeting room, a studio apartment, and additional storage — with working stables remaining for anyone who wants them. There's also a tennis court, a sand riding school, a triple garage, and a self-contained studio flat above it.
Marketed by Knight Frank. 🔗 View on Rightmove
🍽️ Restaurant Recommendation
Cote Brasserie - Horsham
A reliable French brasserie right in the heart of town on East Street. Côte does what it does well, classic bistro cooking, a smart but relaxed room with marble-topped tables and burgundy banquettes, and a menu that covers all the bases from French onion soup and chicken liver parfait through to moules frites and a decent steak.
With weather like this weekend's forecast, it's also one of the more straightforward choices if you want somewhere dependable in town without any fuss.
📍 1 East Street, Horsham, RH12 1HH 🔗 Book a table via TheFork
🌤️ Weather
This Week's Weather: Horsham District
It's a warm one. Temperatures climb steadily through the week and into what looks like a proper early summer weekend, 29°C on Saturday, 31°C on Sunday, and a peak of 32°C on Monday. If you're heading to the Steyning Festival, Knepp, or simply out into one of the District's parks and nature reserves this half term, the conditions couldn't be much better. Stay hydrated, and maybe dig out the sun cream.
Day | High | Rain chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
Thursday 21 May | 21°C | 10% | 🌤️ |
Friday 22 May | 26°C | 5% | ☀️ |
Saturday 23 May | 29°C | 15% | 🌤️ |
Sunday 24 May | 31°C | 10% | ☀️ |
Monday 25 May | 32°C | 0% | ☀️ |
Did you enjoy this week's newsletter?
As always, you can reply to this email or say hello at [email protected]
Have a great week exploring Horsham District!
