Your Weekly Local Newsletter on everything going on in Horsham District
Thursday, 14th May 2026
Hello everyone,
History was made last week. Seventy candidates, eighteen seats, and for the first time in its history, Horsham now has its own Town Council. The results came in on Friday 8th May, and the new councillors, representing nine wards across the town, will soon formally rename the body Horsham Town Council, picking up where the Neighbourhood Councils left off after more than fifty years of community service. A moment worth marking.
This week is quieter in feel but no less full. The rhododendrons at Leonardslee are still at their absolute peak, Knepp's Friday Night BBQs continue into their second week, and there's a genuinely packed live music calendar spanning the Carfax Bandstand, the Shelley Arms, the Drill Hall, the Malt Shovel, Brolly Brewing and the Firebird taproom in Rudgwick. Saturday night brings Eurovision to the Horsham Brewery, and next Friday the Steyning Festival opens its doors for ten days, worth booking now if you haven't already.
There's also significant news on the local government reorganisation front. A second government consultation has opened, and residents have until 15th June to have their say on what West Sussex could look like in the years ahead.
Scroll down for everything you need, and enjoy a week that feels properly like May. 🌿
📸 Follow us on our Instagram page for updates from across the District - @thehdloop
📰Digest
🏛️ Horsham's First Town Council Elected - Seventy candidates stood for 18 seats on the newly created Horsham Parish Council in the historic election on 7th May. Results were declared on Friday, 8th May, across nine wards. Once formally constituted, it is expected to be renamed Horsham Town Council, giving the town's 22,000+ residents a dedicated local voice for the first time. Read more.
🌿 Neighbourhood Council Chairs Recognised - Horsham District Council Chairman Tony Bevis presented certificates to three long-serving chairs of Horsham's Neighbourhood Councils. Read more.
📋 Government Reopens Reorganisation Consultation - A second technical consultation on local government reorganisation in Sussex is now open, closing 15th June 2026. It covers two potential modifications to the original proposals, including placing Chichester District into a unitary authority alongside Crawley, Horsham and Mid Sussex. Hard copies available from council offices and West Sussex libraries from 19th May. Read more.
🏡Local Business Spotlight
Steve Trott Decorating Services
We've used Steve and his team a couple of times now, and they never disappoint. Most recently, he and his team painted the full exterior of our house, the finish is excellent, and the difference to the kerb appeal is night and day.
Reliable, tidy, and does what he says he'll do. If you're after a decorator you can actually trust, he's worth a look.
📍 Find them on Checkatrade: Steve Trott Decorating Services
🗓️ What’s Happening
Events are subject to change. Please confirm details with the host.
🎶 Summer Entertainment Programme Announced - Friday Lates return to the Carfax Bandstand every Friday from 6–8pm throughout June, July and August, opening 5th June with country Americana tribute 'The Gamblers'. Big Band Saturdays continue through the summer, and Museum Lates return to the Horsham Museum garden on selected Fridays. Read more.
🛒 Thursday Market - The Carfax & West Street 📅 Thu 14 May | ⏰ 9am | 📍 Carfax & West Street, Horsham | 💷 Free entry The weekly Thursday market across the town centre. Local produce, food stalls and traders. Read more
🌿 Spring Walk with the Head Gardener - Leonardslee Gardens 📅 Thu 14 May | ⏰ 10.30am | 📍 Leonardslee Gardens, Lower Beeding | A guided walk through the gardens with Leonardslee's Head Gardener at the absolute peak of the rhododendron season. A rare and special way to experience the estate. Read more
🍕 Horsham Sessions - Monte Forte 📅 Thu 14 May | ⏰ 5pm | 📍 Monte Forte, Horsham | 90 minutes of unlimited pizza, wine, beer or cocktails with great tunes. A brilliant Thursday evening. Read more
🎲 Board Games Night — Firebird Brewing Co 📅 Thu 14 May | ⏰ 6pm | 📍 Firebird Brewing Co, Rudgwick | A relaxed evening of board games at the Firebird taproom, good beer, good company. Read more
🧠 Quiz Night — Horsham Brewery Co 📅 Thu 14 May | ⏰ 8pm | 📍 Horsham Brewery Co | Thursday quiz night at the Brewery. Read more
🧠 Quiz Night — The Norfolk Arms 📅 Thu 14 May | ⏰ 8pm | 📍 The Norfolk Arms, Horsham | Read more
🍔 Street Food — Brolly Brewing 📅 Fri 15 May | ⏰ From 5pm | 📍 Brolly Brewing, Redkiln Close, Horsham | 💷 Check with venue Friday street food at the Brolly taproom.
🍔 Street Food — The Dog and Bacon, Warnham 📅 Fri 15 May | ⏰ From 5pm | 📍 The Dog and Bacon, Warnham | Read more
😂 Comedy Night — Leonardslee Gardens 📅 Fri 15 May | ⏰ 5.30pm | 📍 Leonardslee Gardens, Lower Beeding | 💷 Ticketed A comedy night in the stunning surroundings of Leonardslee. Read more
🛒 Saturday Market — Carfax & West Street 📅 Sat 16 May | ⏰ 9am | 📍 Carfax & West Street, Horsham | 💷 Free entry Read more
🏃 Horsham parkrun 📅 Sat 16 May | ⏰ 9am | 📍 Horsham Park, Horsham | 💷 Free | Read more
📺 FA Cup Final — Chelsea vs Man City | 📅 Sat 16 May | ⏰ 3pm kick-off | 💷 BBC1
🚗 Bugatti Owners Club Visit — Wings Aviation Museum 📅 Sat 16 May | ⏰ 3pm | 📍 Wings Aviation Museum, Horsham | A rare chance to see a gathering of Bugattis at the Wings Aviation Museum. Read more
🎶 Eurovision 2026 Screening — Horsham Brewery Co 📅 Sat 16 May | ⏰ 7pm | 📍 Horsham Brewery Co | 💷 Check with venue Watch Eurovision 2026 with a great local crowd at the Brewery. Read more
💃 Salsa Mondays — The Red Deer, Horsham ⏰ 7.15pm | 📍 The Red Deer, Horsham | 💷 Check with venue Read more
🎪 Steyning Festival - Opens Next Week 📅 22nd–31st May | 📍 Fletchers Croft Big Top & venues across Steyning | 💷 Ticketed Just one week away, the Steyning Festival opens Friday 22nd May for ten days of comedy, theatre, literature, music, walks and more. One of the largest volunteer-run festivals in the UK. Book now before it sells out. Book now
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
Events are subject to change. Please confirm details with the host.
🎤 Open Mic — The Bedford 📅 Thu 14 May | ⏰ 7.30pm | 📍 6 Station Road, Horsham | 💷 Free The reliable Thursday open mic at The Bedford. Come and play, or come and listen. Read more
🎸 Murdoch's Crazy Eyes — Horsham Sports Club 📅 Fri 15 May | ⏰ 7pm | 📍 Horsham Sports Club, Cricketfield Road, Horsham | 💷 Check with venue Read more
🎸 4 Repeats Sake — The Green Dragon 📅 Fri 15 May | ⏰ 8.30pm | 📍 12 Bishopric, Horsham | Live music in the heart of town on a Friday night. Read more
🎸 The King's Arms, Horsham 📅 Fri 15 May | ⏰ 8pm | 📍 64 Bishopric, Horsham | 💷 Check with venue Read more
🎸 Paul Stanworth — Firebird Brewing Co, Rudgwick 📅 Sat 16 May | ⏰ 6.30pm | 📍 The Old Brickworks, Lynwick Street, Rudgwick | 💷 Check with venue Read more
🎸 Legend Has It — The Malt Shovel, Horsham 📅 Sat 16 May | ⏰ 8pm | 📍 15 Springfield Road, Horsham | 💷 Check with venue Read more
🎶 Taygan Paxton / Lucy Diamond — Carfax Bandstand 📅 Sat 16 May | ⏰ 1.30pm–4pm | 📍 The Carfax, Horsham | 💷 Free Afternoon live music on the Carfax Bandstand — a lovely way to round off a morning in town. Read more
🎶 Big Band at the Park Podium 📅 Sun 17 May | ⏰ 2pm–4pm | 📍 Horsham Park Podium | 💷 Free The Big Band series at the Park Podium continues. Bring a chair, settle in on the grass. Read more
🎶 Live Music Sundays — The Wheatsheaf, Handcross 📅 Sun 17 May | ⏰ 1pm | 📍 The Wheatsheaf, Handcross Road, Handcross | 💷 Check with venue Read more
🎸 Musos Bike Show — The Shelley Arms, Broadbridge Heath 📅 Sun 17 May | ⏰ 2pm | 📍 The Shelley Arms, Old Guildford Road, Broadbridge Heath | 💷 Check with venue Read more
🎸 Bronte and Jason — Brolly Brewing, Horsham 📅 Sun 17 May | ⏰ 3pm | 📍 Brolly Brewing, Redkiln Close, Horsham | 💷 Check with venue Read more
🎶 The Saviours of Soul — The King's Arms, Horsham 📅 Sun 17 May | ⏰ 7pm | 📍 64 Bishopric, Horsham | 💷 Check with venue Read more
🎶 The House Band — The Drill Hall, Horsham 📅 Thu 21 May | ⏰ 7pm | 📍 Denne Road, Horsham | 💷 Check with venue Read more
Got an event going down? Share it with us.
🏡House of the Week
This one is properly special. Elenge Plat is a grand 1920s country house sitting on 2.56 acres on the edge of St Leonards Forest, with sweeping southerly views across the valley and not a main road in earshot.
Seven bedrooms, six bathrooms, 6,575 sq ft of beautifully kept space, and it still has all the original bones you'd want: wood floors, working fireplaces, an oak staircase, and pocket doors between the reception rooms. The kitchen opens out to a loggia, and a large stone terrace wraps the rear elevation. Outside there's a tennis court, pond, summerhouse, and a car barn with studio above.
Marketed by Savills, Haywards Heath. 🔗 View on Rightmove
🍽️ Restaurant Recommendation
Terra Restaurant, Tottington Manor - Henfield
If you're after somewhere a bit special in West Sussex, TERRA at Tottington Manor Hotel near Henfield is worth the trip. It's an AA Rosette restaurant set in a manor house with views over the South Downs, the kind of place that feels like a proper occasion without being stuffy.
They use local Sussex ingredients, the menu changes seasonally, and if you want to push the boat out, the Tasting Room does a seven-course menu with paired wines. There's also a dog-friendly lounge and a decent Sunday lunch if you want something more relaxed. Book a table. 📍Tottington Manor, Edburton Road, Henfield
West Sussex, BN5 9LJ
🌤️ Weather
This Week's Weather: Horsham District
A decent spring week in prospect, though not quite the sunshine of last weekend. Temperatures are holding in the mid-to-high teens with some cloud and the occasional light shower, but nothing that should stop you getting out. Saturday looks like the pick of the weekend, mild and mostly bright, well suited to a morning at the Carfax or an afternoon at Leonardslee while the rhododendrons are still at their best.
Day | High | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|
Thursday 14 May | 17°C | 30% 🌤️ |
Friday 15 May | 17°C | 35% 🌦️ |
Saturday 16 May | 18°C | 25% 🌤️ |
Sunday 17 May | 17°C | 30% 🌤️ |
Monday 18 May | 15°C | 35% 🌦️ |
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!
