What's On in Sussex

Bateman’s - Open Garden - Home of Rudyard Kipling from 1902-1936. Kipling planted yew hedges and rose garden, as well as constructing the pear alley and pond. The mill, within the grounds, grinds local wheat into flour
Wednesday 3 Sep 08 - Admission £7.20, Children £3.60 Open for charity.11-4.30
Bateman’s, Burwash  Sussex TN19 7DS   Journey

Moorlands - Open Garden - 4 acres set in lush valley deep in Ashdown Forest; water garden with ponds, streams and river; primulas, rhododendrons, azaleas. River walk with grasses and bamboos. Rockery restored to original 1929 design. The many special trees planted 28yrs ago make this garden an arboretum
Wednesday 3 Sep 08 - Admission £4, Children free Open for charity.
Moorlands, Friar’s Gate, nr Crowborough  TN6 1XF   Journey

King John’s Lodge - Open Garden - 4-acre romantic garden for all seasons surrounding an historic listed house (not open). Formal garden with water features, rose walk and wild garden and pond. Rustic bridge to shaded ivy garden, large herbaceous borders, old shrub roses and secret garden. Further 4 acres of meadows, fine trees and grazing sheep. Nursery
Saturday 6 Sep 08 to Sunday 7 Sep 08 - Admission £3, Children free Open for charity.
King John’s Lodge, Etchingham  Sussex TN19 7AZ   Journey

Rymans - Open Garden - Walled and other gardens surrounding lovely C15 stone house (not open); bulbs, flowering shrubs, roses, ponds, potager. Many unusual and rare trees and shrubs
Saturday 6 Sep 08 - Admission £3.50, Children free Open for charity.
Rymans, Apuldram  PO20 7EG   Journey

CHEQUER MEAD TRADING TREASURES FAIR - A table top sale for those looking for buried treasure and unusual bargains. Stalls are still available - £15 single, £25 double.
Saturday 6 Sep 08 - 10am til 2pm. Admission 20p on the door.
Chequer Mead Community Arts Centre, De la Warr Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex  RH19 3BS   Contact Journey

Ollie Austin and the All Star Band - A full six piece line up performing Country Music songs and popular up tempo numbers, duets and harmonies with solo’s from Ollie and the band performed by these talented musicians. The show has been selling out theatres throughout the UK. A night of true entertainment from a band of hardened and professional musicians fronted by one of England’s best known Country Music performers.
Saturday 6 Sep 08 - 7.30pm. Tickets: £12.50 available from Chequer Mead Box office on 01342 302000. chequermead.org.uk
Chequer Mead Community Arts Centre, De la Warr Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex  RH19 3BS   Contact Journey

Barns Green Extravaganza and St. Nicolas Flower Fstival - We are a very supportive and socially active village community and are celebrating the fact by having a weekend of fun. Slinfold Concert Band and Horsham Accordion Band all day, Live Jive, Vintage Cars, Model Railway, Magic, Bouncy Castle, Face Painting, Hog Roast, FishnChip van, Cream Teas, Sunday 10am Church Service. On the green for fun and games byo picnic, puppets magic Songs of Praise
Saturday 6 Sep 08 to Sunday 7 Sep 08 - Sat 11.30-6pm Sunday 2.30-6pm
Barns Green Village Green  Sussex RH13 0PT   Contact Journey

Ashdown Park Hotel - Open Garden - 186 acres of parkland, grounds and gardens surrounding Ashdown Park Hotel. Restoration work started in 2005 on the walled garden with the planting of herbaceous perennials, roses, lime trees, box hedging and wall-trained fruit trees. A peaceful oasis in the heart of Ashdown Forest. Woodland walks
Sunday 7 Sep 08 - Admission £3.50, Children free Open for charity.2-5
Ashdown Park Hotel, Wych Cross  RH18 5JR   Journey

Stonehealed Farm - Open Garden - 1½ acres overlooking S downs. Contrasting areas offer many places to sit and enjoy: the sheltered courtyard terrace, hidden front garden, shady pond with serpentine bridge, secluded circle, gravelled kitchen garden, new lime walk and walnut grove, and the oak tree deck that overlooks it all. Structural planting enhances seasonal bulbs, flowering shrubs, perennials and grasses
Sunday 7 Sep 08 - Admission £3.50, Children free Open for charity.2-5.30
Stonehealed Farm, Streat  Sussex BN6 8SA   Journey

The Old Post Office - Open Garden - Enthusiastic plantaholic’s garden, meandering through L-shaped plot. Designed to reveal itself in stages with planting for yr-round colour, form and texture. Plants for sandy soil or special areas (bog garden, loggery) incl trees, shrubs, roses, climbers, perennials and bulbs. 2 ponds, potager, hillock with summerhouse
Sunday 7 Sep 08 - Admission £2.50, Children free Open for charity.2-5
The Old Post Office, Coldwaltham  RH20 1LG   Journey

Rymans - Open Garden - Walled and other gardens surrounding lovely C15 stone house (not open); bulbs, flowering shrubs, roses, ponds, potager. Many unusual and rare trees and shrubs
Sunday 7 Sep 08 - Admission £3.50, Children free Open for charity.2-5
Rymans, Apuldram  Sussex PO20 7EG   Journey

Blue Jays - Open Garden - One-acre semi-wild garden with rhododendrons, spring bulbs and mixed summer borders. A small stream and R Arun form the boundary under tall trees. Large WW2 pill box which formed part of the Horsham defence system. Small orchard and vegetable plot
Sunday 7 Sep 08 - Admission £2.50, Children free Open for charity.1.30-5.30
Blue Jays, Horsham  RH13 5AL   Journey

Parsonage Farm - Open Garden - Major garden under restoration and development, now growing to maturity in parts. 5 acres of formal gardens on a grand scale, C18 walled garden, topiary walk, pleached lime allée, tulip tree avenue, rose borders, vegetable garden, trained fruit, lake and turf amphitheatre. Recent developments are the planting of an autumn shrubbery and holm oak avenue
Sunday 7 Sep 08 - Admission £4, Children free Open for charity.2-6
Parsonage Farm, Kirdford  Sussex RH14 0NH   Journey

Kirsty McGee & Mat Martin (+ The Mercury Men) - Sensitive emotional folk influenced professional songwriter who can weave musical spells. Her reputation is constantly growing and the young Mancunian has been touring extensively, playing venues and festivals all over the country. Support: Recent Sony signing, The Mercury Men. An Acoustic Sussex event. £10 advance/£12 door Tel 01342 714810.
Monday 8 Sep 08
The Ravenswood, Horsted Lane, Sharpthorne, nr East Grinstead  RH19 4HY   Contact Journey

CM Lunchtime Concerts: The Morrick Ensemble - Six exceptional musicians from the Morris and Retallick families have combined their talents for this exciting lunch time programme. Their impressive backgrounds include Goldsmiths College, The Royal Academy of Music, Sadlers Wells, Glyndebourne, and The Purcell School for Young Musicians and The Muziek Lyceum in Amsterdam, and most are now based at Michael Hall School in Forest Row.
Tuesday 9 Sep 08 - 1.30 - 2.15pm. Tickets: £4.00, concessions £3.50.Chequer Mead Box Office:01342 302000.Teas and lunches are available from Cuisine Studio - to book, please call 01342 324860
Chequer Mead Community Arts Centre, De la Warr Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex  RH19 3BS   Contact Journey

MORRIS DANCING The last gasp of the 2008 season - Sompting Village Morris will be strutting their stuff with the colour music and fun of the English Morris. Final Dance of the Season
Wednesday 10 Sep 08 - 7.30pm
Ye John Seldon, Salvington, Worthing 

Upwaltham Barns - Open Garden - Unique farm setting has been transformed into a garden of many rooms. Entrance is a tapestry of perennial planting to set off C17 flint barns. At the rear, walled terraced garden redeveloped and planted in an abundance of unusual plants. Extensive vegetable garden. New ideas for 2008.
Wednesday 10 Sep 08 - Admission £3.50, Children free (share to St Mary the Virgin) Open for charity.11-5
Upwaltham Barns, Upwaltham  Sussex GU28 0LX   Journey

Moorlands - Open Garden - 4 acres set in lush valley deep in Ashdown Forest; water garden with ponds, streams and river; primulas, rhododendrons, azaleas. River walk with grasses and bamboos. Rockery restored to original 1929 design. The many special trees planted 28yrs ago make this garden an arboretum
Wednesday 10 Sep 08 - Admission £4, Children free Open for charity.
Moorlands, Friar’s Gate, nr Crowborough  TN6 1XF   Journey

WHOLE LOTTA LED/Led Zeppelin Tribute Show - Whole Lotta Led recreate Zeppelins O2 Arena Gig in London last December. Whole Lotta Led regularly play two and a half hour sets and perform approximately 100 concerts a year to enthusiastic crowds.
Thursday 11 Sep 08 - 7.30pm. Box Office 01342 302000
Chequer Mead Theatre, De La Warr Road, East Grinstead  Sussex RH19 3LT   Contact Journey

Whole Lotta Led - Whole lotta Led will be performing the same set that Zeppelin played at the historic O2 Arena show back in December last year. Keeping the spirit and songs of the legendary Zep alive with their unique energy and stage presence , Whole Lotta led are THE Led Zeppelin tribute band
Thursday 11 Sep 08 - 8pm. Tickets: £12.50, concessions £11.00 available from the Chequer Mead Box Office on 01342 302000.chequermead.org.uk
Chequer Mead Community Arts Centre, De la Warr Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex  RH19 3BS   Contact Journey

Conchord Big Band Charity Concert - The sensational ConChord Big Band returns with classics, swing, ballads and show songs - tributes to yesteryear and today from an 18-strong line up under Musical Director Martin Forward along with vocalists Pam Dabell, Katrina Clark and Nigel Tostevin. Enjoy a great night out whilst supporting the outstanding work of St Catherine’s Hospice!
Friday 12 Sep 08 - 8pm. Tickets: £15.50, concessions £13.50 including programme.Chequer Mead Box Office:01342 302000.chequermead.org.uk
Chequer Mead Community Arts Centre, De la Warr Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex  RH19 3BS   Contact Journey

’music at heene’ - Andy Bearcroft & friends - Brass music from the renaissance to today Tickets £8 (Concessions £6) Telephone: 07017 415503
Saturday 13 Sep 08 - Concert starts at 7.30pm
St. Botolphs Church  BN11 4SG   Contact Journey

Findon Sheep Fair and Village Festival - A free Village festival with Seep show and shearing, Sheep dog Demonstration, Harris Brothers Traditional Fair, Over 100 Craft Stalls, All Day Licensed Bar with Real Ale, Wood Turning, Punch and Judy and many many more attractions. .
Saturday 13 Sep 08 - Saturday from 10.30am
Nepcote Green, Findon Village  Sussex BN14 0SF   Contact Journey

The Manor of Dean - Open Garden - Approx 3 acres. Traditional English garden, herbaceous borders, a variety of early-flowering bulbs and snowdrops, spring bulbs, grass walks, walled kitchen garden with vegetables and fruit, some available for purchase. Asparagus bed. Lawns, rose garden and informal areas
Saturday 13 Sep 08 - Admission £2.50, Children free Open for charity.
The Manor of Dean, Pitshill, Tillington  GU28 9AP   Journey

Broomershill House - Open Garden - 2-acre garden originally created by award-winning designer Fiona Lawrenson for all-yr interest. Herbaceous walk with espaliered fruit on old brick walls; pleached hornbeams, reflective pool, summerhouse, grasses border and decorative vegetable garden. Glorious views to S Downs across meadows
Saturday 13 Sep 08 - Admission £3.50, Children free Open for charity.
Broomershill House, Pulborough  Sussex RH20 2HZ   Journey

Peddle to the Pub (2) - An all day bike ride on the chalk hills of the South Downs. Follow the National Trust warden as he searches for a Ploughman’s Lunch. A helmet and some off-road experience necessary. Bring money for pub lunch.
Saturday 13 Sep 08 - 10.30am - 4pm. All Tickets £3. Black Lion Pub Car Park, London Road, Patcham. Tel:01273 857712
Devil’s Dyke 

33 Peerley Road - Open Garden - Small garden 65ft x 32ft, 110yds from sea. Packed full of ideas and unusual plants using every inch of space to create unusual rooms and places for adults and children to play. Specialising in unusual plants that grow well in seaside conditions. A must for any suburban gardener. Great winter interest
Sunday 14 Sep 08 - Admission £2.50, Children free Open for charity.12-4
33 Peerley Road, East Wittering  Sussex PO20 8PD   Journey

Bates Green - Open Garden - Plantsman’s 2-acre tranquil garden with pond and organic raised bed vegetable garden. April: woodland behind meadow carpeted in anemones; shaded areas incl narcissi, primroses, violets and pulmonaria; tulips in herbaceous borders. July: alliums, hardy geraniums, kniphofias, hemerocallis, grasses, salvias.
Sunday 14 Sep 08 - Admission £4, Children free Open for charity.11-5
Bates Green, nr Hailsham  BN26 6SH   Journey

Nymans - Open Garden - One of the greatest C20 gardens in the country with an important collection of rare plants, set around a romantic house and ruins in a beautiful wooded estate. The garden design incl a pinetum, heather garden, rose garden, wisteria-clad pergola, walled garden, summer borders and massed plantings of magnolias, camellias and rhododendrons
Sunday 14 Sep 08 - Admission £8, Children £4 Open for charity.10-5
Nymans, Handcross  Sussex RH17 6EB   Journey

Park Lodge - Open Garden - ½-acre head gardener’s cottage garden now in its 4th yr of planning and development. New hedges of beech and yew and rose-covered pergola planted to create rooms within the garden. Wildlife pond, chickens, mixed borders, summerhouse surrounded by vegetables and bold display of dahlias. Also open, walled kitchen garden and new glasshouse of Fittleworth House (see separate entry)
Sunday 14 Sep 08 - Admission £2.50, Children free Open for charity.1-5
Park Lodge, Fittleworth  RH20 1JH   Journey

Broomershill House - Open Garden - 2-acre garden originally created by award-winning designer Fiona Lawrenson for all-yr interest. Herbaceous walk with espaliered fruit on old brick walls; pleached hornbeams, reflective pool, summerhouse, grasses border and decorative vegetable garden. Glorious views to S Downs across meadows
Sunday 14 Sep 08 - Admission £3.50, Children free Open for charity.2-6
Broomershill House, Pulborough  Sussex RH20 2HZ   Journey

Sedgwick Park House - Open Garden - Extensive parkland, meadows and woodland of approx 120 acres. Formal gardens originally landscaped by Harold Peto featuring 20 interlinking pools, cascades and impressive water garden known as ’The White Sea’. Large Horsham stone terraces and lawns look out onto clipped yew hedging and mature trees incl rare, ’Champion’ specimen trees. Beautiful secluded rosewalk and colourful borders.
Sunday 14 Sep 08 - Admission £4, Children free Open for charity.12-5
Sedgwick Park House, Horsham  RH13 6QQ   Journey

The Manor of Dean - Open Garden - Approx 3 acres. Traditional English garden, herbaceous borders, a variety of early-flowering bulbs and snowdrops, spring bulbs, grass walks, walled kitchen garden with vegetables and fruit, some available for purchase. Asparagus bed. Lawns, rose garden and informal areas
Sunday 14 Sep 08 - Admission £2.50, Children free Open for charity.2-5
The Manor of Dean, Pitshill, Tillington  Sussex GU28 9AP   Journey

Warningcamp House - Open Garden - Formal garden laid out in 1920s to reflect the Victorian house first built in 1820. Incl kitchen garden and cutting flowers, lovingly restored with working Victorian glasshouse. Formal garden to front of house features scented ’peony and pinks’ walk, rose garden, long borders and parterre
Sunday 14 Sep 08 - Admission £3, Children free Open for charity.2-5
Warningcamp House, Warningcamp, Arundel  BN18 9QY   Journey

Brownbread Horse Rescue Open Day - Arena events, stalls, £7, bouncy castle, archery, twirlers, military & classic vehicles, food, raffle, tombola, horses & donkeys, singers, dancers, Pearly King&Queen, Belly-Dancers; entry £2.50 ea(Children under 10 free) Fun for all the family in beautiful venue. Tel 01424 892381 or email tony.brownbread@tesco.net
Sunday 14 Sep 08 - 10.30 to 4pm
Brownbread Horse Rescue, Brownbread Street, Ashburnham, E Sussex.  TN33 9NX   Contact Journey

A Century of Music and Laughter - The number one Singalong show! Join the Century Company for a wonderful show that takes you on a journey back in time through golden eras that will never be forgotten. Don’t miss this feelgood tour through a century of Golden Oldies and classic comedy. An overdose of nostalgia and classic hits.
Wednesday 17 Sep 08 - 2.00pm.Tickets:£12.50, concessions £10.50.Chequer Mead Box Office:01342 302000.chequermead.org.uk
Chequer Mead Community Arts Centre, De la Warr Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex  RH19 3BS   Contact Journey

Moorlands - Open Garden - 4 acres set in lush valley deep in Ashdown Forest; water garden with ponds, streams and river; primulas, rhododendrons, azaleas. River walk with grasses and bamboos. Rockery restored to original 1929 design. The many special trees planted 28yrs ago make this garden an arboretum
Wednesday 17 Sep 08 - Admission £4, Children free Open for charity.
Moorlands, Friar’s Gate, nr Crowborough  Sussex TN6 1XF   Journey

No Jacket Required - A Tribute to Phil Collins - Back for their now annual visit, No Jacket Required bring their spectacular show to Chequer Mead, featuring the 10-piece band with a full brass section, percussion and backing vocalists, re-creating the excitement of the 80’s & 90’s stadium shows. They play all the Phil Collins hits from down the years,
Friday 19 Sep 08 - 7.45pm.Tickets: £14.50, concessions £12.50.Chequer Mead Box Office 01342 302000. Website:chequermead.org.uk
Chequer Mead Community Arts Centre, De la Warr Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex  RH19 3BS   Contact Journey

The Adventures of Pinocchio - After their superb production of Wizard of Oz, Blue Star Productions make a welcome return to Chequer Mead with Pinocchio - A Super fun show with a serious message. Great larger than life characters and brightly coloured puppets filling the stage, no better way of entertaining children on a Saturday afternoon!
Saturday 20 Sep 08 - 1pm and 4pm.Tickets: £8.50,£7.50 and £6.Chequer Mead Box Office:01342 302000.chequermead.org.uk
Chequer Mead Community Arts Centre, De la Warr Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex  RH19 3BS   Contact Journey

Glynde Food & Drink Festival and 34th English Wine Festival - British Food Fortnight: A weekend celebration of sensational food and drink in an historic and beautiful country setting. Demonstrations, children's kitchen, and the 34th English Wine Festival all form part of this sumptuous feast.
Saturday 20 Sep 08 to Sunday 21 Sep 08 - Times: 10.30am to 5pm. Information: Francis Hampden A weekend celebration of sensational food and drink in an historic and beautiful country setting. Demonstrations, children's kitchen, and the 34th
Glynde Place, Glynde, Nr. Lewes, East Sussex, BN8 6SX  BN8 6SX   Contact Journey

Merriments Gardens - Open Garden - 4-acre garden of richly and imaginatively planted deep curved borders, colour themed using a rich mix of trees, shrubs, perennials, grasses and many unusual annuals which ensure an arresting display of colour, freshness and vitality from spring to autumn
Saturday 20 Sep 08 - Admission £4.50, Children £2 Open for charity.10-5
Merriments Gardens, Hurst Green  Sussex TN19 7RA   Journey

Sandhill Farm House - Open Garden - Front and rear gardens are broken up into garden rooms. Front garden incl small woodland area planted with early spring flowering shrubs and bulbs, white garden and hot dry terraced area. Rear garden has mirror borders, small decorative vegetable garden and ’red’ border. New grit and grasses garden. Home of author and Principal of The English Gardening School
Saturday 20 Sep 08 - Admission £3.50, Children free Open for charity.
Sandhill Farm House, Rogate  GU31 5HU   Journey

Sarah Raven’s Cutting Garden - Open Garden - Inspirational, intensive and productive 2-acre garden with rooms full of annuals and biennials for picking. New vegetable and fruit garden. Extravagant mix of colour and structure: salvias, cardoons, artichokes, brilliantly-coloured dahlias, zinnias, gladioli, cannas, jungly corn and banana foliage
Sunday 21 Sep 08 - Admission £4, Children under 14 free, concessions £3 Open for charity.10-4
Sarah Raven’s Cutting Garden, Brightling  Sussex TN32 5HP   Journey

Shalford House - Open Garden - 10-acre garden designed and created from scratch over last 15yrs. Wonderful hilly setting with terraces, streams, ponds, waterfall, sunken garden, herbaceous borders, productive walled kitchen garden, wild flower meadows with orchids. Prairie-style plantation and stumpery merging into 7-acre woodland.
Sunday 21 Sep 08 - Admission £3.50, Children free Open for charity.2-5
Shalford House, Kingsley Green  GU27 3LW   Journey

Sandhill Farm House - Open Garden - Front and rear gardens are broken up into garden rooms. Front garden incl small woodland area planted with early spring flowering shrubs and bulbs, white garden and hot dry terraced area. Rear garden has mirror borders, small decorative vegetable garden and ’red’ border. New grit and grasses garden. Home of author and Principal of The English Gardening School
Sunday 21 Sep 08 - Admission £3.50, Children free Open for charity.2-5
Sandhill Farm House, Rogate  Sussex GU31 5HU   Journey

Ringmer Park - Open Garden - Densely-planted 6-acre garden created by the owners over the last 20yrs. A formal garden with soft edges, the emphasis is on continuous flowering from spring bulb displays through to Oct, with bold and dramatic blocks of colour. Features incl a striking hot garden, rose garden, pergola covered with roses and clematis and bordered by peonies, double herbaceous borders and much more.
Sunday 21 Sep 08 - Admission £4, Children free Open for charity.2-5
Ringmer Park, Ringmer, Lewes  BN8 5RW   Journey

Oldland Mill Open Day - The windmill, to the East of Keymer, dating from 1703 and being restored, offers mill tours, refreshments and some stalls. The sweeps will turn if wind permits. Admission is free, with a free bus every 20 mins. from The Thatched Inn, Keymer on the junction of Ockley Lane and Grand Avenue. There is no vehicle access except for bus. Old and young welcome but steep steps to the upper mill.
Sunday 21 Sep 08 - 11.00am until 4.00pm
Oldland Mill, Oldlands Lane  Sussex BN6 8ND   Contact Journey

Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick - BBC Folk duo of the year in 2007, guitarist and singer Martin Carthy and virtuoso violin player Dave Swarbrick first became heroes of the British folk scene when they worked as an acoustic duo back in the 1960s, before Swarbrick went off to join the finest line-up of the hugely influential Fairport Convention. Tickets £13 adv/£15 door - 01342 714810 or online
Monday 22 Sep 08 - 7.30pm - 10.30pm
The Ravenswood, Horsted Lane, Sharpthorne, nr East Grinstead  RH19 4HY   Contact Journey

Moorlands - Open Garden - 4 acres set in lush valley deep in Ashdown Forest; water garden with ponds, streams and river; primulas, rhododendrons, azaleas. River walk with grasses and bamboos. Rockery restored to original 1929 design. The many special trees planted 28yrs ago make this garden an arboretum
Wednesday 24 Sep 08 - Admission £4, Children free Open for charity.
Moorlands, Friar’s Gate, nr Crowborough  Sussex TN6 1XF   Journey

Musical Showtime in Seaford - A great evening of live musical entertainment in the company of Tony Stace, playing live! on the Yamaha HX1 electronic organ. All styles performed. Included is a welcome drink of Sherry, Wine or Fruit juice and interval Coffee / Tea. Bargain at £5 / seat Tel 01273 512771 for tickets. GOOGLE "musical showtime" for further details.
Saturday 27 Sep 08 - 19:00 Till 21:30
Barn Theatre, Saxon Lane, Seaford  BN25 1QL   Contact Journey