BROAD SHEEP - DECEMBER 2025/JANUARY 2026

december 2025 january 2026

BROAD

Contents

Small Ads

Hugh’s bit

Architecture

Art

Art workshops

Cinema

Dance

Food

Music

Music workshops

Band directory

Theatre

Word

Grass roots

Holy Hills

Transport

Comp therapies

We take no responsibility for the veracity of the information herein

BROAD SHEEP,

The Fred Bulmer Centre, Wall Street, Hereford, HR4 9HP

Tel: 07786 131159

Email: info@broadsheep.com

Many Hands Music

WAS very chuffed that a good few people got hooked on Itchy Boot’s travels round the world on YouTube, which I wrote about in the October editorial. However, there is one big drawback to spending time on YouTube and that is the very likely possibility of getting seduced by the click bait you get offered (chosen by your personnel algorithm) down the right hand side of the page.

The one that ensnared me this week was a film about a Swedish musician Mattias Krantz who spent 6 months teaching an octopus to play the piano! He started by going down to the local Fish Market and buying an octopus in a plastic bag and taking it to its new home in his aquarium. He then spent a considerable amount of time establishing, with food, a friendship after which he introduced a single piano key for his new friend Tako to play with. From there he progressed to a small waterproof keyboard but although Tako liked it, he wasn’t keen to press the keys.

There then followed months of unsuccessful experimenting with keys that lit up and keys that waggled, keys with plastic crabs (Tako’s favourite nosh) in them, and vibrating speakers, until with a friends help, Mattias constructed a glass tube with a live tiny crab inside that descended the tube every time Tako pressed a key until finally he got to eat it. At this point Mattias got out his guitar and gently strummed 2 chords strum – strum and Tako hit some notes plink - plink plonk and Mattias went ecstatic and ran round the room shouting ‘Tako we have a band’ and finally stuck his hand in the tank for a high five and Tako tried to bite him! I then went searching for other animals who could play keyboards but alas apart from a chicken and a couple of crows nothing was that interesting and all those cats maybe cute but they have no ear for melody. I taught an octopus piano. https://youtu.be/PcWnQ7fYzwI?si=upJkqVurpKGb6WmY

A couple of years ago I tried to persuade Chat GPT to write my editorial for me but frankly what emerged was rubbish and not even that funny. Switch to last week and Broad Sheep’s boss Clare fed Chat GPT a load of information about the mag and told it to write a poem and out popped this epic saga. Here it is just as it emerged with no corrections.

In the realm of the three counties’ embrace, Broad Sheep kicks up art’s vibrant pace. What’s On magazine, a treasure trove, With Clare the mogul at the helm of the grove.

Spoken word echoes with rhythm and flow, Julian O’Halloran champions green, you know. Issues of earth, both precious and true, In a world that we cherish, we’re called to renew.

Nick Jones sketches dreams with architectural eyes, Building our futures beneath open skies. Philosophy dances, wisdom unfolds, With our Philosopher-Residence, ideas bold. Through storms and sunshine, Broad Sheep does roam, Delivered with love, making each house a home. Pete, Mark, Paddy, Max, and Keith on the way, Braving all weather, come what may.

From dance that ignites with passionate fire, To films that lift us, our spirits aspire. Music fills streets, sweet notes intertwine, While theatre unfolds stories divine.

Complementary therapies, a gentle caress, Nurturing souls, bringing calm, no less.

Pete shares his insights, a voice like no other, And Hugh’s bit brings laughter, the joy of a brother.

Sam’s page invites thought, a thoughtful embrace, As Mark Williams reviews with a discerning grace.

Mr. Pernickety, the foodie supreme, Savours each flavour, like icing on cream.

So let’s gather ‘round, let the culture ignite, With Broad Sheep beside us, our future is bright. In every endeavour, together we stand, Creating a tapestry, hand in hand.

I was initially a bit taken aback and immediately replied with a song I had just written for this year’s panto abusing the tech giants and the tidal wave of AI that’s engulfing us. My sister who was visiting at the time read both the poem and my song lyrics and immediately commented Chat GPTs poem scans much better than yours! Thanks a bunch Val. By the way if you would like to see the Presteigne panto ‘Alice Down the Potholes’ in December you need to buy tickets in advance, details on the theatre page.

GUITAR WORKSHOPS FOR WOMEN Taught by Vera van Heeringen. Bringing women together in a friendly and encouraging environment to learn, improve and be inspired. www.guitarforwomen.com veravanh81@gmail.com 0781 052 1234.

EXPERIENCED PROOF READER (modern fiction) urgently sought. 01432 274800.

CLASSIC AND DESIGNER HANDBAGS WANTED URGENTLY. Instant decisions and payment. Will travel. Please Whatsapp or message with photos: Mary 07813 151398.

BABY MASSAGE CLASSES at Ludlow Assembly Rooms (Studio 2) every Wednesday 10.00-11.00 - £8.00 per session (includes massage oil), if interested please contact Mary Hatt on 01568 770100 or email: maryhatt@phonecoop.coop

FIND YOUR TRUE VOICE with Darren Clarke. Free your breath, free your voice! A holistic yet classical approach to singing lessons. Discover vocal freedom through breath work and body awareness. Ages 16 and above. Call 07971 880794 or visit singing.org.uk

LET’S GET IT DONE! Highly recommended woodworker and cabinet maker William Warbrick works on a wide range of projects, from simple shelving to complex bespoke furniture. Free quotations provided. A good range of previous work can be seen at www.williamwarbrick.com Contact:- williamwarbrick@hotmail.com. 07901 741836.

VIOLIN TUITION with Ron Colyer, MusB, MSTAT. I am a very experienced teacher and performer (ex Philharmonia and BBC Symphony Orchestras, soloist and chamber musician), now giving lessons to students aged 5 to 18 in Worcester, Ledbury, Malvern and surrounding areas. Past students have gone on to specialist music schools, conservatoires, and into the music profession. Success and satisfaction in your playing depends on securing the foundations of technique, learning how to practise, and how to listen: and it really can be fun and inspiring! Contact me on 07733 253056, or email alextechwithron9@outlook.com

PIANO LESSONS IN LEOMINSTER Classical and jazz, ABRSM grades or just for fun. Mature adult pupils welcome. Also mentoring help with composition and songwriting. ANDREW MORRIS 07779 380483 andrewjmorris@mac.com

WANTED: Gentlemen’s clothing and accessories –good quality & vintage. Cash paid. Peter: 07980 693980.

VIOLIN/VIOLA LESSONS All styles, all ages, beginners to advanced. Help with composition, theory, aural training. Accompaniment also offered. Ring Tony on 01544 321925 or visit his website: http://camelmusic.co.uk for a CV and more information.

RETIRED PROFESSIONAL PAINTER AVAILABLE for local work. References available. £85.00 per day. Try me. Roy 01547 520164.

GUITAR SETUPS AND REPAIRS. Electric and Acoustic guitars. Based in Ludlow. Neck relief, action height, saddle radius, bridge adjustment, intonation, fretboard treatment, fret levelling, dressing and polish, pickup height, electrics service, electrical screening (to reduce hum), cleaning etc. Friendly professional service, fast turnaround. Can collect. Call 07770 321 904.

APPLE MAC COMPUTER REPAIRS UPGRADES AND TUITION All Apple computers. On site service only. Any distance. Call or Email Lee on 07875 267790 mail@applemacmechanic.co.uk

CO-WORKING SPACE IN LUDLOW Desks available for a few hours, a day, or longer at WorkPlace at the Ludlow Mascall Centre. Includes Wi-Fi, parking, and tea and coffee. Designated desks also available on a monthly basis. Contact director@ludlowmascallcentre.co.uk or 01584 873882 for details.

BEEKEEPING FOR BEGINNERS Interested in keeping bees but unsure of how to start? Our weekend ‘Bee Ready’ courses are run on our family smallholding near Bromyard, and aim to give you the information and confidence you need. For further details please email woodruffbank@ btinternet.com

CHAIR REPAIRS: seats rushed & recaned. Also Danish cord & Habitat sheet cane seats. Paul Richards, 01544 209140. Email - paulrichardsft@gmail.com

PIANO LESSONS IN PRESTEIGNE. All ABRSM grades or simply for fun. Contact Mzia 07981 752405, mziag@hotmail.co.uk

WANTED URGENTLY VINTAGE CLOTHING for male/ female, plus accessories including jewellery, shoes, etc. Also wanted: quality curtains, lace and textiles, even damaged. Plus designer clothing including male/female... tweeds, evening dresses etc. Also unusual items including fans etc. Please telephone: Annie 07798 632247. Teagowns and Textiles. annies.30@hotmail.com

P/T OR OCCASIONAL WORK WANTED Cheerful, fit, educated, mature woman seeks employment. Clean driving licence, DBS checked. Anything considered from office/ business support to house sitting including driving, gardening and dog walking. Phone Katy 01547 520328.

LOST FOR WORDS? Experienced magazine, newspaper and book editor, advertising copywriter, journalist, author and longstanding Broad Sheep contributor can edit, re-write, proof read, research or write from scratch, whatever you need word-wise. Modest fees, quick turnaround. williams.mark1@gmail.com

Tel: 07527 298199. Hay’s Headline Making Independent Music Shop - only a one minute walk from the main car park. Hay’s destination shop packed with pre-loved machine cleaned and new vinyl records, CDs, Books and more.

MUSIC, Backfold, Hay-on-Wye, HR3 5EQ.

VIOLIN & VIOLA LESSONS given by experienced professional in Presteigne. All abilities and styles taught. John Hymas 07969 440183.

PRESTEIGNE POP CHOIR Every Thursday. Contact John Hymas for details: 07969 440183. john@johnhymas.com

BROAD sheep sheep BROAD

check out the website www.broadsheep.com

Advertise in BROAD SHEEP and you will automatically appear in the online magazine as well. Listings are free.

DEADLINE 15th OF THE PRECEDING MONTH

Nearly 5000 Broad Sheep magazines are delivered throughout Herefordshire, Shropshire & Powys.

ADVERTISING RATES FOR BOX ADVERTS 2025

1/16 page

1/8 page b&w

1/8 page colour

1/6 page b&w

1/6 page colour

1/4 page b&w

1/4 page colour

1/3 page b&w

1/3 page colour

1/2 page b&w

1/2 page colour

Full page b&w

Full page colour

£25

£45 - 7.3cm across x 5.5cm high

£50

£65 - 5cm across x 11cm high

£70

£80 - 7.3cm across x 11cm high OR 15cm across x 5.5cm high

£90

£95 - 10cm across x 11cm high

£100

£130 - 7.3cm across x 23cm high OR 15cm across x 11cm high

£160

£220 - Page size 176mm wide x 250mm high PLUS 5mm bleed

£260

If you are making up the advert yourself, please email the advert as a high resolution (300dpi) jpg or pdf attachment.

Alternatively we can make up the advert for you at no extra cost, just email text as a word document and attach any pics/logos, again, jpg or pdf attachment.

To be included on the Food Bytes Directory, Band Directory or Complementary Therapy Directory, the cost is £45 for the whole year.

To be included on the Small Ads Page, the cost is 20p per word. Have Broad Sheep delivered to your door - only £27 for the year (covers p&p).

All cheques payable to ‘Broad Sheep’ Post details with cheque to: BROAD SHEEP, The Fred Bulmer Centre, Wall Street, Hereford, HR4 9HP For more details phone Clare on 07786 131159 or email: info@broadsheep.com

A Christmas Message and a New Year’s Resolution

Scott Fitzgerald: “Draw your chair up to the edge, to the edge of the precipice and I’ll tell you a story” .. and is this how it ends?

In 3 centuries time, when the superbugs have run their course, and the radioactive dust has settled, what will we find? A society of scattered settlements sheltering in the hills, busted back to an earlier age, to pitchforks and horses, bone setters and outlaws, which will inevitably be held together by the usual parasites preaching some rough salvationist religion. Or an automated fascist superstate with every person’s brain chipped and stung by screeching electric pulses for thinking a single rebellious thought. Government drones will survey the new deserts with listless eyes and gun down the refugees. Somewhat different in principle from our sweet-and-sour society, our bromide rewards and mild disappointments. “Mummy took my mobile away”. “We can’t afford the petrol for the Porsche”. “She actually said I was fat!” 300 years from now a row of broken columns survives where Hereford Cathedral once stood. A parallel avenue of stag-headed oaks stands in gappy formation between the Cathedral and the dried-up channels of the Wye. The old bridge is choked with boulders, tree trunks and broken plastic. The bones of the ghosts of Christmas past rattle loose at the weir in the rainbow coloured carcase of a wrecked camper van rocking to and fro in the wind. The oaks still stand in the shifting sands because their roots are far down in the aquifers, but their saplings are doomed.

Even so, now, 300 years before, still we must plant the trees.

A New Year’s Resolution

“To sit in the shade on a fine day, and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment.” Jane Austen

“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home.” John Muir

Sunlight, leaves, birdsong and water; the natural world takes you out of your self, allows you to both find your self and lose your self. We need to get better acquainted with Nature, to reengage with it physically and rediscover the necessary detail of how to care for it, and at the same time restore the natural inward / outward balance of our minds. It’s more than a pretty backdrop and a photo opportunity. Muddy knees and dirt under the fingernails are required to supplement the wonders of arms’ length Attenborough and science & technology. A stroll in the park is not enough to clean the ADHD, OCD narcissism of the city out from your mind, the hall of mirrors and the echo chamber. Nature isn’t just scenery and doesn’t come for free and so it’s payback time in more ways than one. This means you!

Nature’s harsh limits are what shaped and defined our entire constitutions through the millions of years of evolution, including our psychology. The wilderness is our original niche. It’s not surprising therefore that we feel freer in the wild. We dovetail with its limits. At the same time nature’s implacable power used to

prevent us from damaging the ecosystem on which everything ultimately relies. However since the last Ice Age 10,000 years ago we have escaped its control. We now dominate the planet, following the population curve of a plague of locusts, inflicting so much damage that Nature is beginning to wake up and fight back. Severe storms, melting glaciers and extreme heat are just the run-up to the edge of the precipice. Devastating effects like the potential death of the Gulf Stream are predicted. Its absence could cool the British Isles by 7 deg. C. within this century. It last stopped circulating 10,000 years ago and the cold snap lasted for a thousand years. Maybe it won’t happen, and we’ll get +3 deg instead but do you want to take a bet on it? Or you could get back out there and reengage not only with the surrounding landscape but also with your natural self. Apart from voting Green the no.1 priority - effective action to stop oil - is out of reach for the ordinary person out here in the BS area. And protest that is futile is bad for the soul, however morally correct. But planting broadleaved trees is positive action, moral, popular, accessible and good exercise, reconnecting body and soul. It will outlast the effect of any protest by a hundred years. It’s one of the simplest, most effective, cheapest, permanent and most achievable ways for BS-area readers to react to our unhealthy culture. It will restore local bio-diversity, (a mature oak shelters 2300 species) mitigate flooding, (a shelter belt conducts 50x as much water to the deep aquifers as does a sheep field), store carbon, and rebalance your head with your body. It’s therapeutic and joyful, away from the towns where nature’s infinite variety is buried under concrete and tarmac. It is as within your grasp as the nearest spade. This could be your New Year’s resolution - to ask Stump Up For Trees https://stumpupfortrees.org/ for an organisational blueprint and technical advice to start something in your area, or you could sign up as one of our tribe of volunteers. By the end of this winter we will have planted 550,000 broadleaved trees in the Bannau Breichiniog.

Other green organisations that you could join: www. welshwildlife.org/ www.powysgreenguide.cymru https:// hgnetwork.org/about-us/ https://zerocarbon.herefordshire.gov.uk/ https://saveourshropshire.org/eco-groups and those listed on the Broad Sheep Green Events page.

Enjoy the turn of the year! Hugh Colvin

T architecture

Funny folk, firemen

IN DECEMBER, at a prestigious gathering at London’s V&A Museum, TV broadcaster Kevin McLoud delivered the 50th Anniversary lecture of the lead conservation group SAVE BRITAIN’S HERITAGE – a rare honour for the county’s latest celebrity ‘adoptee’, joining TV gardener Monty Don and Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond to decide to live in this county. Bosbury-based McCloud’s track record is impressive: 500 design and refurbishment documentaries broadcast on Channel 4 since 1999 as well as 5 hardback volumes. Before embracing refurbishment and restoration he led a successful lighting design practice, which is credited with a major lighting scheme for Ely Cathedral. Kevin’s ‘hands on’ experience at sustainable self-build, however, proved less successful when a £7.4 million development of eco-houses in Hampshire went belly-up.

The annual SAVE lecture arose from a blockbuster conservation exhibition at the V&A half a century ago, The Destruction of the English Country House, organised by Marcus Binney, John Harris, Dr Roy Strong and Peter Thornton– the first major post-war event to turn the spotlight on the then rapid rate of destruction of the nation’s stock of fine historic mansions. SAVE’s most recent cause célèbre was to try to convince a London planning inspector that Marks & Spencer should be denied permission to demolish its flagship store on Oxford Street so that the cleared space could be developed with…. yet another department store of near-identical ‘site footprint’. Sadly, they lost this one.

New Fire Station There will doubtless be a few Herefordians who will have been shocked this autumn by the sight of Bath Street’s muscular and vaguely Modernist Fire Station being demolished. It survived nearly 70 years. Not everybody liked its great curved concrete columns, but it had almost become a landmark, especially on the Open Days, when its gleaming red appliances were parked on the forecourt. Local conservationists successfully fought off a Council proposal to clear the space for yet another shoppers car park, but Herefordshire & Worcestershire Fire & Rescue Service was adamant that the building was no longer fi t for purpose, citing its high alumina cast concrete floor slabs and metal-framed windows as the two most expensive defects. Defects or no defects, the old concrete-columned fire station took almost six months to be demolished.

Various alternative sites had been proposed and rejected, before Sheffield-based architects Bond Bryan were commissioned by H&WF&RS to design a new building to go on the same Bath Street site, this time a very tasteful all-brick exercise. Though not on the same scale as the new Sadlers Wells performance space at Stratford, It looks as if brick is enjoying a renaissance. It is expected to come into service in early 2027, until which time H&WF&RS is using a unit on the Mortimer Trading Estate.

Many years ago, when I was employed in London as an architectural editor, I worked with a very talented graphic designer (Ian) who lived in the smart north London suburb of Crouch End (known amusingly to its habitués as Couch End, because of the prevalence of shrinks’ practices spread across the borough). Late one freezing Christmas night – well after midnight – Ian and his wife were awakened by muffled cries for help, coming from the street below their bedroom. By the light of a single street lamp on the pavement opposite their house they saw the ‘mummified’ figure of a man, secured to the lamppost by bandages. Ian rushed down to rescue the poor soul, a naked young man in his 20s who had been secured to the lamppost from ankles to neck by (non-adhesive) first aid bandages. They cut the youth free with scissors, wrapped him in a blanket and led him to their house to recuperate by the fire. It seems the man’s ‘incarceration’ was part of the traditional ‘passing out’ ceremony which all newly-qualified recruits are subjected to on being made up to fire officers. Funny folk, firemen.

Nick Jones

Visit Ledbury’s purpose built, intimate theatre with comfortable seats, bar and a warm welcome, for a great programme of original drama, music, cinema and live screenings - see listings for what’s on www.TheMarketTheatre.com

POWYS

King’s Head Books, 45 High St, Presteigne, LD8 2BE

5 - 8 Dec ‘Midwinter at the Old Bookshop’. An exhibition in celebration of shorter days. Featuring ALICE PERCEVAL, KITTY PERCEVAL, PENNY HUGHES, EDDIE LOVELL, ROSIE LEECH, EMMA-JANE WILKINSON, KATHERINE JACKSON, BERNIE CARNEGIE, JUNE COVENEY, CHARLOTTE HEPBURN, DANIEL MacCARTHY, RUTH KIRKBY, FAITH LIMBRICK, SUZANNE NORTON. Work will be in a range of media, including oil paintings, printmaking, ceramics and drawings. Open daily 11am-5pm.

Memorial Square, Hay-on-Wye www.haymarkets.co.uk

4, 11, 18, 23 Dec & 8 Jan Weekly Market.

13 Dec Hay Christmas Fayre. Closed 25 Dec & 1 Jan.

The Globe, Newport St, Hay-on-Wye HR3 5BG 01497 821762

7 & 14 Dec Christmas Craft Fair.10am. Pavilion Mid Wales, Llandrindod Wells LD1 5EY 01597 258118

13 Dec Christmas Market. Local produce, gifts, homemade and handmade. Free entry, 10am-4pm.

Oriel Davies Gallery, Newtown 01686 625041 www.orieldavies.org

13 Dec - 21 Feb ‘Dialogue’. In response to loans from Amgueddfa Cymru including Augustus John, Vanessa Bell, Evan Walters and Matthew Smith. Featuring works by SHANE RHYS JAMES, SUE HUNT, JEANETTE ORRELL, ELERI MILLS, CATRIN DAVIES, ANN THOMAS & ANYA PAINTSIL.

13 Dec - 21 Feb ‘Make now, Think Later!’ ALEXANDRA REINHARDT. Open Tues-Sat 10am-4pm. Rhayader Museum & Gallery, CARAD, East Street, Rhayader LD6 5ER 01597 810561 www.carad.org.uk

Dec & Jan Closed, but will have a winter programme of activities, please see website or social media for details: www.carad.org.uk, FB CARADTimeScape Rhayader.

Radnorshire Museum, Temple Street, Llandrindod Wells LD1 5DL 01597 824513

The museum houses an art gallery with varied exhibitions and events. Open Wed-Sat 10am-4pm.

Hay Castle, Oxford Road, Hay-on-Wye HR3 5DG 01497 820079

13 & 14 Dec Christmas Fair. 30 individual makers, ceramics, jewellery, glass, baskets, food gifts, clothing, photography, paintings and more.

Until 4 Jan RICHARD HASTINGShandwoven wool textiles.

Until 4 Jan RICHARD STUDERprint maker.

5 Dec - 9 March ‘The Art of the Book’. CLIVE HICKS-JENKINS - drawings, paintings and illustrations.

£7.50 castle entry to the exhibition, 10am-5pm.

Wyeside, Builth Wells 01982 552555 Until 17 Dec ‘Colour Therapy’. RED BEKI ART - abstract artist using oil and acrylic. Open theatre times.

Chatwood, Celf gan Osian Gwent (Art by Osian Gwent), No. 6 Long Bridge Street, Llanidloes SY18 6EE 0800 999 1953

www.osiangwent.com

Exclusive and original paintings by Welsh contemporary artist OSIAN GWENT. Luxury works of fine art, paintings and limited edition fine art giclee prints. Open Wed 10am-2pm, Thurs 11am-5pm, Fri & Sat 11am-3pm.

Lion Street Gallery, 6 Lion Street, Hay-on-Wye HR3 5AA 01497 822900 Showcasing artists from Wales and the Borders. 10.30am-5pm daily except Tues, Sun 11.30am-4pm.

The Table, 43 Lion Street, Hay-on-Wye 01497 822802 www.thetablehay.com

Until 20 Dec KAREN BIRKIN. Thurs-Sat 10am-3pm.

The Chair, 10 High Town, Hay-on-Wye HR3 5AE 01497 822802 www.thechairhay.com

1 - 7 Dec ‘Withnail & Others’. MURRAY CLOSE - photographs. 9 - 14 Dec ‘Calm & Vigour’. Explorations in red and green. Featuring SIAN LESTER AND BRONWEN GWILLIM. Private view and talk by the artists, 5pm on 9 Dec. See workshops.

16 - 24 Dec ‘Wild Winter Pop Up Shop’. ALICE DRAWS THE LINE, JESSICA RISING STUDIO, ELIZABETH TERZZA JEWELLERY, EXPERIENCE UKRAINE & BEYOND, RED WHEEL STUDIOS. Gifts, pottery, calendars, jewellery, textiles and more. Thurs-Sat 9.30am-4pm, open late on 18 Dec.

The Hay Makers, 4 Market St, Hayon-Wye HR3 5AF 01497 820556

Please note, new venue!

Until Jan Christmas exhibition. JASON BRAHAM- ceramics, CATRIN DAVIES - stained glass. PENNY WARREN - jewellery. PAULINE ZELINSKIceramics. Mon-Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm.

The Workhouse Studio, Presteigne Industrial Estate 01544 267864

Rare antique carpets and kilims. Plus locally made pottery, art materials, textiles, haberdashery, jewellery, cards and gifts. Cafe. Open Wed-Sat 10am-4pm.

Tower House Gallery, 29 High Street, Knighton LD7 1AT 01547 529530

Gallery, shop, cafe. Open Tues-Sat 10am-4.30pm.

Minerva Arts Centre, High Street, Llanidloes SY18 6BY 01686 413467

Until 24 Dec Christmas Craft Fair. Open daily 10.30am-4.30pm.

Mid Wales Arts Centre, Caersws, Near Newtown 01686 688369

Until 21 Dec Winter exhibition with invited artists including FLORA PATERN, MERI WELLS, MATHILDA PURCHES, JEB LOY NICHOLS, LORAINE MORLEY, GARY GRIFFITHS, ROBERT MACDONALD, NEIL JOHNSON, JUNE FORSTER, RUTH JEN EVANS, LOUISE DIGGLE, ANGELA THORPE, OWEN THORPE, JOHN SMOUT, JENNY FELL, CHRIS PURDY, HER CERAMICS, PAUL CROFT, MARY LLOYD JONES, CATRIN WILLIAMS, JANIE MCLEOD, TERRY LAMBERT, ANDREW LOGAN, JUNKO BURTON, ANDREW LOGAN, SARA PHILPOTT, GINI WADE, ALISON FINNIESTON, JEAN SAMPSON, KAYE HODGES, SUE HILEY HARRIS, JULIE PRYCE, DIANE ROSE, DYLAN GLYN, BARBARA RICHTER & MID WALES POTTERS. Wed-Sat 10am-4pm.

Museum of Modern Art, Tabernacle, Heol Penrallt, Machynlleth SY20 8AJ 01654 703355

info@moma.machynlleth.org.uk

Until 26 Jan ‘Andamento’. ALISON PIERSE.

Until 24 Jan The Tabernacle Collection.

Until 31 Jan Young Welsh Artists 2025. Until 31 Jan ‘Made in Wales’. Sculpture Cymru. Tues - Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-1pm.

Celf O Gwmpas, Centre Celf, Tremont Road, Llandrindod Wells

LD1 5EB 01597 822777

4 - 18 Dec Local emerging artists. Tues-Thurs 9am-4pm, Sat 9am-12pm.

Frogmore Gallery, 20 Frogmore St, Abergavenny NP7 5AH 07474 34887

thefrogmorestreetgallery@gmail.com

Black Mountain Circle makers and artists. 28 craft people, makers and artists. Regular programme of monthly exhibitions and workshops. 11am-4pm.

Ardent Gallery, 46 High St, Brecon, LD3 7AP 01874 623333

A wide variety of artwork. Open Tues-Sat 11am-5pm.

Cheese & Butter Market, Hay-on-Wye 07866 843538

Every Fri & Sat Flea & Vintage Market. Vintage clothing, bric a brac, antiques and jewellery. Open 9am-5pm.

HEREFORDSHIRE

Hellens Manor, Much Marcle, near Ledbury HR8 2LY 01531 660504 www.hellensmanor.com

14 Dec Hellens Christmas Craft Market. Open 10am-4pm.

The Pavilion, Castle Green, Hereford HR1 2NW

19 Dec Christmas Art Exhibition. For all ages and with live music by Jana Light. Open 1pm-5pm.

Grange Court, Pinsley Rd, Leominster HR6 8NW 01568 737980

13 Dec Christmas Fayre with Father Christmas. Over 20 craft stalls, Santa visit from 11am-1pm. 10am-3pm.

Holy Trinity Church, Bosbury HR8 1QT 01531 670634

14 Dec - 4 Jan Bosbury Christmas Tree Festival. A display of decorated trees by village group. Carols and mince pies on 14 Dec, 3pm. Open every day.

Clare Conrad Ceramics, 9 Church Rd, Kington www.clareconradceramics.co.uk

6 & 7 Dec Christmas open weekends. CLARE CONRAD - ceramics. Open 11am-5pm.

Eastnor Pottery, Home Farm, Eastnor, near Ledbury 01531 633886 www.eastnorpottery.co.uk

6 & 7 Dec h.Art special Christmas Open Studio weekend. 10am-4pm.

Made in Ross, Market House, Ross on Wye, HR9 5HL www.madeinross.co.uk

A co-operative of local art and craft makers. Open 10am-4pm.

RidgeBank Contemporary Art Space, 1 High St, Kington HR5 3AX Until 3 Jan ‘Metamorphosis’. An exciting contemporary exhibition of new works by local artists. The show spans subjects from Ovid’s classics through to Morris rituals, queer ecology and cyborg/animal/plant hybrid futures.Curated by Caroline Allen. JESS ALLEN, EPHA J ROE & MAT PRICE - photographs. JANE ASTON, VALERIE STRANGEWOOD, WAYNE SUMMERS & MATILDA SUTTONpaintings. REBECCA BADDELEY, REBECCA FINNEY, JANE O’CONNOR - mixed media. JAMES BURNETT-STUARTsculpture and pottery. IAN PENNELLsculpture and mixed media. RACHEL RICKETTS - paintings and sculpture. DAVID SANDEMAN - sculpture/blacksmith. Open Wed-Sat 12pm-5pm.

Lyde Court, Hereford HR1 3AE 01432 357753 www.lydecourt.com

6, 7, 14, 20, 21 Dec Christmas Market. Bringing with festive cheer, with a selection of local, independent stallholders offering unique gifts, handmade crafts and seasonal delights. Open 10am-4pm, free entry.

6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21 Dec Christmas Grotto, a chanting festive experience for families. 10am-4pm, £12 per child, including a handpicked gift, £3 adults. Booking required.

7 Dec & 4 Jan MOBO Group Super Sunday. Supercars, friendly faces, perfect for car enthusiasts. £5 per vehicle, spectators free, 10am-1pm.

4 Jan Artisan Market, 10am-4pm.

11 Jan Flea Market. Vintage, retro decor and collectables, 10am-4pm.

17 Jan Indoor Car Boot Market, 10am-4pm.

24 Jan Sunday Market. Crafts, vintage goods and local produce, 10am-4pm.

The Courtyard Theatre, Hereford 01432 340555

Until 10 Jan PAUL KINCAIDsculpture.

15 Jan - 28 Feb ‘Sense of Place’. ALLOY, a collective of contemporary jewellers and silversmiths who live and work in Herefordshire. Alloy makers will be running various artist talks, workshops and tours throughout the duration of the exhibition. Alloy Herefordshire CIC, is celebrating 33 years of being a local jewellery and metalwork collective. There will also be contemporary jewellery and metalwork from current and past members shown. Set up in 1993 by Mike Gell, Alloy has been an incubator and encouragement to jewellers and metal-based makers through community, connection and shared workspace. Alloy-uk.org @alloy_hereford Open theatre times.

South Chapel, All Saints Church, Hereford 01432 370414

Until 20 Dec Sale of charity Christmas cards for good causes.

1 - 6 Dec CRAFTY LADIES - handmade crafts ideal for Christmas. 22 - 27 Dec Fairtrade arts, crafts and charity information from Love Zimbabwe. Mon-Sat 9.30am-4pm

Tinsmiths, Tinsmiths Alley, 8a High St, Ledbury HR8 1DS 01531 632083 www.tinsmiths.co.uk

Dec & Jan A unique range of natural fabrics, homewares, stationery and artisan ceramics. Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm. The Forum, 18 Market Square, Tenbury Wells WR15 8EA 01584 810085 www.georginafranklin.co.uk

GEORGINA FRANKLIN - jewellery. Individual contemporary design. Commissions undertaken.

Take 4 Gallery, 30 The Homend, Ledbury HR8 1BT www.take4gallery.com

Arts and Craft gallery run by a cooperative of 22 artists and makers including blacksmiths and basket makers, painters and photographers, sculptors and ceramicists, jewellers and textile artists. Basket maker HELEN MUNDAY, blacksmiths STEPHEN MCRAE and SADIE SNOWDROP STAR, ceramicists CLAIRE BILLINGSLEY, STEVE FREER, RUTH BUSBRIDGE and FIONA O’NEILL, mixed media artists CHERYL HEWITT and HELEN NORMAN, jewellers SAM HEMMING, SUSAN WILKINSON and HAZEL MATHIOT, painters DAVID COPE, IVAN JONES, TRUDI FOGGO and JO DEWAR, photographer CRAIG DODDS, sculptors ALAN RICHARDSON and NICK HELME, textile artists SARAH FREER and DI WEISSBERG and wood turner KEITH BRITTEN. Open Mon–Sat 10-5pm.

Walenty Pytel Gallery & Studio Tour, near Ross-on-Wye, HR9 7SB 01531 634102 walentypytelgallery@ gmail.com www.walentypytel.com

You will receive a printed guide to all of Walenty’s outdoor sculptures in Herefordshire to visit at your leisure. Bronze and original steel sculptures can be purchased in the gallery as well as signed limited edition prints, cards and his book Walenty Pytel Life/Art/ Sculpture. By appointment only.

Bocam Gallery, Space 10, Bastion Mews, Union St, Hereford HR1 2BT 07929 206707 www.bocamgallery.com

Modern contemporary, pop, street art, prints. Thurs-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10.30am-4.30pm.

Old Stable Gallery, Leominster Tourist Information Centre, Corn Square, Leominster 01568 616460

Dec & Jan TERENCE STEVENSlandscapes and seascapes in oils, acrylics and watercolours. Mon-Fri 9.30am-4pm, Sat 9.30am-2.30pm

Wobage Makers Gallery, Upton Bishop, Ross-on-Wye HR9 7QP 01989 720495 www.wobage.co.uk Pots, prints, jewellery, willow and wood. Handmade at Wobage workshops. Part of Forest and Rivers Open Studios Arts Trail and Herefordshire Art Week. BEN CASSON - furniture and kitchenwood. LYNN HODGSON - wood carving and kitchenwood. PATIA DAVIS - slip decorated earthenware and porcelain.

JEREMY STEWARD - wood-fired salt-glazed stoneware and porcelain. PETRA STEWARDwood-fired salt-glazed stoneware and collagraph prints. CLYDE JEFFERSON - willow basketry. CLAIR HODGSON - gold, silver and semi-precious stone earrings. Open Thurs-Sat 10am-5pm.

Greenstage Gallery, Bromtrees Hall, Stoke Lacy, Bromyard, Herefordshire, HR7 4HZ 07977 574383 info@greenstagegallery.co.uk www.greenstage gallery.co.uk Open by appointment.

Mappa Mundi & Chained Library, Hereford Cathedral 01432 374200 www.herefordcathedral.org

Until 21 March ‘Sacred Creatures’. Exhibition by Jeanette McCulloch MA (RCA), that explores the relationship between humans and animals with a focus on British wildlife.

1 - 25 Jan The Mappa Mundi & Chained Library Museum will be closed for essential cleaning and conservation work. Reopens on 26 Jan. 5 Dec Cathedral Treasures: Seasonal Selections. Items from the 12th-20th century that tell the story of the Advent season, 4.30pm, £15 please book.

13 Dec Cathedral Craft Fair. Including CRAFTY LADIES - handmade crafts ideal for Christmas. 9.30am-4pm. Mon-Sat Cathedral Tours 11.05pm & 2.15pm, £6 per person. Selected dates Tower Tours. Contact office for details, £10 adults, £5 for children under 16, £8 full-time students. Mon-Sat 10am-5pm. Gallery 54, 54 High Street, Ross-on-Wye 01989 567917

Dec LEYLA MURR AND LOCO

GLASS. Plus gallery artists featuring STUART ELLIS, STEPHEN RIPPINGTON, JOHN MAXWELL STEELE and TESSA HOUGHTON. Thurs-Sat 10am-4pm.

Weavers Gallery, Church Lane, Ledbury 07881 926661

2 - 13 Dec ‘Designed for Christmas’. Open 10am-4pm, closed Sun.

Old Chapel Gallery, East Street, Pembridge HR6 9HB 01544 388842 www.oldchapelgallery.co.uk

Until Jan ‘Burning Bright’. Winter exhibition. JEMIMA JAMESONpainted wood. BARBARA SHAWtextile collage. TAMSIN ABBOTT - stained glass. HELEN MARTINOceramic sculpture. RACHEL WRIGHT - textile embroidery. SARAH HILL - fused glass. LYN HARRISONstoneware ceramics. DUNCAN WHITE - ceramics. NATALIE THOMAS - fused glass. Plus regular gallery artists and makers. Throughout the year ‘Splendour in the Grass’. Featuring an ever-changing collection of unique sculptures for your outdoor space in a variety of media including stone, bronze & iron resins, ironwork, mild steel, carved stone, glass and stainless steel. Including sculpture by RACHEL RICKETS, MYLES MANSFIELD, ANGELA PALMER, HELEN SINCLAIR and more. Wed-Sat 11am-4.30pm, Sun 12-4pm.

SHROPSHIRE

Bishop’s Castle Town Hall 01588 630023

www.bishopscastletownhall.co.uk

6 Dec & 3 Jan Antiques & Flea Market. 9am-4pm.

Until 16 Dec BOBBY BRITNELL.

20 Dec - 20 Jan Affordable Art exhibition by Tricia & Sue.

24 Jan - 24 Feb CATHERINE JONES. Open Mon-Sat 10am-4pm.

SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle 01588 630321

Dec & Jan BISHOP’S CASTLE ARTS SOCIETY.

Open Mon-Thurs 9am-9pm, Sat & Sun 9am-12pm.

Aardvark Books & Cafe, The Bookery, Manor Farm, Brampton Bryan, Bucknell SY7 0DH 01547 530744 www.aardvark-books.com

7 Dec Aardvark Christmas Fair. Stalls in the barn with antiques, jewellery, vintage, crafts and much more. Live music with Dutch Lewis playing and singing Christmas jazz standards and mulled wine. Free parking and entry, 10am-3pm. Open Tues-Sun and Bank Holiday Mondays 10am-4pm.

Ludlow Assembly Rooms, Mill St, Ludlow 01584 878141

23 Jan - 3 March ‘Art as Light’. FRANCES CLARKE, an esoteric contemporary visual artist and features Giclee prints from her Blue Pearl Series. Mon-Sat 10am-7pm.

Studio & Gallery, Quality Square, Ludlow SY8 1AR 01584 751277

www.abigailhumphriesart.com

ABIGAIL HUMPHRIES - mixed media, figurative pieces and some traditional oil paintings. Open Tues, Thurs-Sun 10am-4pm, Mon & Wed appointment only.

The Gateway Gallery, Chester Street, Shrewsbury SY1 1NB gatewaygallery@gmail.com

Until 5 Jan ‘The Salopian Open’. An open exhibition at the Gateway Gallery welcoming work in all media. Mon-Fri 9am-4.30pm, Thurs until 8pm during term time.

Alice Draws The Line, The Old Forge, Brampton Bryan SY7 0DH www.AliceDrawsTheLine.co.uk Cards, tea towels, mugs, gifts. Open when the lights are on!

The Willow Gallery, 56 Willow Street, Oswestry SY11 1AD 01691 657575

Until 24 Dec Winter Exhibition. Borderland Visual Arts & Cheshire Artist Network.

10 Jan - 28 Feb New Year Open 2026.

An open exhibition, featuring all media. 10am-4pm, closed Sun/Mon. Nina & Co, 10 Church St, Ludlow SY8 2JH 01584 877792

Decorative antiques and vintage. Open 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm.

STAINED GLASS COURSES

With Nicola Hopwood at Brilley (near Hay-on-Wye) Herefordshire

11th - 14th April 2026

23rd - 26th May 2026

19th - 22nd September

24th - 27th October 2026

Long weekend workshops for beginners and those with some experience, in a lively and supportive atmosphere.

Course fee: £300 per person (plus materials)

Please phone 01497 820177 visit www.nicolahopwood.co.uk or email info@nicolahopwood. co.uk

The Artists’ Gallery, Upper Floor, Ludlow Farm Shop (formerly Ludlow Food Centre), Bromfield, Ludlow SY8 2JR 07974 652866

www.theartistsgalleryludlow.co.uk Instagram @galleryrunbyartists Facebook The Artists’ Gallery Artists include SHELLY PERKINS - wildlife artist. PRISCILLA HANNbronze sculpture. KIM DAVIS - wood turning. PAUL BURTON - sculpture in steel, glass and stone. PIP JONESwatercolours. SARAH BILLINGHAMpottery. ALICE SAVERY - watercolour and pen botanicals. LAURA-JAYNE - jewellery metalsmith.

Until 14 Dec MARK GRIFFITHSpottery and Shropshire flowers. SAM HEMMINGS - jewellery. 15 Dec - 11 Jan GARY JONESceramic animals. JENNY BIDDLECOMBE - felted animals. Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm.

Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery, The Music Hall, Market Square, Shrewsbury SY1 1LG 01743 258881 Dec/Jan Archaeology, geology and fossils, decorative arts and ceramics, social and industrial history. 10am-4pm, Sun 11am-4pm.

Castle Square, Ludlow 2, 9, 16 & 23 Dec Tinsel Tuesdays in Ludlow. A Christmas gift market that champions local makers, with hot food and drinks and live music. 9am-4pm.

Art Workshops

Single, dated listings are free. Ongoing workshops, £45 per year. MARCHES MAKERS FESTIVAL 2nd - 4th May 2026. Kington, Herefordshire Applications are now open for the 2026 exhibition. If you are an artist or craftsman living within 20 miles of Kington and would like to take part, please check the website, contact on pippa@marchesmakers.co.uk

STONE CARVING WEEKENDS WITH LOTTIE O’LEARY

Suitable for all ages and abilities. Come and carve something for your home or garden. Cost of £270 includes the stone, all refreshments including scrummy lunches and cake and expert tuition. Maximum 6 on a course, run from Lotties workshop in Knucklas, near Knighton. Courses for 2025 are 4th and 5th October. www.lottieolearystonecarver.co.uk 01547 528 792. Email Oleary.lottie@gmail.com

JAPANESE FLOWER ARRANGING Workshops, half and full day classes, demonstrations to groups/societies, by NOELLA PLASMAN-JONES, NAFAS NATIONAL TEACHER OF IKEBANA (OHARA School).

Gift Vouchers available. Visit www.discovering-ikebana.com or message me on 07379 499984.

KNIGHTON PAINTING & SKETCHING GROUP We meet

Monday daytime at the Civic Centre, Knighton (near the Clock Tower) during spring and autumn terms. We have weekly topics with friendly tuition. All abilities, beginners welcome. Learn at your own pace. Discover new skills and increase your confidence. Own choice of art materials. Contact artist tutor: Audrey Bradley: 01544 350369.

CREATIVE BREAKS

Learn a new skill and explore your creativity with experienced tutors, all based in beautiful countryside with outstanding views and local produce. We offer a wide range of courses throughout the year:- Basketmaking, Upholstery, Felting, Rag Rug Making, Sculpture, Stone Carving, Dichroic Glass, Plant Dyeing, Natural Dyes, Herbal Medicine, Suminagashi, Rush Basketry, Creating a Sketchbook, Jewellery, Glass Fusing, Hand Bloc Printing, Sewing, Stained Glass, Weaving, Linocutting, Painting and Drawing, Japanese Woodblock, Printmaking, Weaving Wire, Woodcarving and Pottery. For full details visit www.creativebreaks.co.uk Make it yourself - take it hometreasure it - or give it with pride!

MOOR HALL STUDIO - BOBBY BRITNELL

Inspirational art and textile related courses delivered throughout the year by highly qualified tutors. Some courses are online and others face to face. Refer to www.bobbybritnell. co.uk for further information and details of all courses. Contact Bobby Britnell on 01547 510664 or email at bobby@ bobbybritnell.co.uk

STONE CARVING WORKSHOPS

Monthly in Llangarron, HR9 6PH. Glenn Morris sculptor leads an informal, friendly group. Suitable for beginners or those with some experience. Tuition, tools, refreshments and safety equipment provided, small piece of stone included in “Beginners Day”. Gift Vouchers available. Contact frances@ artsinthemarches.co.uk 07917 522253

Wed 3 December

WREATH-MAKING/COPPICING DAY

A day of seasonal fun when we coppice willow from our reed beds and use the withies to create festive wreaths, £65 to include vegetarian lunch. Hellens Manor, Much Marcle, near Ledbury, 10am-3pm, 01531 660504, www.hellensmanor.com

Sat 6 & Wed 10 December

CHRISTMAS WREATH MAKING WORKSHOP

Make a large wreath to take home using natural materials. Eaton Barn, Stoke Prior Lane, near Leominster, HR6 0NA, Sat 10am-1pm, Wed 6pm-9pm. £40pp includes cheese and chutney, nibbles, festive drinks and all materials. Booking essential, 01568 620307 or email joyce.parr@echoherefordshire.co.uk

Sat 6 December

WREATH MAKING WORKSHOP

Spaces available for 5pm session. Montgomery Town Hall. Contact Lucie 07841 673801. www.montgomerytownhall.uk

Sat 6 December

MAKE AND TAKE SESSION

‘Wall-Hanging with pockets to contain seasonal poems’, 1.30pm. St Mary’s Church, Much Cowarne, HR7 4JQ, £5 per session, to book email blloyd699@gmail.com

Mon 8 & Tues 9 December

CHRISTMAS WREATHMAKING WORKSHOP

With Debbie Coplans. Castle House Hotel, Hereford, 10.30am, £85 includes workshop, coffees, mulled wine and two-course lunch, 01432 356321.

Thurs 11 December

FLOWER ARRANGING SOCIETY

‘Tis The Most Wonderful Time of The Year!’ With demonstrator Sionedd Hughes. Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7pm, £15, 01873 850805.

Sat 13 & Sun 14 December

DROP IN WORKSHOPS

13 Dec - Family drop-in Workshop. Safely melt plastic lids to make exciting Christmas decorations, 10am-12pm, £5pp. 14 Dec - Adult Drop-in workshop. Textile art exploring shapes and colour from natural dyes, 10am-12pm, £10pp. The Chair, 10 high Town, Hay-on-Wye, 07969 630191 or email caurcylch@gmail.com

Sat 13 & Sun 14 December

MEET FATHER CHRISTMAS

Plus enjoy some hands on holiday crafts. The Old House, High Town, Hereford, £8.50, please book online at Hereford Museums.

Mon 22 December

FESTIVE FILM & MAKING WORKSHOP

Under 8s’ must be accomanied. 10.30am-12.30pm, £3.50 per child, £6 for two, adults free, but please book. Dungeons & Dragons Festive one shot. For ages 11+, 2pm-5pm, under 18s £4, adults £10. SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle, 01588 638038.

Tues 13 January COFFEE & CAKE DECORATING

Decorate your cake (serves 4-5) to take home and enjoy. Coloured icing provided. The Courtyard, Hereford, 11.30am, 01432 340555.

January MID BORDER ARTS CHILDREN’S PROGRAMME

3 Jan - Insect Puppet Workshop for ages 7+, 10.30am-12pm. 4 JanCreate your own Comic for ages 7-14, 10am-12.30pm (a series of six Sunday sessions). Presteigne Assembly Rooms, further details and registration email info@midborderarts. com

Thurs 15 & Fri 16 January INTRODUCTION TO THROWING PORCELAIN

With Jo Davies (maximum 4 students). two day workshop. Cabalva Pottery, Whitney on Wye, £550 to include all clay, tools, tuition and light lunch, www.jo-davies.com

December & January SHROPSHIRE HILLS DISCOVERY CENTRE

1 Dec Girls Youth Group for ages 9-14. ‘Making Christmas Wreaths’, 5.30pm7pm. 13 Dec - Mammoth Santa Trail, interactive trail through this exhibition as you search for Santa, slots between 10am-4pm, £10 per child, includes exhibition admission and one free adult per child, meet Santa and receive a gift. Booking essential. 22 - 30 Dec & 2 - 5 Jan - Discover Winter Holiday Club - HAF Programme, highlights include arts and crafts, creative activities, outdoor adventure, snack and lunch for ages 4-11 years, 9am-1pm. Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms, 01588 676060.

December & January MID WALES ARTS CENTRE

13 Dec & 10 Jan - Life Drawing Class, 10am-1pm, £20, students £16. Every Wed - Talking Art, artists talk about their work, 2-4pm, free. Every Wed - Print Skills Club, 6.30pm-9pm, £20. Weekly Pottery Club, Thurs 2-4pm & 7pm-9pm (term time), £15, students £10. Fri 11am-1pm & 2-4pm, £15, students £12. 13 Dec & 17 JanFamily Pottery, 2.30pm-4.30pm, £15, children £10, booking essential. Mid Wales Arts Centre, Caersws, Newtown, 01686 688369.

December & January ORIEL DAVIES GALLERY

21 Dec Mindful Making. Festive Star Workshop for Winter Solstice. Please book. Check the website for upcoming events. Oriel Davies Gallery, Newtown, 01686 625041, www.orieldavies.org

December & January HEREFORD COLLEGE OF ARTS WORKSHOPS & COURSES

13 Dec - One-day creative workshops for beginners. (Glass-fusing, Copper Etching, Creative Writing, Crochet, Bookbinding, Silversmithing). 12 Jan - Printmaking Intermediate Short Course. 10 week short course, 10.30pm-4pm. 13 Jan - Ceramics Beginners Short Course. 10 week course, 6.30pm-9pm. 13 JanSilversmithing Beginners 10 Week Short Course, 6.30pm-9pm. 13 Jan - Creative Writing 10 Week Short Course, 6.30pm-9pm. 13 Jan - Printmaking Beginners 10 Week Short Course, 6.30pm-9pm. 13 Jan - Songwriting and Music Production 10 Week Short Course, 6.30pm-9pm. 13 Jan - Photography and Videography 10 Week Short Course, 6.30pm-9pm. 14 Jan - Ceramics Intermediate 10 Week Short Course, 6.30pm-9pm. 14 Jan - Silversmithing Intermediate 10 Week Short Course, 6.30pm-9pm. 14 Jan - Bookbinding 10 Week Short Course, 6.30pm-9pm. 16 Jan - Introduction to Drawing 8 Week Short Course, 10am-12.30pm. 16 Jan - Portraitrure 8 Week Short Course, 1.30pm-4pm. All at Hereford Art College, Folly Lane and College Road Campus, Hereford, please book online www.hca.ac.uk 01432 273359.

December & January MEDITATIVE ART WORKSHOPS Courses on Wed (12-16 year olds, 6.30pm-8pm). Sat (adults) 10.30am-12pm. Art tuition, guided meditation, bring simple attention into colour and mark-marking. With art tutor Sophia Quinto. SY8 Studios, Ludlow, 0744 955 4938, www.sophiaquinto.com

December & January CUP CERAMICS

Mon - Creative Youth Group - Free group for 11 - 16 year olds. Explore your creativity through clay, drawing, painting in the company of open minded creative people. 4 DecBauble Making Evening - join us for an evening of bauble making and decorating with family and friends - £50. 6 Dec - Wassail Cup Making - make a wassail cup at CUP in partnership with Bartonsham Big Apple. 5 Jan - 10 Week Ceramics for All Course - 6.30pm-9pm this course is ideal for you if you are looking for an extensive introduction to throwing and hand building or just to refresh rusty skills - £350. 8 Jan - 4 week Glaze Science Course - Come along and get to grips with the basic how tos of mixing your own glazes - £140. 11 Jan - Pottery Taster Course - 10.00 - 12.30 - £55 (price includes 2 fired and glazed pots). 31 Jan - One day Intensive Pottery Course£125 (price includes 4 fired and glazed pots and lunch). 10 Foley Trading Estate, Hereford. Bookings via the website www.cupceramics.com

December & January SIDNEY NOLAN TRUST

MAKE - Weekly Art Club for 7-11 years. Presteigne Youth Centre, 3.30pm, free. - Cultivate - Monthly Youth Arts Programme for 11-18 years, 10am-2pm, free. Sidney Nolan Trust, The Rodd, Presteigne, www.sidneynolantrust.org

December & January EASTNOR POTTERY

INTRO TO THE POTTERS WHEEL £60 per person. Perfect indoor activity for individuals, couples and small groups. 1.5 hr sessions take place 5, 13, 20 December and 9, 17, 23, 31 January. Please check availability and book online https://eastnorpottery.co.uk/experiences/potters-wheel-intro-class. POTTERS WHEEL COURSES 6 December and 10, 14, 24 January. Day £180 per person. Spend the day relaxing and creating pots on the potter’s wheel. Please book online https://eastnorpottery.co.uk/ experiences/potters-wheel-day-course/ Eastnor Pottery, Home Farm, Eastnor, near Ledbury. Check and book online, www.eastnorpottery.co.uk admin@eastnorpottery. co.uk or 01531 633886.

December & January BLEDDFA CENTRE

Last Fri of each month - New Accessible Art Sessions. Friendly, creative workshops that support health and wellbeing. All ages and abilities welcome. The sessions are Dementia and memory issues-friendly, carers welcome, 11am-2pm, £5. Bleddfa Centre, near Knighton, 01544 260149.

December & January SHREWSBURY MUSEUM & ART GALLERY

First Fri of every month until 5 Dec - Home Educators. Hands on history, science and art workshops for ages 7-11 years, 10.30am-12pm. Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery, Market Square, Shrewsbury, 01743 258881.

December & January HEREFORD CATHEDRAL

11 Dec - 10 Jan Nativity Family Trail. Collect your free trail from the Welcome Desk to explore the building and collect a sticker once your’ve completed the worksheet. 16 Dec, 13 & 27 Jan - Lego Club, 3.40pm-5pm, free, no need to book. Thurs (term time) - Cathedral Seedlings new toddler group for ages 1-3 years, 10am-11.30am. Hereford Cathedral, 01432 374202 www.herefordcathedral.org

January, February & March ONLINE ART COURSESABERYSTWYTH

15 Jan - NHI: Seedheads and their Dispersal, £80. 22 Jan - Illustrating Domestic Animals, £140. 29 Jan - Further Digital Drawing and Painting, £140. 19 Feb -NHI: Collectors and Collections, £140. 20 Feb - NHI: Succulents, £80. 19 March - Painting Pollinators, £140. 19 March Abstracting the Landscape, £140. 19 March - Illustrating the effects of Climate Change, £140. All online short courses running over several weeks. Lifelong Learning, Aberystwyth University. Details 01970 621580, www.ac.uk/learning

January, February & March ART COURSESABERYSTWYTH

13 Jan - Express Yourself Drawing, £140 (held in Newport, Pembrokeshire). 26 Jan - Cosetry: Breathe in, £160. 10 Feb - Woodland Landscapes, £140. 11 Feb - Botanical Illustration 2, £140. 3 March - Towards Abstraction, £140. 28 March - NHI: Mosses Lichen Liverworts, £80.

8 April - Paperclay: Pushing Boundaries, £140. 13 April - Introduction to Printmaking, £170. All short courses running over several weeks and held in Aberystwyth. Lifelong Learning, Aberystwyth University. Details 01970 621580, www.ac.uk/learning

January, February & March ALICE DRAWS THE LINE 16 Jan - Modern Calligraphy with dip pen, 10am-12pm. 9 Jan - Beginner’s Botanical Watercolour, 10am-12pm. 30 Jan & 25 Feb - Draw the Line (beginner’s drawing workshop), 10am-12pm. 21 Jan, 6 Feb & 10 MarchBrush Lettering (modern calligraphy with paintbrush and ink, 10am-12pm, March date 3pm-5pm. All at The Old Forge, Brampton Bryan, SY7 0DH, each workshop £40 and booked via www.alicedrawstheline.co.uk

2026

STAINED GLASS COURSES

With Nicola Hopwood. Long weekend workshops for beginners and those with some experience, in a lively and supportive atmosphere. Brilley, near Hay-on-Wye. 11-14 April, 23-26 May, 19-22 Sept and 24-27 Oct. £300 per person including materials, 01497 820177, www.nicolahopwood.co.uk

Tuesdays DRINK AND DRAW Weekly life drawing group for all abilities. Bring your own materials and just turn up. Upstairs at The Green Dragon Hotel, Broad St, Hereford, 7-9.20pm, £8, 07587 192495.

and History

– with a cast of venerable British thesps including Ralph Fiennes, Roger Allam and Simon Russell-Beale, The Choral could hardly fail to entertain, and neither does it. Evocatively set in 1916 when many of the men in a Yorkshire mill town are off to fight the Hun, the local choral society finds itself scrabbling for male singers and also a choirmaster. Despite unease about his sexuality and German affiliations, the board reluctantly hire Dr Guthrie (Fiennes, on top post - Conclave form) to fulfil that role and against the backdrop of conscription and much tut-tutting he begins the difficult process of finding new recruits and knock them into shape for a performance of Elgar’s Dream Of Gerontius. Even if you dislike choral music there are enough sly Bennett jokes and winning performances to leave you smiling and with a distinct spring in your step.

Reviews by Mark Williams

9 & 11 Dec PLAY IT AGAIN YURI (PG) plus Focus Throw (short)

8 Dec BAREFOOT IN THE PARK (1967) (PG) Robert Redford

Retrospective

9 Dec BUTCH CASSIDY & THE SUNDANCE KID (1969) (PG)

Robert Redford

Retrospective

4 -12 Dec ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN (15) Robert Redford

Retrospective

11 Dec MONSIEUR AZNOAVOR (15)

12 - 18 Dec THE ICE TOWER (LA TOUR DE GLACE) (15)

15 Dec THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (U)

18 Dec DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE (PG)

18 Dec WHITE CHRISTMAS (U)

19 Dec - 8 Jan WICKED: FOR GOOD (ctbc)

26 Dec - 3 Jan ZOOTROPOLIS 2 (PG)

2 - 8 Jan BLUE MOON (15)

2 - 15 Jan NUREMBERG (15)

5 & 8 Jan 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU (1999) (12A) Shake it Up Season

7 & 8 Jan ALPHA (15)

10 Jan SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959) (U)

9 Jan - 14 Feb ELEANOR THE GREAT (12A)

9 - 15 Jan SENTIMENTAL VALUE (15)

9 - 22 Jan MARTY SUPREME (ctbc)

ALBERT HALL, LLANDRINDOD

9 Dec HOME ALONE

10 Dec WHITE CHRISTMAS

15 Dec NATIVITY!

17 Dec POLAR EXPRESS

23 Dec JINGLE ALL THE WAY

Full details see website. The Albert Hall, Llandrindod Wells, 0300 1022 4255, www.thealberthall.co.uk

ASSEMBLY ROOMS, LUDLOW

6 Dec THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL

14 Dec LOVE ACTUALLY

21 Dec IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

Assembly Rooms, Mill St, Ludlow, 01584 878141

BLAKE THEATRE, MONMOUTH

13 Dec WALLACE & GROMIT: THE WRONG TROUSERS With The Cory Brass Band accompaniment, 3pm. Blake Theatre, Almshouse St, Monmouth NP25 3XP 01600 719401

BOROUGH, ABERGAVENNY

15 Jan SUNDAY IN HELL

With introduction and Q&A by William Fotheringham. Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7pm, 01873 850805.

BRECON FILM SOCIETY

8 Dec EN FANFARE / THE MARCHING BAND (15)

5 Jan WILDING (PG)

2 Feb MY FAVOURITE CAKE (12A)

7.30pm, Brecon Coliseum Cinema, Wheat St, Brecon. 01874 620642 BRYCHEINIOG, BRECON

11 Dec SCROOGE (1951)

Film with the sounds of a newly orchestrated live score, performed by the three-piece FB Pocket Orchestra, 7.30pm. Theatr Brycheiniog, Canal Wharf, Brecon 01874 611622

CONQUEST, BROMYARD

2 Jan DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE

Conquest Theatre, Bromyard. 01885 488575

COURTYARD, HEREFORD

Until 11 Dec THE CHORAL (12A)

Until 2 Dec BUGONIA (ctbc)

2 Dec MANON DES SOURCES (PG)

8 Dec PAPRIKA (15) Radix film

Until 4 Dec THE MASTERMIND (12A) Until 4 Dec AFTER THE HUNT (15)

7 & 11 Dec DIE MY LOVE (ctbc)

10 - 21 Jan FIUME O MORTE! (ctbc) International Film Festival Rotterdam winner.

16 & 20 Jan THE THING WITH FEATHERS (ctbc)

16 - 21 Jan ANEMONE (15)

16 - 22 Jan SONG SUNG BLUE (ctbc)

17 Jan GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE: THE MOVIE (U)

22 Jan THE RAILWAY CHILDREN (1970) (U)

23 Jan - 5 Feb HAMNET (12A)

24 - 28 Jan ELLA MCCAY (ctbc)

26 & 27 Jan MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO (15) Shake it Up Season

30 Jan - 3 Feb THE HOUSEMAID (ctbc)

30 Jan - 5 Feb CHRISTY (ctbc)

31 Jan THE LION KING (1994) (U) Shake it Up Season

2 & 4 Feb FORBIDDEN PLANET (1956) (U) Shake it Up Season

11 & 12 Feb RAN (1985) (15) Shake it Up Season

The Courtyard Theatre, Edgar St, Hereford 01432 340555

THE EDGE ARTS CENTRE

1 Dec THE BOOKSHOP (PG)

8 Dec THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS (PG)

5 Jan THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND (12A)

8 Jan THE OLD OAK (15)

12 Jan ATONEMENT (15)

19 Jan FOUR LETTERS OF LOVE (12A)

26 Jan SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE (12A)

5 Feb SILENT SYNCHED (U)

R.E.M. X Buster Keaton’s Sherlock Jr. Pairs classic silent movies with epic rock music.

The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock 01952 728911

FIVE VILLAGES FILM FEST.

31 Jan A PRIVATE FUNCTION (15) Pauntley VH, 6.15pm

7 Feb ISLE OF DOGS (PG) Linton VH, 6.15pm

14 Feb THE WAY WE WERE (PG) Huntley VH, 2.15pm

19 Feb MRS LOWRY & SON (PG)

Gorsley VH, 6.15pm

27 Feb SHOPLIFTERS (15) Cliffords Mesne VH, 6.15pm £5 per film. Book online TicketSource. co.uk/FiveVillagesFilmFestival and availabe at usual village outlets

1 Dec LAST CHRISTMAS (12)

Welshpool Assembly Room 01938 552043

1 Dec THE BOOKSHOP (PG) The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock 01952 728911

2 Dec THE PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE (15) Lydbury North VH 01588 680302

3 Dec MR BURTON (12A) Market Theatre, Ledbury 07967 517125

3 Dec ROBOT DREAMS (PG) Phoenix Theatre, Ross on Wye 07789 778048

3 Dec MR BURTON (12A) Cardington VH 01694 771295

4 Dec THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND (12A) Lindridge Parish Hall 01584 881615

4 Dec THE ROSES (15) SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle 01588 638038

4 Dec OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH (PG) Pudleston VH 07979 747939

4 Dec BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY (15) Brilley VH 01544 327227

Having just moved from Manhattan, heavily pregnant Grace (Jennifer Lawrence) and husband Jackson (Robert Pattinson) find it difficult to cope in an isolated house in rural Montana especially after the baby is born and Grace’s initially whacky charm descends into, well, madness and illusion. In arguably her best performance since American Hustle, Oscar winner Lawrence delivers an extraordinary and mesmerising performances, and bettering his role as Mickey 17 Pattinson is her no-nonsense, increasingly frustrated but loving foil. Aiding the two stars are a standout Sissy Spacek at Jackson’s quasi-philosophical mother – “women always go a bit mad after childbirth” – and a grizzled Nick Nolte as his uncle but this is really Lawrence’s film just as Tilda Swinton was in director/co-writer Lynne Ramsay’s equally challenging We Need To Talk About Kevin

And if weird, wry and wonderful are your cup of cinematic tea, also don’t miss BUGONIA by quixotic director Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite, Lobster, Alps etc) with an outstanding Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons.

5 Dec THE BRUTALIST (18) Knighton Community Centre 07964 023841

5 Dec THE PENGUIN LESSONS (12A) Fownhope New Memorial Hall 01543 860567

5 Dec THE PENGUIN LESSONS (12A) Market Theatre, Ledbury 07967 517125

5 Dec IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (U) Sarn VH 01686 671105

6 Dec A COMPLETE UNKNOWN (15) Lady Emily Hall, Tarrington 01432 890720

6 Dec BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY (15) Ombersley Memorial Hall 01905 620350

6 Dec THE CRITIC (15) Callow End VH 0333 666 3366

6 Dec OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH (PG) Chapel Lawn VH 07789 728812

7 Dec A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1984) (U) All Stretton VH 07812 583113

7 Dec UN HOMME ET UNE FEMME (PG) Studio One, Malvern Theatres 01684 892277

8 Dec THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS (PG) The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock 01952 728911

9 Dec THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND (12A) Bedstone & Hopton Castle VH 01547 530282

10 Dec SEPTEMBER 5 (15) Hope Bowdler VH 01694 721376

11 Dec BLACK BAG (15) Silvester Horne Institute, Church Stretton 07429 237955

11 Dec MR BURTON (12A) Much Birch Community Hall 01981 540097

11 Dec A REAL PAIN (15) Leintwardine Community Centre 07572 442903

12 Dec BLACK BAG (15) Bosbury Parish Hall 01531 640333

12 Dec BLACK BAG (15) Market Theatre, Ledbury 07967 517125

12 Dec THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND (12A) Great Witley VH 01299 896412

12 Dec PADDINGTON IN PERU (PG) Marton VH 01743 792790

12 Dec PADDINGTON IN PERU (PG)

The Simpson Hall, Burghill 07726 148736

12 Dec BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY (15) All Stretton VH 07812 583113

12 Dec ANORA (18) Clungunford VH 01588 660159

13 Dec THE GRINCH (2019) (PG) Lyde Court, Hereford 01432 357753

13 Dec HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (2025) (PG) Bettws-y-Crwyn Parish Hall 01588 640233

13 Dec WONKA (PG) Bayston Hill Memorial Hall 01743 872096

13 Dec THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND (12A) Cawley Hall, Eye 07771 798712

13 Dec LOVE ACTUALLY (15) Church & Chetwynd Aston VH 01952 813234

14 Dec HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (PG) Ombersley Memorial hall 01905 620350

16 Dec FOUR LETTERS OF LOVE (12A) SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle 01588 638038

16 Dec THE HOLDOVERS (15) Ellesmere Comrades Club 01691 622419

16 Dec THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND (12A) Acton Scott VH 07485 655898

16 Dec BLACKBIRD BLACKBIRD BLACKBERRY (15) All Stretton VH 07812 583113

17 Dec A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1984) (U) Eaton Constantine VH gmdawes@ btinternet.com

18 Dec MR BURTON (12A) Kinnerley Parish Hall 01691 683619

18 Dec BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY (15) Pencombe & Little Cowarne Parish Hall 07960 726717

18 Dec A BUNCH OF AMATEURS (15) Almeley VH 07913 992911

19 Dec THE POLAR EXPRESS (U) Lyde Court, Hereford 01432 357753

19 Dec A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1984) (U) Ryton VH 07835 928069

19 Dec CONCLAVE (12A) Knighton Community Hall 07964 023841

19 Dec THE PENGUIN LESSONS (12A) Colwall VH 07891 668124

20 Dec THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (PG) Leominster Community Centre 01568 616411

20 Dec GREASE (PG) Cleobury Mortimer Parish Hall 01299 270047

21 Dec ELF (PG) Claverley VH 07967 540531

22 Dec THE HOLDOVERS (15) Coalbrookdale & Ironbridge Community Centre gorgefilmclub@ gmail.com

27 Dec FLY ME TO THE MOON (12A) Everest Hall, Llanfair Waterdine 07810 393163

30 Dec HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (2025) (PG) Mayfair Community Centre, Church Stretton 01694 722077

5 Jan THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND (12A) The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock 01952 728911

8 Jan BRIEF ENCOUNTER (PG) Leintwardine Community Centre 07572 442903

8 Jan THE OLD OAK (15) The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock 01952 728911

10 Jan PERFECT DAYS (PG) Lady Emily Hall, Tarrington 01432 890720

10 Jan PADDINGTON IN PERU (PG) Bayston Hill Memorial Hall 01743 872096

10 Jan FINDING YOUR FEET (12) Yarpole Parish Hall 01568 780250

12 Jan ATONEMENT (15) The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock 01952 728911

13 Jan OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH (PG) Leintwardine Community Centre 07572 442903

14 Jan THE PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE (15) Diddlebury VH 07396 730342

15 Jan THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND (12A) Norbury VH 07929 366745

15 Jan DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE (PG) SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle 01588 638038

16 Jan MUFASA - THE LION KING (PG) Marton VH 01743 792790

17 Jan WE BOUGHT A ZOO (PG) Everest Hall, Llanfair Waterdine 07810 393163

17 Jan THE PENGUIN LESSONS (12A) Upton upon Severn Memorial Hall 01684 592273

17 Jan A REAL PAIN (15) Little Witley VH 01886 888122

19 Jan FOUR LETTERS OF LOVE (12A) The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock 01952 728911

22 Jan A REAL PAIN (15) Much Birch Community Centre 01981 540097

23 Jan MR BURTON (12A) Clungunford VH 01588 660159

26 Jan SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE (12A) The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock 01952 728911

29 Jan HOLY COW (15) Grimley Peace Hall, Sinton Green 01905 641572

THE GATEWAY CINEMA

6 Dec THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (U)

13 Dec THE POLAR EXPRESS (U)

The Gateway Cinema, Upper Ground Floor, Labels Shopping, Ross-on-Wye 01989 552166, www.thegatewaycinema.co.uk

THE HAFREN, NEWTOWN

17 Dec THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS

15 Jan 2025 BRITROCK FILM TOUR Climbing and adventure films.

28 Jan THE PENGUIN LESSONS The Hafren, Newtown, 01686 948100

LYDE COURT, HEREFORD

13 Dec THE GRINCH 10.30am

13 Dec FILM, LEGO, GARDEN FUN DAY 12pm-4pm, free, but £5 for face painting

19 Dec THE POLAR EXPRESS 6.30pm. Lyde Court, Hereford, 01432 357753, www.lydecourt.com

MARKET THEATRE, LEDBURY

3 Dec MR BURTON (12)

5 Dec THE PENGUIN LESSONS (12)

12 Dec BLACK BAG (15)

Market Theatre, Ledbury 07967 517125

MONTGOMERY MOVIE CLUB

4 Dec THE MARCHING BAND (15) subtitled

18 Dec THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND (12A)

15 Jan THE ROSES (15)

29 Jan THE LAST JOURNEY (PG) 12 Feb SPINAL TAP II: THE END CONTINUES (15)

Dragon Hotel, Montgomery, 01686 668442

OLD MARKET HALL, SHREWS.

Until 4 Dec SPRINGSTEEN:

DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE (12A)

5 - 11 Dec NUREMBERG (15)

12 - 18 Dec BLUE MOON (15)

12 - 24 Dec A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1984) (U)

19 - 31 Dec WICKED: FOR GOOD (PG)

27 Jan - 5 Jan ZOOTROPOLIS 2 (ctbc) Old Market Hall, Shrewsbury, 01743 281281

PEMBRIDGE PARISH HALL

12 Dec THE HOLDOVERS

30 Jan THE CRIME IS MINE Pembridge Parish Hall, 7pm. www.pembridgeparishhall.co.uk

PHOENIX THEATRE, R-O-W

3 Dec ROBOT DREAMS (15) Phoenix Theatre, Ross on Wye, 01989 564570

PRESTEIGNE ASS. ROOMS

19 Jan MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: THE FINAL RECKONING www.midborderarts.com

Assembly Rooms, Presteigne.

PRESTEIGNE SCREEN

12 Dec JANE AUSTEN WRECKED MY LIFE (15) www.presteignescreen.org.uk

Assembly Rooms, Presteigne.

REGAL, TENBURY WELLS

4 & 5 Jan WICKED: FOR GOOD (PG)

5 Jan THE CHORAL (12A)

12 Jan ELEANOR THE GREAT (12A) Regal, Teme St, Tenbury Wells, 01584 811442

SAVOY, MONMOUTH

2 Dec FIRES OF THE MOON/ TANAU’R LLOER (15)

5 - 11 Dec THE CHORAL (12A) 6 & 7 Dec GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE: THE MOVIE (U)

19 - 24 Dec A PAW PATROL CHRISTMAS (U)

Savoy Theatre, Church St, Monmouth 01600 772467

SHREWSBURY FILM SOCIETY

5 Dec LA CHIMERA (15)

10 Dec A BRIEF ENCOUNTER (A)

19 Dec THE APARTMENT (PG)

9 Jan MONSTER (12)

23 Jan THE RED SHOES (PG)

6 Feb CEDDO (12)

The Hive, Belmont, Shrewsbury, 01743 234970

SPARC, BISHOP’S CASTLE

4 Dec THE ROSES (15)

16 Dec FOUR LETTERS OF LOVE (12A)

22 Dec FESTIVE FILM Plus Making workshop, 10.30am, please book.

15 Jan DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE (PG)

SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle, 01588 638038

WYESIDE, BUILTH WELLS

Until 4 Dec AFTER THE HUNT (15)

3, 4, 6, 7, 13, 14 Dec WICKED: FOR GOOD (ctbc)

5 - 11 Dec ANEMONE (ctbc)

5 - 13 Dec THE CHORAL (ctbc)

7 Dec BRIDES (15)

12 - 18 Dec NOW YOU SEE ME, NOW YOU DON’T (12A)

12 - 18 Dec NUREMBERG (ctbc)

14 Dec MY FAVOURITE CAKE (12) Film Club

19 - 23 Dec CHRISTMAS KARMA (ctbc)

20 Dec - 8 Jan AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH (ctbc)

20 - 24 Dec ZOOTROPOLIS 2 (ctbc)

27 Dec - 4 Jan ELLA MCCAY (ctbc)

27 Dec - 8 Jan THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SEARCH FOR SQUAREPANTS (ctbc) Wyeside, Builth Wells 01982 552555

LIVE EVENTS ON SCREEN

2 Dec THE FIFTH STEP

National Theatre. Old Market Hall, Shrewsbury, 11am, 01743 281281.

2 Dec INTER ALIA

National Theatre. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7pm, 01743 281281.

3 Dec JOHN CLEESE PACKS IT IN Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, 4.30pm, 01600 772467.

3 Dec THE FIFTH STEP

National Theatre. Market Theatre, Ledbury, 7pm, 07967 517125.

3 Dec CARAVAGGIO

Exhibition on Screen. Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, 7.30pm, 01600 772467.

4 Dec THE FIFTH STEP

National Theatre. Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 7pm, 01874 611622. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 2.30pm & 7pm, 01743 281281.

4 Dec LA BOHEME

The Royal Opera (2020). The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, 7.30pm, 01952 728911.

6 Dec ANDRE RIEU’S 2025 CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Wyeside, Builth Wells, 7pm, 01982 552555.

7 Dec ANDRE RIEU’S 2025 CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Wyeside, Builth Wells, 2pm, 01982 552555. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 1.30pm, 01743 281281.

10 Dec THE NUTCRACKER

RBO. (Ballet). Blake Theatre, Monmouth, 7.15pm, 01600 719401. The Gateway Cinema, Upper Ground Floor, Labels Shopping, Ross-on-Wye, 7.15pm, 01989 552166. The Hafren, Newtown, 7.15pm, 01686 948100. Market Theatre, Ledbury, 7.15pm, 07967 517125. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 6.45pm, 01584 878141.

14 Dec LA TRAVIATA

Royal Ballet & Opera. Blake Theatre, Monmouth, 6.45pm, 01600 719401.

14 Dec THE NUTCRACKER

Royal Ballet & Opera. Wyeside, Builth Wells, 2pm, 01982 552555. SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle, 2pm, 01588 638038.

15 Dec THE FIFTH STEP

National Theatre. Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7pm, 01873 850805.

17 Dec RICHARD III

Royal Shakespeare Company. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 01885 488575.

18 Dec ANDRE RIEU’S 2025 CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 01885 488575.

23 Dec THE NUTCRACKER

Royal Ballet & Opera. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 01885 488575.

4 Jan LOVE NEVER DIES

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical. Wyeside, Builth Wells, 2pm, 01982 552555.

6 Jan LOVE NEVER DIES

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical. Wyeside, Builth Wells, 7pm, 01982 552555.

7 Jan THE WINTER’S TALE

Royal Shakespeare Company. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 01885 488575.

8 Jan THE NUTCRACKER

The Royal Ballet (encore screening). The Regal, Tenbury Wells, 7pm, 01584 811442.

10 Jan I PURITANI

New York Met. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 01885 488575.

14 Jan LA TRAVIATA

Royal Ballet & Opera. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 01885 488575. The Hafren, Newtown, 6.45pm, 01686 948100. The Regal, Tenbury Wells, 7pm, 01584 811442.

Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 6.45pm, 01874 611622. The Courtyard, 7.15pm, 01432 340555.

15 Jan BAT OUT OF HELL: THE MUSICAL

The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, 7.30pm, 01952 728911.

15 Jan MRS WARREN’S PROFESSION

National Theatre. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 01885 488575.

17 Jan I PURITANI

The Met. The Courtyard, Hereford, 1.15pm, 01432 340555.

18 Jan LA TRAVIATA

Royal Ballet & Opera. Wyeside, Builth Wells, 2pm, 01982 552555. SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle, 2pm, 01588 638038.

22 Jan HAMLET

National Theatre. Wyeside, Builth Wells, 7pm, 01982 552555. Blake Theatre, Monmouth, 7pm, 01600 719401. The Regal, Tenbury Wells, 7pm, 01584 811442. SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle, 7pm, 01588 638038. The Courtyard, Hereford, 7pm, 01432 340555.

23 Jan HAMLET

National Theatre. The Hafren, Newtown, 7pm, 01686 948100. Montgomery Town Hall, 7.30pm, 0300 102 4528, montgomerytownhall.uk

24 Jan BAT OUT OF HELL: THE MUSICAL Wyeside, Builth Wells, 7pm, 01982 552555.

25 Jan BAT OUT OF HELL: THE MUSICAL Wyeside, Builth Wells, 7.30pm, 01982 552555.

26 Jan HAMLET

National Theatre. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7pm, 01743 281281.

27 Jan HAMLET

National Theatre. Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7pm, 01873 850805.

31 Jan HAMLET

National Theatre. Pheonix Theatre, Ross on Wye, 7.30pm, 01989 564570. The Courtyard, Hereford, 1.30pm, 01432 340555.

31 Dec NEW YEAR’S EVE CONCERT Berliner Philharmoniker live. Old Market Hall, Shrewsbury, 01743 281281.

31 Jan LES MISERABLES

The staged concert. Callow End VH, 7pm, 0333 666 3366.

dance Dance Performance

Fri 19 - Sun 21 December

THE NUTCRACKER

BRECON FESTIVAL BALLET presents Wales’ only fullscale professional production of this timeless classic, featuring over 80 dancers on stage and accompanied by the Brecon Festival Ballet Orchestra. Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 7.30pm plus 2.30pm on Sat & Sun, 01874 611622.

Dance Workshops

Single, dated listings are free. Year round entries £45.

Tues 9 December

THE COURTYARD’S SPECTACULAR TEA PARTY

Dementia-friendly celebration tea dance with cakes, gentle dancing with friendly students and welcoming environment. The Courtyard, Hereford, 2pm, 01432 340555.

ASSEMBLY ROOMS DANCE CLASSES

Weekly - Circle Dancing, no partner required, 1.45-3.45pm, £5, contact Kathryn 01584 877446. Weekly - GKY Dance. Dance and acrobatics for children, various classes, 4-9pm, £4.75-£6.25, contact Grace Young 07939 638637. Weekly - Learn 2 Jive, beginners 7.30-8.30pm, intermediates 8.30-9.30pm, no partner needed, £6, contact Matt info@coolmovesdance.co.uk. Zumba - 7-8pm, £5, contact Honor 07527 183231. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 01584 878141.

CONTEMPORARY DANCE WITH 2FACED DANCE COMPANY AT THE CENTRE FOR MOVEMENT, GAOL STREET, HEREFORD HR1 2HU

Wee Movers: Age 4 - 6 years, Mon 16:30 - 17:15. Mega Movers: Age 7 - 10 years, Mon 17:20 - 18:20. The Kin Project: Boys and those who identify as male, age 7 - 16 years, Wed 18:15 -19:30. Teen Contemporary: Age 11 - 18 years, Tues 17:00 - 18:00. 2Faced Youth: Age 11 - 18 years (audition only), Tues 18:00 - 21:00. Beginners Contemporary Flow: Age 18 years +, Wed 19:30 - 21:00. Improvers Contemporary Flow: Age 18 years +, Mon 19:30 - 21:00. www.2faceddance.co.uk / 01432 620032 admin@2faceddance.co.uk

PINSLEY MILL MORRIS

Women’s Northwest Morris and clog, are looking to welcome more dancers. We meet every Tuesday at 8pm, Kingsland Coronation Hall, HR6 9SQ. No experience necessary! Email PinsleyMillMorris@gmail.com for more details, or just turn up. Come and join Herefordshire’s newest Morris side!

DAYTIME ADULT BALLET AND TAP CLASSES

Ballet 4All, Wednesdays 10:30-11:15 at RNCB, The Point4, Venns Lane, Hereford. Tuesdays; 1-2pm Silver Swans Adult Ballet, 2:15-3pm Low Impact Adult Tap at The Larruperz Centre, Ross-On-Wye. Classes are suitable for all ages and abilities, beginners are welcome, PAYG £8. Tel Ruth; 07854 793 960 Email; creativefitness20@gmail. com www.creativefitness.org.uk

DANCE WITH ALANYA

Mondays at Kingswood Village Hall, HR5 3HE: 11.00am12.00 noon Move with the Groove Classic tracks from Disco to Swing - follow-on steps or do your own thing. All welcome. £8.00 drop-in/£24.00 per 4-week block. 12.15-1.00pm Belly Dance Basics Beginner Level Belly Dance, no experience required. £6.00 drop-in/£18.00 per 4-week block. 1st & 3rd Saturdays at Bodenham Parish Hall, HR1 3LB: 1.00-3.00pm Shimmy Central Open Level Belly Dance, all levels welcome. £14.00 per class, bookings by the previous Wednesday.For full information, visit www.alanyadance.uk or contact Abbie at alanyadancer@gmail.com or on 07962 161081.

LEARN 2 JIVE 50’S SWING STYLE CLASSES

Mon - Bartestree Village Hall, Hereford, 7.30pm. Silvester Horne Institute, Church Stretton, 7.30pm. Tues - Pembridge Village Hall, 7.30pm. Ludlow Assembly Rooms, 7.30pm. Claines Parish Hall, Worcester, 7.45pm. Wed - . Holy Trinity Parish Hall, Malvern, 7.30pm. Thurs - Ledbury Dance Studio, Bye Street, 7.30pm. Abberley Village Hall, 7.30pm. Penybont Community Centre, 7.30pm. Castle Hall, Bridgnorth, 7.30pm. ThursLindy Hop Introductory 6 week course, Bodenham Parish Hall, 8pm. Fri - Gentle Jive, Bartestree Village Hall, 10.15am. Sun - Eardisley Village Hall, 6.30pm. For more information please e-mail info@coolmovesdance.co.uk Matt or Sarah on 01989 750354. www.coolmovesdance. co.uk Coolmoves Dance & Fitness for adults.

COURTYARD, HEREFORD CLASSES

Adult Classes. Mon - Contemporary Dance with LG Dance, 6.30pm. www.lauragale.co.uk. Mon - Commercial Dance with LG Dance, 7.30pm-8.25pm, £25 per month. Mon - Zumba, 11am-11.45am. Tues - Commercial Dance with LG Dance, 6.30pm-7.25pm, £25 per month. Tues Heels Class with LG Dance, 7.30pm-8.30pm, £25 per month. Tues - Street Jazz with LG Dance, 6.30pm. www.lauragale.co.uk Wed - Fit4Tap, 10am-10.45am. Thurs - Silver Swans Adult Ballet, 1pm, www.starlightcompany.co.uk Fri - Chance to Dance, 10.15am. Junior Classes. Mon - Junior Contemporary for ages 7-12, 4.30pm, £25 per month. Mon - Senior Contemporary for ages 13-18, 5.30pm, £25 per month. Tues - Junior Commercial, for ages 8-12, 4.30pm, £25 per month. Tues - Senior Commercial for ages 13-18, 5.30pm, £25 per month. Wed - Mini Streetz for ages 4-8, 4.45pm, £23 per month. Wed - Junior Streetz for ages 9-12, 5.30pm. Wed - Senior Streetz for ages 13-24, 6.30pm, £25 per month. Fri - Dancing Tots for ages 2-4, 11.30am. Sat - Twinkling Stars for ages 2-4 incorporating Makaton sign, musical movement, sensory play and fun, 9.30am. The Courtyard, Hereford, 01432 340555.

Fortnightly Saturdays CHORUS LINE Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 07943 417561.

Tuesdays, Thursdays - Saturdays MID WALES DANCE ACADEMY Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 07943 417561. Tuesdays SOLO LATINO DANCE Parish Hall, Hay-on-Wye, 7-8.30pm. Mely 07837 160505.

Fortnightly Sunday HIGHFLYERS YOUTH DANCE COMPANY For ages 11-18 with disabilities or additional needs and their siblings. All welcome. The Hive, Belmont, Shrewsbury, 2-4pm, 01743 234970 or email Rachel youthsidance@gmail.com

The Felin Fach Griffin

OBSERVANT readers of Mr Pernickety’s regular ramblings will know that he can’t resist a little diversion before he sits down to tackle the main meat and veg of the day. This month’s diversion is a preview of an extraordinary ancient dwelling that has recently undergone extensive re-ordering and now promises to emerge as a very special place indeed. Mr Pernickety predicts the appearance of the most exciting place to drink, dine and sojourn in the Marches for many decades – much more than the replacement of several wonderful restaurants that have been lost to Ludlow over the last twenty years.

Castle Lodge, of 13th century origins though much restored in the 16th century, is purported to have been home to young Prince Henry Tudor’s first spouse, Catherine of Aragon. It remained an imposing edifice that has stood more or less without purpose for many years on the corner of Castle Square.

When Mr P first knew it, it functioned as a half-hearted indiscriminate museum, owned by a former antique dealer, memorable for his blonde hair piece (or golden syrup, as Mr P saw it.) Regarded by the local property mongers as an éléphant blanc, the building was sold shortly before he died in 2018.

The new owner, fortunately for Ludlow, is an optimist, Ben Tagg, who has spent the last six years and a few bars of bullion on restoring and revitalising the place in an act of preservation heroism that deserves a big medal.

The boutique hotel that will open in early 2026 will comprise seven uniquely designed suites, an atmospheric cocktail bar and restaurant and a private dining room. There are some amazing pictures online.

Mr Pernickety imagines that preparations for the kitchen will match those of the building as a whole. The Chef overseeing this will be the talented Harry Bullock, whose taste-making skills Mr Pernickety has favourably reviewed in several local places, particularly The Coach House at Norbury. He will let the readers of the Woolly Organ know his views as soon as Harry Bullock and his kitchen have found their stride.

Mr Pernickety hopes they will achieve a level at least comparable to that of the Felin Fach Griffin, a supreme example of Mr P’s tenet that no matter how hard the times, or how onerous market conditions, restaurants that bring complete dedication and passionate talent to their punters’ tables will always find a public ready to pay for it.

This hostelry a few miles east of Brecon could be such a place. Mr P’s Lovely Companion, admittedly no Fangio, took nearly an hour and a half to drive there. But arriving in this convivial, log-flickering, soft-sofa’d, contented quiet conversation gave Mr P a foretaste of paradise, and he would happily have travelled twice as far to get there. In the dining room dark red walls, well-chosen pictures and

discreet mindful music only enhanced the pervasive sense that the owners truly care about their guests and express this with perfect taste and attention to minutiae. From the start, service was offered with charm and efficiency.

Mr P last reviewed The Griffin in 2010 for his Guide to Eating in and Around Hay-0n-Wye. He loved it then; and hoped that it would still be as good. Wonderfully, it’s still a pub, too, where a person can drink a pint of good ale and talk about the price of tups without feeling incongruous.

When it comes to food at The Griffin, Mr P can happily say when they’d looked at the menu (with £25 two-course option) he and his Lovely Companion both felt that they had sat down to a potential feast of flavour and inventiveness.

The LC ate Mac and Cheese Croquette to start with, delighted to find it cleverly uplifted by a sauce of gojuchang – a distinctive Korean chilli paste. Mr P with is outstanding salted pork belly was served shimeji Japanese mushrooms, and a glass of a soft Grenache.

For a main course Mr P had a perfect Plaice, gently baked and subtly flavoured with sea herbs. Accompanied by a dish of tender buttered greens each mouthful delivered deep pleasure with a glass of Cotes de Gascogne. (The wine list, like every aspect of the place, has been created with knowledge and imagination.)

The LC enjoyed a main course of pork belly that made the most of its sweet tender meat and succulent fat. Extra flavour was added with the quality of its accompaniments – black pudding, pork fritters and chilli cabbage.

As a coda to this splendid meal, they shared a serving of Pannacotta that was almost too sublime to describe; soft, yielding, and draped with berries and juice it was a small masterpiece.

Mr Pernickety and the LC drove home in a state of post-prandial bliss. Their visit to the Felin Fach Griffin had put it right at the top of Mr P’s list of recommendations.

Mr Pernickety

EVENTS

Sat 6 December KINGTON FESTIVE FOOD/DRINK FROM THE BORDERS

Back after last years cancelled event... bigger and better. Still the largest free one day food festival in Herefordshire and the borders. 100 exhibitors of excellent quality from near and far. Great music and street food. Harmony Road, Streetsax, choirs and more. 9.30am-3.30pm. Kington.

Sat 6 December FESTIVE SUPPER

With mulled wine and nibbles, three-course supper. The Artshop & Chapel, Abergavenny, 7pm, £70, please book, 01873 736430.

4, 5. 11, 12, 18, 19 December FESTIVE CARVERY

Three-course festive carvery, from 12pm, £35 per person. Please book in advance. Lyde Court, Hereford, 01432 357753, www.lydecourt.com

Every Saturday LUDLOW COUNTRY MARKET

9am-12pm at The Womens Centre, Ludlow. Local produce, handicrafts, plants & veg, cut flowers, cards.

First Saturday of every month (except January & July) VILLAGE MARKET & CAFE

Bacon rolls, cake, hot drinks. Regular stalls selling pies, cakes and baked goodies., honey, floral designs, crafting supplies and more. Cedar Hall, Dilwyn, 10am-12pm.

First Saturday of every month (except August) FARMER’S MARKET Produce, craft, gifts, kitchen cafe open. Eaton Bishop Village Hall, 10am-12pm.

First Saturday of every month PRESTEIGNE LOCAL FOOD MARKET Memorial Hall Presteigne, 9am-1pm. The best collection of artisan food producers in the area.

2nd and 4th Saturday of every month KNIGHTON COMMUNITY MARKET Knighton Community Centre, 9.30am-12.30pm, 07751 221487.

2nd Saturday of every month BRECON FARMERS & MAKERS MARKET Brecon Indoor Market Hall, 9.30am - 4pm. 07926 196714.

2nd Saturday of every month LEOMINSTER FARMER’S MARKET Corn Square, 9am-1pm, 01568 797427.

Third Saturday of every month PRODUCE MARKET

Hightown Community Rooms, Vicarage Rd. Clun, 10.00am - 12.00pm. 01547 520332.

3rd Saturday of every month FARMER’S MARKET Bishop’s Castle Town Hall, 9am-1pm, 01588 630023.

Last Wed of every month NEW COMMUNITY CAFE

A friendly, safe space, to learn, share and enjoy food. Learn basic food, foraging, preserving and recipe ideas or just drop in for a tasty affordable bite. The Bleddfa Centre, near Knighton, 11am-2pm, 01544 260149.

1st Thursday EVENING FARMER’S MARKET

The Barn, Ledbury, 6-8pm. www.ledburyfoodgroup.org

Every Thursday MONTGOMERY TOWN MARKET

Regular stalls on the lower floor. First Thurs of the month, using both floors with community cafe. Open 9am-3pm, www.montgomery-wales.co.uk/market 07790 100462.

Every Thursday HAY MARKET DAY Local produce. Memorial Square and Clock Tower, Hay-on-Wye, 9am-2.30pm, www.haymarkets.co.uk

Every 2nd & 4th Thursday LUDLOW LOCAL PRODUCE MARKET Castle Square, 9am-2pm, 01584 872043.

Every Friday KINGTON PRODUCE/CRAFTS MARKET

Market Hall, Kington, 9am-1pm, 07867 483135.

FOOD BYTES

Why not advertise? Only £45 per year.

AARDVARK BOOKS LTD, THE BOOKERY, MANOR FARM, BRAMPTON BRYAN, BUCKNELL 01547 530888 Cafe serving refreshments, cakes etc. Tuesday - Sunday 10am-4pm and Bank Holiday Mondays.

THE GREEN BEAN CAFE, WEOBLEY 01544 318865

Good, locally sourced, homemade food. Soups, all day light lunches, cakes and scones. Set in the heart of Weobley. Free wifi. Tues-Sat 9.30am-3pm. With The Green Bean Shop/Deli under the same roof.

LEON’S SUPPER CLUB, 14 HIGH STREET, PRESTEIGNE, POWYS LD8 2BA (ABOVE THE SALTY DOG). TEL: 07805 727486 OR VIA FACEBOOK Open every Friday and Saturday 6pm to 9pm. Enjoy authentic Spanish tapas. Bring your own drink.

LOCKDOWN DHABA - EVERY OTHER SATURDAY

Specially curated 3 course vegetarian and vegan menus designed to take you on a journey exploring traditional & contemporary Indian food. Pre-order and we will cook your meal fresh in our home kitchen, quickly chill it and deliver it to your door. lockdowndhaba.com or instagram/facebook @lockdowndhaba

THE ORGASMIC CIDER COMPANY, GREAT PARTON, EARDISLEY, HEREFORDSHIRE, HR3 6NX 01544 327244 or 07773 037448 Craft cider and perry off licence and gift shop with local products. Open Friday and Saturday 12 to 5pm. Group tours available.

RHOS MARKET GARDEN, KNIGHTON Growers & providers of organic veg, fruit & flowers. Eco cleaning products & refills. Large range of groceries & wholefoods. The Old Garage Shop Knighton LD7 1EN. Wed. - Fri. 9 - 4, Sat. 10 - 2. Free parking. Organic veg boxes delivered to collection points in Presteigne, Knighton and Beguildy. rhosorganic@outlook.com www.rhosorganic.co.uk

THE WORKHOUSE CAFE, INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, PRESTEIGNE 01544 267864 Cafe, gallery, light lunches, good coffee, homemade cakes. Wed-Sat 10am - 4pm.

YARBOROUGH HOUSE BOOKSHOP, 5 MARKET SQUARE, BISHOP’S CASTLE 01588 638318 Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10.30am-4.30pm and every Bank Holiday. Teas, coffees, cappuccino, latte, home made cakes. Also 3000 classical cds many reduced. 4000 books and artist’s cards.

YE OLDE TAVERN, KINGTON 01544 231417

Food served Wed-Fri 5pm-9pm, Sat 12pm-9pm, Sun 12pm-8pm. Thursday Steak Night, 8oz Rump and a drink, £14.50.

DECEMBER

Mon 1 December

MUSIC AT BILL’S KITCHEN

Featuring BouzaTina, a creative acoustic folk duo. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7pm, £28 with meal, £12 just music, 01584 878141.

BRIMFIELD FOLK CLUB

Brimfield Village Hall, 7.30pm, 07909 290942. Bring drink/glasses.

COMMUNITY BINGO FUNDRAISER

Families welcome. The Courtyard, Hereford, 6.30pm, 01432 340555.

STEELEYE SPAN

‘Conflict’, their first full studio album. A selection of songs from across the years and firm fan favourites. Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7.30pm, £33, 01873 850850.

OPEN MIC

The Lost Arc, Rhayader, 7.30pm, www.thelostarc.co.uk

CIDER CITY JAZZMEN

The Barrels, St Owen St, Hereford.

Tues 2 December

JAM NIGHT

Albert’s Shed, Barker St, Shrewsbury, 8pm.

Wed 3 December

GABBA GABBA HEY! DJS

Albert’s Shed, Barker St, Shrewsbury, 11pm.

Thurs 4 December

OPEN MIC/JAM NIGHT

The Foundry, Bell Lane, Brecon, 7pm, www.thefoundrybrecon.co.uk

POP MUSIC QUIZ NIGHT

Hosted by Roddy Hankins. Lyde Court, Hereford, 7pm, £5 entry with cash prizes to be won, 01432 357753.

WEIRDSHIRE GIG

Featuring The Wynter Reign & Diamond Family Archive. Speakeasy, The Left Bank, Bridge St, Hereford, £10, 01432 357753.

MUSIC AT BILL’S KITCHEN

Featuring Deborah Rose, Celtic inspired ethereal music. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7pm, £28 with meal, £12 just music, 01584 878141.

NADOLIG CHRISTMAS

Bite-sized concerts. Featuring Ned Clamp and Pat Smith with lively songs and tunes. Abergavenny Library Mezzanine Floor, 2.30pm, £8, 01873 850805.

Fri 5 December

THE BON JOVI EXPERIENCE

A celebration of Bon Jovi’s timeless classics. Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 7.30pm, 01874 611622.

THE FORFEITS

Gordon Bennetts Bar, Hereford, 9.30pm, free entry, 01432 360250.

OPEN MIC

Hosted by Mark Richards. The Rose & Crown, Ludlow, 8pm-11pm, please pre-book your slot markianrichards@ hotmail.com

MOBIUS LOOP

Malvern Cube.

FESTIVE PARTY NIGHT

With DJ and buffet. The Corn Exchange, High St, Ross-on-Wye, 7pm, 01989 763174.

Fri 5 December

THE SALOPIAN MIXTAPE

Albert’s Shed, Barker St, Shrewsbury, 9pm, www.albertsshed.co.uk

BON JOVI NIGHT

The Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6pm, 07498 966606.

OPEN MIC

The Globe, Hay on Wye, 8.15pm.

DAISY CHAPMAN DUO

Songwriter, volcalist and pianist Daisy with violinist Sue perform dark stories from history on voice, piano and violin. Leintwardine Community Centre, 7.30pm, £12, children £6, 07415 093552. Arts Alive.

BUS PASS

The Barrels, St Owen St, Hereford. LEDBURY LATE NIGHT SHOPPING

Ledbury’s independent shops are open until 8pm for their annual late night shopping event.

MUCH ADO ABOUT JAZZ

In concert. A show aimed at people who don’t necessarily like jazz as well as those that do! Bishop’s Castle Town Hall, £15, limited bar, 01588 630023, www.ticketsource.co.uk/BCTH

CHARITY CHRISTMAS QUIZ

Plus raffle. Grange Court, Pinsley Rd, Leominster, 7pm, £2, 01568 737980. THE RAT PACK

‘Christmas in Vegas’. With their famous Christmas concert. The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, 7.30pm, £25, 01952 728911.

Sat 6 December

HEREFORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

With conductor Michael Bell and narrator Kate Bliss. Programme includes Prokofiev’s ‘Peter and the Wolf’, plus music from the films. St Peter’s Church, Hereford, 3pm, £12, students £5, under 12s free. Tickets available on the door or 07971 963565, www.herefordsymphonyorchestra.co.uk

THE JOOKS

Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford, 7.45pm. DIVAS

Albert’s Shed, Barker St, Shrewsbury, 3pm, www.albertsshed.co.uk

HOTROX

Gordon Bennetts Bar, Hereford, 9.30pm.

MURDER MYSTERY EVENING

With three-course meal. Grange Court, Pinsley Rd, Leominster, 7pm, £35, 01568 737980.

DJ’S BY THE YARD

Lively DJ night. The Hanging Gardens, Bethel St, Llanidloes, 8pm, free entry, www.thehanginggardens.org

RE PUNK’D

The Corn Exchange, High St, Ross-on-Wye, 7.45pm, 01989 763174.

FISTFUL OF RAGE

Rage Against the Machine tribute. The Foundry, Bell Lane, Brecon, 7pm, www.thefoundrybrecon.co.uk

KINGTON FESTIVE FOOD/DRINK

‘From the Borders’. 100 exhibitors of quality from near and far. Great music from Harmony Road, Streetsax, choirs and more. Street food. Kington, 9.30am-3.30pm.

ERNIE KAY CONCERT OF CELEBRATION

An evening of classical music to recognise Ernie Kay and his significant contribution to MBA. Presteigne Assembly Rooms, 7.30pm, donations to MBA.

JAMIE KNIGHT

Solo acoustic. The Barrels, St Owen St, Hereford.

WHITTON VOICES

Japanese food available plus Friends of OAK craft workshops and stalls, bar. Oxford Arms, Kington, 11am-3.30pm, www.openarmskington.co.uk

CHRISTMAS WITH ELVIS

Keith Davies and his ‘Mafia’. Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7.30pm, £20, 01873 850850.

HEREFORD CHORAL SOCIETY

Messiah by candlelight. Hereford Cathedral, 7.30pm, all tickets £10, up to two children under 16 free, 01432 751175.

CHRISTIAN GARRICK & THE BUDAPEST CAFE ORCHESTRA

Gypsy and folk flavoured music in their unique and surprising way. Market Theatre, Ledbury, 3pm & 7.30pm, £20, students £8 matinee/£12 evening, 07967 517125.

CLUN VALLEY JAZZ

Featuring Ky Osbourne Quartet. SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle, www.clunvalleyjazz.com

Sun 7 December

MARK RICHARDS

Acoustic pop. The Grape Vaults, Broad St, Leominster, 3pm-6pm.

QUIZ

The Globe, Hay on Wye, 7pm.

DUTCH LEWIS

Playing and singing Christmas jazz standards, 11am-2pm. Part of of the Christmas Fair with over 25 stalls of crafts and vintage, free mulled wine, 10am-3pm. Aardvark Books, Brampton Bryan, Bucknell, 01547 530744.

THE BUSH PILOTS

Three-piece blues band. Prince of Wales, Ledbury, 4pm, 01531 632250.

VITAL SPARK

West Gallery group of singers and instrumentalists present a programme of Christmas music from the time of Thomas Hardy. Holy Trinity Church, Bosbury, 3pm, free, donations invited, 01531 670634.

DAYTON GREY

Christmas Soul & Motown party. The Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 5.30pm, 07498 966606.

THE SWEDISH RIKSSPELMAN

Folk music and dancing. Hellens Manor, Much Marcle, near Ledbury, 7pm, £12, 01531 660504, www.hellensmanor.com

Mon 8 December

WEIRDSHIRE GIGS

Featuring Sean Noonan Trio. Speakeasy Bar, The Left Bank, Bridge St, Hereford,7.30pm, £10, www.wegottickets.com

Tues 9 December

BRECON JAZZ

Featuring Fiddlebop. Hot swing and cool jazz, with guests. The Muse, Brecon, 8pm, £16 plus concessions. www.breconjazz.org

Wed 10 December

A WINTER UNION

Five leading lights of the British roots scene join forces to create a festive folk band. Expect soaring harmonies and exquisite musicianship. The Courtyard, Hereford, 7.45pm, 01432 340555.

EX CATHEDRA

Christmas Music by Candlelight. Your favourite carols, discover a treasure trove of gorgeous new and old music and readings that explore the magic, humour and peace of Christmas. Hereford Cathedral, 7.30pm, tickets from www.excathedra.co.uk

Thurs 11 December

FB POCKET ORCHESTRA

Their reimagined music, atmospheric sound effects and synchronisation with the 1951 film, Scrooge. Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 7.30pm, 01874 611622.

ANNA & THE TONICS

Gordon Bennetts Bar, Hereford, 9.30pm, free entry, 01432 360250.

A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS WITH ONLY MEN ALOUD

The Hafren, Newtown, 7.30pm, £31.50, 01686 948100.

OPEN MIC/JAM NIGHT

The Foundry, Bell Lane, Brecon, 7pm, www.thefoundrybrecon.co.uk

Thurs 11 December

CAMPFIRE

Christmas Country music party. The Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6pm, 07498 966606.

MUSIC AT BILL’S KITCHEN

Featuring Brian Carrington, an experienced singer-songwriter with a contemporary folk and lyrical style. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7pm, £28 with meal, £12 just music, 01584 878141.

EDDIE PARKER’S AIRBORN

Original music and ballads, with influences from Schoenberg to Santana. The Marr’s Bar, Peirpoint St, Worcester, 8pm, www.musicspokenhere.club

Fri 12 December

THE PRESS GANGERS

A fun evening of sea shanties and songs from the sea, with a touch of Irish to get your feet tapping. Dilwyn Cedar Hall, 8pm, £10, 07980 807068. Bar. Fundraising for RNLI and Cedar Hall. LITTLE HEREFORD VOICES

Christmas concert. Little Hereford Parish Hall, 7.30pm, £10 on the door including refreshments, 07506 565576.

HOT CLIMATE

Christmas gig with the ultimate party band plus Christmas playlist. Ludlow Brewery, 8pm, £10, 01584 873291.

BREAKING GROUND

Gordon Bennetts Bar, Hereford, 9.30pm, free entry, 01432 360250.

OPEN MIC

Hosted by Mark Richards. The Hundred House, Purslow, 8pm-11pm, please pre-book your slot markianrichards@hotmail.com

CHRISTMAS PARTY NIGHT

Three-course meal, DJ and dancing plus glass of bubbly on arrival. Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms, £38.50pp, deposit required and payment by 5 Dec, 01588 676060.

TOM JENKINS

Plus support. The Foundry, Bell Lane, Brecon, 7pm, www.thefoundrybrecon. co.uk

FESTIVE PARTY NIGHT

With DJ and buffet. The Corn Exchange, High St, Ross-on-Wye, 7pm, 01989 763174.

DIRE STREETS

Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7.30pm, £23, 01873 850805.

THE CROONERS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Blake Theatre, Monmouth, 7.30pm, 01600 719401.

RAYMOR

Golden Cross, Sutton St Nicholas, Hereford.

Sat 13 December

MUSIC IN NEW RADNOR

Featuring The Carnival Band, ‘A Carnival of Carols’. Medieval lyrics, English and European folk carols, contemporary comedy and reflections on the season of goodwill. New Radnor Community Hall, New Radnor, 7.30pm, £18, under 14s £3, there will be a bar, 01544 350746.

SATURDAY LIVE AT THE GLOBE

Featuring The Breaks, funk, hip-hop, ska fusion. The Globe, Hay on Wye, 8pm.

THE INSTITUTIONS

Gordon Bennetts Bar, Hereford, 9.30pm, free entry, 01432 360250.

OPEN MIC NIGHT

The Hanging Gardens, Bethel St, Llanidloes, 7.30pm, www.thehanginggardens.org

LEDBURY COMMUNITY BRASS BAND

Christmas concert with lots of audience participation. Market Theatre, Ledbury, 3pm, £12, students £5, 07967 517125.

MARCHES CHOIR & MARCHES

SINFONIA

A 50 strong choir plus soloists and gallery choir, plus ensemble present Benjamin Britten’s St Nicholas Cantata and Simple Symphony. St John’s Church, Bishop’s Castle, 7.30pm, £15, children free, 07806 433394, online from TicketSource or on the door.

CHRISTMAS JUMPER MIXED PAIRS SKITTLES

The Vaga, Hereford, 7.30pm, £5 entry, winner takes the money.

CRAZY ALIEN

The Foundry, Bell Lane, Brecon, 8pm, www.thefoundrybrecon.co.uk

THE PERCY VEER BAND

Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford, 7.45pm.

LIMEHOUSE LIZZY

Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7.30pm, £25, 01873 850805.

BRECON JAZZ

Music, vocals and social event. The Muse, Brecon, 7pm, £10. www.breconjazz.org

BRONWEN LEWIS

‘A Proper Welsh Christmas’. Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 7.30pm, 01874 611622.

BROMYARD CHORAL SOCIETY

‘With a Voice of Singing’. Advent concert. St Peter’s Church, Bromyard, 4pm, with mulled wine and mince pies in the interval.

Sun 14 December

KID’S CHRISTMAS PARTY

Disco hosted by Tim Belcher, every child will also receive a free selection box to take home. The Foundry, Bell Lane, Brecon, 2-4pm, £6 per child, www.thefoundrybrecon.co.uk

LET’S GO SK8

Bring your own skates. Pavilion Mid Wales, Llandrindod Wells, family skate 12pm-5pm, adult skate, 5pm-10pm, 01597 435505.

BOSBURY CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL

A display of decorated Christmas trees. With carols and mince pies. Holy Trinity Church, Bosbury, 3pm, all welcome, 01531 670634.

HAY SHANTYMEN

An evening of traditional and modern songs of the sea, performed with wit, warmth and gusto! The Globe, Hay on Wye, 7pm, £12.50. Tickets from www.hayshantymen.com

WHISKEY RIVER

Duo with Aidan and Martin. The Grape Vaults, Broad St, Leominster, 3-6pm, free.

Sun 14 December

P!NK PARTY LIVE

Starring Vicky Jackson and her live band, plus Avril Lavigne tribute. The Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 4pm, 07498 966606.

BUSKERS CORNER

Presented by Clarky. The Sun Inn, Clun, 5-8pm.

Mon 15 December

CLIMATE CHOIR

The Globe, Hay on Wye, 7pm. CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT

With Leominster Choral Society. Leominster Priory, 7pm, £8, under 18s free, tickets from ME Fletcher or Leominster TIC, or online, www.ticketsource.co.uk

Wed 17 December

ABF CHRISTMAS FAMILY CONCERT

Featuring Herefordshire Veterans Choir, the Herefordshire Youth Concert Band, Vocalise Choir, Marches Military Wives Choir, the Hereford Fanfare Trumpets and STARS Military Youth Choir. Hereford Cathedral, 7pm, tickets from 01432 340555.

WHISKEY RIVER

Nori’s Cafe, West St, Leominster, 8pm, £26 includes meal. Please book via noriscafe@yahoo.com 01584 831386.

SAFFYRE

Diana Poole, cello and Helen Wilding, violin present a refreshing take on traditional and modern seasonal music. The Hanging Gardens, Bethel St, Llanidloes, 7.30pm, www.thehanginggardens.org

THE CHRISTMAS RAT PACK SHOW

The Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6pm, 07498 966606.

ACOUSTIC FOLK SESSION

The Sun Inn, Clun.

Thurs 18 December

TODDLER CAROL SERVICE

Lady Chapel, Hereford Cathedral, 10am, www.herefordcathedral.org

THE HUSTLE

Gordon Bennetts Bar, Hereford, 9.30pm, free entry, 01432 360250.

ROLLING STONES NIGHT

Dave Luke & The Glimmer Twins (Bugsy and Dave Kirk) present their annual night of Rolling Stones songs. Get there the night before for a seat! The Dukes Arms, Presteigne, 8pm, £5.

OPEN MIC/JAM NIGHT

The Foundry, Bell Lane, Brecon, 7pm, www.thefoundrybrecon.co.uk

WEIRDSHIRE GIG

Jazz Solstice with Aidan Thorne and Will Barnes. Garden Room, Left Bank, Bridge St, Hereford, 7.30pm, £10, www.weirdshire.com.

CHRISTMAS QUIZ & DINNER

The Globe, Hay on Wye, 7pm.

PERFECTLY GEORGE MICHAEL

Featuring Rob Lamberti. The Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6pm, 07498 966606.

MUSIC AT BILL’S KITCHEN

Featuring Rapsquillion, their live performances are underpinned by their rich sound. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7pm, £28 with meal, £12 just music, 01584 878141.

Fri 19 December

ROVING CROWS

West Malvern Social Club, 145 West Malvern Rd, Malvern, 8pm, www.wmsc.org.uk

BLACK HEART ANGELS

Gordon Bennetts Bar, Hereford, 9.30pm, free entry, 01432 360250.

HAY MUSIC

A Christmas choral concert with Vox Urbane. St Mary’s Church, Hay-onWye, 7pm, programme details and tickets at www.haymusic.org

FESTIVE PARTY NIGHT

With DJ and buffet. The Corn Exchange, High St, Ross-on-Wye, 7pm, 01989 763174.

MIDWINTER CONCERT

With Whitton Voices and Sue Harris. Joined by Benji and George Kirkpatrick with a surprise guest. Rousing songs, music and wintry tales. St Michael’s Church, Discoed, 6.30pm, £10, children free, booking essential, 01547 550158, sumarieharris@btinternet.com

Proceeds to Refugee Action.

LIZ IKAMBA

Congolese-tilted Afro-soul fusion to make your heart soar and your body groove! The Hanging Gardens, Bethel St, Llanidloes, 7.30pm, free entry, www.thehanginggardens.org

QUEEN’S GREATEST HITS

Starring Mickey Callisto. The Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6pm, 07498 966606.

OPEN MIC

The Globe, Hay on Wye, 8.15pm. THE MAGIC OF THE BEE GEES

Direct from the West End, a tribute show. The Hafren, Newtown, 8pm, 01686 948100.

JIVE TALKIN’

Perform the Bee Gees. Blake Theatre, Monmouth, 7.30pm, 01600 719401.

THE RONALDOS

The Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm, 07498 966606.

ENGLISH WIND CONSORT

‘Angelus ad Pastores’. Festive concert performed on replica renaissance instruments. St Frances Xavier Church, 7pm, £20, £18 on the door, www.englishwindconsort.co.uk

Sat 20 December

CHRISTMAS PARTY NIGHT

Christmas style buffet, glass of fizz on arrival. Grange Court, Pinsley Rd, Leominster, 7pm, £25 per person, 01568 737980.

FABBA MANIA

The Welsh Film Orchestra bring ABBA’s great hits plus festive favourites. The Albert Hall, Llandrindod Wells, 7.30pm, 0300 102 4255, www.thealberthall.co.uk

DARTS

Live in concert. The Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6pm, 07498 966606.

CALL OF THE KRAKEN

Gordon Bennetts Bar, Hereford, 9.30pm, free entry, 01432 360250.

LIVE AT THE GLOBE

Duchess of Mars with support from Falling Into View and Yo-Un & Macz. The Globe, Hay on Wye, 7pm. THE FURROW COLLECTIVE Oscars, Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7.30pm, £24, 01584 878141.

THE SOUL MINERS

The Foundry, Bell Lane, Brecon, 7pm, www.thefoundrybrecon.co.uk

CADENCE & TELFORDAIRES + SHADES OF GREY

Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford, 3pm. HO-HO-HO!

Tea & Biscuits presents a drag show with songs, jokes and more. For ages 15+. The Hive, Belmont, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm, £8, 01743 234970.

JAMIE BROWNFIELD & FRIENDS

St Myllins Church, Llanfyllin, 7.30pm, £5 donation to Medicins Sans Frontieres & Church funds.

CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT

Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7pm, £15/£13, 01873 850805.

BROMYARD SYMPHONIC WIND BAND

Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 3pm, £10, under 16s free, 01885 488575.

ROVING CROWS

West Malvern Social Club, 145 West Malvern Rd, Malvern, 8pm, www.wmsc.org.uk

Sun 21 December

SUNDAY SESSIONS OPEN MIC

Live music by local performers. Ludlow Brewery, Station Drive, Ludlow, 4.30pm-8pm, 07974 264665.

CONCERT OF SEASONAL MUSIC

With Ruth Watson, oboe; Peter Cornish, clarinet; Nick Benda, recorder and Layla Basletic, organ. The programme includes Baroque to modern music and carols. St Michael’s Church, Knill, near Presteigne, 3pm, mulled wine and cakes will be served. Donations invited in aid of church funds.

THE ENDINGS

Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford, 4pm.

WELSH OF THE WEST END

Viral musical theatre stars bring their dazzling Christmas tour, featuring festival classics and show-stopping hits. The Albert Hall, Llandrindod Wells, 7.30pm, 0300 102 4255, www.thealberthall.co.uk

GORDON HENDRICKS IS ELVIS

The Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 5pm, 07498 966606.

OPEN MIC

Hosted by Mark Richards. The Squirrel, Foldgate Lane, Ludlow, 6pm-9pm, please pre-book your slot markianrichards@hotmail.com

EMMA HOWETT

Acoustic covers. Prince of Wales, Ledbury, 4pm, 01531 632250.

CHRISTMAS PARTY

With Amaretto Lounge & Disco. Festive evening filled with fun, food and drinks, laughter and music. The Oak Inn, Staplow, from 6.30pm, 01531 640954.

NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT

Led by the Priory Choir. Leominster Priory, 6pm.

WHISKEY RIVER

Full electric 5-piece. Richmond Place Club, Edgar St, Hereford, 3.15pm, free, 01432 356529.

Mon 22 December

FESTIVAL OF LESSONS & CAROLS

Hereford Cathedral, 7pm, admission by ticket only, 01432 374202.

Tues 23 December

FESTIVAL OF LESSONS & CAROLS

Hereford Cathedral, 7pm, admission by ticket only, 01432 374202.

Thurs 24 December

THE ALLEY CATS

Gordon Bennetts Bar, Hereford, 9.30pm, free entry, 01432 360250.

Fri 26 December

BOXING NIGHT KNOCKOUT GAMES

The Foundry, Bell Lane, Brecon, 7pm, www.thefoundrybrecon.co.uk

Fri 26 December

EVERYDAY PEOPLE

Gordon Bennetts Bar, Hereford, 9.30pm, free entry, 01432 360250.

BOXING DAY FANCY DRESS PARTY

Any theme. The Vaga, Hereford, 12-11pm, all welcome.

THE LEOMINSTER MORRIS

Boxing Day dance and Mummers Play. The New Inn, Pembridge, 12pm.

Sat 27 December

ERASURED

Plus special guests.The Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 4pm, 07498 966606.

HEAD HONCHO

Gordon Bennetts Bar, Hereford, 9.30pm, free entry, 01432 360250.

70S & 80S NIGHT - RICH MATTHEWS Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford, 5pm.

BETWIXTMAS

An evening of music and dancing featuring local bands. Montgomery Town Hall, 7.30pm, 0300 102 4528, www.montgomerytownhall.uk

THE BREAKFAST CLUB

The Foundry, Bell Lane, Brecon, 9pm, www.thefoundrybrecon.co.uk

Sun 28 December

HOME OF THE FREE

A new two-act Americana show from local favourites Home of the Free in collaboration with Chuck Micallef. Presteigne Assembly Rooms, 7.30pm, £15, under 25s £10 from The Workhouse Gallery, Presteigne or www.midborderarts.com

CORVEDALE CONCERTS

‘Come and Sing Handel’s Messiah’. Featuring Sarah Westwood - soprano; Samantha Lewis - alto; Ethan Jacobs - tenor; Paul Henley - bass. With The Jarualda Quartet and conductor Bedwyn Lloyd Phillips. St Peter’s Church, Diddlebury, 3pm, £10 including refreshments in aid of Team Cleo and Corvedale Parishes’ Fund. Score Hire £10 refundable on return, 07745 825700.

ANGELINA X

Mix of original and covers. Prince of Wales, Ledbury, 4pm, 01531 632250.

TWIXMAS PARTY

Live music with Mel & Him. Food, drinks, live music and dancing, raffle prizes. The Oak Inn, Staplow, 6.30pm, 01531 640954.

Wed 31 December

NEW YEAR’S EVE FAMILY CEILIDH

Live band, dancing and celebration. The Hanging Gardens, Bethel St, Llanidloes, 7.30pm, free entry, www.thehanginggardens.org

SOULD

Blues and soul. The Globe, Hay on Wye, 7pm.

THE INNOCENT CRIMINALS

Gordon Bennetts Bar, Hereford, 9.30pm, free entry, 01432 360250.

NEW YEAR’S EVE AT THE OXFORD

Open for drinks and festivities, 6pm10pm, www.openarmskington.co.uk

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY

With The Alltones. Party tunes plus live music. Ludlow Brewery, Station Drive, Ludlow, 9pm, £22, 01584 873291.

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY

LIve music from The Original Wanted. Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford, £10.

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY

Live music with party band XL5. Light finger buffet at 9.30pm. The Corn Exchange, High St, Ross-on-Wye, 9pm, £29.95, 01989 763174.

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY

Charity quiz from 7pm with host Dan Gee, karaoke and party games. Bar and kitchen open from 4pm. The Foundry, Brecon, free entry, www.thefoundrybrecon.co.uk

JANUARY

Fri 2 January

ROCKFORD

Gordon Bennetts Bar, Hereford, 9.30pm, free entry, 01432 360250.

Sat 3 January

WELSH NATIONAL OPERA ORCHESTRA

A New Year’s Celebration. Enjoy the sparkling music of Johann Strauss II, Dvorak and Brahms. Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 3pm, 01874 611622.

NEW YEARS FAMILY RAVE

Dance away those January blues. Bubbles, balloons and favourite tunes. Suitable for all ages. The Courtyard, Hereford, 11am, 01432 340555.

BREAKING GROUND

Gordon Bennetts Bar, Hereford, 9.30pm, free entry, 01432 360250.

Sun 4 January

STOMPIN DAVE

Energetic and entertaining musician on the music scene. Prince of Wales, Ledbury, 4pm, 01531 632250.

EPIPHANY CAROL SERVICE

Leominster Priory, 6pm.

Mon 5 January

BRIMFIELD FOLK CLUB

Brimfield Village Hall, 7.30pm, 07909 290942. Bring drink/glasses.

OPEN MIC

The Lost Arc, Rhayader, 7.30pm, www.thelostarc.co.uk

CIDER CITY JAZZMEN

The Barrels, St Owen St, Hereford.

Tues 6 January

WASSAIL!

The Leominster Morris invite you to the magic of the Wassail followed by the ancient and mysterious Mummers Play. The Crown Inn, Dilwyn, 7pm, entry by ticket only, www.trybooking.com/uk/ FNQV

Thurs 8 January

POP MUSIC QUIZ NIGHT

Hosted by Roddy Hankins. Lyde Court, Hereford, 7pm, £5 entry with cash prizes, 01432 357753.

DAVIDE GIOVANNINI’S MINAS PROJECT

High energy, original Brazilian jazz in tribute to Minas Gerais. The Marr’s Bar, 12 Pierpoint St, Worcester, 8pm, www.musicspokenhere.club

Fri 9 January

WILL BARNES QUARTET

With their new album ‘Outside the Light’, a bold new collection of original jazz compositions. Corn Exchange, High St, Ross on Wye, 7.30pm. www.willbarnesmusic.co.uk

OPEN MIC

Hosted by Mark Richards. Hundred House Inn, Purslow, 8pm-11pm, please pre-book your slot markianrichards@ hotmail.com

TRICKSTER

Gordon Bennetts Bar, Hereford, 9.30pm, free entry, 01432 360250.

OPEN MIC

The Globe, Hay on Wye, 8.15pm. GAZ JENKINS - BILLY JOEL’S HITS

The Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6pm, 07498 966606.

OFF THE CUFF

Golden Cross, Sutton St Nicholas, Hereford.

LODESTAR

The trio is a unique collaboration between Nordic folk instruments and Baroque music. Hellens Manor, Much Marcle, near Ledbury, 6.30pm, £20, www.hellensmanor.com

Sat 10 January

BRYAN CORBETTS INSTRUMENTAL GROOVE UNIT

Jazz featuring renowned trumpeter and flugelhorn player Bryan Corbett. This new project introduces original material and repertoire with emphasis on the ‘pocket’ of groove and freedom of improvisation. The Hive, Belmont, Shrewsbury, 7pm, £12, 01743 234970.

Sat 10 January

HAY MUSIC

Featuring The Lodestar Trio. Programme includes re-imagined versions of pieces from the Bach cello suites, sonatas and partitias for solo violin. Together with other works by Merula, Couperin and Lully, alongside traditional and contemporary Nordic tunes. St Mary’s Church, Hay-on-Wye, 4pm, tickets see www.haymusic.org

MICROBABY

Gordon Bennetts Bar, Hereford, 9.30pm, free entry, 01432 360250.

GLAM 45 LIVE

The Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6pm, 07498 966606.

AFTERNOON MUSIC

‘Time’ theme performed by Peter Dyke on the Father Willis organ. Hereford Cathedral, 3.15pm, www.herefordcathedral.org

TALON

The best of the Eagles. Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 7.30pm, 01874 611622.

THE CARPENTERS

‘Voices of the Heart’. Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7.30pm, £29, 01873 850805.

LUKE JACKSON

Canterbury based singer songwriter, steadily developing an enviable reputation for himself in the folk, roots, Americana and acoustic circuits.

The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, 7.30pm, £15, 01952 728911.

Sun 11 January

TEACHERS PET

School of rock. The Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 3.30pm, 07498 966606.

Tues 13 January

WEIRDSHIRE GIG

Featuring Charles Berresford & Peter Marsh. The Jam Factory, Widemarsh St, Hereford, 7.30pm, £10, www.weirdshire.com

Thurs 15 January

MARTIN SIMPSON

Presenting ‘Skydancers’ one of England’s most revered folk performers. The Courtyard, Hereford, 7.45pm, 01432 340555.

GAMES NIGHT

The Courtyard have teamed up with Herefordshire Board Gamers. A library of games or bring your own. The Courtyard, Hereford, 6pm, free event with drinks and street food bowls available to purchase throughout the evening for just £5. Drop in event, 01432 340555.

Fri 16 January

FOURMOST

‘Relive the Magic’. Step aboard for a captivating journey back to one of the music’s most exciting periods. As true veterans of the Merseybeat scene and beyond. The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, 7.30pm, £20, 01952 728911.

THE GREATEST HITS OF MOTOWN ‘How Sweet it Is’. The Courtyard, Hereford, 7.30pm, 01432 340555.

OPEN MIC

Hosted by Mark Richards. The Rose & Crown, Ludlow, 8pm-11pm, please pre-book your slot markianrichards@ hotmail.com

HEATSEEKER

Gordon Bennetts Bar, Hereford, 9.30pm, free entry, 01432 360250.

MONMOUTH MALE VOICE CHOIR

From stirring Welsh classics to spine-tingling spirituals and contemporary favourites. Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7.30pm, £15, 01873 850805.

OPEN MIC

The Globe, Hay on Wye, 8.15pm.

THE SUPERSKAS

The Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6pm, 07498 966606.

FOLK IN THE FOYER

Featuring Cobblers Child Band. A mix of traditional and new compositions. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 7.30pm, 01885 488575.

Sat 17 January

ALL 4 INDIE + BRITPOP UNITED

The Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6pm, 07498 966606.

GERMA ADAN & XHOSA COLE

Folk and jazz combine for eclectic storytelling with this duo. Ludlow Assembly Rooms, 7.30pm, £18, 01584 878141.

THE DOLLY SHOW

Dolly Parton tribute show. Courtyard, Hereford, 7.30pm, 01432 340555.

ANNA & THE TONICS

Gordon Bennetts Bar, Hereford, 9.30pm, free entry, 01432 360250.

SMOOTH CRIMINAL

A tribute to Michael Jackson. The Regal, Tenbury Wells, 7.30pm, £27.50, 01584 811442.

Sun 18 January

WHISKEY RIVER

Duo with Aidan and Martin. The Three Tuns, Chepstow, 5pm, free.

PLYGAIN

Join Gwilym Bowen Rhys and friends for an introduction to the ancient tradition of Plygain. Oriel Davies Gallery, Newtown, visit www.orieldavies. org for more information and to book.

RHYTHM & BLUES BAND

Prince of Wales, Ledbury, 4pm, 01531 632250.

SAM MURRAY

The Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 5pm, 07498 966606.

Tues 20 January

BRECON JAZZ

Featuring Jean Guyomarc’h (guitar) and Friends Quintet. The Muse, Brecon, 8pm, £16. www.breconjazz.org

Wed 21 January

PUNK OFF

The Sounds of Punk and New Wave. The Courtyard, Hereford, 7.30pm, 01432 340555.

DAVE LUKE & JOHN HYMAS

Nori’s Cafe, Leominster, £26 with meal. Please book via 01584 831386 or email noriscafe@yahoo.com

Thurs 22 January

LIMEHOUSE LIZZY

The Courtyard, Hereford, 7.30pm, 01432 340555.

DETROITICH FUNK MACHINE

The music of James Brown, Tower of Power, Herbie Hancock and more brought to life by a 9-piece local band. The Marr’s Bar, 12 Pierpoint St, Worcester, 8pm, www.musicspokenhere.club

Fri 23 January

ZZ TOPP’D

The Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6.30pm, 07498 966606.

GREEN DOOR

Gordon Bennetts Bar, Hereford, 9.30pm, free entry, 01432 360250.

ARRIVAL - THE HITS OF ABBA

The Courtyard, Hereford, 7.30pm, 01432 340555.

ZAC & THE NEW MEN

Plus support. The Foundry, Bell Lane, Brecon, 7pm, www.thefoundrybrecon. co.uk

OPEN MIC

The Globe, Hay on Wye, 8.15pm. THE ROAD KNIGHTS Golden Cross, Sutton St Nicholas, Hereford.

Sat 24 January

JOHNS’ BOYS WELSH MALE CHOIR

Famed for the spine-tingling harmonies and unforgettable performances. The Hafren, Newtown, £34-£29, 01686 948100.

APRES SKI PARTY WITH DJS Ludlow Brewery, Station Drive, Ludlow, 8.30pm, £10, 01584 873291.

DEFYING GRAVITY - WEST END WOMEN

A celebration of women who have made their mark on the West End Stage, featuring best loved songs from the West End and Broadway. Courtyard, Hereford, 7.30pm, 01432 340555.

ONE VOICE

The Barry Manilow Show. Tribute. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm, £26.99, 01743 281281.

BRUCE JUICE

The Springsteen tribute band. With DJ and buffet. The Corn Exchange, High St, Ross-on-Wye, 7.30pm, 01989 763174.

BURNS NIGHT

Live music. Open from 6pm, details www.openarmskington.co.uk

DISCO BLISS

The Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 2-6pm, 07498 966606.

THE STRIPLIGHTS

Gordon Bennetts Bar, Hereford, 9.30pm.

BOOGIE AND FUNK NIGHT

Montgomery Town Hall, 7.30pm, 0300 102 4528, www.montgomerytownhall.uk

THINK FLLOYD

Featuring complete performances of The Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here. Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7.30pm, £30, 01873 850805.

WILL BARNES QUARTET

With their new album ‘Outside the Light’, a bold new collection of original jazz compositions. Hay Castle, Hay-on-Wye, 7.30pm, £17.50/£12.50, 01497 820079, www.willbarnesmusic. co.uk

Sun 25 January

COUNTRY FEST

The Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 4pm, 07498 966606.

MOZART’S 170TH BIRTHDAY CONCERT

Music by Mozart performed in order of composition. Holy Trinity Church, Bosbury, 3pm, £10, children free, refreshments, donations invited.

MARTYN JOSEPH

One man and a guitar, Martyn Joseph creates a a far-reaching sound that is energetic, compelling and passionate. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm, £25.30, 01743 281281.

JULIAN PERKINS

Bach’s Goldberg Variations performed on harpsichord. St Edward’s Church Hall, Knighton, 3pm, £15, students £2 cash, www.knightonconcerts.co.uk

WINTER WARMER

Music for Piano and Cello. To include works by Beethoven, Vivaldi and Pӓrt. David Stevens on piano and Hilary Summers on cello. Tea and cake available. Presteigne Assembly Rooms, 3.30pm, donations to MBA.

CORNISH SEA SHANTY

Sea shanty singing with themed food and ales. The Oak Inn, Staplow, food from 5.30pm, 01531 640954.

Tues 27 January

WEIRDSHIRE GIG

Featuring Andy Abbot. The Jam Factory, Widemarsh St, Hereford, 7.30pm, £10, www.weirdshire.com

Thurs 29 January

CARPENTERS GOLD

Recreating the look and sound of the Carpenter’s 1970 worldwide tour. The Courtyard, Hereford, 7.30pm, 01432 340555.

QUIZ

The Balance Inn, Luston, 8pm, £2 entry, 01568 616801.

Fri 30 January

NAISSANCE

Pianist John Law and saxophonist Jon Lloyd. Beautiful and emotionally engaging music which blends jazz, classical, minimalist and European folk music into a seamless whole. The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, 7.30pm, £15, 01952 728911.

THE DAZZLING DIAMONDS

A smash-hit comedy variety drag show. Featuring a cast of internationally acclaimed performers, a mix of comedy, live vocals and jaw-dropping dance routines. The Courtyard, Hereford, 7.30pm, 01432 340555.

LOST IN MUSIC

An electrifying journey through the 70s. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm, £33, 01743 281281.

THE BRIDGE

Gordon Bennetts Bar, Hereford, 9.30pm, free entry, 01432 360250.

PRESS GANGERS

Presteigne Shanty Band. MBA fundraiser. Presteigne Assembly Rooms, 7.30pm, bar.

ASIA

In aid of the Love, Hope, Strength Foundation. With DJ and buffet. The Corn Exchange, High St, Ross-on-Wye, 8pm, £20, 01989 763174.

DOOKIE

The Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6pm, 07498 966606.

COUNTRY WOMEN

The Foundry, Bell Lane, Brecon, 7pm, www.thefoundrybrecon.co.uk

TALON

‘Busy Being Fabulous’. The Best of the Eagles. The Regal, Tenbury Wells, 7.30pm, £32.50, 01584 811442.

CRAIG OGDEN

Classical guitar. Blake Theatre, Monmouth, 7.30pm, 01600 719401.

Sat 31January

SARAH MCQUAID

A lush, chocolatey voice combines with her engaging personality. Bishop’s Castle Town Hall, 01588 630023, www.ticketsource.co.uk/BCTH

IN THE AIR TONIGHT

A live tribute to Phil Collins and Genesis. The Courtyard, Hereford, 7.30pm, 01432 340555.

SUPERSONIC QUEEN

A high-energy, live tribute to Queen. The Albert Hall, Llandrindod Wells, 7.30pm, 0300 102 4255, www.thealberthall.co.uk

HEAD HONCHO

Gordon Bennetts Bar, Hereford, 9.30pm.

Sat 31January

CHICAGO BROTHERS

Celebrating 45 years of the legendary Blues Brothers legacy. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm, £32.45, 01743 281281.

CHRISTMAS ORATORIO

Hereford Cathedral Choir together with Marches Baroque and an international lineup of soloists will be performing JS Bach’s Christmas Oratorio in its entirety (sung in German). Hereford Cathedral, 7pm, £25-£10, 01432 374202, www.herefordcathedral.org

MUSIC LEGENDS & ME

Starring Ricardo. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 7.30pm, 01885 488575.

FEBRUARY

Sun 1 February

WILL KILEEN

King of the slide guitar. Prince of Wales, Ledbury, 4pm, 01531 632250.

Mon 2 February

BRIMFIELD FOLK CLUB

Brimfield Village Hall, 7.30pm, 07909 290942. Bring drink/glasses.

OPEN MIC

The Lost Arc, Rhayader, 7.30pm, www.thelostarc.co.uk

CIDER CITY JAZZMEN

The Barrels, St Owen St, Hereford.

Fri 6 February

SHEF LEPPARD + EXTREMELY

The Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6.30pm, 07498 966606.

FIDDLEBOP

Golden Cross, Sutton St Nicholas, Hereford.

Sat 7 February

THE INNER VOICES: HARMONIES ACROSS WALES

A live concert celebrating the rich culture of vocal harmony and singing with a fresh modern a cappella take. Wyeside, Builth Wells, 7.30pm, 01982 552555.

MARTIN KEMP

80s DJ set. The Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 4pm, 07498 966606.

THE KAST OFF KINKS

Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7.30pm, £25, 01873 850805.

THE SKA BEATS

The Foundry, Bell Lane, Brecon, 7pm, www.thefoundrybrecon.co.uk

MAN OF THE WORLD

‘The Music of Peter Green’. Founder of the original Fleetwood Mac. With guitarist Remi Harris, vocalist Dave Small, bassist Tom Moore and Shane Dixon on drums. The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, 7.30pm, £18, 01952 728911.

FOGHORN STRINGBAND

Welcome return from Pacific N.W., the top US Stringband performing down-home, foot stomping lively music from Old Time Appalachian, Cajun, Bluegrass and Country. Unmissable. Come watch and dance. The Lost Arc, Rhayader 8pm £12. Tickets from List Arc website or phone 01544 350407, 07989 898771.

THE ULTIMATE CLASSIC ROCK SHOW

Blake Theatre, Monmouth, 7.30pm, 01600 719401.

A HEAD FULL OF COLDPLAY

Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 7.30pm, 01885 488575.

Music Workshops

Sat 13 December FIDDLES IN HARMONY

A unique blend of sociable ensemble playing, together with expert guidance on style, technique and musicality from tutor Kitty Greenwood. We play traditional tunes with original harmony parts especially composed for folk fiddle players. Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms. Meet in the cafe at 10.15 am, workshop: 11am -12.45pm. £20 per session - includes pdf sheet music, to book your place, please email Kitty: folkfiddleteacher@gmail.com

Sat 10 January 11.30am - 4pm NEW YEAR TUNES

All-day folk session at the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms. Led by Kitty Greenwood & Garry Wiseman. www.kittygreenwoodmusic.com/events Please book via email folkfiddleteacher@gmail.com

Tues 13 January SONGWRITING AND MUSIC PRODUCTION

10 Week Short Course, Hereford College of Arts, Hereford, 6.30pm-9pm, please book online www.hca.ac.uk

Wed 14 January CHILDREN’S CHOIR

For ages 5-9 years. Wednesdays term time, 4-5pm, £20 for the term, please email to join. Presteigne Assembly Rooms, email info@midborderarts.com

Wed 21 January SONGWRITING FOR TEENS

For ages 10-18 years. Seven Wednesday sessions in term time. £20 for the term. Presteigne Assembly Rooms, email info@midborderarts.com

Fri 23 - Sun 25 January WINTERFEST

A weekend of traditional music in the beautiful setting of Westhope College, SY7 9JL. Steady Speed Sessions led by Kitty and Garry. Delicious Duets. Music workshops. Impromptu singalongs. Fee £118 includes lunches on Saturday and Sunday, tea and coffee all weekend. Accommodation available at the venue.

Details www.kittygreenwoodmusic.com/events

Sunday 25 January SHROPSHIRE HARMONY QUIRE

A monthly session for singers and instrumentalists exploring the lively music of the church gallery choirs that flourished from about 1750 to 1850. Led by Andy Watts. We welcome visitors and new members (first session free). Music and recordings available in advance on-line. Lydbury North Village Hall, SY7 8AU, 1.00 - 4.00pm. www.shropshireharmonyquire.org.

Sunday evenings monthly HARMONY TRIBE. Upbeat, fun and welcoming natural voice singing with Sarah Rowe. Wonderful rounds and part-harmony songs from around the world for all levels of experience. No auditions or performances. First Sunday in Ledbury: fourth Sunday in Tupsley, Hereford. Full information including times, venues, bookings and contact details at harmonytribe.co.uk

English Wind Consort Fri 19 December

GEORGINA FRANKLIN

JEWELLERY

Please see website for studio opening times. www.georginafranklin.co.uk

Individual Contemporary Design Commissions undertaken The Forum, 18 Market Square, Tenbury Wells, Worcs. WR15 8EA Phone 01584 810085

Mondays BANG ON DRUMS

Join our joyful African drumming circle every Monday, 7–9pm at The Black Lion, Hereford. Led by master drummer Landing Mané. Beginners welcome. Drums provided or bring your own. £10 per session. 07494 904066.

ENCORE ENTERPRISES Singing for Lung Health Group – Online and face to face sessions Specifically for people who suffer from progressive lung diseases. Wellsprings Song-writing course, for 18+ who would like to improve their mental wellbeing. LIVEWIRE Rock and Pop sessions for anyone aged 11-21 yrs who wants to play in a band, write songs. Garrick Singers – Term Time only. For ages 55+, weekly at The Courtyard 2-3.30pm. £7 per session. Encore Youth Music For young string, brass and woodwind players. For upto 21yrs of Grade 1-8 standard. Herefordshire Youth Choir For ages 9 -18 and loves to sing! Led by Jo Lowry. Hereford based. info@encore-enterprises.com

Mondays KINGTON CHORAL SOCIETY Led by inspirational Music Director Simon Harper and accompanist Paul Roberts, KCS is a 60+ strong non-auditioned SATB choir performing several concerts each year in Presteigne and Kington, often with professional soloists and orchestra, plus an annual choral Workshop. Rehearsals most Monday evenings 7pm in Titley Village Hall. Interested? Contact Sandie dsgw@hotmail.com

Monday BANDAMANIA Bright and breezy traditional and original music.Assembly Rooms, Presteigne. Mondays at 7.30pm, Sue Harris 01547 550158.

Monday BRECON TOWN BAND REHEARSALS Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 7pm, 07779 390954.

Monday REGAL COMMUNITY CHOIR All abilities and adults of all ages welcome. Singing popular and traditional songs, led by Pete Thorogood. Regal, Tenbury Wells, 6-7pm, £5 per session, wwwregaltenbury.co.uk

Mondays, term time only THE MERE SINGERS An open-access mixed voice, adult choir singing original and traditional acapella songs. No need to read music. The Hive, Belmont, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm, maryskeith@aol.com

Monday SINGING TOTS Under 1’s, 1pm-1.30pm, parent social 1.30-2pm. Over 1’s 2-2.30pm, £5 per session. The Courtyard, Hereford, 01432 340555.

Mondays CRAVEN ARMS MALE VOICE CHOIR

All ages welcome singing a broad repertoire of traditional and modern songs. Practice at The Craven Arms Community Centre, 7.30pm. Martin on 01694 722500.

Monday YOUTH CHOIR The Courtyard, Hereford, 6.30pm-7.25pm, £26 per month, 01432 340555.

Monday CORVEDALE CHOIR Community choir led by Ros Crouch. Diddlebury Village Hall 7.30-9.30pm. 01584 547385 or ros.crouch@ gmail.com

Monday ADULT CHOIR WITH LG DANCE The Courtyard, Hereford, 7.30pm-8.25pm, £26 per month, 01432 340555.

Tuesdays DRUM TUITION

With Sophie Holliday. The Pavilion Mid Wales in Llandrindod Wells, 6pm. £20 for 30 minutes, £40 for 1 hour. Contactwyevalleymgmt@gmail.com

Tuesdays LEOMINSTER COMMUNITY CHOIR Liv is leading us in learning uplifting songs. World music, jazz, folk, all in the mix. Come and have an inspiring sing, 7pm8.30pm at Leominster Community Centre. ffi 01568 369074 or email: lccatlcc@myphone.coop

Tuesday BLUE HILLS CHOIR Small daytime choir singing classical music led by Ros Crouch. Diddlebury Village Hall 10-12noon. 01584 547385 or ros.crouch@ gmail.com

Tuesday DOLAU MIXTURES Mixed choir. Dolau Community Hall, Llandrindod Wells, 8pm, 01597 851427.

Tuesday WHITTON VOICES Mixed community choir. Traditional, world and original songs. Assembly Rooms, Presteigne, 7.30pm. Call Sue Harris 01547 550158.

Tuesdays SAMBA BRECON Sue on 07792 165481 or Gill on 01497 821631. 7-9pm, VH, near Brecon.

Tuesday (term time) LUNCHTIME UPLIFT SINGING

SESSIONS Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 12pm-1.30pm, £6.50/£6, 07723 016837.

Wednesday VETERANS MILITARY CHOIR

The Courtyard, Hereford, 10am-11am, free, booking required,jlowry@encore-enterprises.com

Wednesdays PLAY IT BY EAR The Pilgrim Centre, Craven Arms, SY7 9NY, 7.30pm - 9.30pm. Folk musicians meet fortnightly to learn tunes by ear. For full details contact Kitty Greenwood: folkfiddleteacher@gmail.com 01584 841564

Wednesdays CASTLE VOICES Community choir, songs from around the globe. Town Hall, Bishop’s Castle, 7pm. Sue Harris 01547 550158.

Wednesday ROCKSPRING COMMUNITY CHOIR

Rockspring Community Centre, Ludlow. 01584 529053.

Wednesday LUDLOW LARKS COMMUNITY CHOIR

Led by Polly Bolton. Songs from around the world. Ludlow Women’s Centre, 7.30pm-9pm. 01584 823604 or info@oak-barn.co.uk or www.jollypages.co.uk/larks

Thursday CLUN SINGERS Informal community choir, traditional and original songs taught by ear. 10am in High Town Hall, Clun. Sue Harris 01547 550158.

Thursday (Term time) MUSIC TOTS LUDLOW Music activities for children aged 0-4 years. Ludlow Assembly Rooms, 9.30am-10.15am for 0-2 year olds. 10.45am-11.30am for 2-4 year olds, £5 per session. Gersom 07531 120951.

Every Thursday (Term time) DAWN CHORUS Sing along at any ability. Just singing for fun and wellbeing. Ludlow Assembly Rooms, 8.15am-9am, £6 per session, no need to book. Contact Gersom 075311 20951.

Thursday BELLA A CAPPELLA All-female 4-part close harmony singing group. Oscars, Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7.15-9.45pm, email aimoevo@hotmail.co.uk

Every Thursday KINGTON COMMUNITY CHOIR Non auditioning choir, rehearsing on Thursdays (term time) at 7pm-8.30pm at the Burton Hotel, Kington. Come along or email Secretary Teresa at kccherefordshire@gmail.com

Thursday CANTORION LLANDRINDOD A non auditioned mixed voice choir early and classical music. Rehearsals currently in Holy Trinity Church, Llandrindod Wells. 7.30pm-9.15pm. www.cantorion-llandrindod.org 01597 810601.

Thursday UKRAINIAN CHOIR 6pm at Bishops Palace, Hereford. Sessions are 1 hour long and guided by expert musician from Ukraine, Galyna Grigoriadi. For more information, Galyna on ukrainian.bandura@gmail.com

Thursday EDGE CHAMBER CHOIR Auditioned chamber choir led by Ros Crouch, Ludlow Methodist Church, 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Contact Ros Crouch ros.crouch@gmail.com

Thursday PRESTEIGNE POP CHOIR Contact John Hymas for details: 07969 440183, john@johnhymas.com

First Thursdays BLACK HILL TUNE CLUB 12.30-3.30pm at the Dog Inn, Ewyas Harold. 07891 640005.

Fridays every two weeks YOUTH SAMBA SESSIONS

With Peter Piper. Drumming is a fun physical and creative outlet. SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle, 4.30pm-5.30pm, £5 per session or 5 sessions for £20, 01588 638038.

Friday SINGING FOR HEALTH AND HAPPINESS The Courtyard, Hereford, 2-3pm, £5 01432 340555.

Friday BUZZY BEATS! A fun morning for the under 5s. The Hive, Belmont, Shrewsbury, 10.30am-11.30am, £7, 01743 234970.

Friday CRAVEN ARMS SAMBA CIRCLE Craven Arms Community Centre.10am - 11.15am. Regularly during term time with some holiday sessions. Join our friendly group to learn traditional djembe rhythms from Africa and samba rhythms from Brazil - Adults £5 (children accompanying their parents can join in with holiday sessions - £1, second child free). Enquiries carol@mkgriffs.plus.com

Friday LITTLE HEREFORD VOICES COMMUNITY CHOIR

We are a non-audition choir formed 12 years ago with 25+ mixed voices. Rehearsing at Little Hereford Village Hall, 7.30pm- 9.15pm. Subscriptions £3.50 per session paid termly, first trial session free. Broad repertoire (usually 3 & 4 parts) – all welcome. Info: term dates etc: lhvoices.wix.com/ home Facebook: @LittleHerefordVoices

Friday FAMILY MUSIC MAKERS For parents and toddlers 12.30-2pm, £4 per adult and child pair, under 1s free. Courtyard, Hereford, 01432 340555.

Sessions

First Saturday OPEN MIC Greyhound Inn, Llangunllo, 8.30pm, 01547 550400.

First Saturday FOLK & IRISH SESSION Harp Inn, Glasbury-on-Wye, 8.30pm, free, 01497 847373.

First Saturday of month PICKIN’ AT THE BIRD The Bird in Hand, Coton Hill, Shrewsbury, 01743 357484, 9pm.

3rd Saturday OPEN MUSIC SESSION Harp Inn, Glasburyon-Wye, 8.30pm, free, 01497 847373.

3rd Sunday IRISH SESSION Pandy Inn, Dorstone, 01981 550273.

Sundays FOLK SESSION West Malvern Social Club, 145 West Malvern Rd, Malvern, 9pm, free, 07974 725374.

3rd Sunday TEA & CAKE SESSION The Monkland Arms, 5pm, 01568 720510.

Last Sunday IRISH SESSION The Yard at Daphne’s, High St, Presteigne, 07377 909216.

Every Monday AFRICAN DRUMMING CLASSES With world famous drummer, Landing Mane. Black Lion, Bridge St, Hereford, 7-9pm, 07494 904066.

Every Monday OPEN MIC NIGHT Bull Inn, Shrewsbury, 01743 344728.

First & Third Monday OPEN MIC The Lost Arc, Rhayader, 7.30pm, 01597 811226.

First Monday BRIMFIELD FOLK CLUB 07909 290942 and the website at www.roger435.wixsite.com/brimfieldfolkclub

2nd Monday JAM SESSION The Barley Mow, Trefonen, 7.30pm, 07751 420796.

2nd Monday SONGWRITERS CIRCLE Old Street Tavern, Old St, Ludlow, 7.30pm, 07709 904836. Every Tuesday PLAYING TOGETHER An interactive, intergenerational play session for older adults and pre-school children. The Courtyard, Hereford, 10.30am, 01432 340555.

Every Tuesday YOUTH CAFE For young people to meet and share creative activites. For ages 8-16 years, free. The Hive, Belmont, Shrewsbury, 01743 234970. Every Tuesday (term time only) LIVEWIRE For ages 11-21. The Castle Green Pavilion, Hereford, 5.30pm-7.30pm, details lisa@encore-enterprises.com

Every Tuesday OPEN MIC King Charles II, Broad St, Ross-on-Wye, 8pm, 01989 219357.

Every Tuesday TUESDAY JAM SESSION The Falcon Hotel, Bromyard, 8-11pm, 01885 483034.

4th Tuesday UNPLUGGED ACOUSTIC JAM SESSION

Basement stage, Oil Night Long, 31 Castle St, Shrewsbury, 8.30pm, www.oilnightlong.co.uk

Every Wednesday MUSIC CAFE FOR ARMED FORCES

VETERANS LIVING WITH DEMENTIA The Courtyard, Hereford, 11am-3pm, free, and £7.50, 01432 340555.

Every Wednesday OPEN ACOUSTIC MUSIC EVENT

Prince of Wales, Ledbury, 8.30pm, 01531 632250.

1st Wednesday OPEN SINGING NIGHT With mic provided. Bring your own backing track on usb or ask the musicians to support. Prince of Wales, Ledbury, 8.30pm, 01531 632250.

1st Wednesday HEREFORD BLUEGRASS SESSION

Old Brewery Bar, The Barrels, St Owen St, Hereford, 8pm. 2nd & 4th Wednesday ACOUSTIC SESSION The Red Lion, Llanidloes, 8.30pm.

3rd Wednesday TELFORD ACOUSTIC CLUB

The Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford, 7.30pm, hosted by Paul Townsend and Vicki Edwards, 01952 610888.

3rd Wednesday TRADITONAL FOLK MUSIC SESSION

Beer In Hand, Eign St, Hereford, 8pm, 07543 327548.

3rd Wednesday AMERICANA SESSION Monkland Arms, Monkland, near Leominster, 8pm, 01568 720510

Every Thursday OPEN MIC Lupa Cocktail Bar, 37 Bewell St, Hereford, 7.30pm, lupahereford@gmail.com

Every Thursday JAM SESSION For all levels. Basement stage, Oil Night Long, 31 Castle St, Shrewsbury, 8.30pm, www.oilnightlong.co.uk

Every Thursday OPEN MIC The Volunteer, Harold St, Hereford, 7.30pm, 01432 805235.

Every Thursday OPEN MIC West Malvern Social Club, 145 West Malvern Rd, Malvern, 9pm, free, 07974 725374.

2nd Thursday OPEN FOLK SESSION Horse & Jockey, Churchstoke, 8.30pm, all welcome, free, 01588 620060.

Every last Thursday OPEN MIC NIGHT Hosted by Paul Atwell and Clare Bennett. Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford, 7.45pm, 01952 610888.

Every last Thursday KINGTON FOLK CLUB at the Old Picture House, Bridge Street Kington HR5 3DW. 8pm start. Simply turn up and sign up to play or just come to listen, all welcome. Donation £3 to cover venue hire, www.kingtonfolkclub.com

1st Friday FOLK SESSION Informal session of all genres of folk music and all musicians are welcome. The Red Lion, Llangorse, 8pm, 07976 308226.

1st Friday JAZZ JAM West Malvern Social Club, 145 West Malvern Rd, Malvern, 7.30pm, £4, 07974 725374.

1st Friday ACOUSTIC SESSION The Monkland Arms, Monkland, near Leominster, 01568 720510.

1st Friday ACOUSTIC SESSION The Blue Boar, Mill St, Ludlow, 8:30pm. Contact: Ann Gray 01584 879 348.

2nd Friday FOLK SESSION The Greyhound, Llangunllo, 8pm, 01547 550400.

2nd Friday OPEN MIC NIGHT With Mark from the Rhythm Thieves. Hundred House, Purslow, 8pm, markianrichards@hotmail.com

3rd Friday OPEN MIC NIGHT With Mark from the Rhythm Thieves. Rose & Crown, Ludlow, 8pm, markianrichards@hotmail.com

band directory

ADD A BAND - Real instrument backing to your own music. Perfect for singer songwriters etc. Studio near Newtown. www.addaband.co.uk, 07515 401635.

ALMSHOUSE ALL-STARS. Bring alive the swing era of the jazz age with classic songs and hot tunes featuring male & female vocals, sax, clarinet, flute, guitar, double bass, banjo, harmonica & ukulele. Band member credits include TV & radio, BBC & international music festivals, residencies at major tourist attractions and cruise operator contracts. Email: contact@wysonlanemusic.com. Phone: 07836 773303. Visit the website: www.wysonlanemusic.com/almshouseallstars Check us out on YouTube: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=eHhA49c9d60 Find us on Facebook: #almshouseallstars.

BAGPIPES Authentic Highland Music for your event or gathering from Scottish Wedding Awards 2025, “Highly Commended” Piper of the Year Finalist, Keith Wellings. Keith is a former British diplomat, bringing Scottish music to weddings, funerals, parties, festivals and celebrations. Contact by phone 07580 389903, email keiththepiper@ gmail.com, Facebook Keith Wellings - Keith the Piper, Instagram keiththepiper.

BANDAMANIA Community band playing wild and wonderful traditional music. Perfect for ceilidhs, parties and all sorts of local events. Sue Harris 01547 550158 sumarieharris@btinternet.com

BANDEMONIUM Community music group based in Herefordshire playing a wide range of world, country dance and traditional folk music. Bandemonium is available to play at weddings, parties, ceilidhs (caller provided), social and community functions, schools, day centres and charity fund raisers. New members welcome. Contact: Hellobandy1@gmail.com

Band Directory

ONLY £45 FOR THE WHOLE YEAR

Just post the details of your band (around 40 words) with a cheque for £45 payable to Broad Sheep

The Fred Bulmer Centre, Wall St, Hereford, HR4 9HP just call Clare on 07786 131159 or email: info@broadsheep.com

DON’T FORGET... if you have any gigs in the area, email/phone by the 15th of the preceding month for FREE LISTINGS.

THE BANDEROS are a dynamic Blues band that effortlessly channels the raw essence and soul of the genre into their performance. Comprising seasoned musicians with a passion for Blues, Country Blues and Hokum, The Banderos deliver a live experience that is given that special sparkle treatment. Call them up. Phone 07710 493468. E-mail: info@newtraditionmusic.co.uk

BEST FOOT CEILIDH BAND The hottest dance band on the borders + caller. Available for weddings, barn dances and parties. Contact: 07969 440183 or john@ johnhymas.com

FLATWORLD World music from Eastern Europe and beyond. Lively five-piece band with magnificent tunes and kicking rhythms for your arts centre, village hall, festival or party/wedding. Also circle dancing with caller. www.flatworld.band Contact Neil on 01684 569611 or info@flatworld.band

GREY WOLF is a 4-piece, well established, popular Americana/ Old-time folk band from the Welsh Marches. We play banjo, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, dulcimer and double bass alongside fine vocal harmony singing. The band has headlined several of the UK’s Old Time Music and Dance Festivals, performed on radio, at folk clubs, festivals, private parties and has featured at music and literary venues throughout the UK. Traditional, thoughtful and very entertaining, we are renowned for the rapport that we establish with our audiences. WEB : greywolffolk. com Contact : Jim 01584 810000. Email banjojim.allen@gmail.com

LITTLE RUMBA This is a band that will entertain and delight any audience that has its wits about it and has an ear for beautiful melodies infectious beats and songs that tell stories. From Winchcombe Live “Absolutely fantastic evening from you guys tonight. We had so many positive comments from the audience; very gratifying! Great musical talent, great humour, variety, and warmth of performance.” Contact Jacqui Savage 07966 943314 Email – jaxbass.xs@btinternet.com http://www.littlerumba.com

MELOMANICS A wacky, Shropshire-based Duo with an amazingly dynamic sound, playing their eclectic and cosmopolitan repertoire with engaging humour and infectious energy (sustainable). Far more than just great music. And stilts if appropriate. Find out how much fun a ceilidh can be with Tim calling and playing. Ideal for parties, weddings, fund-raising events, festivals, shows, pubs, restaurants, etc. Scottish, Irish and French-themed specialities (Timoléon pour vos soirées francaises). For more info call Tim on 01743 719438, 07835 928069, or Rich on 07594 636828. Email: tim@melomanics.co.uk Website: www.melomanics.co.uk

MIDNIGHT MAYHEM is a quality covers band ready to kickstart your event. Performing female influenced rock and pop with songs to delight your guests. So if you have a birthday, wedding or event get in touch to discuss how we can meet your requirements. Call or text Elizabeth on 07807 531151. Email midnight4mayhem@gmail.com and find us on Facebook or instagram.

NICK AND JANE – The Poptastic duo bring you the greatest hits of the 60’s, 70’s and more. Great harmonies and infectious enthusiasm to make your event a memorable success. Perfect for parties, pubs, festivals and weddings. Facebook @nickandjane email: nickandjaneH@gmail.com or call Jane on 07512 368433.

THE RAGTIME JUG ORCHESTRA A roots string-band duo recreating the sounds of the early 20th century America, playing a good-time mix of blues, skiffle and Americana music. We like to get audiences involved! Available for festival, events, parties, folk clubs, pubs and bars; performance presentations and workshops for all occasions too. Contact: John; 07751 829109. Web: www.ragtimejug.co.uk Email: info@ragtimejug.co.uk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ ragtimejugorchestra

RHYTHM THIEVES Funky, folky and fun. Firm favourites at festivals, pubs, parties and events around the Midlands and beyond, Rhythm Thieves are a lively must-see band who deliver an unforgettable and highly entertaining night out. “Full of fire and enthusiasm” Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2 “Great, super, lovely - our resident band” Genevieve Tudor. BBC Radio Midlands Folk Show. “If they don’t make you smile, you’re probably dead.” Wheaton Aston Folk Festival Tel: 01568 770 134, e-mail rhythmthieves@hotmail.com

SIR DANCELOT 4/5 piece ceilidh/twmpath band with caller. Far and away the best exponents of traditional dance music of the British Isles and beyond for miles around and leagues beneath. Concertina, mandolin, fiddles, whistles, cittern, jews harp... Available for weddings, parties and public events. For information and bookings, contact: Matt 01686 412 753 or 07843 440 789. www.sirdancelot.co.uk

THE CHERRYSTONES are Aly (whistles, flute, accordion, vocals), Matt (bass, foot drum, vocals) and Dave (guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, vocals) who bring you a mix of original and traditional folk songs and tunes. From thoughtful, well-crafted songs to infectious uptempo Irish whistle tunes, we will warm your heart and stir your souls and soles! Contact: Dave 07817 220016, dgand2@btinternet.com. Find us here Facebook.com The Cherrystones. Website coming soon!

WHISKEY RIVER is a 5 piece electric Americana band that play swamp blues, Cajun, Zydeco and good country music to set the dance floor rocking. To suit smaller venues and smaller budgets, pruned down, slightly folkier acoustic versions of the band are available as Whiskey River (Quartet), Whiskey River (Trio) or Whiskey River (Duo) [once known as The Whiskey River Boys]. Laissez les bon temps rouler!! Contact Martin, phone: 07846 669890, 01432 342018. Email: martin@whiskeyriver. co.uk. Website: www.whiskeyriver.co.uk

VENUES

ALBERT HALL, Ithon Rd, Llandrindod Wells

0300 102 4255

ASSEMBLY ROOMS, Mill Street, Ludlow 01584 878141

BARRELS, St Owen Street, Hereford 01432 274968

BASKERVILLE ARMS, Clyro, near Hay-on-Wye 01497 820670.

BASKERVILLE HALL HOTEL, Clyro Court, near Hay-on-Wye 01497 820033.

BELL HOTEL, Commercial St, Newtown 01686 625540

BELL INN, Etnam St, Leominster 01568 616811

THE BRIDGE HOTEL, Tenbury Wells 01584 810434

THE BRIDGE, Ludlow 01584 872963

BLACK LION, Bridge St, Hereford, 01432 266000

BOROUGH THEATRE, Abergavenny 01873 850805

CARAD, East St, Rhayader, 01597 810192

CENTRE CELF, Tremont Rd, Llandrindod Wells 01597 822777

CHARLTON ARMS, Ludlow, 01584 872813

THE CLIFFE AT DINHAM, Ludlow 01584 872063

CONQUEST THEATRE, Bromyard, 01885 488575

THE COURTYARD, Edgar St, Hereford. 01432 340555

THE DUKES ARMS, Presteigne 01544 267318

DUN COW, Shrewsbury 01743 356408

THE EXCHANGE, Newtown 01686 621814.

THE GLOBE AT HAY, Hay-on-Wye 01497 821762

THE GOLDEN CROSS INN, Sutton St Nicholas, Hereford 01432 880274.

GORDON BENNETTS BAR, St Peter’s Square, Hereford, 01432 360250.

GRAPE VAULTS, Broad St, Leominster 01568 611404.

THE HARP INN, Glasbury-on-Wye 01497 847373

THE HERDSMAN, Widemarsh St, Hereford, 01432 277330

HOPE & ANCHOR, Rope Walk, Wye St, Ross-on-Wye. 01989 563003.

HUNDRED HOUSE INN, Purslow, 01588 660541

KNIGHTON & DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTRE, Knighton 07751 221487.

LEFT BANK, Bridge St, Hereford 01432357753

LICHFIELD VAULTS, Church St, Hereford. 01432 266821

LION BALLROOM, Broad St, Leominster. 01568 612277

LUDLOW BREWING COMPANY, The Railway Shed, Ludlow 01584 873291

MARKET THEATRE, Ledbury 07967 517125

THE MALTHOUSE, Ironbridge, 01952 433712

MINER’S ARMS, Priest Weston 01938 561352

NELSON INN, Ludlow 01584 872908

OAKENGATES THEATRE, Telford. 01952 619020

THE OLD MILL, High Street, Llanidloes 01686 412008

THE OXFORD ARMS, Duke St, Kington 01544 230322

PAVILION MID WALES, Llandrindod Wells 01597 258118

REGAL, Tenbury Wells 01584 811442

ROSE & CROWN, Tenbury Wells, 01584 811336

ROYAL FOUNTAIN, Cleobury Mortimer 01299 272720

THEATR BRYCHEINIOG, Canal Wharf, Brecon 01874 611622

THE HAFREN, Llanidloes Road, Newtown 01686 948100

THEATRE SEVERN, Shrewsbury, 01743 281281

THE TOWN HALL, Bishop’s Castle 01588 630023

THREE TUNS, Bishop’s Castle. 01588 638797

TOWN HALL, Bishop’s Castle 01588 630023

THE VICTORY, 88 St Owen St, Hereford 01432 274998

VOLUNTEER, Harold St, Hereford 01432 276189. WHITEHORSE INN, The Square, Clun. 01588 640305. WHITE SWAN, Eardisland, 01544 388577

WYESIDE ARTS CENTRE, Builth Wells, 01982 552555

theatre PERFORMANCE

Mon 1 & Wed 3 December

CASABLANCA - A LIVE RADIO PLAY

THE PLAYHOUSE OF THE AIR COMPANY broadcast this classic tale of love in war-torn North Africa in front of a live theatre audience, complete with live music. A pre-show experience and a foley artist creating the sound effects on stage. 1 Dec - Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, 7.30pm, £17.50, 01600 772467. 3 Dec - Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7.30pm, £15/£13, 01873 850850.

Thurs 4, Fri 5, Sat 6 December & Sat 31 January

DONE TO DEATH, BY JOVE!

Created and performed by Nicolas Collett and Gavin Robertson. Holmes and Watson meet Poirot and Marple in a spoof homage - who murdered Lady Fanshawe? 4 Dec - Harley VH, 7.30pm, £12/£6, 01952 510422. 5 Dec - Cosy Hall, Newport, TF10 7LD, 7.30pm, £12/£6, 01952 382382. 6 Dec - Welshampton Parish Hall, 7.30pm, £12/£6, 01948 710439. , 31Jan - The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, 7.30pm, £15, 01952 728911. Arts Alive. Fri 5 - Sun 7 December

MAID MARIAN!

AH PLAYERS. A festive, funny, action-packed panto where Robin Hood fights for love, justice and the forest. With singing, dancing, chaos galore. The Albert Hall, Llandrindod Wells, 7.30pm, Sun 2.30pm, £6/£3, 0300 102 4255, www.thealberthall.co.uk

Sat 6, Fri 12, Fri 19, Sat 27 December & Fri 2 January

MOTHER GOOSE ADULT NIGHTS

A memorable night of innuendo and adult humour. For ages 18+. The Courtyard, 8pm,£32-£12. Free after party in the bar with live music on 6, 12 & 19 Dec. 01432 340555.

Thurs 11 - Sat 13 December

ALICE DOWN THE POTHOLES

Presteigne is once more under threat, this time from the land beneath the potholes. Can Alice and the White Rabbit save the town from the evil machinations of a tech-bros

Mad Hatter? Please bring a cushion! John Beddoes School, Presteigne, 7.30pm, £9/£6, family £24. Tickets available from The Salty Dog.

Sat 13 & Sun 14 December

CAROLS, SONGS AND SKETCHES

ROOFTOP THEATRE. Open air with inclusive mulled wine and mince pies. The Secret Garden behind the Castle Bookshop, Ludlow, 6pm, £8 from the bookshop, 01584 872562.

Tues 16 December

A CHRISTMAS CAROL QUEEN ELIZABETH HIGH SCHOOL present a bold and imaginative take on Dickens’ classic tale. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 7.30pm, 01885 488575.

Tues 16 December

A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS IN WALES

LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE perform Dylan Thomas ‘A Child’s Christmas in Wales’. A funny, warm and thought provoking account of childhood memories. The Great Hall, Hay Castle, Hay-on-Wye, 7pm, £12.50, under 16s £8, 01497 820079, www.haycastletrust.org

Thurs 18 December

A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS IN WALES

Written by Dylan Thomas and performed by Guy Masterson. A wonderful festive story and two other magical works brought vividly to life. Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7.30pm, £16/£14, 01873 850805.

Sat 20 December

THE GREAT BALDINI FAMILY CHRISTMAS SHOW

Emperor of illusion, Prince of Prestidgitation and Maharajah of Mystery. A joyously silly magical romp. Montgomery Town Hall, 7pm, 0300 102 4528, www.montgomerytownhall.uk

Thurs 15 January

TOAD OF TOAD HALL

DON’T GO INTO THE CELLAR THEATRE COMPANY. Poop-poop! The incorrigible Toad rides again in this high-energy, one-man show. The Regal, Tenbury Wells, 6pm, £15-£12, 01584 811442.

Tues 16 - Thurs 18 December

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

EUROPEAN ARTS COMPANY. A heart-warming evening in the presence of the author himself! Actor John O’Connor faithfully recreates Charles Dickens’ famous performance of his best-loved story. The Courtyard, Hereford, 7.45pm, 01432 340555.

Tues 13 January

UNRESTRICTED ACCESS

WRITING ROOM presents the first showcase of the year, by a professional cast. Fresh new work. The Courtyard, Hereford, 7.45pm, 01432 340555.

Tues 20 - Sat 24 January

TIME BY LUXMURALIS

The light show will transform the interior of Hereford Cathedral and invite visitors to embark upon an extraordinary exploration of the concept of time as they journey through history, science and imagination. Hereford Cathedral, 6.40pm, £9, children £6 (4-16 years), tickets free for ages 3 and under, 01432 374202 or www.herefordcathedral.org

Wed 21 - Fri 23 January

DARLING MR LONDON

ABERGAVENNY THEATRE GROUP perform a farce by Anthony Marriott and Bob Grant about Edward Hawkins, a mild mannered telephone exchange employee in 1970s London who flirts with women operators across Europe... Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, various times, £12/£10, 01873 850805.

Sat 24 January

MACBETH ALONE

STROUD THEATRE COMPANY. Macbeth Alone is a thrilling and visceral reimagining of Shakespeare’s most haunting tragedy - performed by one man alone. Regal, Tenbury Wells, 2pm & 7.30pm, £20.50, 01584 811442.

Sun 25 January

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

WILLOW GLOBE THEATRE. Shakespeare’s magical comedy bursts into life, where fairies meddle, lovers lose their way and a band of would-be actors stumble into enchantment. Wyeside, Builth Wells, 3pm, £15, 01982 552555.

Theatre Penguins

Thurs 29 January

WHEN VINCENT MET JOHN

Vincent Van Gogh died in 1890, John Lennon died in 1980, both of gunshot wounds to the chest. What might have happened, had the two greatest artists of their time met? The Courtyard, Hereford, 7.45pm, 01432 340555.

Fri 30 January

THE DAZZLING DIAMONDS

A smash-hit comedy variety drag show. Featuring a cast of internationally acclaimed performers, a mix of comedy, live vocals and jaw-dropping dance routines. The Courtyard, Hereford, 7.30pm, 01432 340555.

MUSICAL THEATRE & OPERA

December

TROUBLE IN TAHITI

MID WALES OPERA. Music and Libretto: Leonard Bernstein. Chamber Arrangement by Bernard Yannotta. Bernstein’s one act opera is an exquisite dissection of the great American Dream, through the eyes of Sam and Dinah in their 1950’s Pastel house and white picket fence marriage. 2 Dec - St Andrew’s Church, Presteigne, 7.30pm, £17, under 25s £10, from The Workhouse or www.midborderarts.com 4 Dec - Criccieth Memorial Hall, 01766 523672. 5 Dec - Neuadd Dyfi, Aberdovey, 07977 943249. www.midwalesopera.co.uk

Sat 7 February

SHREK JR

NYP ACADEMY students bring the magical world of Shrek Jr to the stage. Packed with humour, heart and show stopping songs. The Hafren, Newtown, £14, 01686 948100.

CHILDREN’S THEATRE

Mon 1 December

THEATRE PENGUINS

Magical wintery sensory show for and co-created by young imaginations, with a giant inflatable igloo. SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle, 11.30am, £6, children £5, 01588 638038.

Until Sun 4 January

DICK WHITTINGTON

Join Dick and his streetwise cat for this purr-fectly magical pantomime, filled with toe-tapping tunes and laughter. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, various times, £36-£18.50, schools £13, 01743 281281.

Wed 3 December

HORRIBLE HISTORIES: HORRIBLE CHRISTMAS

From Victorian villains to Medieval monks, Puritan parties to Tudor treats all in a wonderful, funny and moving way. The Hafren, Newtown, 1pm, £19/£15.50, family £60, 01686 948100.

Wed 3 - Wed 31 December

MOTHER GOOSE

Get ready to waddle into a world of magical mischief and golden-egg hilarity. With a professional cast combining side-splitting comedy, dazzling costumes and a heart-warming story. The Courtyard, Hereford, various times, 01432 340555.

Fri 5 - Sun 14 December

SNOW WHITE: THE FAIREST PANTO OF THEM ALL OUR STAR THEATRE COMPANY. The fairytale kingdom is left in the clutches of Snow White’s wicked step-mother, the evil Queen, but with the help her friends, the seven dwarfs, Snow White might just find happiness... Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, various times, £16, children £12, 01885 488575.

Sat 6 - Wed 24 December

HANSEL AND GRETEL

A classic tale of magic, mystery and deliciously sweet adventures. Through playful puppetry, toe-tapping original songs. A gingerbread house full of family fun. An interactive theatrical treat for all ages, especially for children under 7 years. The Courtyard, Hereford, 2pm, 01432 340555.

Tues 9 - Wed 31 December

ALADDIN

LUDWIG THEATRE ARTS. Ludlow’s traditional pantomime. Ludlow Assembly Rooms, (31 Dec includes panto and party), various times, tickets from £11, 01584 878141.

Wed 10 - Wed 24 December

TALES FROM ACORN WOOD AT CHRISTMAS

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s beloved stories are brought to life on stage for the first time in an enchanting lift-the-flap experience. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 11am& 2pm, £19-£17 (child under 16), £17-£15 (child under 2), £9.50-£8.50, 01743 281281.

Thurs 11 - Wed 31 December (except 15, 17 & 25 Dec)

DICK WHITTINGTON AND HIS MUSICAL CAT

Tenbury lad Dick Whittington has heard the streets of London are paved with gold, and so takes a one-way tractor ride to find his fame and fortune. The Regal, Tenbury Wells, various times, £13.50-£25, 01584 811442.

Fri 12 December

ALADDIN

SHREWSBURY COLLEGE. A family pantomime in support of Wenlock Olympian Society’s running track appeal. The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, 7.30pm, £5/£2.50, 01952 728911.

Sat 13 & Sat 20 December

SANTA’S CHRISTMAS PARTY

HONALEE MEDIA present a brand new show where every child receives a present from Santa! With a story of Dotty the Elf’s decorations have gone missing, Dasher the Reindeer’s party games are broken. Help Santa’s Party back on track in an adventure full of fun, festive songs and party games. Suitable for ages 2-8 years. 13 Dec - The Hafren, Newtown, £12.50, family £44, 01686 948100. 20 Dec - The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, 2pm, £12.50, 01952 728911.

Sat 13, Sun 14, Sat 20, Sun 21 December, Mon 29 December - Thurs 1 January

SANTA’S WONDROUS WORKSHOP

There is a crisis at the North Pole. Santa’s Workshop has run out of magic and stopped making toys. There’s only one remedy, The Great Baldini to return magic to the North Pole and save Christmas. Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, various times, £12 adults, £10 under 16s, family £40, 01600 772467.

Sat 27 Dec & Sun 28 December

MOTHER GOOSE

LEMON JELLY bring their highly acclaimed panto to stage. Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, various times, £17 adults, £11 under 16s, family £45, 01600 772467.

Thurs 22 - Sun 25, Thurs 29 January - Sun 1 February

ROBIN HOOD AND BABES IN THE WOOD

LADS. The classic tale of Robin Hood who might be the best archer in the land but can he escape the clutches of the Sheriff of Nottingham and save the Babes in the Wood? Market Theatre, Ledbury, 7.30pm, matinees on Sat & Sun 2.30pm, £12, students £8, family ticket £42, 07967 517125.

Fri 23 - Sat 31 January

GOLDILOCKS

WESTENDERS. Fandango’s Circus has come to the town of Wrinkleybottom. Acrobats, lion tamers, elephants and clowns... Well one clown and not much else. Felicity Fandango must try and find new acts for their failing family circus. Meanwhile Goldilocks is running away from her guardians... Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, various times, (no show on 26 Jan). 01874 611622.

Sat 24 January

THE ENORMOUS TURNIP

Young Rosie dreams of carving a lantern from a turnip, for a special Festival of Light in her village. First, she must plant a seed and wait... Featuring hand-crafted puppets and sets, storytelling, live music, songs and lots of joining in. The Courtyard, Hereford, 11am, 01432 340555.

DRAMA WORKSHOPS

MID POWYS YOUTH THEATRE

Tues (term time) Little MPYT for ages 10-13 years, 5.30pm-6.30pm, £60 per term, bursaries available. Tues (term time) Big MPYT for ages 14-24 years, 7.15pm-8.45pm, £60 per term, bursaries available. 4th Sun of the month MPYT +, for ages 19-29 years, suitable for all abilities, 7-9pm, £5 per session. Details www.mpyt.co.uk

ASSEMBLY ROOMS, LUDLOW

Sat (term time only) - Ludwig Theatre Arts for ages 7-17, 2-4pm, contact takepart@ludwigtheatrearts.com Assembly Rooms, Ludlow COMMUNITY YOUTH THEATRES

The Conquest, Bromyard. Mon - Juniors, Year 1-6: 5pm, £41 per term. Intermediates & Seniors, Year 7+: 6pm, £48 per term. The Phoenix Theatre, Ross-on-Wye. SatPhoenix Kids, ages 4-7, 9.30am, £41 per term. Juniors Group 1 for ages 8+, 10.30am. Juniors Group 2 for ages 8+, 11.45am, £45 per term. Market Theatre, Ledbury. Mon - Intermediates, Year 7-9: 7.30pm, £41 per term. Seniors, Year 10+: 8.30pm, £45 per term. Details email takepart@courtyard.org.uk or 01432 346526.

COURTYARD THEATRE, HEREFORD

Sat - Junior Youth Theatre, Courtyard Kids 9.30am-10am, £67 per term. Year 3: 10.15am-11am.

Year 4: 11am-11.45am. Year 5: 12-12/45pm. Year 6: 12.45-1.30pm, (£68.50 per term).

Year 7: 2.30-3.30pm. Year 8: 3.45-5.15pm (£70 per term). Thurs - LG Drama Classes, Mini Musicals for ReceptionYear 3, 5pm, £28 per month. Thurs - LG Drama Classes, Junior Musical Theatre for Years 4-9, 6pm, £28 per month. Thurs - LG Drama Classes, Senior Musical Theatre for ages 14-18, 7pm, £36 per month.Fri - Year 9: 5-6.30pm, £70 per term. Wed - Intermediate Youth Theatre for Year 10 & 11, 5.30-7pm, £72 per term. Fri - Senior Youth Theatre for Year 12+, 7-9pm, £75 per term. Courtyard, Hereford, 01432 340555.

Tuesdays YOUTH THEATRE

For 7-14 year-olds after school. Ledbury Market Theatre, 01432 383663.

Tuesdays YOUTH CAFE

Young people can meet and share creative activites including music, drama and films. For ages 8-16 years, free. The Hive, Belmont, Shrewsbury, 01743 234970

Wednesdays KINGTON YOUTH THEATRE

Kington Primary School. Wed - Junior 7-11 years, 4-5.30pm. Intermediate 11+ 5.30-7pm. £42 per term, 01432 340555.

SHROPSHIRE YOUTH THEATRE

Sat - Beginners 9.30am-10.45am, 6-8 year olds. Sat - Juniors 11am-1pm, 9-12 year olds. Thurs - Seniors, 7-9.30pm, 14-25 year olds. The Hive, Shrewsbury, www.shropshireyouththeatre.co.uk

Poetry & Storytelling

Throughout December

STORYTELLING WITH FATHER CHRISTMAS 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 - 23 December. Group storytelling sessions with Father Christmas in the Castle. Croft Castle, Yarpole, near Leominster. Normal admission applies, £8 per child, booking essential, www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Sat 6 December

GHOST STORIES FOR CHRISTMAS

By Edwyrdian Tales. Hellens Manor, Much Marcle, near Ledbury, 7.30pm, 01531 660504, www.hellensmanor.com

Sun 7 December

MBA SUNDAY SESSION: RHIANNON HOOSON

‘The Old World and the New’. Acclaimed local poet reads from a new cycle of poems which chart a course through the year. Her talk explores her writing process and the value of close observation in the natural world. Presteigne Assembly Rooms, 3.30pm, £8 from The Workhouse, Presteigne or www.midborderarts.com

Thurs 11 December

YULETIDE TALES

With storyteller Jason Buck. For adults and older children (11+). Oscars, Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7.30pm, £15/£12, 01584 878141.

Thurs 18 December

AFTER SUPPER GHOST STORIES

By Jerome K Jerome: Read by Gav Cross. A portmanteau of ghostly tales, told by an unreliable narrator and tied together with nonsense, noise and whiskey-punch...

Clungunford Village Hall, 7.30pm, £12, children £6, 01588 660152. Arts Alive.

Fri 19 December & Fri 16 January

BLAST STORYTELLING

19 Dec - Morgan Le Fay. 16 Jan - Tales of Resistance with Wendy Shearer. Bishop’s Castle Town Hall, 8pm, www.bishopscastletownhall.co.uk

Sat 17 January

MATTERS ARISING

Sonnets with Giles Swain. The reading will introduce us to sonnets that reflect on memory, mortality and the quiet drama of everyday life. Clore Learning Space, Hay Castle, Hay-on-Wye, 7pm, £12.50, 01497 820079, www.haycastletrust.org

Comedy

Various dates during December & 9 & 23 January

WESTONS COMEDY CLUB

Enjoy laugh out loud comedy from some of the hottest up-and-coming comedians on the circuit. The Courtyard, Hereford, 8.30pm, 01432 340555.

Thurs 4 December

COUNT ARTHUR STRONG: A CHRISTMAS CAROL

He will be playing Charles Dickens in his own adaptation of the classic, telling it like no other! Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, 8pm, £24.50, 01600 772467.

Wed 5 December

COMEDY NIGHT AT THE FOUNDRY

Featuring Welsh Jesus, hosted by Mike Reed and comedian Paul Hilleard. The Foundry, Bell Lane, Brecon, 7pm, tickets on sale via www.jokepit.com www.thefoundrybrecon.co.uk

Fri 5 December

MARCHES COMEDY NIGHT

With host Pete Otway and featuring Steve Day, Gareth Morris, Harriet Dyer. Montgomery Town Hall, 8.30pm, tickets from Bunners or 0300 102 4528, www.montgomerytowhall.uk

Sat 6 December

SIMON EVANS AND FRIENDS!

Simon will be joined by two very special support comedians. Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, 8pm, £23, 01600 772467.

Tues 9 Dec & Tues 6 January

TELFORD COMEDY CLUB

The Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford, 6.30pm, £9 for show only, £14 to include curry, 01952 610888.

Thurs 13 December

THE EDGE COMEDY CLUB CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Featuring Paul Kerensa, Daliso Chaponda and Jo Enright. And carols! The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, 7pm, £15, 01952 728911.

Fri 9 January

ADAM KAY, SHAPPI KHORSANDI & ALEX KELLY Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, 7.30, £28, 01600 772467.

Sat 17 January

RORY BREMNER AND GUESTS

Britain’s top satirical impressionist. Appearing before Rory is Dinesh Nathan and Joe Wells. Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, 8pm, £32, 01600 772467.

Tues 27 January

MILTON JONES & SPECIAL GUESTS

Mock The Week superstar will be joined by Ian Smith and Laura Lexx. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm, £34.10, 01743 281281.

Sat 31 January

CORN EXCHANGE COMEDY CLUB

Featuring Marcus Birdman, David Tsonos, Ian Crawford and Pam Ford. The Corn Exchange, Ross on Wye, 8pm, www.rosscornexchange.co.uk

Talks

Tues 2 December

GOING WILD TALK

2 Dec ‘Wintles Woods’. Bishop’s Castle Town Hall, free, but donations welcome. Details on the website, www.bishopscastletownhall.co.uk

Wed 10 December

BROMYARD HISTORY SOCIETY

‘The Golden Age of British Motoring’ with archive films from the 1930s-1960s, (Heritage Film Evening). Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 7.30pm, members free, guests welcome £6, 01885 488575.

Fri 12 December

GARY NOTTINGHAM

‘Dr John Dee’. Bishop’s Castle Town Hall, 7.30pm, £10, limited bar, 01588 630023, www.ticketsource.co.uk/BCTH

Fri 12 December

CIVIC SOCIETY TALK

Montgomery Town Hall, 0300 102 4528.

Wed 17 December & Wed 28 January

SOUTH WEST SHROPSHIRE GARDENING CLUB

17 Dec - ‘Bee Curious’, the plants, the pollinators and the sweet reward. A talk by Steve Knight. 28 Jan - ‘Garden

DIY Using just a Wooden Pallet’, a talk by Adam Kirtland. Lydbury North Village Hall, 7.30pm, free to members, guests welcome £5, 07811 412455.

Fri 9 January

AN EVENING WITH THE FOUNDER OF CUAN WILDLIFE RESCUE

‘From Personal Journey to Wildlife Rescue’. A moving and inspiring evening with Megan Morris-Jones. All proceeds from the evening will support the ongoing rescue and rehabilitation of injured and orphaned wildlife. The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, 7.30pm, £15/£12, 01952 728911.

Sat 10 January

HEREFORDSHIRE & MID WALES HARDY PLANT

SOCIETY GROUP

‘Ornamental Trees for Gardens’, a talk by Nick Dunn from Tree Nursery Frank P Mathews. Pembridge Village Hall, 2pm, £5, vanessa.doyle@plantingspecialist.co.uk

Sun 11 January

MBA SUNDAY SESSION: OLIVIA PREYE & GARETH HOWELL-JONES

‘Being Alive to a Living World’. Two artists whose varied practices seek to deepen our relationship with the living world. Olivia through music, improvisation and voice yoga and Gareth through reason, words and walking. Presteigne Assembly Rooms, 3.30pm, £8 from The Workhouse Gallery, Presteigne or www.midborderarts.com

Tues 13 January

THE MAKINGS OF A MURDERER

Join Peter Bleksley, a founding member of Scotland Yard’s undercover unit and former star of Channel 4’s Hunted. He lifts the lid on the most dangerous and hidden aspects of murder investigations. The Courtyard, Hereford, 7.30pm, 01432 340555.

Wed 14 January

NOVELS IN DIALOGUE

Novelist Paula Brackston reflects in dialogue on her series of novels set in and around Hereford Cathedral. Hereford Cathedral, 11am, free, but ticketed, email friends@herefordcathedral.org

Thurs 22 January

THE ARTS SOCIETY MID WALES & BORDERS

‘The Art of the Hero, Commemorating Scott of the Antarctic’. With speaker, Max Jones. The Powis Suite, Royal Oak Hotel, Welshpool, 2.30pm, £7, visitors welcome, 01938 555574.

Sat 24 January

SUSIE DENT

Britain’s best-loved wordsmith with her new tour of the joys of the English language.

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 2pm, £33, 01743 281281.

Wed 28 January

JOE CALZAGHEUNDISPUTED

Get ready for a night of raw honesty, thrilling stories and side-splitting moments as Joe Calzaghe, Britain’s greatest boxer steps out of the ring and onto the stage. The Courtyard, Hereford, 7.30pm, 01432 340555.

Thurs 29 January

JASON ROBINSON

An audience with an England sporting legend who achieved success in both the rugby league and rugby union. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm, £37.75, VIP £55, Super VIP £110, 01743 281281.

Wed 4 February

SIMON YATES: MY MOUNTAIN LIFE

One of the most accomplished exploratory mountaineers of all time. Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, 7.30pm, £19.25, 01600 772467.

Wed 4 February

THE TWO EMPEROR COIN

Find out how the Herefordshire Hoard coins reshape our understanding of Alfred the Great and Saxon politics. Hellens Manor, Much Marcle, near Ledbury, 2pm, to book, www.twoemperor.eventbrite.co.uk

Fri 6 February

AN EVENING WITH STATUS QUO’S JOHN COGHLAN

An intimate evening where John tells the real stories and tales of Status Quo’s iconic Frantic Four years, the long awaited Quo reunion in 2013 and what life was really like. Hosted by Dave Sweetmore, with special guest John’s wife and manager Gillie Coghlan. The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, 7.30pm, £25, Meet ‘n’ Greet £50, 01952 728911.

Workshops & Courses

Wed 7 - 21 January

LISTENING LOUNGE

The Courtyard’s Audiobook Club. With three titles available, you’ll listen to an audiobook across 6 weeks and each week there will be the opportunity for discusssion. The Courtyard, Hereford, 6pm, 01432 340555.

January & February

WORKSHOPS & COURSES ABERYSTYWYTH

All online unless stated otherwise. History Genealogy, Archaeology. 12 Jan - The ‘Weaker Vessel: Roles of Women in the 17th Century, £140. 13 Jan - Branching Out: How to use estate records for family history, £140. 14 Jan - Architectural History: The Archaeology of Our Built Environment, £140. 26 Jan - Welsh History 1: Early Modern Wales (c.1485-1815), £140, held in Aberystwyth. 26 Jan - Welsh History 2: Early Modern Wales (c.18152000), £140. 26 Jan - Statues and Beyond: Memorials in Modern Wales, £140. 26 Jan - Gods and Chieftans: West Wales in the Iron Age, £140, held in Aberystwyth. 26 Jan - An Introduction to Research at the National Library of Wales, £140, two-day in person at The National Library of Wales and live online. Professional & Personal Development. 5 Jan - Applied Positive Psychology (Part 1), £140. 30 Jan - Introduction to Orchestration, £140. 5 Feb - Stress Management, £80. 5 Feb - Calculus 101: Building a Strong Mathematical Foundation, £140, held in Aberystwyth. 2 Feb - Social Media Marketing, £140. 9 Feb - Instagram, £80. 9 FebDialogue debate and design, £230. 10 Feb - Navigating finances and preparation for HMRC self assessment, £80. 12 Feb - How can I make a difference? Sustainability, £80. 12 Feb - Digital Film-Making using a smart phone, £140. Literature & Creative Writing. 13 Jan - Fantasy Fiction, £140. 19 Jan - Developing Your Voice as a Writer, £140. 26 Jan - Writing as a Creative Process, £140. 26 Jan - Autobiographical Writing, £140. 26 Jan - Novel Writing 2, £140. 26 Jan - Scriptwriting 2, £140. 26 Jan - Writing Women: Feminism in Poetry and Prose Part 2, £140. 27 Jan - Introduction to Film Studies, £140. 27 Jan - Editing and Shaping your Work, £140. 1 Feb - Poetry Writing 2 - Experimenting with Form and Technique, £140. 1 Feb - Writing Through Global Trauma, £140. 1 Feb - Writing for Radio, £140. Modern Languages. (These are held in Aberystywyth unless stated otherwise) 26 Jan - Arabic Beginners 1, £140. 27 Jan - Arabic Beginners 2, £140. 26 Jan - Introduction to British Sign Language, £160, (online). 27 Jan - Conversational British Sign Language, £160, (Aberystwyth).

28 Jan - Chinese Beginners 1, £140. 27 Jan - Chinese Beginners 2, £140. 26 Jan - French Beginners 1, £140 (online). 27 Jan - French Beginners 2, £140. 28 JanFrench Improvers 2, £140. 26 Jan - Greek Beginners 1, £140. 28 Jan - German Beginners 1, £140. 29 JanGerman Improvers 1, £140. 27 Jan - Italian Beginners 1, £140. 28 Jan - Italian Beginners 2, £140 (online). 27 Jan - Japanese Beginners 1, £140, (online). 26 JanJapanese Beginners 2, £140, (online). 29 Jan - Russian Beginners 1, £140. 28 Jan - Russian Beginners 2, £140. 29 Jan - Spanish Beginners 1, £140. 29 Jan - Spanish Beginners 2, £140. 26 Jan - Spanish Improvers 2, £140. Lifelong Learning, Aberystwyth University. Details 01970 621580, www.ac.uk/learning

Every Tues, Wed & Thurs SPANISH LESSONS FOR BEGINNERS Tues - Advance beginners 10am-11.30am, Wed - Advance Spanish B1, 10am. Thurs - Total beginners, 10am-11.30am with Mely. Private tuitionGCSE students and A Level. The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 7pm, 07837 160505. www.hayspanish.com

Every Wednesday PLACES OF WELCOME

All welcome, to meet a friendly face, a cup of tea and conversation. The Oxford Arms Barn, Duke St, Kington, 10am-12.30pm.

THE COURTYARD WORKSHOPS

Mon - Writing Room Extra. Ongoing sessions for writers with some experience, 3-5pm, £110 per term. MonWriting Room. For writers of all abilities, 6.30-8.30pm, £90 per term. Tues - Reading Room. For adults who love theatre and enjoy script analysis, 10.30am-12.30pm, £60 per term. The Courtyard, Hereford, 01432 340555.

Every Wednesday (term time) BABY B! Storytelling group. From birth to 5 years. Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 11am, free, 01874 611622.

First Wednesday of the month POETRY CAFE, Charlton Arms, Ludlow, 7.30pm, 01584 872813.

Third Wednesday of the month BEREAVEMENT CAFE

Old Chapel, Hereford Cathedral, 2.30pm-4pm, run by volunteers, www.herefordcathedral.org

Every other Thursday PHILOSOPHY CAFE

Informal group which offers the chance to discuss philosophical issues. The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 7pm, 01497 821762. philosphycafe@outlook.com

Fridays READING ROOM EXTRA The Courtyard, Hereford, 6-8pm, £55 per term, 01432 340555.

International Poetry Writers’ Collective: Abergavenny 01873 856350

Leominster Writers’ Circle, Leominster Community Centre. Gill Fothergill chair. 07804 879858.

Meet second Tuesday of month, 2pm.

Presteigne Writers’ Circle, 3rd Thursday, Assembly Rooms, 7.30pm, 01544 260398.

grass roots

Mediterranean Blues - A Sea Choked with Plastic

AS AUTUMN gave way to winter, I found myself far away from my normal habitat of cool and green mid-Wales, wandering lazily along the south coast of France.

From a series of vantage points, I could see for most of each day an expanse of water that looked inviting, and, as is fitting for the Cote d’Azur, azure blue in colour. But looks can be deceptive.

From only brief research, I learned that the Med is riddled with plastic waste of every kind, and that only a foolhardy person would risk an extended swim in it. Luckily, there was less temptation to do that because the heat of summer had long begun to ebb, and because, at the best of times, I am lazy about swimming.

A campaign group called Mare Vivu has convened groups of volunteers to make a yearly survey of the Mediterranean coastline, to inspect the beaches, and to assess just how much plastic detritus there is, both on the beaches and in the sea.

There are twenty-two countries which border the Med. And it’s calculated that their populations hurl a staggering 730 tonnes of plastic waste into the sea every day!

Mare Vivu has its origins in Corsica. One of its leaders is Pierre-Ange Giudicelli. He says that only about a quarter of the jettisoned plastic stays on the sea surface, while most of it sinks down onto the seabed.

Mare Vivu works with other bodies to quantify and combat the waste. They are trying to get more taps and fountains installed in public places to reduce the number of plastic bottles that get casually chucked.

Back on World Environment Day in 2018, the green campaign group WWF said that the Mediterranean had record levels of “micro-plastics,” - tiny pieces of plastic, less than five millimetres in size, which are found more and more in the food chain, posing a threat to human health.

In a report, WWF said that “…the concentration of micro-plastics is nearly four times higher” in the Mediterranean than in open seas elsewhere in the world. The problem is that plastics have come to be a dominant part of our daily lives. Meanwhile it’s calculated that only around a third of the waste generated in Europe gets recycled.

Plastic accounts for 95 percent of the waste floating in the Mediterranean and on its beaches. Turkey and Spain are among the European countries that casually chuck most plastic, followed closely by Italy and France, the report said. To tackle the problem, says WWF, there must be an international agreement to reduce the dumping of plastic waste and to help clear up the garbage already in the sea.

WWF calls for all countries around the Med to

Signor Pierre-Ange Giudicelli with the campaign group, Mare Vivu

increase their rates of recycling and to ban single-use plastics such as bags and bottles. But from where else does all this plastic waste emanate? A UN backed group, Water Journalists Africa, has mounted a long-term study of one Africa region, the lakes of western Uganda.

From there two small rivers, the Mpanga, and the Rwizi, carry plastic waste into waterways leading towards the River Nile. Journalist Sunday Rogers, who has covered Mpanga river pollution for over ten years, estimates that “daily, 500 to 1000 pieces of plastic bottles find their way into River Mpanga.” And he says that the situation is worse during the rainy season.

The River Rwizi meanders through Mbarara city, inhabited by over 120,000 people, picking up waste, including plastics, on its journey from the mountainous district of Buhweju. The number of plastic bottles from Mbarara city that arrive in the river Rwizi daily is in the “thousands,” according to Jeconious Musingwire, a regional manager for Uganda’s ecological watchdog, the National Environment Management Authority.

The Rwizi drains into wetlands leading to Lake Victoria, the source of the Nile. Once in the Nile, this plastic debris is highly likely to end up in the Mediterranean Sea. “Some (of the plastic bottles) contain contaminated liquids which pollute the river’s water,” laments Musingwire.

According to the UN environment programme, “one million plastic bottles are purchased every minute” worldwide. Half of these are likely to be thrown away after a single use.

A survey last year led by Greenpeace, with support from Portsmouth University, found that the UK generates more plastic waste per capita than any other country except the USA. To find that Britain is at the head of this league of shame is shocking, and it is way past time that a high-profile drive was mounted by government and industry to turn things around.

However, given the limp stance so far of the Starmer administration on most environmental issues, only an optimist would wager money on Labour doing anything dramatic to end Britain’s dreadful role in littering the seas with plastic waste. Julian O’Halloran

Green Events

Fri 12 December ASK YOUR MP

Public meeting with Ellie Chowns MP. Lady Hawkins School, Kington, 7pm, tea and biscuits from 6.15pm.

Sun 28 December

SHROPSHIRE HILLS DISCOVERY CENTRE

Christmas Nature Walk, a gentle, level stroll just over a mile. Outdoor footwear and clothing required, 10.30am12.30pm, free, no need to book. Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, School Rd, Craven Arms , 01588 676060

Fri 16 & Sat 17 January

A BEGINNERS COURSE IN WILLOW GROWING

One day course in willow growing for people who are interested in establishing and maintaining their own willow bed for basket making, fencing and sculpture. Oldfield’s Farm, Frith Common, Tenbury Wells, 10am-4pm, 077189 86104. Sat 7 February HEREFORD SEED SWAP

Bring saved seed, bought seed, plants, bulbs, edibles and ornamentals, swap for anything on the table. Stalls include Tools for Self Reliance, Culti-Vate (herbs), tool sharpening, Hereford Wildlife Trust and Aspire Growing. The Courtyard, Hereford, 10am-1pm, free entry, information, herefordseedswap@gmail.com

December & January NATIONAL TRUST EVENTS

Berrington Hall. 6, 7, 20, 21 Dec - Horse & Carriage Rides, 10am-4pm, £5 per person, under 5s free. 1 Dec - 4 Jan - The Georgian Christmas Stocking Trail, 11am-3pm, £3 per trail. 2, 4 & 7 Dec - Wreath making with the senior gardener, 10am-12pm, 12pm-2pm, 2pm-4pm, £40 pp, booking essential. 13 & 14 DecChristmas Vintage Pop-Up Bookstall, 11am-4pm. Normal admission applies. Croft Castle. 1 Dec - 4 Jan - A Victorian Christmas Adventure, 11am-3pm, £3 per trail, includes a prize. 1 Dec - 4 Jan - Victorian Christmas in the Castle, 11am-4pm, immersive rooms, oversized decorations and festive sights, sounds and scents. 1 & 3 Dec - Wreath Making Workshops, 10am-12pm, 12pm-2pm, 2pm-4pm, £40 pp, booking essential. Normal admission applies. Brockhampton Estate. 1-19 Dec - Guided House Tours, winter weekdays, booking essential. 3 Dec - Orchard Talks with the rangers, 12pm-12.30pm, free. First Wed of the month, find out more about Brockhampton’s orchards and how to care for your own fruit trees. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28 Dec, 3 & 4 Jan - Traditional Games Trail, 11am-4pm, free event. 12 Dec - Bygonz Musical Performance, medieval music outside the manor house, 11am-3pm, free event. Normal admission applies to all of the above, www.nationaltrust.org.uk

December & January

HEREFORD CATHEDRAL

Mon - Sat - Cathedral Tours, 11.05 and 2.15pm, £7.50, students £6, 8-16 year olds £2. Selected dates - Tower Tours, £10, under 16s £5, students £8, 01432 374210. www.herefordcathedral.org

Autumn/winter

GOD’S ACRE VOLUNTEERS

Working in churchyards in Shropshire, Herefordshire and Radnor weekly. Come and join us. We aim to manage these areas for wildlife. using environmentally friendly methods. Our work days are listed on God’s Acre Volunteers – Caring For God’s Acre – the conservation charity for burial grounds across the UK, Facebook God’s Acre Volunteers and email alex@cfga.org.uk

Starting January, February & March

ABERYSTWYTH LIFELONG LEARNING COURSES

5 Jan - Animal Behaviour, online 8-10 weeks, £140.

12 Jan - Identifying Gymnosperms, online 8-10 weeks, £14. 12 Jan - Understanding British Bats, online 8-10 weeks £140. 12 Jan - Understanding British Mammals: Mustelids, Canids and Ungulates, online 8-10 weeks, with one in-person session at Lampeter, £140.

12 Jan - Understanding British Marine Mammals, online 8-10 weeks, £14. 14 Jan - Living on the Edge: Processes, Places and Pressures in Coastal Environments, short course over several weeks, held in Aberystwyth. 15 Jan - Land Use Management, online, 8-10 weeks, £140. 21 Jan - Evolutionary Biology: An Introduction, online 8-10 weeks, £140.

21 Jan - Identifying Mosses and Liverworts, four in person workshops and four in person field sessions in Aberystwyth, £140. 31 Jan - Identifying Grasses, Sedges & Rushes, online with scheduled sessions over several weeks, £140. 2 Feb - A Guide to Enviromental Impact Assesment, online 8-10 weeks, £140. 10 Feb - Woodland Birds, online, 8-10 weeks, £140. 2 MarchUnderstanding Amphibians, online, 8-10 weeks with one in-person session at Llysdinam, £140. 2 March - Water Justice and Health (Part 1), online, 8-10 weeks, £140.

2 March - Fungal Ecology, online, 8-10 weeks, £140.

2 March - How to Design a Scientific Project, online, 8-10 weeks, £230. Aberystwyth University. Details 01970 621580 or www.ac.uk/learning

KNIGHTON COMMUNITY WOODLANDS GROUP

Volunteer with us on our weekly task days to learn new skills. http://tveg.org.uk/wordpress/woodland-project Email woodland@tveg.org.uk 01547 520374.

KINGTON LOCAL ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY NETWORK (KLEEN) Encourages community resilience through our Electric Car Share Club, public Orchards, tiny Coppice Woodland, Presentations & networking without borders. Email: kingtonkleen@gmail.com

Every Third Saturday in the Month PRESTEIGNE REPAIR Presteigne Youth Centre, Hereford Street. 10am-12pm. Household items repaired for free. Info: 01544 267997. First Saturday of the month LEOMINSTER REPAIR CAFE 10am-12pm Community Centre. Electricals, household items, clothing etc. repaired for free, donations welcomed. Tool sharpening £2. See Facebook and book via website https://leominsterrepaircafe.org.uk/

Louise Home

Visiting Reiki Practitioner Second Degree Usui Reiki

Please phone for an appointment on: 07891 970015

Based in Knighton, will visit you at home, within a 10 mile radius of Knighton

holy hills

Arthur’s Stone

IT’S just before twilight as I wind my car up Scar Lane from The Bage, heading towards the Merbach Hill. At the top I turn right and pull in beside the ring of wooden fencing encircling Arthur’s Stone. This Neolithic tomb is perched high in the Golden Valley above Dorstone, its massive, weathered stones arranged in a rough shape around a central burial chamber. Local legend links it to King Arthur, who is said to have slain a giant here, before leaving the impression of his elbow in the stone as he fell.

This has been a site of burial, of gathering, and of ritual for more than 5,000 years, and even to this day magnetically draws people to a lonesome hilltop to pause and wonder.

Today, in the winter of 2025, I watch a man standing by the stones, a long-lens camera trained on the shadows. I stay settled in the driver’s seat, eating supermarket sushi as I wait for him to finish his documenting. This place feels a little too intimate to share with a stranger - and yet I don’t think I’ve ever been here alone for long. There is always someone - often a cluster of someones - drawn to this ancient site. Lone pilgrims, Duke of Edinburgh hikers, women’s groups, young kids clambering all over it. Despite wishing to be unwatched here, I take heart in the visitors. In our age of AI and bottomless doom-scrolling, people still want to pilgrimage to mystical places, seek ritual, and feel the old magic hum from a mysterious arrangement of rock.

A flurry of crows cross the sky overhead. The silhouettes of bare limbed trees line up against the pale skyline. A buzzard circles above the woven hedgerows of brambles, docks and yellowing hazel, hunting for prey. The world is steeped in winter; fields sodden with standing water, the air crisp. The neighbouring hills are hidden in swathes of November cloud.

As usual, I have nothing waterproof with me. I climb out of the car, wrap my scarf around me, and breathe in the weather as it’s closing in.

At the tomb I press my palms, and then cheek, to the stone. When I was struggling a few weeks back, I came up here and called a friend in Ireland. She told me to touch the stone, just to connect with it. I found it hard to know how to interact with the site until she said this, and then through my fingertips it suddenly seemed to make sense. So I stand next to this tomb again, imagining the slow pulse through my skin, reconnecting to the land beneath. I try to fathom what five thousand years feels like. The fact that pottery, bone fragments, pitchstone from the Isle of Arran and rock crystals were all found inside somehow feels familiar, like us humans have been gathering and curating important artifacts forever.

It seems Arthur’s Stone is a place for the dead, but also somehow for us living folks, navigating the madness in 2025. When we feel like we don’t belong, it is because we’ve become disconnected from the land, and are looking to fill the void in all the wrong places. I love the

sense here of slowness, realignment, a zooming out to a timeline far greater than oneself.

Bowing slightly to the site, I continue my walk along the straight lane towards Merbach Hill. The colour palette up here is cleansing: muted sage, pewter cloud, the rust-brown hide of cattle, the last scarlet dots of rosehip. Sheep pause mid-chew to watch me pass. A sudden blink of sunlight. A ball of mistletoe lodged high in a hawthorn tree.

Over a wobbly iron gate, I reach the meadows and wander on through the wispy grasses. The last of our mushroom friends are soggy and crumbling. I dodge the sheep poo and thistles, taking in the view of Hay Bluff and the Black Mountains to the south-west. To the east are the Malverns; and down in the valley streams our beloved River Wye.

At the top of the hill, I resist my usual left-turn and wander right instead, through swathes of waist-high dried bracken. The Merbach offers up its rabbit-run of paths, and I let my intuition lead me on a meander up and down the side of the hill. When I reach the trig point I stop, watching the evening settle ghostly over the shire, like a pearly cloak.

I’ve made plans to return to Arthur’s Stone near the winter solstice, with some friends who are equally interested in marking the Pagan calendar. I have created a simple ritual for this shortest day of the year, to let go of the old and call in the new. Maybe you’d like to try it too, wherever you find yourself at this next turning of the wheel.

Jessie Eve Watkins / jessicarisingstudio.com

Transported

WHEN did you last travel on a bus? Of your own free will. Surely, buses are the home of the young and the quite old, but not for people who want to get somewhere, and certainly not for pleasure. They are the overweight vehicle stumbling along in front of you, slowing you down.

My wife and I are travel journalists based in Shrewsbury. Being carless, we regularly use public transport across the Border Country. Our experience is surprisingly positive, with some services actually improving. Wales is leading the way, developing regular cross-country routes with comfortable modern buses. Typical is the one between Merthyr, Brecon, Llandrindod and Newtown, running daily and into the evenings. Main towns like Llandrindod now have interchanges linking into connecting services in all directions. These hubs have real-time departure information. A new bus service now runs parallel to the Central Wales railway, offering a fuller service between Craven Arms and Builth Wells. Ticketing, including seamless rail and bus journeys, is being made simpler. There is more information at tfw/bus.

Staying in Llandrindod earlier this year, we had days out on the 461 service to various points along its scenic route to Hereford. Card payment is easy, and concession cards can be used across the border. There’s the pleasure of looking at the view not the road, chatting with other passengers, and observing the country characters who board along the way. Buses are ideal for linear walks. We took the bus to Llandegley and walked the elevated ridge track back to Llandrindod. After enjoying the delights of Kington, we took a circular ramble out to Lyonshall and back. We had the joy of visiting Hereford, without having to find parking.

England has yet to catch up, but Herefordshire still retains a reasonable network for such a rural county. Shropshire prefers a more minimalist approach. The county’s buses are gentle creatures, and don’t go out much in the evening or at all on Sundays. Yet with a little research, we have reached many places in the Borders, reliably and cheaply. Weobley, Presteigne, Leintwardine, Montgomery and several hundred other delightful places await you. Our favourite information source is bustimes. org followed by a place name such as Ludlow. It is so easy to use, listing services by day of the week, with key

Powys - Llandrindod Wells Interchange

stops along the route, expandable to all stops. Click on map, and it will show where buses are at this moment, reassuring when the bus is late. Click on any stop, and then map, and it shows exactly where the stop is located, even when there is no physical bus stop. Clicking on the bus company link, you can usually get a pdf of the timetable. We take the precaution of having local taxi numbers on our phone, but over many years, we have never needed them.

We have had some great trips in Borderland, proving what is possible, but there is still room for improvement. The timings of some routes are too tight, leading to cumulative delays. Too many bus stops are still not marked and have no timetables. Quieter and greener electric buses, like Hereford’s City Zipper bus, have yet to appear in the Borders. It is good that the Clun and Ludlow Traveller and Corvedale Buzzard community buses serve the locals, but the beautiful Clun valley, one of Shropshire’s bus deserts, is closed to casual visitors like us. The multiple departure locations in Ludlow and Hereford would benefit from the Welsh hub model. Successive governments have promised major improvements in England, but progress has been far too slow. Almost one in five rural bus services in the country disappeared in the five years to 2024.

Yet we keep proving you can get around in the Borders by bus and train, and it can be rewarding and fun. Yes, fun. Give it a try.

Nigel Kelly and Siiri Hubbard

Website: www.aardvark-books.com

50,000+ titles; North Herefordshire’s largest indie bookseller; We buy books

Specialist in art, design, photography, history, gardening

Also open our superb CAFÉ!

The Bookery, Manor Farm, Brampton Bryan, Bucknell, SY7 0DH Off A4113 Knighton Road. Tel: 01547 530744

aardvaark@btconnect.com www.aardvark-books.com

Bookshop open to visitors Tues-Sun 10am-4pm. Open Bank Holiday Mondays.

Sunday 7th December 10am-3pm

AARDVARK CHRISTMAS FAIR

The traditional start to Christmas! Stalls in the barn with Antiques, jewellery, vintage, crafts and much more.

Live Music with Dutch Lewis and mulled wine. Free Entry and Parking.

complementary therapies

Disclaimer: We would like to emphasise that these listings relate to COMPLEMENTARY medicine practiitioners. Broad Sheep does not endorse any of the practitioners or healing methods listed. We provide no recommendation and take no responsibility for their content.

A is for ACUPUNCTURE with Joanna Bruce RGN, MBAcC at The Body Clinic, Leominster & Richard’s Castle. Treating pain (NICE recommended) and long-term health conditions since 1985. Food intolerance testing. Phone 01584 831 840 or text 07984 460969.

E-booking: www.thebodyclinicleominster.co.uk

ACCREDITED, EXPERIENCED PSYCHOTHERAPIST & COUNSELLOR: One-to-one sessions for adults age 18 upwards, in Hay-on-Wye (HR3) and by online video. Find relief from anxiety and depression; overcome trauma; transform anger and low self-worth; navigate divorce, bereavement, and other difficult life experiences. Contact Sarah Hamilton at HAY COUNSELLING, 07580 482751, www.haycounselling.co.uk.

ACUPUNCTURE AND TUINA: I use TCM acupuncture, electro-acupuncture and Tui Na (therapeutic massage) to treat a wide range of health conditions. In Ledbury at my home treatment room on New Street, and in Hereford at Kyrle House Practice (kyrlehouse.co.uk 01432 273234). Acupuncture-Acutherapy Council member. Ruth Busbridge, BSc MSc Dip.Acupuncture. https://rbacupuncture.co.uk/ 07743809466 ruthbacupuncture@gmail.com

ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE LESSONS with Ron Colyer, B.Mus., M.S.T.A.T. An Alexander teacher, accredited by and member of the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique, with over 40 years experience, I am currently offering lessons in Malvern and surrounding areas. Alexander work can help with back pain, joint pain, neck pain, as well as enhancing skills, e.g. in performing arts, yoga practice, etc. The lessons help you to become aware of faulty habits of body use, including inappropriate tension or misdirected energy. You learn to help yourself - it’s really a reeducation process rather than a therapy. For more on Alexander Technique visit alexandertechnique.co.uk Contact me on 07733 253056, or email alextechwithron9@outlook.com

ARE YOU EXPERIENCING ILL HEALTH? Nutritional therapy can help with: gut issues, IBS, stress, anxiety, degenerative disease, dementia, child autism, hormones and more. Book an initial comprehensive assessment and advice. Call Julie: 07356 248 656. Email: juliehowesnutrition@outlook.com Web site: juliehowesnutrition.com All consultations at The Body Clinic, Leominster. www.thebodyclinicleominster.co.uk

AROMATHERAPY MASSAGE, REFLEXOLOGY & REIKI

HEALING with Clare Stanton ITEC. Book a relaxing treatment with Clare in a calm and tranquil setting to soothe the body and relax the mind.01568 750 055 / 07793532417 clare.stanton@hotmail.co.uk

ARE YOU NEURO SPICEY? Do you have a formal or selfdiagnosis of AuDHD, ADHD or Autism? Would you like to feel better in yourself? Find out how your wellbeing may be directly linked to your lifestyle choices, what you eat, your emotional support and how connected you are to people (in person or online) who appreciate your unique differences. Contact either of us to hear about a new holistic approach available at The Body Clinic Leominster HR6 8EP or call Vicky t: 07790 162067 or Joanna t: 07984 460969.

BODY CLINIC, LEOMINSTER Holistic Therapies and advice for rehabilitation, pain, mobility and long term health conditions. Improve and/or support mental health, wellbeing, women’s and men’s health, fertility, pregnancy and much more. Unsure what’s best for your health issue? Book a Holistic Health assessment so an experienced health practitioner can help you. 17 West St, Leominster HR6 8EP www.thebodyclinicleominster.co.uk 01568 368 907/07493 078 566. thebodyclinicleominster@gmail.com

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY SERVICES - DR NANCY BANCROFT Are you struggling with intense emotions, feeling overwhelmed, lost or stuck? Make sense of your experience and create lasting change, with a specialist mental health professional. Trauma-focussed psychotherapy ~ EMDR ~ mind-body integration

1:1 therapy ~ training ~ supervision. Online and face-to-face sessions available in Pembridge, Herefordshire.Contact hello@thebodyinmind.co.uk www.thebodyinmind.co.uk

COUNSELLING talking therapy to help alleviate distress. Debbie Andrews, 10 years plus experience of working with adults and young people aged 11 years and upwards. Online and face to face appointments at The Body Clinic, Leominster (book via their website) and The Fred Bulmer Centre, Hereford. Supervision also available. Call or text 07874 828701, email debbieandrewscounselling@gmail. com, www.debbieandrews.co.uk

EMOTIONAL WELLBEING: Anne Cummings FETC (Adv Dip), BAoG (Dip), MBIG (Dip) offers a safe, effective therapy to help adults and children heal their emotional and spiritual wounds and fulfil their personal potential. If you have difficulty relating to others, or have troublesome emotions call Anne on 01547 530977. Specialist knowledge and experience of working with panic attacks, anger, stress, bullying, low self-esteem, bereavement/loss and anxiety. For more information www.thewritetofeel.com.

FOOT HEALTH PRACTITIONER - Toenail trimmingCallus - Corns - Fungal nails - Cracked heals - Athletes Foot - Foot maintenance - Foot health advice. Contact Leanne on 07479 055027, thebodyclinicleominster.co.uk 17 West Street, Leominster HR6 8EP.

GONG BATH SOUND MEDITATION SESSIONS IN & AROUND HEREFORDSHIRE. Soundscapes can aid in the letting go of old emotions & limiting behaviours. I run twice monthly Group sessions, & also offer 1:1 sessions, hen parties, corporate / wellbeing events, retreats. For more info. Contact Lizzie 07870345216 www.lizzieyogahereford.com

HEREFORD HOMEOPATH and BIODYNAMIC CRANIOSACRAL THERAPIST Juliet Ablett (RHom, MARH, MNCHM, RCST). Holistic health care with experienced practitioner using homeopathy, essences and homeobotanicals, safe and effective treatment for all ages. Also Craniosacral therapy, a light touch, non directive, powerful form of bodywork, also suitable for all ages. Hereford, Garway, Monmouth. www.julietablett.co.uk julietablett@mailbox.org

HOLISTIC HEALTH & NUTRITION Different bodies require different approaches. Receive personalised dietary and lifestyle guidance rooted in the ancient Chinese tradition of yangsheng or “nourishing life.” Address specific health challenges or simply work towards optimal wellbeing. Contact Natalie on 07391162202 or visit www.hsnholistic.com

LEARN THE ART OF FEMININE DEVOTION. Emily Martin - 07747 250720 - www.bigasskinkyheart.com

LEOMINSTER NATURAL HEALTH CENTRE Chiropractic, Herbal Medicine, Kinesiology, Cranial Sacral Therapy, Hypnotherapy, Reiki, Reflexology, Emmet technique. Remedial and Holistic Massage. Counselling inc: Couples and Family, Cognitive Behaviour and NLP Stress Management, Child Birth Issues, Psychotherapy. Telephone 01568 616411 email infoleominstercommunitycentre@ gmail.com Or visit Leominster Community Centre, School Road HR6 8NJ (behind Bridge Street car park).

LADIES, DISCOVER HOLISTIC WELLNESS SOLUTIONS FOR A VIBRANT LIFE. Raj Kumari, founder of ForeverRadiant offering Aromatherapy massage, counselling and life coaching. For further info call Raj on 07952 548519, Email info@forever-radiant.com, Web: forever-radiant.com. 1/2 price treatments available with my loyalty card.

LIFE COACHING accesses the wisdom and power inherent in your current reality to show you the next obvious steps to take to create the true-to-you future that your heart holds dear. I work in person near Llanidloes or online. If this resonates for you and you’d like to learn more please do contact me for a chat on amandatresscoaching@gmail.com

MASSAGE THERAPY WITH MARIAN HARDIMAN (MTI, CNHC, MLDUK). Remedial, Sports, Holistic, Indian Head Massage. Organic Facial and Manual Lymph Drainage. Clinic in Presteigne (The Retreat), Presteigne, LD8 2UF. Contact: marian@silvanmassage.com, www.silvanmassage.com, 07816 981454.

Ladies, Empower your health journey. Discover holistic health solutions for a vibrant life. Forever Radiant provides women’s Deep Tissue Aromatherapy massage or Stress Reduction/Relaxation Aromatherapy massage. Other services include counselling and life coaching. Located in Leominster town centre.

*** OPENING OFFER ***

Get 3rd treatment 1/2 price when you prebook your first two treatments! (T’s & C’s apply). Offer runs until 31 January 2026. Treatments can be spread across the year. Loyalty card and gift vouchers available.

For information or to book an appointment contact: Raj Kumari at Forever Radiant 07952 548519 info@forever-radiant.com www.forever-radiant.com

NUTRITION & FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE Want to understand what’s driving your symptoms? Nutritional therapy and functional testing can help uncover the root causes and provide clear, personalised strategies. Supporting health and wellbeing in both adults and children. Book a free 30-minute online discovery call Natasha Price, MSc, BANT, CNHC info@natashaprice.co.uk 07970 759789.

PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP SUPPORT Infuse your relationships with joy, love, understanding & fun and watch each other heal. Gentle, compassionate, judgment-free guidance with playful, accepting, curious and empathic tools to heal & transform your family dynamic. Georgie Treasure-Evans 07875 50653 healingspirits.co.uk

Professional, Experienced, UKCP Accredited

PSYCHOTHERAPIST & COUNSELLOR. Kington based. Face-to-face sessions for individual adults over 18. No couples work. Regain control of your life, restore meaning to your existence and relief from anxiety, sleeplessness and troubled relationships. Penny Cole 07776 146427. http://www.pennycolecounselling.co.uk

PSYCHOTHERAPY & COUNSELLING for individuals & couples (18+), face to face – 15 mins from Ludlow, or online.I am here to listen to you and talk with you through times of difficulty, distress and uncertainty. Mandy Fowler (MBACP) 07494769230 www.mandyfowler.co.uk

SHADOW WORK, COUNSELLING & DEEP PROCESS

PSYCHOTHERAPY - Facilitated shadow work is a form of embodied deep process psychotherapy (DPP). I specialise in long-form in-person sessions, 3 - 5 hours in length. These deep-dive sessions offer an accepting and shame free space within which to explore and transform those habitual, ingrained or unconscious patterns, beliefs or behaviours that trapping you and hold you back from living a full, meaningful and joyful life. This work holds the potential for deep personal growth and deep healing and is the place to turn towards and dive deeply into difficulty and challenge, shame or guilt, your grief, your pain, your fear or rage. The holding I offer you is both sensitive and strong, and you are invited to bring any issue you wish to our work together. Find out more about shadow work and to schedule a free 20-minute consultation at: www.inner-truth.co.uk - Alasdair Kirk - 07792 405 660.

CAROLINE EDE, ARTIST, CREATOR & CERTIFIED END OF LIFE DOULA

Being both caring and creative, Caroline offers an invaluable service to those navigating the final stages of their life. A sacred space: offering active listening, emotional & holistic support and ritual guidance.

To book a consultation or to find out more 07717571462 carrieede@yahoo.co.uk

YOGA IN PRESTEIGNE

• Group classes and one-to-one tuition to support well-being. • Vedic chant tuition. • Yoga therapy to help during challenging times.

‘Anybody can breathe. Therefore, anybody can practise yoga.’ (TKV Desikachar)

Marie Hudson 07972 492304 marieh279@gmail.com www.theyogapractice.org.uk

SOUND THERAPY BY EDAN SOUND. Soesen Edan is a qualified Sound Therapist with over 20 years of experience running 1-2-1 and group sessions, teaching and retreats. Sound therapy is excellent for all manner of ailments & disease; regulates heart rate & blood pressure, reduces stress & anxiety and brings people to a deeply relaxed state. Monthly group sessions held in Herefordshire, Malvern & Birmingham. 1-2-1 sessions in Holme Lacy. Extensive experience working with complex disabilities & autism; prison therapeutic education, corporate sessions, team away days, workshops & bespoke sound consultancy. www.edansound.co.uk

SOUND THERAPY, with Gongs, Singing Bowls and other therapeutic instruments to relieve stress and anxiety, restoring mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. Monday night ‘Sound Bath’ sessions at The Fold, Bransford in Worcestershire and at Hellens Manor, Much Marcle, Herefordshire, 1-2-1 treatments in Ledbury, retreats, private groups, workshops, celebrations. Contact Cecilia on 07857 128 082, info@csoundspace.com www.csoundspace.com

WOODLAND ECOTHERAPY AND BIOGRAPHICAL COACHING with Hattie Duke of Hearthlight Nemetona, our beautiful woodland regeneration project in Bredwardine, a special sacred haven, allows you to unwind and de-stress. You might also be feeling lost or stuck, overwhelmed or simply needing to pause. Through biography work we find treasures from your past and notice what patterns have been woven into your life. These sessions will give you more confidence, belonging and conviction to step forwards on your own unique journey.www.hearthlight.co.uk, or call 07947 890855 for a FREE conversation to find out more.

Workshops

WORKSHOP LISTINGS - Single (dated) listings are free. Year round, ongoing workshops will cost £45 per year.

December CARERS WELLNESS TASTER SESSIONS

For people aged 50 or over who is a carer. A selection of wellness activities and therapists. 9 Dec - Howey Village Hall. 16 Dec - Presteigne Memorial Hall, 10.30am. Age Cymru Powys, 01686 623707.

December & January OXFORD ARMS BARN

4 Dec Cafe Mortel, a new death cafe, a friendly and supportive space to talk with support of a Death Doula, 6.30pm-8pm. 3 Dec & 7 Jan - Sunflower Social at Places of Welcome. A hidden disabilities support group and network, 10am-12.30pm, free. 10 Dec & 14 JanDementia Matters at Places of Welcome. 10am-12.30pm, free. Oxford Arms barn, Kington, 07301 081444, www.openarmskington.co.uk

Fri 5 December GONG BATH

Deep relaxation sound journey with Chrys Blanchard. The Art Shop & Chapel, Abergavenny, 3.45pm-5.30pm or 7.15pm-9pm, £15, 01873 736430.

Sat 6 December KUNDALINI YOGA

(Brilley). Movement, relaxation meditation, singing and anything else that works! £25-£30, bring a blanket, snacks and yogi tea. 07807 550653, georgie@healingspirits. co.uk www.healingspirits.co.uk

Starting January, Thursday weekly

HEALING ARTS PRACTISE

Join a company of new friends sharing informal healing practises; massage swop, breathe, sound and frequency healing, movement, sharing and dream circles. Leominster and Hereford, £10 drop in more info; Kirsty on 07421453114, email: healingartspractisegroup@gmail.com

Mondays (term time) MOMMY & ME

Restorative Yin Yoga and baby explore session, 11.30am, £7. Wyeside, Builth Wells, 07947 120751.

Tuesdays EVERGREEN PILATES

Ludlow Assembly Rooms, 9am, £9, Ryan, 07984 816847.

Wednesdays (term time) CHAIR YOGA WITH PHILLIPA

Gentle chair based yoga class for all abilities, no experience necessary. Wyeside, Builth Wells, 12pm, £8 per session, no need to book, 01982 552555.

MINDFULNESS THERAPEUTIC ART WORKSHOP

A day of self exploration, reflection and release , no art skills needed just a willingness to play. Facilitated by experienced Art Psychotherapist. Brampton Bryan. For enquiries call : 01547 519414

KUNDALINI YOGA CLASSES & WORKSHOPS

Fun, flowing, energetic, deeply relaxing & releasing for mind, body & spirit, Georgie’s Kundalini Yoga sessions welcome teens & preteens as well as adults. Seriously good for your physical and mental health! Kington & Brilley, timetable here healingspirits.co.uk.

READY TO RESET?

Join our Fasting & Wellness Retreat in the serene Herefordshire Hills. Experience expert-led fasting, yoga, art therapy, nature, and healing. Led by Grace, BSc (Hons) Genetics and qualified fasting coach. Look and book for June at www.fastingwithgrace.com

PILATES CLASSES

Community classes in Titley Village Hall, Lyonshall Memorial Hall and New Radnor Community Hall. Private lessons in my garden studio in Titley. All abilities and ages welcome. Pilates reduces back pain, increases strength and flexibility, tones your body from top to toe. Move it or lose it! Helen Boley info@helenbpilates.com https://helenbpilates.com 01544 231512, 07968 970093.

HATHA YOGA & SOUND THERAPY WITH BRIDGET ROWAN

90min Yoga classes on Zoom and in Peterchurch HR2 0RS to keep you moving and doing the things you love and to bring a sense of calm, peace and improve your wellbeing. Group soundscapes held regularly in the beautiful St Peters Church, Peterchurch. Individual yoga and sound therapy sessions available. Please see my website for further information www.bridgetrowan.uk or contact Bridget 07904 111334.

Third Wednesday BEREAVEMENT CAFE

An informal and friendly gathering. College Hall, Hereford Cathedral, Hereford, 2.30pm, www.herefordcathedral.org

LUDLOW ASSEMBLY ROOMS

Mon - Yoga, 9.30am, £8. Julie Burdett 07780 905729. Wed - Pilates, 10am, £10 per session. Sarah on 07967 482510. Weekly - Hatha Yoga, 6.30pm, £6 per session. Katherine 07975 535408. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow.

THE ART SHED, MID WALES ARTS

Every Wed - Tai Chi with Alan Jeffries, 11.30pm-12.30pm, £8. Every Thurs - Yoga with Karen Booth, 4.30pm-6pm, £10, 07794 337318. Mid Wales Arts Centre, Caersws, 01686 688369.

THE COURTYARD, HEREFORD

Tues - Yoga, 9.15am-10am, £6 per session. Wed - Pilates, 11am-12pm, £6 per session. The Courtyard, Hereford, 01432 340555.