THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT! WHAT’S ON IN SURREY THIS AUGUST?

WEEKEND CROQUET / JULY 18 – SEPTEMBER 27 / POLESDEN LACEY, LEATHERHEAD

Looking for something different to do with the gang this month? Play croquet in the picturesque setting of Polesden Lacey this month. Polesden Lacey has always been a place for recreation and the tradition continues to this day. Four neatly manicured croquet lawn courts are available for public hire at weekends and on bank holidays throughout August.

For more information, visit nationaltrust.org.uk

PHILIP COLBERT: THE LOST GARDENS OF LOBSTEROPOLIS / JULY 25 – NOVEMBER 1 / THE LIGHTBOX GALLERY, WOKING

The Lost Gardens of Lobsteropolis welcomes visitors into Philip Colbert’s bold and exuberant visual universe. Best known for his iconic lobster character, the exhibition presents large-scale paintings and immersive environments that combine art history, popular culture, and the imagery of contemporary digital life. Colbert’s work is energetic, humorous, and visually saturated, offering a playful but sharply observed reflection on how images circulate and accumulate meaning today.

For more information, visit thelightbox.org.uk

SURREY’S BIG POETRY WEEKEND / AUGUST 1 – 2 / EGHAM LITERARY INSTITUTE

For one incredible weekend, Egham becomes the beating heart of poetry as some of the UK’s most exciting voices descend on Surrey for a festival packed with performances, workshops, talks, panels, open mics, books, community, and unforgettable moments.This isn’t just a festival for poets. It’s a festival for the curious, the creative, the passionate, and the people who want to experience something different. Featuring guests including Len Pennie, Dakota Warren, Bradley Taylor, Adam Gary, Katie Griffiths, Nia Broomhall, Shaniqua Benjamin and many more.

For more information, visit surreypoetlaureateship.org

IMMERSION THEATRE PRESENT ROMEO AND JULIET / AUGUST 1 / HATCHLANDS PARK, GUILDFORD

Award-winning Immersion Theatre Company proudly presents an unforgettable adaptation of William Shakespeare’s iconic Romeo and Juliet. Moving, funny, and tragic in equal measure, this beautiful production will see Immersion continue to build on their reputation for producing Shakespeare for all, be they the seasoned theatre-goer or budding literary enthusiast.

For more information, visit nationaltrust.org.uk

THE DIXIELAND STOMPERS / AUGUST 1 / CLAREMONT LANDSCAPE GARDENS, ESHER

Enjoy live music in the great outdoors this month and get set for the swinging, feel‑good sound of The Dixieland Stompers, a sensational nine‑piece traditional jazz band from Redhill, delivering classic Dixieland rhythms and infectious energy. Buy some tasty treats from the Café or bring your own picnic, stretch out on the grass, let the music drift across the water, and enjoy a varied soundtrack in one of Surrey’s most scenic gardens.

For more information, visit nationaltrust.org.uk

LOXWOOD JOUST / AUGUST 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 & 16 / LOXWOOD MEADOW

This summer, Loxwood Joust returns, bigger and bolder than ever! Step into a kingdom alive with roaring jousts, thrilling quests, and the pulse of live music. Wander shaded woods whispering secrets, cheer knights battling for glory, and feast on sizzling hog roast under open skies. Falcons soar overhead, adding wild majesty to every moment. Step into the story. Your adventure begins here.

For more information, visit loxwoodjoust.co.uk

CRANLEIGH COMEDY CLUB / AUGUST 1 / CRANLEIGH ARTS

Welcome to Cranleigh’s funniest spot – a comedy club that will leave you in stitches! Have a cackle and make your way to England’s largest village for a night of the funny stuff. Enjoy japes by stand-up comics Imran Yusuf, Keith Farnan, Alex Hylton, and Andy Gleeks.

For more information, visit cranleigharts.org

ONE SUMMER’S DAY ACOUSTIC FESTIVAL / AUGUST 2 / HOGS BACK BREWERY, TONGHAM

The GT Live Sessions are delighted to confirm the return of One Summer’s Day festival at The Hogs Back Brewery this August. Hosted by local legend Gavin Thomas, enjoy sets in the sunshine from a host of up-and-coming musicians from the local area. Expect a large outdoor stage, bars, food stalls and a kids’ area.

For more information, visit hogsback.co.uk

LEGEND – THE MUSIC OF BOB MARLEY / AUGUST 2 / ROSE THEATRE, KINGSTON UPON THAMES

Legend – the music of Bob Marley is an unforgettable evening celebrating this musical icon in one fantastic stage show. Combining his superb, distinctive vocals with flawless musicianship, a supremely talented cast recreate the timeless hits Could You Be Loved, Is This Love, One Love, No Woman No Cry, Three Little Birds, Jammin’, Buffalo Soldier, Stir It Up, Get Up Stand Up, Exodus, Waiting in Vain, Satisfy My Soul, Iron Lion Zion, I Shot the Sheriff and many more reggae classics.

For more information, visit rosetheatre.org

BUZZCOCKS / AUGUST 5 / THE BOILEROOM, GUILDFORD

Punk legends Buzzcocks arrive at The Boileroom in Guildford, bringing all the swagger and attitude you’ll need for an attitude adjustment. Expect noise and oi.

For more information, visit theboileroom.net

OUTDOOR THEATRE: AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS / AUGUST 6 / GREYFRIARS VINEYARD, PUTTENHAM

Pack your bags and hold onto your hats – the race is on! Join a fearless troupe of actor-musicians as they hurtle across continents in this riotously entertaining, globe-trotting show inspired by Jules Verne’s much-loved classic. Expect dazzling live music, outrageous characters and inventive storytelling as London, Bombay and beyond burst into life. Featuring trains, hot air balloons and plenty of theatrical mayhem, this joyful open-air adventure is packed with fun, flair and surprise at every turn.

For more information, visit alfrescoactors.com

QUANTUM CONTEMPORARY ART SUMMER EXHIBITION / AUGUST 6 – 9 / WEST HORSLEY PLACE

Enjoy free entry to a fabulous exhibition of contemporary art. Discover an inspiring collection of contemporary art as the 6th Annual Summer Exhibition returns to West Horsley Place. Featuring more than 100 original artworks by 25 artists, the exhibition showcases an exciting range of painting, printmaking, sculpture and mixed media, all set within the beautiful surroundings of our historic manor house.

For more information, visit westhorsleyplace.org 

PAINT POURING / AUGUST 7, 9 + 30 / CHURT

Join a creative Paint Pouring session in support of Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care! Whether you’re an experienced artist or just looking to try something new, this relaxing art technique is perfect for everyone! The 2-hour sessions provide a fantastic opportunity to explore your artistic side, meet new people, and make something beautiful.

For more information, visit pth.org.uk

LIVE AT LOSELEY / AUGUST 7 – 9 / LOSELEY PARK, GUILDFORD

Set against the stunning backdrop of Loseley Park in Surrey, Live at Loseley brings together unforgettable open-air entertainment, exceptional food and drink, and a warmly welcoming festival atmosphere. Choose your night, gather your favourite people, and make a summer memory you will talk about for years. Whether it’s the hits of the 80s and 90s, a night of musicals under the stars, or a hoedown showdown, country style, enjoy the best in live music at Live at Loseley this summer.

For more information, visit liveatloseley.com

COMEDY AT THE HORTON / AUGUST 7 / THE HORTON, EPSOM

Enjoy the scorching talents of a hand-picked selection of some of the UK’s finest touring stand-up comics at our very excellent comedy club. This month’s fun and merriment is provided by Sarah Iles, Tal Davies, and Edward (Eddy) Midgley and is topped off by the brilliant Michael Akadiri.

For more information, visit thehortonepsom.org

THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO / AUGUST 7 / YVONNE ARNAUD THEATRE, GUILDFORD

Get ready for an afternoon of sparkling tunes, tangled romances, and razor-sharp wit as Wild Arts presents Mozart’s comic opera in a new production directed by Olivier Award-winning international opera star Danielle de Niese. Fast, funny, and fabulously full of heart, this is proof that love (helped along by a touch of trickery) always wins in the end.

For more information, visit yvonne-arnaud.co.uk

SECRET GARDEN SESSIONS / AUGUST 7 / WEST HORSLEY PLACE

Bring a picnic and settle in for a relaxed summer evening within West Horsley Place’s beautiful walled gardens, as live music drifts through the air. Enjoy live music from the Sarah Jane Eveleigh Quartet performing expressive interpretations of American Songbook standards and beyond.

For more information, visit westhorsleyplace.org 

CANCER BATS / AUGUST 8 / THE FIGHTING COCKS, KINGSTON UPON THAMES

To celebrate the release of the new album, Cancer Bats visits Kingston to play at The Fighting Cocks. For over 20 years, Canadian hardcore heavyweights Cancer Bats have built a reputation for relentless intensity, explosive live shows, and a fiercely loyal global following. Now celebrating more than two decades together, Cancer Bats return stronger than ever – delivering one of their most ambitious and anticipated releases to date: their eighth studio album, Give Me Dirt.

For more information, visit banquetrecords.com

AN EVENING WITH ARTHUR SMITH & CAROLINE QUENTIN ABOUT ‘AN EVENING WITH GARY LINEKER’ / AUGUST 8 / YVONNE ARNAUD THEATRE, GUILDFORD

In the summer of 1990, England went to the World Cup and came home with something unexpected – a cultural moment that’s never quite let go. That night in Turin, when Gazza cried and England went out on penalties, didn’t just break hearts. It inspired one of the most celebrated comedies of its era – the Olivier-nominated play An Evening with Gary Lineker. Now, co-writer Arthur Smith and original cast member Caroline Quentin bring that story to the stage. In conversation, they’ll revisit the making of a modern classic – the writing, the filming, the football

For more information, visit yvonne-arnaud.co.uk

MIDNIGHT MANOR – A SLEEPOVER / AUGUST 8 / WEST HORSLEY PLACE

Step inside West Horsley Place after hours for a one-of-a-kind overnight experience. As the house falls quiet and the doors close to the public, you’ll have exclusive access to explore this iconic filming setting in a whole new light. Enjoy a relaxed evening of themed activities, including atmospheric after-dark filming tours of the house, where stories, spaces and familiar corners take on a different life by night. Later, enjoy a silent disco in historic surroundings—because even the ghostly residents of the manor know how to have a good time.

For more information, visit westhorsleyplace.org

OUR MAN IN HAVANA / AUGUST 11 – 15 / YVONNE ARNAUD THEATRE, GUILDFORD

Follow the hilarious exploits of James Wormold, a British vacuum cleaner salesman in pre-revolutionary Havana, Cuba. Struggling financially to support his spoilt daughter, Wormold is recruited by MI6 agent Hawthorne to be a spy. Lacking any actual spy skills or intentions, Wormold fabricates an entire network of fictional agents and reports, using his imagination and local bar conversations. Expect a madcap commotion.

For more information, visit yvonne-arnaud.co.uk

OFF THE KERB STAND-UP COMEDY CLUB / AUGUST 12 / FARNHAM MALTINGS

Farnham Maltings and Off the Kerb Productions present their latest instalment of their popular Stand-Up Comedy Club. Get ready to giggle and catch the latest up-and-coming comedy talent currently roaming the circuit.

For more information, visit farnhammaltings.com

PRIMA QUEEN / AUGUST 12 / THE BOILEROOM, GUILDFORD

Transatlantic indie duo Prima Queen – Louise Macphail and Kristin McFadden – craft emotive, melody-driven songs rooted in friendship, storytelling, and empowerment. Their debut album ‘The Prize’ blends shimmering pop sensibilities with heartfelt lyricism, drawing comparisons to artists like Haim and Jenny Lewis. With a growing reputation for compelling performances, Prima Queen continue to carve out a distinct and resonant voice. Catch them perform at The Boileroom in Guildford this month.

For more information, visit theboileroom.net

THE BIG FREE FRINGE WEEKEND / AUGUST 15 / HIGH STREET, GUILDFORD

In the lead up to September’s Guildford Fringe Festival, enjoy the sights and sounds as FREE Fringe lands in Guildford. Expect street theatre, live music, arts and crafts and food traders on the High Street.

For more information, visit guildfordfringefestival.com

MEMORY CINEMA: SUMMER HOLIDAY / AUGUST 20 / G LIVE, GUILDFORD

Step back in time and rediscover the magic of the movies with Memory Cinema, G Live’s relaxed, dementia-friendly film screenings, designed to be as welcoming and comfortable as possible. In this month’s screening of Summer Holiday, four bus mechanics and a stowaway travel Europe as a hotel, picking up singers. Starring Cliff Richard and Lauri Peters

For more information, visit glive.co.uk

MYSTERY JETS / AUGUST 20 / KINGSTON COLLEGE

To celebrate the release of the new album, Mystery Jetsvisits Kingston to play at Kingston College. This band is very dear to Banquet, and these gigs always feel like homecoming shows. Mystery Jets return with ‘A Hole To See The Sky Through’, a conceptually rich new album that acts as the inward-facing counterpart to ‘Curve of the Earth’, shifting focus from vast external landscapes to the intimate ways we perceive and process the world. Inspired by Yoko Ono’s artwork of the same name (used with permission as the cover art) and her recent London exhibition, the record embraces the idea of finding meaning, hope, and perspective through absence, limitation, and reframing.

For more information, visit banquetrecords.com

THE GREAT GATSBY / AUGUST 21 – 23 / FARNHAM MALTINGS

Welcome to the roaring twenties! Fresh from the Edinburgh Fringe, Key Players return to Farnham Maltings with their retelling of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic. With cabaret seating and immersive acting, the party starts before the show, with live singing and a 360-degree story experience.

For more information, visit farnhammaltings.com

ADVENTURE CINEMA / AUGUST 21 – 23 / POLESDEN LACEY, LEATHERHEAD

Enjoy the big screen outdoors as Polesden Lacey host three unforgettable evenings of outdoor cinema this summer. Choose from ‘Jurassic Park’ (PG) on Friday 21 August, ‘Mamma Mia! ExtrABBAganza’ (PG) on Saturday 22 August and ‘Pride and Prejudice’ (U) on Sunday 23 August.

For more information, visit nationaltrust.org.uk

COUNTRY BY CANDLELIGHT / AUGUST 22 / G LIVE, GUILDFORD

Calling all country music fans… we’ve got a show guaranteed to heal your Achy Breaky Heart! Direct from London’s West End, Country By Candlelight is finally here. So, it’s time to pour yourself a cup of ambition and get ready to dance the night away! Featuring a spectacular cast of world-class vocalists and an incredible live band, forget your 9 to 5, as you experience the biggest and best of country music, like never before – all performed live by candlelight at G Live, Guildford!

For more information, visit glive.co.uk

POP ART SCREEN PRINTING ON PAPER / AUGUST 22 / FARNHAM MALTINGS

Discover this bold and colourful movement with Berkshire Printmakers as you create your own pop art-inspired artwork. Using the printmakers’ extensive library of plain and patterned silkscreens, alongside bright, bold water-based inks, you’ll experiment with layering, repetition and striking colour combinations to produce your own A3 print. Dress for the mess.

For more information, visit farnhammaltings.com

 

WHEN RIVERS MEET / AUGUST 22 / THE BOILEROOM, GUILDFORD

From July to October 2026, When Rivers Meet return to the stage with the Rhythm Rust & Static Tour, following the release of their brand-new studio album Rhythm Rust & Static. Expect an intimate, gritty, and emotionally charged night of live music.

For more information, visit theboileroom.net

THE CHOIR OF MAN / AUGUST 25 – 29 / RICHMOND THEATRE

Direct from the West End, the Olivier Award-nominated, worldwide smash hit is now on its first ever UK tour. Welcome to The Choir of Man, the best pub in the world… Come ready to drink in the excitement! An uplifting celebration of community and friendship where everyone is welcome – don’t miss this feel-good night of foot-stomping entertainment, so good you’ll want to come back and see it again and again.

For more information, visit atgtickets.com

GRAYSHOTT FOLK CLUB  PRESENTS: THE LUKE JACKSON TRIO / AUGUST 27 / GRAYSHOTT FOLK CLUB

Blessed with a distinctive, bluesy, soulful voice, singer-songwriter Luke Jackson has developed an enviable reputation for himself around the Roots, Acoustic, Americana, Blues and Folk circuits by virtue of his acclaimed recordings and dynamic live performances. Catch him at the Grayshott Folk Club this month.

For more information, visit grayshottfolkclub.co.uk

SURREY HILLS NATIONAL LANDSCAPE SHEEP PARADE / AUGUST 26 / DENBIES WINE ESTATE, DORKING

A colourful flock is coming to the Surrey Hills, and you’re invited to meet them! The Sheep Parade is an exciting initiative led by the Surrey Hills National Landscape team, delivered in partnership with local sheep farmers. A colourful flock of life-sized sheep sculptures, each uniquely decorated by a Surrey artist, will ‘parade’ across the Surrey Hills throughout the year. Designed to capture attention and spark conversation, these striking artworks will engage local communities and visitors while highlighting an issue that has a very real impact on farmers and animal welfare.

For more information, visit surreyhills.org

THE SCULPTURE PARK / CHURT, NR FARNHAM

Featuring over 650 modern and contemporary sculptures displayed over ten acres of arboretum and water gardens, The Sculpture Park in Churt is one of those awe-inspiring places that you thought couldn’t surely exist right on your doorstep. Get away from it all and get lost in these gorgeous gardens this summer.

For more information, visit thesculpturepark.com

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