Culture & Cocktails 🍸

Good morning, Wycombe!

It’s the Wycombe Pulse. Your local newsletter that’s hearing whispers about a midsummer solstice celebration in West Wycombe later this year… more on that later!

But back to this week, expect:

• More snowdrop walks 🌱🤍

• Stay up late for Super Bowl Sunday 🏈

• Art history talk at the museum 🖼️

Plus your favourite local café has big plans for Friday and Saturday nights, more sound baths than you can shake a stick at, lots of kids events, crafting aplenty, live music, bingo… you name it.

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Thanks to Frive for partnering with Wycombe Pulse. 😊

Editor’s Highlights

• Waterstones Book Club at The Front Room on Thursday 6th February at 7pm — this month they’ll be discussing ‘The Wizard in the Kremlin’ by Giuliano da Empoli 📖

• Introduction to Bread Making Workshop at Northern Woods Farm on Wednesday 12th February from 9.45am-4pm — you’ll be making 4-5 bakes in the class, all of which you can take home 🥖

• 2025 Intention Setting & Transformation Workshop at The Pavilion on Penn Street on Sunday 9th February from 10.30am-3.30pm — time to manifest your dreams! 🔮

• Galentine’s Mixer at Magnolia Park on Saturday 8th February at 1pm — meet new friends 👯

• Moonlight Swim at Wycombe Rye Lido on Wednesday 12th February at 8.30pm 🌛

Culture Bites

• Wrong Sitter, Wrong Artist: Why is There a Slave Trade Investor on the Art Gallery Wall? at Wycombe Museum on Sunday 9th February at 2pm — a FREE talk by art historian Cally Trench.

• A Walk Around Wycombe Through Time at Wycombe Museum from Tuesday 11th February — a brand new photographic exhibition, allowing you to stroll through 150 years of Wycombe’s history.

• John Adams and Thomas Jefferson’s Tour of England, 1786 at Hedgerley Memorial Hall on Saturday 8th February at 2pm — a talk by Julian Hunt on Adams’ and Jefferson’s journey through Buckinghamshire.

• A Celebration of Bordeaux at Waddesdon Manor on Saturday 8th February at 7pm — a 5-course feast with wine pairings showcasing Bordeaux, the birthplace of the Rothschild wine legacy 🍷

Entertainment

• Valentines Kicks at Micklefield Community Centre on Saturday 8th February from 5-11pm — bring all the family for some valentine’s fun, with plenty of kids’ activities as well as a live DJ 😘

• Super Bowl LIX live screening at O’Neill’s on Sunday 9th February at 9pm - food served until 1am 🏈

• The Cinema at Tylers Green Village Hall on Tuesday 11th February at 2pm — showing The Children Act.

• AJ’s Vinyl Revival at the Black Lion Naphill on Thursday 6th February at 7.30pm — come and share your favourite records 💽

Bingo

• Boozy Bingo at the Bricklayers Arms on Saturday 8th February at 8pm 🍾

• Valentines Special Bingo Night at Hilltop Community Centre on Friday 7th February at 7pm 💕

• Rock and Roll Bingo at The Green Man Prestwood on Saturday 8th February at 8pm.

Live Music 🎸

• The Skadinals at The Crown at Hazlemere on Friday 7th February at 8pm.

• Broken Bones at The Belle Vue on Friday 7th February at 9pm.

• Mad Squirrel: Luke Carey on Friday 7th at 8pm and The One Eyed Man on Saturday 8th February at 8pm.

• Tal Jones at The Phoenix on Saturday 8th February at 8pm.

• Edge of the 80s at the Cressex Club on Saturday 8th February at 7.30pm.

• JAM Theatre Charity Concert at Mountfield Theatre, Borlase School on Saturday 8th February at 5 & 7pm — 150 JAM students will be singing guilty pleasure songs with all proceeds going to charity.

• Atlantic Connections by Quintessential Brass at The United Reform Church, Marlow on Sunday 9th February at 3.30pm 🎷

Time For You

• Sound Bath at Patch on Friday 7th February at 7pm 🔔

• Mamma & Baby Soundbath at Hughenden Village Hall on Wednesday 12th February at 4pm 👶🏻

• Free Parenting Social at Kingshill Baptist Church on Saturday 8th February at 2pm — with the Therapeutic Midwife.

• Sound Bath and Relaxing Meditation at Hazlemere Memorial Hall on Friday 7th February at 7.30pm.

Crafting

• Draw a Cat Workshop at Grounded Kitchen on Sunday 9th February at 12pm — with local artist Mel Cairns 🐈‍⬛

• Drink and Draw at the Mad Squirrel on Thursday 6th February at 8pm.

• Queer Diary: Zine Making Afternoon at Wycombe Arts Centre on Saturday 8th Feb at 3pm — nostalgia, crafting and the chance to create your own LGBTQIA+ teenage history zine 🏳️‍🌈

• Paint Night at The Bricklayers Arms on Tuesday 11th February at 7pm — you’ll be painting Moonlight Swim with a complimentary drink 🎨

• Art Bite at Vibe Church on Saturday 8th February at 2pm — monthly art group for adults and young people to explore their creativity.

Fun for the Kids

It’s Children’s Mental Health Week this week, and it’s all about supporting young people’s wellbeing. With all of life’s pressures, it’s vital to create spaces where kids feel heard and supported.

From creative workshops to fun with the family, there are plenty of ways to get involved in Wycombe this week. Let’s help our kids thrive 💛

• Mindful Terrarium Workshop at The Front Room on Saturday 9th February at 11am — get your hands dirty in a safe and mindful space 🌱

• Valentine’s Family Disco at Prestwood Junior School on Saturday 8th February at 4.30pm 💕

• Tiny Talk Time at Wycombe Museum on Friday 7th February at 10am — this month’s theme is One Snowy Night by Nick Butterworth (a Pulse family fave!) Expect stories, crafts and museum fun.

• Storytelling Favourites at Roald Dahl Museum on Sunday 9th February — celebrate National Storytelling week as their resident expert storytellers share their favourite Dahl stories 📖

• Toddler Stay and Play at Wrights Meadow Centre on Tuesday 11th February at 9.30am — an inflatable play park, ball pond, didi cars and free tea and coffee for the parents.

Sports and Activities

FOOTBALL

⚽️ Wycombe Wanderers vs Preston North End away at Deepdale on Saturday 8th February: KO 3pm

RUGBY

🏉 HWRUFC vs Reading away on Saturday 8th February

🏉 HWRUFC Belles Women vs Marlow Ladies away on Sunday 9th February

🏉 Would rather sit down with a pint? Here’s where to watch the Six Nations in Wycombe.

RUNNING

🏃🏻‍♂️ Parkrun 5km on The Rye (meet at the Lido) at 9am on Saturday 8th February

🏃🏻‍♂️ Junior Parkrun 2km on The Rye (meet at Pann Mill) at 9am on Sunday 9th February

CRICKET

🏏 The High Wycombe Cricket Club is welcoming new players to their Men’s, Women’s and Junior sections. Time to step up to the crease!

Business News

We were really sorry to hear that the Air Raid Café and Collectables R Us will both be closing later this year. These two businesses have brought so much character to High Wycombe town centre and their closures will be a real loss to the street scene here.

Unique spots like these make the town more than just a place to shop — they create experiences, spark nostalgia, and even bring the community together.

It raises bigger questions about the future of independent businesses in Wycombe and serves as a reminder of how important it is to support our independents. The town centre is evolving, and while change is inevitable, we hope to see more initiatives that champion and sustain the small businesses that give Wycombe its unique character.

We wish the people behind Air Raid and Collectables the best of luck with their next endeavours, and hope we see them again soon! Please support them however you can before they do shut their doors.

In happier news, The Front Room on Castle Street will now be open until late on Friday and Saturday nights with a brand spanking new cocktail menu and live music events aplenty.

We can’t wait to check it out 🥳

Community Notes

The Wycombe Wanderers Foundation’s Warm Hub to support older adults continues this month, every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 5-8pm at either Adams Park Stadium or Downley Community Centre, depending on match days. Transport is available, and you’ll enjoy a hot meal in a friendly space.

The Chiltern Rangers need volunteers this week! Here’s a few upcoming events:

• Woodland Thinning at Castlefield on Thursday 6th at 10.15am

• Tree Nursery Day at Winchmore Hill on Friday 7th at 10am

• Little Burnham (Hughenden) Woodland Working Party on Saturday 8th at 10am

Job Board

Where in Wycombe Am I?

Last week’s answer: I was in the corridor running underneath the Wycombe Swan with the stage door right at the end. We’ve seen people queuing here before after a show, waiting for a selfie with their favourite comedian or, invariably, Vernon Kay come panto season. We’ll be running a giveaway soon for 2 tickets to see an upcoming show — keep your eyes peeled on our Instagram page!

Weather in Wycombe

The snowdrops have been getting me all excited for Spring… and then I’m brought swiftly back down to earth as soon as I step out into that February chill.

🥶

Friday

🌤️ 5°C - 💨 34 mph - ☂️ 20% chance

Saturday

🌤️ 5°C - 💨 19 mph - ☂️ 20% chance

Sunday

🌤️ 5°C - 💨 22 mph - ☂️ 10% chance

We hope you've enjoyed this week's edition of the Pulse!

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Until next Thursday...

Steph

Publisher and Editor, Wycombe Pulse