From Street Food To Shakespeare 🍔

Good morning, Wycombe!

This week marks a whole year of Wycombe Pulse — 52 weeks of local gems, good news, curious finds and, let’s be honest, the occasional ramble.

Thank you to every single one of you who opens, clicks, reads, shares, or sends feedback (yes, even the brutal stuff — it all helps!). I didn’t start this with a grand plan, and I still don’t have one. But it’s been an absolute joy so far — and every week makes me love this town and its people a little bit more.

Right, enough soppiness. The Summer Holidays™️ are officially here, and Wycombe is buzzing.

This week:

😋 Street food night at the Walled Garden
🎭 A singing & drama workshop at our local opera house
🇬🇧 A farewell weekend for the Air Raid Shelter Café

Plus: our verdict on Bat Out Of Hell: The Musical, some brilliant kids’ trails, outdoor theatre, a wellness festival, pub garden parties and lots more to dive into.

Brought to you by… The Man Behind The Mask 🎭

A Masquerade Fundraiser for men’s mental health.

📍 JB’s Bar & Café, High Wycombe Judo Club
🗓️ Saturday 2nd August | From 6pm
🎟️ Tickets: £18 – available now

When the lights dim and the music swells, a secret awaits. On Saturday 2nd August at JB's Bar & Café, don your finest mask and enter an evening of mystery, intrigue and purpose.

For just £18, your ticket unlocks:

🔍 An immersive murder mystery challenge — work in teams to unmask the culprit before the final revelation.
🎁 A live auction of exclusive experiences, from spa days to glamping escapes, even a flying lesson! Every bid will help a man in crisis.
🎉 A raffle brimming with thrilling prizes and instant-win treats.

Behind every mask lies a story. Tonight, your story is one of compassion. All proceeds fund vital mental health support for men in High Wycombe — counselling, peer-to-peer networks and resources that restore hope when it's needed most.

Gather your friends, sharpen your wits and raise your paddle to show that no man must face his darkest hour alone. Whether you solve the mystery or simply share the laughter, you'll help rewrite the ending for men battling in silence.

Tickets are limited — book now and be part of something truly special
👉 Get yours here

Your presence matters. Your support could change lives.

Editorial Highlights

🎭 As You Like It Open Air Theatre
📍Wycombe Museum | 🗓️ Sunday 27th July | 🕰️ 1.15pm
Part of Unbound Theatre’s Buckinghamshire Shakespeare Festival, enjoy this outdoor performance in the museum’s beautiful grounds. £6 per person, suitable for kids aged 7+.

🌸 Summer Bloom Flower Arrangement Workshop
📍Moc & More, Flackwell | 🗓️ Tonight | 🕰️ 6.45pm
An evening of creative floral fun where you’ll design your own Summer Bloom arrangement, plus enjoy a drink and sweet treat. Suitable for all levels and more dates available too (see post).

🎷 Catch 22 Curated Jazz Jam: Latin Jazz
📍The Front Room | 🗓️ Saturday 26th July | 🕰️ 7pm
Join the brilliant Catch 22 for their latest event with the house band reimagining sounds from Cuba, Brazil and Latin America in their signature style.

🧘 Oh Shala Festival
📍The Big Park, Penn Street | 🗓️ Friday 25th - Sunday 27th July
A family-friendly wellness festival, rooted in community, connection and conscious living. Expect over 100 workshops, yoga, drumming, woodland rituals, live music, treatments, kids’ zone and so much more.

Summer Holiday Plans 🌻

• Singing & Drama Discovery Workshop at Garsington Studios on Saturday 26th July from 11am-3.30pm — learn a chorus from an opera, move, sing, act, perform and more. For 8-18 year olds - FREE.

• Flower Picking at Little Wren Flower Farm on Wednesday 30th July at 10.30am — a special flower picking morning with Kindess in Bucks. Free event but donations very welcome 🌸

• Summer of Disco at the Eden Centre from Monday 28th July - 22nd August — a roller disco arena, just £2 per ticket (including skate hire) 🛼

• Bugs and Botany Trail at Wycombe Museum running from 25th July to 3rd September — learn all about plants and pollinators in this garden trail. £3.15 per child and a sweet treat prize 🐛

• Kids Funfair on The Rye from today until 3rd August from 12pm daily — all rides and attractions just 1 token.

• Dread Falls Theatre Presents Tanglewood Tales at the Library on Saturday 26th July at 11am — a fun and engaging performance for 3-7 year olds.

• Discover & Make: Clay Creations at Wycombe Museum on Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th July at various times — craft your own Roman pot! Suitable for 4-11 year olds, £4.75 per child.

😋 Foodie Fun

🍔 Street Food Evening July 
📍The Walled Garden | 🗓️ Friday 25th July | 🕰️ 5-9pm
A diverse culinary experience with some amazing local food trucks, including Burgervore, Bombayish, El Bocadillo and Bokkie Foods.

🥩 Sunday Smokehouse Sessions
📍Peterley Manor Farm | 🗓️ Sunday 27th July | 🕰️ 12-5pm
Fire feasting with barbecue from the outdoor kitchen plus soulful live music from Soraya Ray. Bliss!

Entertainment

🎸 Bat Out Of Hell: The Musical – our verdict? Goosebumps. Repeatedly.

I was invited to the opening night of Bat Out Of Hell at Wycombe Swan and… wow. If you’re a Meat Loaf fan, you’ll be in heaven. If you’re not, you’ll still be blown away.

🔥 Post-apocalyptic romance
🎤 Vocals that shake the rafters
🎥 Huge screens, roaming cameras, full-on concert energy
🎶 An 8-piece band, live on stage, belting out Steinman classics

It’s loud. It’s wild. It’s pure spectacle — and it’s in town until Saturday 26th July [tickets here from £15].

Read my full review here:
👉 wycombepulse.co.uk/bat-out-of-hell-the-musical-review/

• CoachElla at The Coach House, Wooburn on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th July from 1pm — live music, kids’ games, face painting and cocktail bar. Plus a hair of the dog bar on Sunday!

• Ruby Moon presents The Gathering at Wycombe Arts Centre on Saturday 26th July from 11am-5pm — a pop-up shop with live music 🔮

• The Sunday Market on the High Street on 27th July from 11am-4pm — with artisan stallholders, food and drink; something for everyone! They’re also looking for artisan traders for the Christmas markets - you can register your interest here.

• 🇬🇧 Goodbye Our Friends Weekend at the Air Raid Shelter Café & Tea Room from Friday 25th-Sunday 27th July — their final days before they sound their last All Clear sound on Sunday. Expect live music from their regular vintage singers through the weekend as well as their delicious afternoon teas.

🧶 Crafting Fun

• Clothes Upcycling Workshop at Pride of Place in the Chilterns Shopping Centre on Saturday 26th July at 10am — make new clothes from old ones! Bring your own or get inspired by what’s in stock at Refresh.

• South Asian Art Workshop at the Library on Saturday 26th July — learn traditional and contemporary South Asian art styles and create your own masterpieces with a local artist.

• “Forest Hart” Art-Tea Painting Workshop at The Walled Garden on Friday 25th July at 2pm — join Toni to create your own version of “Forest Hart” 🎨

• Embroidered Postcards Workshop at Pride of Place on Sunday 27th July at 11am — make your own stitched postcards and simple hand-embroidery. No experience necessary.

Fancy a Short Drive?

• The Maidenhead Beach Grand Opening at Norden Farm on Friday 25th July at 12pm — free to play, free parking, featuring a café bar, indoor chill out space, beach craft, gigs, kite making and more; opening Tuesdays to Saturdays until 6th September.

• Summer Pop-Up Fair & BBQ at Danesfield House on Sunday 27th July from 12-5pm — expect a sizzling BBQ feast, refreshing summer drinks, market stalls, artisanal producers, kids’ entertainment, garden games, live music and an ice cream cart.

• Wind in the Willows Outdoor Theatre at Black Park Country Park on Friday 25th July at 4pm — a classic performed by Immersion Theatre. Suitable for all ages.

Sports and Activities

DANCE FITNESS

💃 Dance Fitness at the Rye with Dew Dance — joyful, low impact and outside! Starts on Friday 25th July at 10am (check listing for further dates and times).

RUNNING

🏃🏻‍♂️Regular runs:
- Parkrun 5km on The Rye (meet at the Lido) at 9am on Saturday.
- Junior Parkrun 2km on The Rye (meet at Pann Mill) at 9am on Sunday.
- Risborough Run In The Park 5km at Wades Park on Sunday at 9am.

HIKING

🥾 Thames Path Mighty Hike on Saturday 26th July at 8am in Windsor. Marathon and half marathon distances available. In support of Macmillan.

CRICKET

🏏 Check out all the fixtures and results for HWCC this week.

Weather in Wycombe

Saturday has “BBQ” written all over it 🍖

Friday

🌤️ 27°C - 💨 15mph - ☂️ 5% chance

Saturday

🌤️ 26°C - 💨 19mph - ☂️ 10% chance

Sunday

🌤️ 21°C - 💨 17mph - ☂️ 50% chance

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Until next Thursday...

Steph

Publisher and Editor, Wycombe Pulse