Och Aye, It's Burns Night! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Good morning, Wycombe!

It’s the Wycombe Pulse, your local newsletter that’s embracing its 1/16th Scottish roots this week and raising a dram to Rabbie Burns.

Don’t worry, there’s plenty of non-Burns related fun to be had…

• The Traitors Final is screening live 📺

• New live music night launches at the Cricket Club 🎸

• We tried an amazing Wycombe-based chocolatier 🤤

Plus the usual entertainment round-up, kids’ activities, live music and theatre, foodie fun, sports matches, and where to find a Burns Night Supper in Wycombe.

Editor’s Highlights

• Musical Theatre… But It’s Jazz at the Front Room on Saturday 25th January at 7pm — a live jazz band reimagining hits from the West End, followed by a jazz jam 🎺

• Heroes vs Villains Roller Disco at Hazlemere Youth Centre on Saturday 25th January at 1pm and 3.15pm — come dressed as your favourite hero or villain and skate to an awesome playlist 🛼

• Launchpad at High Wycombe Cricket Club on Friday 24th January from 6.30pm — head to The Loft at the Cricket Club for their first live music event. Featuring a variety of up-and-coming bands 🎸

• AcroYoga Workshop at The Wellness Barn, Marlow on Saturday 25th January at 10am — learn the fundamentals of partner-based Acro Yoga 🧘🏻‍♀️

Burns Night Suppers 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Ah, Burns Night. The annual celebration of the great poet, Robert Burns, on Saturday 25th January.

The one night of the year when haggis gets its rightful time in the spotlight, when whisky becomes a vitamin, and we all pretend to understand what the hell Rabbie was going on about.

So, grab your tartan, prep your taste buds for some neeps and tatties, and don’t forget the whisky toast (or three). It’s tradition, after all. Slàinte Mhath!

• At The Crown, Penn — a specially crafted 4-course meal featuring Scottish-inspired delicacies, as well as an optional whisky flight. There’ll also be bagpipes and poetry. From £45 per person.

• At Wrights Meadow Centre — a traditional Scottish meal with entertainment including a leading piper, Toast to the Lassies and Reply to the Lassies. £35 per person and all profits to Wycombe Food Hub.

• At Waddesdon Manor — a 5-course feast with wine pairings to showcase Scotland’s rich heritage, with live bagpipes and a whisky toast. £150 per person.

• At Hazlemere Golf Club (on Friday 24th January) — a 3-course meal with Dave Springfield performing as Rod Stewart. £45 per person.

• At High Wycombe Cricket Club — a whisky tasting with Alex Harrison, featuring 6 unique whiskies each paired with chocolate or cheese. £20 per person.

• At Micklefield Sports & Social Club — Big McJohns party features live bagpiping, a haggis celebration and traditional scottish food, and a best dressed competition. £5 per person (£1 for under 12s).

• At The Stag Flackwell Heath — 3 courses (including a deep-fried Mars Bar for pudding!). £20 per person.

Non-Scottish Foodie Fun

• The Three Horseshoes in Flackwell Heath are launching a weekly Steak Night, every Wednesday 🥩

• The Hit Or Miss at Penn Street are celebrating International Pie Day today, Thursday 23rd January. Expect varieties including Beef and Guinness, Smokey BBQ Pork and Fish 🥧

• ‘Winter on the Archipelago’ Pop-Up at Fego Beaconsfield on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th January — six courses of incredible Mediterranean food by chef Marios Milios.

Entertainment

• The Traitors Final Screening at O’Neill’s on Friday 24th January at 8pm.

• Kizomba Moments DJ Party at The Front Room on Tuesday 28th January at 7.30pm — a Kizomba class followed by social dancing with DJ Fashion on the decks 💃🏻

• Taskmaster Takeover at The Phoenix on Saturday 25th January — a night of fun challenges, team work and laughter.

• Quiz Night at The Mad Squirrel on Thursday 23rd January at 8pm — winner takes all!

• X Factor Karaoke Finals at The Phoenix on Friday 24th January at 8pm 🎤

• Afternoon Tea and Film Show at Downley Methodist Church on Wednesday 29th January at 2pm — FREE entry 🎬

Live Music

• Sunday Jam at Wycombe Arts Centre on Sunday 26th January at 4pm — welcoming everyone of all abilities, you can bring friends or jam with the in-house band 🎹

• Dark Phoenix Rising at The Dashwood Roadhouse on Saturday 25th January at 8.30pm — reimagined rock and pop covers.

• Dragonfly live at The Antelope on Friday 24th January at 8.30pm.

• Everybody Loves The Sunshine live at Wycombe Arts Centre on Friday 24th January at 8pm - a local reggae band.

• Steph Willis live at O’Neill’s on Friday 24th January at 9pm.

What’s on at The Swan this week?

• Jack And His Giant Stalk (👀) — Friday 24th January

• The British Comedy Capers Dinner Show — Saturday 25th January

• Cirque Enchantment — Saturday 25th January

• Flowers and Friendship Bracelets - The Ultimate Pop Concert — Sunday 26th January

• Ghost the Musical — from Tuesday 28th January to Saturday 1st February

Time For You

• Macramé Heart & Embroidered Card Workshop at Cedar Barn on Tuesday 28th January at 7pm — join Create Your Happy for some crafting fun!

• Sip & Paint at The Crown Penn on Tuesday 28th January at 7.30pm — join Jennie Roberts for a fun and relaxing sip and paint session.

• Cooking on a Budget Workshop at Vibe Church on Saturday 25th January at 11am — FREE cooking session with all ingredients provided. Booking is essential — please email [email protected] for more info.

• Customised Makeup Workshop at Optionz Salon on Sunday 26th January at 3pm — a hands-on, personalised workshop to help you master the art of makeup 💄

• Annual Piddington Horticultural Society Dinner at Piddington Village Hall on Friday 24th January at 5.30pm — do you live in Piddington? The Horticultural Society are throwing their annual 3-course dinner for the seniors in the village.

And Time For The Kids

• Daddy & Me Baby Massage Class at Cornerstone Hall in Little Kingshill on Saturday 25th January at 2pm — a baby class especially for dads and their babies! Learn massage strokes to soothe your baby and meet other local dads.

• Tiny Talk Time at Wycombe Museum on Friday 24th January at 10am — this week’s book is ‘How To Catch A Star’ ⭐️

• Chinese New Year Storytime at High Wycombe Library on Saturday 25th January at 11.30am — celebrate the Year of the Snake 🐍

• Messy Church at St James Church on Sunday 26th January at 4pm — everyone is welcome. Expect crafts, games, songs, story, prayer and a meal together.

REGULAR KIDS’ EVENTS AT THE LIBRARY

📚 Saturday Storytime — every Saturday from 11.30am-12pm

👶🏻 Bounce and Rhyme — every Thursday from 10-10.30am

♟️Family Board Game Club — every Sunday from 1-3pm

🚂 Duplo and Train Club — every Wednesday from 2-3pm

Fancy a Short Drive?

• New Year New Ideas with the Chalfont Flower Club at Royal British Legion Hall Amersham on Monday 27th January at 2pm — a professional demonstration plus a sales table, plant stall and publications 🌸

• Tour of Burnham Abbey with Hedgerley Historical Society on Friday 24th January — visit the medieval abbey (built 1266) and learn about its rich and storied history before its upcoming sale.

• Marlow Playreaders at Marlow Library on Saturday 25th January at 1.30pm — join the monthly meet-up to sit and read a popular play aloud. No acting required!

Sports and Activities

FOOTBALL

⚽️ Wycombe Wanderers vs Northampton Town at home on Saturday 25th January: KO 3pm and vs Barnsley at home on Tuesday 28th January: KO 7.45pm

⚽️ Wycombe Wanderers Women vs Penn & Tylers Green at French School Meadow on Sunday 26th January: KO 2pm

RUGBY

🏉 HWRUFC Belles Women vs Windsor Women away on Sunday 26th January

RUNNING

🏃🏻‍♂️ Parkrun 5km on The Rye (meet at the Lido) at 9am on Saturday 25th January

🏃🏻‍♂️ Junior Parkrun 2km on The Rye (meet at Pann Mill) at 9am on Sunday 26th January

🏃🏻‍♂️ Wendover Night Trails: a 12km guided run through the Chilterns on Wednesday 29th January at 7.20pm

Try Something New: BadFit

🏸 BadFit is a new badminton fitness class for the over 50s just launched in Bourne End Sports Hall, every Tuesday from 11am-12.30pm. It’s run by a Badminton England coach for beginners and intermediates in a friendly and social setting. They’re offering FREE open sessions for a limited time where you can give it a go and meet the group.

Community Notes

Friday 24th to Sunday 26th January is the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch — otherwise known as the world’s largest garden wildlife survey. All you have to do is choose an hour over the course of the 3 days and record the birds that land in your garden during that time 🦅

The Palestine Solidarity Group for High Wycombe are launching a monthly film screening at The Hive. Their first film is The Evidence, to be screened on Saturday 25th January at 7pm.

Staff Wanted

Small Business Shoutout

I had the absolute pleasure of trying two chocolate bars from local Wycombe chocolatier Doughnosh this week.

Oh. My. God.

I’m not sure it gets better than this. The chocolate itself (Belgian, naturally) is creamy and light — the perfect casing to an absolute smorgasbord of flavours and textures that is the filling within.

I bought the Pista Pasha (creamy pistachio flecked with kataifi pastry) and the Chai Biskoot (masala-spiced white ganache, stroopwafels, butter toffee, Oh my!) and was honestly blown away. All topped off with some beautiful, unique hand painting on top.

They’re not cheap — £18 for a chunky (absolutely enormous) and £14 for the regular — but they are valuable. The sheer artistry and quality of ingredients makes this a real indulgence.

I made a video showing how they looked and their size so you can get a feel for them.

I’ll definitely be buying again.

Weather in Wycombe

A little warmer, but a little rainier too. You can’t have it all, I guess 🤷‍♀️

Friday

🌤️ 10°C - 💨 52 mph - ☂️ 90% chance

Saturday

🌤️ 6°C - 💨 16 mph - ☂️ 20% chance

Sunday

🌤️ 7°C - 💨 42 mph - ☂️ 90% 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