Pumpkin Picking Season Has Arrived 🎃

The best pumpkin patches around town, plus Italian Night, a brand new brewery and taproom, Adele by candlelight & more...

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Wycombe Pulse
October 10, 2024

Good morning, Wycombe!

It's the Wycombe Pulse. Your local newsletter that's officially embracing Autumn by swapping its mid-afternoon treat of a Magnum Mini for a Pumpkin Spice Latte instead.

But anyway, check out this week's highlights:

  • A brand new brewery and taproom is opening its doors 🍺

  • A harp trio paying homage to Adele by candlelight 🕯️

  • Ciao... it's Italian Night at the Stag 🇮🇹

Plus we've got a host of entertainment and live music, kids's events, cultural talks, local sports and activities, and a round-up of the best pumpkin patches in the area if you’re getting Halloween ready.

This Week's Highlights

  • Adele Candlelight Experience at All Saints Church on Saturday 12th October at 7pm - a harp trio will be paying homage to the great Adele with this candlelit performance at All Saints 🕯️

  • "The History of Wooburn Green" talk at Trinity United Reformed Church on Wednesday 16th October at 7.30pm - the High Wycombe Society is hosting this FREE talk by Simon Coles that will take you on a whistle-stop tour of the manors, martyrs, mills, lords and local heroes of the Wooburns, from the Norman Conquest to the present day. Tea, coffee and biscuits will follow the talk 📜

  • Italian Night at The Stag Pub and Kitchen on Saturday 12th October from 6pm - a jam-packed menu cooked by a bonafide Italian starting off with cocktails, followed by antipasti, primi piatti, secondo piatto and dolce. And why not round it off with an espresso or grappa? You can also expect an Italian playlist and decorations 🇮🇹

  • Sound Healing at Patch on Friday 11th October at 7.30pm - join Annalisa in this beautiful former library reading room as she takes you on a relaxing, healing journey together through sound 🔔

  • "Banksy - Fraud or Genius?' lecture at The Hub on Easton Street on Monday 14th October at 10.30am - the Arts Society High Wycombe are starting their new programme of talks with this lecture by Pepe Martinez, a London blue badge tourist guide specialising in graffiti and street art. Please email the Membership Secretary on [email protected] if you would like to attend 👨🏻‍🎨

  • Fabric Pumpkin Craft Workshop at Patch today, Thursday 10th October from 7-9pm - join the Create Your Happy team to make 3 fabric pumpkin decorations. They'll walk you through the process step-by-step, and provide materials and refreshments 🎃

Entertainment

  • Air Raid Evenings are back at the Air Raid Shelter Café and Tea Room from Friday 11th October - Air Raid have launched a new evening menu and are giving away a FREE bottle of Prosecco with every table booking this Friday. There'll also be live jazz with Annette Valentine 🍾

  • The Beatles by Candlelight at Wycombe Swan on Friday 11th October at 7.30pm - candlelit tributes are clearly en vogue this week and now it's The Beatles turn. Featuring a cast of West End singers and a live band, you can expect over 40 classic hits 🎸

  • "Nell Gwynn" at Lane End Village Hall on Thursday 10th to Saturday 12th October at 7.30pm (plus more shows next week) - the Lane End Players present this witty and lively play with music and dance on the life of Nell Gwynn, the celebrated orange seller who became one of the first women on the English stage and the mistress of King Charles II 🎭

  • Noasis at Wycombe Art Centre on Friday 11th October at 8pm - if you missed out on real Oasis tickets, why not try this acclaimed tribute band instead?! They have a full five piece line up and promise a high energy show packed with their classic anthems 🎤

  • The Return of the Phoenix Musical Festival at Phoenix Bar from Friday 11th to Sunday 13th October from 4.30pm - a 3-day festival featuring a packed line-up of live indie and metal music. Acts include The Social Creatures, Iridium and Theorist.

  • Wycombe Marsh Poppy Dance at Wycombe Marsh Royal British Legion Club on Saturday 12th October from 7pm - expect music by Kenyon, a raffle, poppy merchandise and more. Everyone is welcome with tickets costing £4 for members and £6 for non-members, and all profits going to Wycombe Marsh Poppy Appeal 🕺🏻

  • Flashback Friday Football Club Fundraiser at Magnolia Park on Friday 11th October from 7.30pm - join Magnolia Park FC as they party with live music from Nothin But Covers and Joshua The DJ.

  • All Things 90s Quiz at O'Neill's on tonight, Thursday 10th October at 8pm - put that 90s knowledge to the test! 📼

Sports and Activities

Fancy trying something new?

Holmer Green Padel: the UK's fastest growing sport has a public access club just outside Wycombe in Holmer Green. They've got 2 dedicated padel courts, member and guest sessions every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, as well as coaching available too. Great fun and so easy to pick up that it's the perfect sport for the whole family to enjoy.

Do you have a sports team that is looking for players/spectators for upcoming fixtures? Please email me at [email protected] with the details if you'd like to be featured.

A couple for the kids...

A spot of shopping

Up for a short drive?

  • 'Ni Hao Ciao' Italo-Chinese pop-up by chef Marta Sandini at Fego Beaconsfield from Thursday 10th to Saturday 12th October - Table and Candle are bringing their beloved chef pop-ups to Beaconsfield with this scrumptious 6-course set menu with optional wine pairing. Takeaway options are also available 🍝

  • Autumn Beats Concert at Christ Church URC Marlow on Saturday 12th October at 7.30pm - an evening of music from the Marlow Town Band in aid of the British Heart Foundation 🎺

  • "Chilterns at Work" talk on Wednesday 16th October via Zoom - Hedgerley Historical Society are hosting Dr Jill Eyers, a local geologist, as she gives a talk about the resources of the Chilterns landscape and how people have used it over thousands of years.

  • Thame Art Crawl from Tuesday 15th to Saturday 19th October - a unique pop-up exhibition that transforms local Thame businesses into galleries in this celebration of the local art scene 🎨

  • Introduction to Modern Calligraphy at The Old Brewery, Marlow on Sunday 13th October from 10.30am-1pm - join Mint Lettering in this nib and ink workshop. You'll start with some drill exercises to understand the flow and basic letter forms, following with your own postcards and gift tags. Tickets include a starter set so you can continue to practice at home ✍🏼

Pumpkin Patches 🎃

October is here and that means the pumpkins have arrived in town. And we're not talking about the syrupy spice lattes so beloved of chain-store coffee shops...

Once more of an American tradition, pumpkin picking has wormed its way into the Autumnal zeitgeist of the UK. And there's a few patches within spitting distance of High Wycombe.

  • Peterley Manor Farm - over 9,000 homegrown pumpkins are available to be picked on the weekends of the 12th and 13th, 19th and 20th, and possibly the 26th and 27th October depending on availability. It's free entry and you can also expect kids’ activities, games and pop-up food vans.

  • West Wycombe Walled Garden - open from the 19th to 31st October. Included in the price of your ticket is a pumpkin of your choice, photobooth photos, 10% off drinks, and there'll be interactive actors on weekends and half term week too.

  • Odds Farm Park - Odds Farm are going all out this year with their pumpkin patch which is open on the weekends of the 12th-13th and 19th-20th October, and allows for a free pumpkin for every paying child. They can get them trussed up for Halloween in the carving corner. They've also got 'Pumpkin Night' on the 19th October, where the patch will be lantern-lit from 6-8.30pm and you can enjoy food, photo opportunities, mini golf, soft play and more. And finally, they've got a full blown Pumpkin Festival from 26th October to 3rd November with the patch still going strong alongside Halloween arts and crafts, and other spooky surprises.

  • Widmer Farm Park - there's an excellent value pop-up pumpkin patch at the farm with over 5,000 pumpkins and over 2,000 squashes available for picking from the 18th to 31st October. Lots of photo opportunities too.

  • Pop-up Pumpkin Patch - head over to Stokenchurch from the 23rd to 31st October between 11am and 3pm for free entry to the pop-up patch. Kids can enjoy a scavenger hunt too!

Community Notes

  • 0-6 years Clothes Bank at Christ the Servant King Church on Sycamore Road on Friday 11th October from 10.30-11.30 - come and browse the FREE clothes you may need for your little ones and stay for a hot drink and cake. There are some toys available for young children to play with while you browse 👶🏻

  • Call for volunteers at Read Easy Chilterns - this local charity helps adults learn to read with free one-to-one coaching. They have a variety of roles available, including Team Administrator, IT Support, Volunteer Recruiter and Reading Coach, and would love to gain support from local people at coaching and management team levels.

  • Plant 10,000 flowers in Holmers Farm Way on Saturday 12th October from 1-3pm - help to brighten up Cressex next Spring by planting 10,000 bulbs this weekend. More sessions are planned on the 19th and 26th October too (from 10am-12pm). No gardening experience needed 🌷

New business news

A new brewery and taproom is opening this Friday at 5pm. Brazenor's Brews is located at 36 Basepoint Business Centre, off the Lincoln Road in Cressex. They'll have 10 craft beers on tap as well as wine, gin and soft drinks. We can't wait to try it out! 🍺

A new café and events space will be opening in the Brunel Shed in early 2025. This amazing heritage building, originally designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and built in 1854, has recently undergone renovations since Bucks New University took over the lease. As it's the first thing people see when they step off the train coming into Wycombe, we really hope it does well 🎉

Where in Wycombe am I?

Where can you find this cascade and grotto?

Last week's answer: I was stood at the Rupert Gate and Lodge on Marlow Hill - one of the many gates leading into Wycombe Abbey School.

They were originally positioned where the Library Gardens are today as Queen Victoria Road meets the High Street, serving as the grand entrance to Loakes Manor (as Wycombe Abbey was previously known) with a long carriageway up to the house. They were moved to their current location in 1900 after the Carrington family had given the land which is now Queen Victoria Road to the town to allow for its expansion.

Weather in Wycombe

Could this be a weekend with no rain?! Would it be a minor over-exaggeration to whisper... Indian Summer?

Er, yes. Definitely.

Friday

🌤️ 11°C - 💨 4 mph - ☂️ 0% chance

Saturday

🌤️ 12°C - 💨 4 mph - ☂️ 16% chance

Sunday

🌤️ 12°C - 💨 7 mph - ☂️ 0% 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

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