Stay at our holiday cottages during the Festival of Chichester 2018.

Flying its bunting for local arts from 216 June to 15 July, Festival of Chichester is offering a number of events that are within easy walking distance of our holiday cottages so why not make Quay Quarters your base while you enjoy all the Chichester creative scene has to offer?

Festival of Chichester has been bringing a fine line-up of arts and culture to the local area since 2013 and is now one of the biggest festivals in the south of England. After the demise of Chichester Festivities in 2012, a group of passionate individuals – with the support of the Chichester Observer, Chichester Cathedral, Chichester City Council and Chichester Library – set about to Chichester’s cultural flag flying and received a deluge of entries for a jam-packed first year programme including everyone from bands to bards of international prominence.

this year’s no different with more than 200 offerings spanning one month. There’s something for every age group and taste, from classical music and rock music to art exhibitions and cinema to walks and talks. Here’s a round-up of some events, concerts and performances the Quay Quarters crew thinks are well worth a look:

What’s on at Chichester Cathedral?

Chichester Cathedral will be blessed with a plethora of musical talent during this year’s Festival of Chichester including: celebrated classical pianist Victor Ryabchikov (3 July), Dvorak’s New World with Worthing Symphony Orchestra and Kosmos Ensemble (5 July) and internationally reowned pianist Stephen Kovacevich (10 July).

Fancy something more bookish? How about the South Downs Poetry Festival’s Poetry and Music combo (10 July) , featuring illustrious Robyn Bolam and an assortment of local poets? Then there’s The Oldie Literary Lunch (26 June) , a literary London institution that’s making an appearance at Chichester’s Vicars’ Hall. Louis De Bernieres, who wrote Captain Correlli’s Mandolin will also be giving a lunchtime talk (29 June) about his latest release, The Dust That Falls From Dreams.

A vocal performance of any kind in this stunning space with its amazing acoustics is worth booking and, at only a short drive from Quay Quarters, you could even fit in a stroll around Chichester Harbour to finish off the perfect afternoon or evening of entertainment.

What’s on at Chichester Festival Theatre?

Starting with Sussex-set The Chalk Garden (25 May to 16 June), then to jolly musical Me and My Girl (2 July – 25 August) – that’s set in nearby Hampshire and London and promises plenty of cockney sing-along classics – with a stop at The Meeting (13 July to 11 August), an art-house offering for serious culture vultures, Chichester Festival Theatre has a number of plays for you to choose from during the Festival of Chichester.

Located just 10 minutes’ drive from our luxury self catering holiday cottages and B&B accommodation, you’re sure to want to book a show at one of the UK’s most prestigious theatres known for its first-class productions while staying with us. For more information about what’s on at Chichester Festival Theatre see our blog post.

What’s on at West Dean Gardens?

Whether you sit in the sunshine at West Dean Gardens and listen to the Guitars in the Garden group (24 June – 8 July) strum everything from Bach to Blues or take in an open air theatre show of The Rivals by Richard Sheridan (25, 27 and 29 June; 3, 5 and 7 July) or The Roundabouts by JB Priestly (26, 28 and 30 June; 2, 4 and 6 July), you can expect beautiful views of the surrounding South Downs and some wonderful entertainment around 20 minutes away from your Quay Quarters home from home.

You could even stay with us while you visit the Visual Arts Summer Show (29 June to 6 July) or partake in a painting, willow work or jewellery making course at the internationally recognised creative hub of West Dean College. There are a variety of summer schools running after the Festival season too and we’re here to accommodate your luxury self-catering holiday needs.

What’s on The Novium Museum?

Fancy yourself as the next Kate Mosse? The husband of the best-selling Chichester author – who’s based some of her books in Chichester Harbour locations close to Quay Quarters such as Fishbourne – is holding a series of creative writing workshops (7, 14 and 21 July) at Chichester’s Novium Museum. Open to scribes of all ages and levels, these writing workshops have a Cutlass and Contraband theme that ties in with the museum’s latest exhibit. So get inspired to type your tales by staying at quay quarters, just over the road from Dell Quay which has a rich smuggling history!

The Novium Museum is also the starting point for Chichester City Tours’ Tour of Historic Chichester (16, 19, 20, 23, 26, 27 and 30 June; 3, 4, 7, 11 and 14 July) which takes in all the sights and provides insight into the lives of local celebrities. Discover more about Chichester walks and walking holidays on our blog: A Stroll from Quay Quarters luxury holiday cottages to Chichester Harbour.

With our stunning holiday cottages near West Wittering , on your way to explore the award-winning beach why not stop to appreciate some art? You can Discover Printmaking with an exhibition of woodcuts (15-28 June) and experience The Coastline (29 June – 5 July) with artist Polly Dutton via the elements and flowing colour at The Little Art Gallery, only a pebble’s throw from West Wittering Beach. See all arts and crafts exhibitions, classes and events here.

Following a day of water sports in Chichester Harbour, you could cycle to the close by village of Southbourne where at St John’s Church on 14 July there’s a Mid-Summer Concert performed by Emsworth Concert Band – don’t forget your flag to wave Last Night of the Proms style! After an alfresco supper on the terrace of Rose Cottage, you could take a stroll down the The Fishbourne Centre and join in Dawn’s Vintage Stroll Social (22 June), an evening of 50s and 60s music and dance for all.

Book our holiday cottages during this year’s Chichester Festival now!

Quay Quarters – only 10 minutes by car to Chichester and on the doorstep of the Outstanding Area of Natural Beauty that is Chichester Harbour – is the ideal place to stay while you enjoy all the local creative and cultural offerings during Festival of Chichester and beyond.

With event in wonderful settings such as Chichester Cathedral, West Dean Gardens and Chichester Festival Theatre as well as some in West Wittering, Fishbourne and Southbourne – just a short distance from our holiday cottages – there’s something for everyone that’s easily accessible.

your cultural break doesn’t have to stop there. When staying in one of our gorgeous luxury holiday cottages you can enjoy our rose garden (which will be in full bloom come Festival of Chichester), a BBQ or picnic of seasonal Sussex produce on the patio, or books and board games in the sunshine (or in front of the woof burner should the clouds come over). What are you waiting for? Book your 5 star holiday cottage break at Quay Quarters today.