Arty & Crafty

Cocktail Masterclass at the Kenilworth

In the Wool Shed

Pink Piano in Talisman Square

Forrest Coffee House

 

 

 

 

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Kenilworth may appear as just your average small historic town, but scratch the surface and you’ll discover a vibrant, eclectic and passionate arts scene as well as some great ideas and options for those of an arty and crafty bent.

So, lets kick things off and plan your day over a steaming coffee! We’re big fans of the Forrest Coffee House opposite the Clocktower, not only do they make a top notch brew, but you’ll also find a very cool interior and the option to buy locally sourced gifts, products and artwork. Of course, there are plenty of other options and you won’t go wrong with the eclectic vibe at Coffee on the Corner or for something more traditional (but no less great) swing by Ardens or Wedge in Talisman Square.

Speaking of which, Talisman Square is ground zero for your next stop. Kenilworth Arts Festival has been coordinating volunteers to improve the square, encourage biodiversity and make it a place to linger. Look out for the new butterfly murals (perfect for an Instagram selfie), the wonderful colours in the plants and garden they maintain and you might even have a tinkle on the pink piano outside Kenilworth Books. Check out their FB page to keep up to date with new installations, plans they have for the square and upcoming events.

You’ll find quite a few other shops to peruse on Warwick Road, but when you are done take a wander through Abbey Fields to the High Street in Old Kenilworth for a refuel and some crafting, happily there is plenty of choice locally (all housed in suitably historic buildings).  The Creative Cafe is a space where grown-ups can unwind with delicious handmade food and specialty coffee, while children (or adults!) dive into the craft menu—choosing something fun and imaginative to make while they visit. Alternatively The Old Bakery is just opposite for a delicious coffee.

After lunch you could follow in the footsteps of many artists and photographers and capture the view of Kenilworth Castle from the Mere (JMW Turner created his version in 1832) or for something more contemporary, get inspiration in Abbey Fields and enter your own images in the Friends of Abbey Fields annual photo competition (you’ll find all the past entries on their website). Alternatively, you could get more hands on and dive into a course or class. In the Woolshed, based at East Chase Farm, not only sell natural, hand dyed yarn, they also run workshops to teach you everything from block printing to spinning, weaving, knitting and natural dyeing. You could also get a textile masterclass at the Karen Delahunty Sewing Centre, who offer classes for hand sewing, machine sewing, dress making and knitting.

If you still have energy left, why not catch a performance at one of Kenilworth’s TWO theatres? Both the Talisman Theatre and the Priory Theatre host regular plays, exhibitions and performances. You’ll also find plenty of live music options around town although special mention goes to Treehouse Books for their monthly open mic nights and poetry evenings as well as live music, films and other events.