Weekend of entertainment at Marlborough Festival

Music, comedy, food and drink, and entertainment for all ages will take centre stage at this year’s Marlborough Festival.

Running from Friday June 20 to Sunday June 22, the festival will be centred around three main venues - Priory Gardens, the Castle & Ball Hotel and Marlborough Town Hall. The Parade Cinema and other local pubs and restaurants are also taking part.

This is the second year Marlborough Festival has been run. Once again it is being organised by town residents Luke Jackson and Sandra Bhatia, who wanted to bring music back to the town which, in the past, enjoyed regular jazz festivals. Run as a community interest company, Marlborough Festival will build on the success of last year, with a continuing focus on music, entertainment for all and local food and drink producers.

Sandra said: “We wanted to continue the theme from last year, of showcasing the best of Marlborough, Wiltshire and the South West, while offering something that will accommodate everyone in the community.

 “We really want people to come along and join in, because then we can make next year’s even better.”

The festival kicks off on Friday June 20, with Hungerford Comedy Club at the Castle & Ball Hotel, who went down a storm at last year’s event.

On Saturday, June 21, music will be performed at the Priory Gardens in a marquee, headlined by Jay Rayner’s Sextet. Often better known as a food critic, Jay will bring his six-piece band to jazz up the 80s! Local food and drink will be served up, and appearing on stage before Jay will be Gavin Osborn and the Comment Section, followed by The Red Stripe Band, and then local Sing Space Musical Theatre Choir.

During Saturday evening, Castle & Ball Stage supported by BBC Introducing in the West will showcase new local talent and up and coming performers.

As part of the 80th anniversary celebrations of VE Day, and to honour WWII veterans in Marlborough, a lone RAF Supermarine Spitfire will fly up the length of the High Street, on both Saturday and Sunday. Flight times will be confirmed shortly, so keep an eye on the skies!

On Sunday June 22, the Town Hall will run a pop-up cinema, funded by the British Film Institute and Wiltshire Council. In the morning, there will be a screening for families of Kenzuke’s Kingdom, based on Michael Morpurgo’s children’s book.

In the afternoon, a free Big Day Out will be staged for older and vulnerable people from the area. There will be a screening of Singin’ in the Rain, along with fun activities run by Wiltshire & Swindon Sport, and a high tea provided by the Polly Tea Rooms.

Sandra said: “This free event is for older and vulnerable adults in the Marlborough area, living alone and in care homes. We particularly hope to reach adults who would not normally consider attending festivals through lack of mobility, or through social isolation.”

Afterwards, The Parade Cinema will be hosting ‘Chill in the Courtyard’ to wrap the festival up.

Also on the Sunday will be a repeat of the popular Big Dog Walk, taking in a circular route from Marlborough Golf Club, beginning at 10am, and taking around two hours.

Sandra said: “There are several other festivals in Marlborough throughout June, and even though we are all independent, we are collectively marketing ourselves as Marlborough Music Month. Marlborough will be the place to be this June!”

Some Marlborough Festival events are ticketed, some subsidised and others, like the Big Dog Walk, are free. For details of how to get tickets and a full programme visit https://www.marlboroughfestival.com/.