Memories of a historic community event, which treated visitors to a kaleidoscope of light installations, music and performances, are being sought as part of a study which could see it return to Leamington.
The festival ran in Jephson Gardens in July and August from 1951 to 1961 and saw the park and its trees lit in a rainbow of colour, including installations like magical animals, characters from fairy tales and city skylines.
There were also clowns and puppets, an open-air ballet, and food and drink stalls run by local businesses at the event which brought hundreds of thousands of visitors to Leamington.
A steering group has now been created which will be conducting a feasibility study in conjunction with Curated Place, an award-winning creative arts production company, to explore how the festival could be brought back with a renewed purpose for the businesses, communities and people of Leamington.
The research will consider how the event would be funded, what the modern-day festival could look like, the logistics of delivering it and most importantly, if it is something that residents across the area would welcome.
As part of this, those who attended or worked at the original event over the years are being encouraged to share their memories of Lights of Leamington, reflecting on what made it special and why it was so popular.
Residents, businesses and community groups across Leamington will be invited to sign up for workshops where they can get involved in the exciting challenge of making the historic festival fit for the 21st century and what they might like it to include.
Anyone who would like to contribute is being invited to first complete a short survey and register their interest for ongoing updates at www.lightsofleamington.co.uk. A Lights of Leamington Facebook page has also been created to capture people’s thoughts and keep people informed of opportunities to get involved.
The potential return of the event has already received support from MP Matt Western, Royal Leamington Spa Town Council, Warwick District Council and Warwick District Creative Compact.
Stephanie Kerr, executive director of BID Leamington, said:
“We were thrilled to receive a research grant from Arts Council England to see if it is possible to bring Lights of Leamington back.
“The approach of the BID is to help make the town centre a community centre, so we want to make sure the community is meaningfully involved in shaping the idea.
“We want to gauge interest and support and find out everything from what people would like to see and how it could be delivered, to the time of year they think it should take place.
“Our hope is to reinvent the festival for a new generation, embracing new technologies while reflecting its history, and we are very excited to be working with Curated Place, who bring considerable experience and expertise.”
Andy Brydon, director of Curated Place, said:
“We are delighted to be working on this unique project that is deeply rooted in the history and memory of Leamington Spa.
“We specialise in planning, developing, delivering, managing and marketing major arts and music commissions, festivals, exhibitions across the UK and internationally.
“Drawing on our passion and experience, we will engage with the community and conduct research to map out a plan for bringing the Lights back to Leamington in a way that is both authentic to the memory but also looking to the future.”
Councillor Liam Bartlett, Warwick District Council Portfolio holder for Culture, Tourism and Leisure, added:
“Lights of Leamington was a very special community event that ran for over 10 years and we know many people have fond memories of attending.
“We are very much in support of the feasibility study approach and look forward to seeing the outcome of the research.”
When it comes to going out to eat, Leamington Spa will spoil you for choice. The town has a whole array of great restaurants, bars, cafes and pubs, with some making their home here for years – even decades. But even if you’ve visited the food-focused Spa town before, or maybe you live in Leamington, you don’t have to worry about running out of places to eat, with new restaurants opening all the time.
In the past few months there has been a flurry of new places to eat in Leamington, no matter what cuisine you fancy. From brunch or a coffee stop to steak, an Italian feast, or a trip to India or South America via a Leamington restaurant.
We’ve rounded up some of the newer restaurants in Leamington Spa for you to check out, as well as some that you might have missed before. So whether you’re looking for where to eat lunch in Leamington Spa or a dinner restaurant in Leamington, take a look or try our exhaustive directory of Leamington town centre food and drink businesses. You really are spoiled for choice!
New restaurants in Leamington Spa
Brand new to Leamington is Middletons steakhouse – a casual steakhouse and grill serving up prime cuts, burgers, fish and delicious desserts, plus a wide range of wines and cocktails. So if you’re looking for a steak restaurant in Leamington Spa, head to Regent Court to find one of Leamington’s newest additions.
Leamington also has its very own restaurant offering authentic barbecued meat. Smowkhaus, which serves up everything from brisket to burgers, as well as hot dogs, chicken wings and filthy fries, opened its doors in February 2022 and is already proving a hit. Just over the road on Warwick Street is another new addition, Waf Waf Waffle, whose name says it all, serving up waffles, waffle sticks, waffle bowls and pancakes too.
New doesn’t have to mean somewhere opened in the last five minutes – it could be new to you, and Leamington has plenty of relatively recent additions that you might not have tried yet.
Other recent arrivals include Bodega Cantina, a South American inspired neighbourhood cantina and cocktail bar, serving everything from street food to both smaller and larger plates as well as dedicated vegan and kids menus. Another newer addition to Leamington is popular small chain Boston Tea Party which serves breakfast and brunch all day, including a great range of plant-based options.
If you’re looking to eat some Indian food in Leamington Spa, try newer addition Dwarakamai on Augusta Place, where you’ll find a wide variety prepared with care. If you want to have a taste of a broad range of Asian-style food, head to Kung Fu, a modern Asian buffet styled restaurant, including options of Chinese, Japanese, Malaysian, Teppanyaki and Dim Sum cuisine.
Another place for a special meal in Leamington Spa is Villa Capri, which has wowed locals and visitors since it opened. Inspired by the beautiful island of Capri on Italy’s Amalfi coast, it serves classic Italian cuisine in beautiful surroundings and is another great Italian restaurant in Leamington.
Places you might have missed in Leamington
Even if you’ve tried some of the latest restaurant openings in Leamington, some may have passed you by, so why not get to some of the places in Leamington Spa that you may have missed. Warwick Street is home to a whole array of great independent eateries in Leamington, from The Steamhouse bakery to Basement Browns for award-winning pizza, Libertine Burger for some of the best burgers in Leamington.
If you’re looking for street food in Leamington Spa in a unique setting, head to The Neighbourhood. This dedicated food court offers a range of traders all under one roof, as well as great coffee, beer on tap and an event space.
On Leamington’s famous Parade, you’ll find House with its stand-out upstairs garden, serving food as well as great cocktails, as well as popular chains Bill’s and Bar + Block steakhouse. And for people looking for a dessert cafe in Leamington, get yourself to Gallone’s dessert parlour for a sweet treat.
Regent Street in Leamington also has plenty to choose from, including The Dice Box board game cafe, popular pub The Royal Pug, and a whole range of different cuisine from Thai to Indian and plenty of coffee stops along the way. And if it’s coffee, cakes and savoury treats that you fancy, head to The Larder, a recent arrival at Leamington Library Royal Pump Rooms Parade
All these are just the start – whatever you want to eat in Leamington Spa, there will be something for you. You just might not have tried it yet!
This ‘Welcome Back’ blog is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund:
The first festival of the spring season is coming on Saturday 26th of March in Mill Gardens (adjacent to the River Leam) in the heart of town.
This is a ticketed event running from 12:30 pm – 06:00 pm and on stage, you will find a fantastic line-up of Leamington’s latest singer songwriters, stand up comedians and musical theatre performers!
Bring along your rugs, outdoor chairs and jackets – it’s going to be an eventful day!
With the delights of Leamington’s SPA BRASS BAND to set the tone for an incredible line up of local musical talent – featuring CJ WOOD accompanied by JAMES PRINCE, legendary folk singer songwriter STEPHEN BOYER with incredible guitarist MICK COX and the superstar TAYLOR-LOUISE.
This is an outdoor music concert produced by OAF! and LeamLive that is suitable for all audiences. This particular event focuses on those of incredible talent in the region, their latest original music from bands such as OVERCLIFF and RATTLESNAKE.
And to conclude the evening, we share a powerful 2-hour production by THROUGH THE ROOF THEATRE COMPANY with their latest musical arrangement of west end productions for you to tap your feet, clap your hands and perhaps, just maybe, pop out of your seat for a boogie.
Plus a special guest appearance from Midlands Best MC and crackin’ stand-up comedian – OKSE!
Set in Mill Gardens in Leamington Spa, gates open 12:30pm, concludes at 6pm. Food and Drink vendors are available onsite.
We recommend bringing along your rugs, chairs and blankets… and the spirit to enjoy a music concert in the gardens with your family and friends.
Gallery Photiq and Michael Grecco collaborate to display a collection of historic imagery
Royal Leamington Spa, UK—A local, independent photography gallery is hosting the UK’s premier exhibition of a historic collection of photographs made by acclaimed American photographer Michael Grecco.
From 8th March to 16th April 2022, Gallery Photiq will host Days of Punk, which features the exhibition of twenty-two framed, fine art prints made from photographs in Grecco’s latest book Punk, Post Punk, New Wave, published by Abrams in 2020 and distributed internationally.
Grecco’s archives include many hundreds of images of bands and musicians whom he photographed during the 1970s, 80s and early 90s. Many of the photographs depict live concerts, though the collection also includes backstage and candid photos captured in recording studios, band meetings and promotional photo shoots.
“I’m proud that Photiq in Royal Leamington Spa is the first gallery in the U.K. to be presenting my ’Days of Punk’ exhibition”, says Grecco. “The photos featured in the show were shot when punk music first exploded in the United States in the late 1970s, and then as it evolved over the next decade or so. These images were dormant in my flat files until my archivist suggested we revisit this unseen body of work. It is a thrill to finally share them with fans and collectors for the first time, and it has been a total pleasure working with Nat Coalson and his team at the gallery.”
The exhibition at Photiq includes colour and black-and-white photographs. Nat Coalson, the gallery’s director, curated the exhibition in collaboration with Grecco to include images of iconic performers and larger-than-life personalities. Artists featured in the photographs include well-known stars such as Billy Idol, David Bowie and The Clash, along with lesser known but influential musicians including The Ramones, Siouxie and the Banshees, and Public Image Ltd. All the limited-edition prints in the exhibition are available for purchase through Gallery Photiq.
Most of the prints on display were produced in-house at Photiq, using Epson professional printers and archival-quality paper provided by Ilford. Coalson, a master photographic printer, states ”Producing this exhibition has been a rare pleasure, especially working with such significant images. Even more so, printing the photos has been exciting because of the fantastic aesthetic qualities of the scans, made from originals shot on film. There is an authentic, grungy edge to these pictures that one doesn’t often encounter with today’s digital images.”
Gallery Photiq is located at 40 Park Street, Leamington Spa, CV32 4QN, United Kingdom. The exhibition is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am until 4 pm. A public opening reception will be held on Saturday, 12th March. Admission to the exhibition and reception is free.
Outgrowing: Flowers and female artists, 1700 – now will be opening in the Temporary Exhibition Gallery at Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum on Friday 28th January and runs until Sunday 24th April. Curated by Jane Simpkiss and Lily Crowther, this exhibition explores the reasons why female artists have so often been associated with flowers, and the tensions and freedoms that arise when considering these artworks and their subject matter.
Works on display include pieces from the gallery’s publicly owned collection as well as important loans from major collections such as the Royal Academy, the Courtauld Gallery and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. It also features works by local artists and designers from Elizabeth Whitehead to Jennie Moncur.
Stunning 18th– century still-life paintings and pioneering botanical drawings will be on display alongside intricate Victorian crafts and modern artistic experiments with colour and light. The artists included range from Mary Moser to Winifred Nicholson.
If you enjoy studying beautiful depictions of flowers, this is the exhibition for you. But it’s also the exhibition for you if you want to dig deeper into the context these pieces were created in. Throughout history female artists have been encouraged to focus on flowers, and often excluded from other subjects. Despite these limitations, many women made significant, often radical contributions to art and science through their study of botany. Others built successful careers at a time when women still struggled for acceptance in the workplace whilst flowers continue to be source of inspiration for contemporary female artists. Why are flowers still often seen as a feminine subject matter?
To explore this question and more, make the time to visit Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum this spring. To go deeper, the gallery has organised a range of adult workshops that tie into the themes of this exhibition. From artist led cyanotype workshops to flower arranging and printing, the gallery have focussed on sourcing tutorship and materials from the local area, supporting and promoting the talent in the district.
Leamington was once again lit up with a dazzling display of lanterns for the town centre’s popular annual Lantern Parade.
Hundreds of people gathered at the bandstand in the Royal Pump Room Gardens to join and enjoy the light spectacle known as ‘Luminate Leamington’, organised by BID Leamington.
The parade is a festive favourite and this year large sharks and whales, alongside elephants, reindeer, butterflies, hearts and beautifully decorated Christmas trees were among the array of lanterns that delighted spectators.
The lanterns included some that have been made in homes by families over the past month, as well as many that were started in woodland workshops hosted by BID Leamington in November.
After gathering around the bandstand for Christmas songs led by local entertainer David Harrop, around 200 lanterns paraded through the town centre behind shimmering stilt-walking angels from Flambé Circus Theatre.
The procession ended at the Town Hall with Christmas carols accompanied by the Royal Spa Brass Band and the Baptist Church Choir, and there was also a surprise visit from Santa too.
Stephanie Kerr, executive director of BID Leamington, said: “It was very special to see the Lantern Parade return this year after two years away.
“It takes quite a lot of work to prepare, so I always feel a little overwhelmed with joy watching it culminate with lanterns winding their way around the whole perimeter of the Pump Room Gardens – it is very beautiful.
“This year I really enjoyed the setting of the woodland workshops in Foundry Wood and as always, I am blown away by the creativity, diversity and joyfulness of everyone who takes part.
“Also, I would like to thank our local businesses who support this event and all the volunteers from the University of Warwick, Rotary Club and others, who helped at the workshops and the parade.
“BID Leamington still has a number of other festive events coming up and we look forward to seeing everyone support our town centre in the run-up to Christmas.”
BID Leamington has already deployed the Christmas Angels to add some sparkle to the town centre, and families can enjoy the Elf Workshop in the Royal Priors on weekends and post letters in Santa’s Post Box, located in Regent Court.
This year Thursday late-night shopping will begin on December 16th through to December 23rd, and there is also an Elf Hunt running until Thursday December 23rd with a £100 shopping spree up for grabs.
Town centre CCTV has captured footage of a naughty elf who has been let loose in Leamington in the run-up to Christmas – and families are being invited to discover his antics and be in with a chance of winning a prize.
View the naughty elf footage here:
BID Leamington is launching an ‘Elf Hunt’ in partnership with the creators of ‘Atmap’, where participants can follow the footsteps of a cheeky elf and decipher his clues.
The elfs trail can be followed by downloading the local events app Atmap onto a smartphone, and participants will need to locate the elf’s trail of destruction around seven Leamington shops.
The app will allow people to scan a QR code in a shop, giving them a secret letter and a clue to where to find the next one.
Once the codeword has been revealed – participants can head to the final location, pick a mystery treat and enter the prize draw where a grand prize of £100 to spend in Leamington shops could be won.
Stephanie Kerr, executive director of BID Leamington, said: “Four elves originally came to Leamington to deliver Santa’s Post Box in the town centre – but only three left.
“One naughty elf stayed behind and caused quite a bit of mischief in the town centre, and we’re encouraging the public to follow the clues, find the elf’s hiding place and be in with a chance of winning a prize.
“The Elf Hunt will be a fun way for everyone to explore the town centre in the run up to Christmas – and we’re hopeful there’ll be plenty of people taking part who can find the elf’s final location!
“We are also grateful to be working with Jack Gibson and his team at Gibsonhaus who developed this idea and the new events app – Atmap.”
Also hidden in the trail is an Elf with a hearing aid that has been made by Ashlea Lines, of Me & You. She adapts toys so every child is able to relate to and love them, and is selling these handmade elves with 10 percent of sales going to the National Deaf Children’s Society.
The Elf Hunt will run from Wednesday, December 1 to Thursday, December 23.
It will also coincide with Small Business Saturday, a national campaign on Saturday, December 4 to highlight small businesses and encourage people to use them over the Christmas period.
All off street car parks will be free to park in on the day, and BID Leamington’s ‘Christmas Angels’ will be giving away 250 ‘goody bags’ full of vouchers for town centre businesses.
To find out more about the Elf Hunt, Me & You Inclusive Toys and what’s happening in town this Christmas please visit www.loveleamington.com/elf-hunt/. Download Atmap on Google Play on Android or the App Store on iPhones or visit www.atmap.co.uk for more details.
Discover Santa’s Post Box in the heart of Leamington Town Centre.
Find Santa’s Post Box in the heart of the town centre in Livery Street, Regent Court (nr Bar Angeli). You can’t miss it!
Post your letter, then push the button to the right of the letterbox and watch it fly all the way to Lapland …
If you include your name, mobile and email on the letter, or envelope, you will be entered into a fantastic £100 prize draw.
Thank you for supporting our town centre businesses this Christmas.
Note: This is a local promotion and not a Royal Mail Post Box, so there is no need to include a postage stamp on letters.
FREE Workshops
Write your letter to Santa and enjoy a small craft activity in the Elf Workshop all for FREE! (1 activity per child, subject to availability).
Find it on the Lower Mall in Royal Priors Shopping Centre on Saturday 4th, 11th, and 18th December between 10am- 4pm and on Sunday 5th, 12th and 19th December between 11am- 4pm.
We have a letter template you might like to use, and you can also download a ‘reply’ from Santa which you can personalise. We have a choice of messages below.
CLICK HERE see the full T&C’s – Royal Leamington Spa Santa’s Post Box Prize Draw
A spooky pumpkin treasure hunt will lead families through Leamington town centre this Halloween – with a chance of prizes at the end.
The Pumpkin Path, organised by BID Leamington, will take families round a choice of two trails to collect clues from 46 shops in the town centre. It will run from 9am to 5pm starting on Saturday October 23, with final entries being taken at 5pm on Sunday October 31.
Once all the clues are gathered, participants can work out where the final postbox is to post their entry and be in with a chance of winning the grand prize – £200 worth of treats from a range of Leamington businesses.
For those who gather ten or more clues, there will also be a number of runners-up prizes worth £300 in total – including vouchers from Fat Birds Café, free burgers and fries from Libertine Burger, games donated by Coventry Building Society, and much more.
New businesses are also taking part in the Pumpkin Path this year, including Cats Protection, Head Records, Decanter Spirit, Dodo Pizza, Esquires Coffee, Casa Valle, Space Health Care, New Look, Jones Bootmaker, and Little Cup Café.
Alison Shaw, project manager at BID Leamington, said: “The Pumpkin Path has been really well-received in previous years, so we knew we wanted to bring it back once again.
“This year, we’ve split the path into two trails because of how many Leamington shops are taking part, and it’s great to see plenty of new businesses getting involved this year.
“We’d love to see families get into the Halloween spirit by dressing up in their spooky outfits, having a go at finding all the clues and reaching the final postbox in its secret location.
“It’s a fun way of getting out and about this half term and re-discovering the wide selection of wonderful shops Leamington has to offer.”
Entry forms are available at all participating shops and at the Upper Mall of the Royal Priors Shopping Centre from Thursday October 21.
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BID Leamington is launching an ‘Elf Hunt’ in partnership with the creators of ‘Atmap’, where participants can follow the footsteps of a cheeky elf and decipher his clues.
The app will allow people to scan a QR code in a shop, giving them a secret letter and a clue to where to find the next one.
