Entertainment in Boston

There are theatrical delights to be had in the historic setting of a medieval friary or the quirky location of the only fully rear-projected cinema in the country.

A visit to Blackfriars Theatre and Arts Centre is a must for lovers of the arts. Originally a 13th-century Dominican friary, it was first opened as a theatre in 1966 and now hosts numerous shows and exhibitions by local drama and arts groups as well as productions by professional touring companies.

There are also occasional live performances at the famous Kinema in the Woods, the only cinema in the UK which fully uses back projection rather than front projection. It’s well worth the picturesque drive out to the village of Woodhall Spa on the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds to sample this uniquely nostalgic experience. As well as outdoor events and seasons of classic films, the venue hosts organ recitals and live screenings from the National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company.

There may not be much in the way of professional sport to watch in Boston, but there is a fierce footballing rivalry to enjoy and a rugby club based at an ultra-modern stadium.

It’s unusual for a town as small as Boston to have two senior football teams. The bigger club are Boston United, whose biggest claim to fame was beating Derby County 6-1 at the Baseball Ground, a record FA Cup away win by a non-league team against Football League opponents. In 2002, The Pilgrims were promoted to the Football League for the first time in their history, but things ended rather ignominiously five years later when they were handed a double relegation and a points deduction for financial irregularities. They’re currently planning to move out of their traditional York Street ground to a new stadium in nearby Wyberton.

That would leave Boston Town - who play near Witham Way Country Park - as the club with the closest ground to the town centre. The Poachers were formed in 1964 as a result of some earlier money troubles at United and the two clubs remain rivals.

Boston Rugby Club play in the impressive surroundings of the Princess Royal Sports Arena, which was built as a part of a project known as the Disabled and Able-bodied British Sports Initiative. The club were founded in 1927 and currently compete in the Midlands 4 East (North) division.

Boston might be slightly off the beaten track for many touring musicians but there’s still plenty on offer for concert-goers - to be enjoyed in historic surroundings to boot.

The list of acts to have performed at Boston Gliderdrome reads like a who’s who of 60s and 70s pop music. The Who, Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder and Elton John are among those who have graced its stage. These days it doesn't host so many big names but it does put on plenty of popular tribute evenings catering for fans of all styles of music from ska and Northern Soul Night to Britpop. The venue, which started out as a skating rink in the 1930s, also has regular DJ evenings.

For more high-profile music events, you might be better off checking the listings at Blackfriars Theatre, which attracts the likes of Celtic folk group The Band From County Hell and swing specialists the Fanfare Big Band.

There are also some high-calibre concerts at Sam Newsom Music Centre, a late 18th-century granary and warehouse which has now been refurbished as a dedicated music and performing arts building which is part of Boston College.