Whether you want to see the works of Shakespeare on one of the finest stages in West Sussex, or listen to a Queen tribute act headline Horsham Park as the sun goes down in summer. Horsham may be a relatively small town, but its theatre, live music and comedy options could go toe to toe with some of the UK’s most vibrant cities. More likely than not there’ll be something to keep you entertained during your visit.
Entertainment in Horsham
The Capitol Horsham
Your number one entertainment option in Horsham is the 410-seat Capitol Horsham theatre which welcomes touring companies and shows from all across the country. You’ll find the impressive venue on North Street, just a five-minute walk down the road from our Horsham North hotel.
The Capitol Horsham began life as an ABC Cinema, which first opened its doors in the 1930s. For decades it’s been the entertainment hub of the area and it shows no sign of letting up following its recent refurbishment and consistently stellar programme of theatre, magic, comedy, pantos, music, musicals and dance.
It’s worth taking a look to see what’s on, especially as our Horsham hotel is so conveniently located, and some of our favourite places to eat in Horsham are conveniently located nearby for a pre-theatre meal if you really want to make an occasion out of it.
The Capitol Horsham
Live music in Horsham
Music
When it comes to live music, The Capitol Horsham should still be your first point of call as it regularly books an excellent selection of artists and cover acts with genres ranging from classical recitals to power ballads and punk rockers.
Nevertheless, there are some other options in town if you’re on the hunt for smaller stages. The Malt Shovel is a large pub on Springfield Road. It has six real ales on tap, with a proclivity for local breweries. You can sip on your selection while enjoying live music on Saturdays and the regular open mic nights.
Recently, The Rec Rooms joined Horsham’s entertainment scene as another great option for live music. The venue is part of The Rec, the bowling alley that ranks among the top activities in Horsham. It books a wide range of artists from jazz, rock, and blues, right the way through to R&B and rap.
Events
Depending on what time of year you visit Horsham, you can join in the festivities of some of our favourite local events. Enchanted Horsham takes place towards the end of summer, in late August, at Horsham Park. It’s a 3-day extravaganza of music, magic, fashion, street food, circus acts, silent discos, and boutique markets. It’s basically what Glastonbury Festival would look like if it shrunk in the wash.
Horsham Park also plays host to Horsham Fake Festival in June. It’s a one-day festival that gives West Sussex a taste of some of the biggest artists on the planet – through the ever-endearing medium of tribute acts. Each year sees six of the UK’s biggest and best tribute acts take to the state, with past performers including Oasis, Queen, David Bowie, and The Rolling Stones tributes.
Horsham Festival takes place in July over the course of a week at the height of summer. In total, some seventy events take place across the town spanning everything from dance and music to literature and the visual arts. It’s an all-encompassing festival that brings the very best out of Horsham.