Entertainment in Newark

Nearly 100 years old, the Palace Theatre is the main cultural and entertainment space in Newark, putting on over 150 live shows each year spanning ballet, drama, tribute nights, musicals, stand-up comedy and its annual pantomime. The 600-seater theatre is split over two levels and eight VIP boxes and is located a short stroll from the Civil War Museum on Appleton Gate. The theatre is also home to the excellent Nineteen20 café and bar, which is perfect for pre- and post-show food, drinks and snacks.

The East Midlands has an impressive sporting heritage, with Newark representing when it comes to rugby and golf.

The region has a strong rugby reputation, with teams like Leicester, Nottingham and Northampton all fighting it out in the top two divisions. Newark Rugby Club doesn’t quite have the same success rate, but having been in existence since 1891, they boast a long history of scoring tries. Today, they’re a very active team with a full youth set up, ladies teams and four first XV teams, meaning you’re guaranteed a good scrum down most weeks at their ground on the western edge of Newark, with the season running from September to April each year.

First opened in 1935, Newark Golf Club is a cunning mix of the new and the old, located several miles east of the town centre on Sleaford Road. The modern course design, including challenging bunkers, mean that your irons need to be precise. Meanwhile, the old trees – some of which would have been in the fabled Sherwood Forest – make for some interesting shot selections and background scenery. With a high standard throughout, boasting immaculate greens, the club is one of the best in the region, meaning their tee times can get booked weeks or even months in advance. Therefore, you should book ahead online to avoid disappointment.

One of the few all-weather race tracks in the UK, Southwell Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue around a 20-minute drive from our Newark hotel. There are over 50 race days and events through the year, while you can also tee off in the middle of the track thanks to the Southwell Golf Club. As you’d expect, there is also a range of bars, cafés and restaurants onsite for race days, where you can sit back and take in the action.

Nearly a decade old, the Newark Festival is a music event which brings together a poppy mix of bands and acts from across the decades, as well as local restaurants, bars, pubs and cafés for three days of family entertainment. Previous guests have included Marti Pellow, Kim Wilde and Go West, as well as Stone Roses and Queen tribute acts. The event is held in the middle of June each year at Riverside Park, on the opposite side of the River Trent from Newark Castle and just a short drive from our Newark hotel.