Chichester Living

17/08/2026

🌳 WIN 2 TICKETS: Walk & Talk History of Graylingwell Chapel 🌳

These walks are always a sell out but we’ve scored two tickets for a lucky follower and a friend to join the last tour of the year.👇

🚶‍♀️ What to expect: Meet at the beautifully restored Graylingwell Chapel and set off on a fascinating guided walk with local historian Greg Slay, exploring the site's history including over a century as Graylingwell Hospital (1897–2001). You'll finish back at the Chapel with a hot drink and treat from The Chapel Café while you soak up the exhibits.

📅 Saturday 12 September, 1–3pm
📍 Graylingwell Chapel, Blomfield Drive, Chichester
🎟️ Usually £12pp but you could go for free

HOW TO ENTER 🙌
1️⃣ Follow Chichester Living on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chichesterliving
2️⃣ Find and like this post
3️⃣ Tag the friend you'd take with you in the comments (extra entry for every friend you tag!)

Winner picked at random and notified by DM 28 August. Good luck! 💛

BE SURE to check your DMs. If we don’t have a response within 24 hours a new winner will be selected.

14/08/2026

💛 FEEL GOOD FRIDAY

Congratulations to Amy Gibbons, who has become the University of Chichester's very first law graduate to be called to the Bar. Amy originally studied Creative Writing and English at Chichester before switching paths, completing a Law Conversion degree with Merit and going on to train in Bristol. She was formally called to the Bar by the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple on 23 July. Amy credits mooting competitions and support from her lecturers at Chichester for helping shape her path — proof that it's never too late to change direction. A brilliant milestone for the university's still-young law department, which only welcomed its first students in 2019. 👩‍⚖️

Community spirit was out in full force at Chichester's brand-new Back Then Festival this month too. When vandals damaged fencing on site just before the event opened, organisers put out a call on Facebook — and locals turned up in force to help fix it. The result? Around 1,800 people turned out to Westgate Fields for a day of live music, a fun fair and free face painting. 🎪

And huge congratulations to Chichester High School Sixth Form, who received their A-level results today with over 75% of students achieving A*-C grades — some of the best results the school has seen in years. Well done to every student collecting results across the district this week. 🎓

Lovely things happening on our doorstep this week. Have a great weekend! 💛

13/08/2026

🌞 WEEKEND COOL DOWN: 14-16 August
Since it’s TOO HOT for a weekend warm up, we thought we’d give you some places to COOL DOWN this weekend.

The Chichester International Film Festival is in full swing this weekend (running through to 23 August) with screenings across New Park, the Lumiere pop-up and partner venues around the city. Check our website for what's showing each night. 🎬

🎭 Last chance to catch Atlantis in the Minerva before it closes on Saturday. If it's on your list, this is the weekend to book.

👗 My Fair Lady continues its run at the Festival Theatre through to 5 September if you fancy a big summer musical night out.

🦴 Little ones (and big ones) can still catch Elmer and Friends at The Novium Museum — running all the way to 13 September.

🎨 Goodwood Art Foundation's summer season is on through to November, with an outdoor Yayoi Kusama sculpture newly installed in the landscape alongside Nancy Holt and Lee Ufan, a lovely way to spend a couple of hours in the Sussex countryside. A fitting finale for the

🏃 Don't forget the regulars: junior parkrun every Sunday morning for the 4-14s, and Chichester parkrun on Saturday for everyone else. You’ll find details for these, and many other events on Chichesterliving.com

Whatever you're up to, have a great weekend, Chichester! 💛

12/08/2026

🌿 Wellness Wednesday: Slow Down, Chichester 🌿

Feeling frazzled? It might be time to trade your to-do list for the tide table. 🌊

Wellbeing doesn't have to mean a big life overhaul, sometimes it's just noticing what's already on your doorstep. 💛

This week's wellbeing picks:
🧘 Tai Chi in the Park — Sussex Tai Chi @ Priory Park, Chichester Wed 12 Aug, 8.30am
🌬️ Breathwork Classes — Vitae Vi @ Cowdray Hall, Easebourne, Midhurst — Thu 13 Aug, 6:15–7:15pm
🌅 Sunset Yoga (weekly) — Green Door Centre, Bosham
🌬️ Breathwork Classes — Vitae Vi @ The Pavilion, Graylingwell — Fri 14 Aug, 6:15–7:15pm
🕊️ Free Mindfulness Meditation — The Peaceful Paintbrush @ Priory Park — Sat 16 Aug

Try this today: however busy you are, steal ten minutes outside. Phone away, shoes off if you dare. That's it. That's the wellness tip.

What's your go-to Chichester reset spot? Drop it below 👇

11/08/2026

✨ If tomorrow’s Perseid meteor shower and solar eclipse on the same day isn't enough, we've got another ray of light to shine into your lives - the spectacular Chichester Cathedral light show! 🕯️
This year's theme, Illuminating Art, promises to be more magical than ever. Through projection and immersive soundscapes, accompanied by an original score by composer David Harper 🎼, the Cathedral's ancient architecture is reimagined in extraordinary ways.

Though it might not be opening until October, tickets go fast — and we've got an exclusive opening night pair for you to win 🎉. Find out more about the show and early bird booking (just in case!) from link in our bio.

🎟️ Two tickets for the 7.30pm entry on Friday 23 October.
📅 Mark your calendars!

To win:
✅ Make sure you're following on Instagram
❤️ Find a like this post on our account
🏷️ Extra entries by tagging who you'd take with you
⏰ Contest ends midday Friday 21 August.

📩 Please watch your DMs for a message if you've won. If we don't receive a response in 24 hours, a new winner will be drawn.
Good luck! 🍀✨

10/08/2026

Looking forward to the big 800!

2026 marks 800 years since the foundations of the organisation we know today as Chichester City Council.

To commemorate this historic anniversary, we're hosting a programme of special events throughout September and October, bringing Chichester's rich civic heritage to life.

Find out more and get involved: https://chichestercity.gov.uk/chichester-city-council-800-years/

#800

10/08/2026

🧵 MAKER'S SPOTLIGHT: The Eternal Maker

If you love colour, texture and getting lost in beautiful fabric, you need to know The Eternal Maker. Tucked away in Sidlesham just outside Chichester, this independent sewing and craft store has been a local institution since 2007 — started by Anna, who turned a Saturday job in a sewing shop into a genuine crafting destination.

Inside you'll find over 2,000 bolts of fabric (quilting cotton, jersey, double gauze, linens and specialist dressmaking fabrics), a huge range of haberdashery, yarns, and sewing patterns — plus their own sister pattern label, Two Stitches Patterns. Pop into a class and pick up a new skill, from bag-making to "sew your pet"! 🐾

Speaking of classes — they're currently running a run of summer holiday sewing sessions for kids, including a Sewing Bee for children (ages 7–14) making elasticated waist summer shorts, 1–4pm, all materials included, no experience needed.
And once you've shopped till you've dropped, head to their in-house café, The Eternal Baker, for a coffee and a slice of cake. Fully wheelchair accessible, with free parking too.

📍 Unit 2, Keynor Barns, Keynor Lane, Sidlesham, Chichester PO20 7NG
🌐 eternalmaker.com

WestSussex

09/08/2026

🎬🌟 Under the stars in Priory Park...

The Chichester International Film Festival's open air screenings are BACK and the 2026 line-up is unmissable 👀

🗓️ Fri 7 Aug, 7.45pm — Star Wars: A New Hope
🗓️ Sat 8 Aug — Babe + Pretty Woman
🗓️ Sun 9 Aug — Jurassic Park + Song Sung Blue

Grab a picnic, a blanket (or a comfy chair!) and settle in for one of Chichester's favourite summer traditions 🧺🎥 Priory Park holds up to 1,000 guests, so these evenings do sell out — get your tickets now at chichesterfilmfestival.co.uk 🎟️

📍 Priory Park, Chichester
🅿️ Nearest parking: Northgate & New Park Road car parks

08/08/2026

One year ago today, we opened the doors to The Nest for the very first time. And what a year it’s been!

In the last 12 months...

🧡 There have been 115 performances by 199 artists, from comedy, theatre, music and dance to family shows and more.

🧡 Over 6000 audience members have discovered The Nest, with more than 25% visiting CFT for the first time.

🧡 We have worked with some amazing organisations including Chichester Fringe, Underbelly, Chichester College, Brighton Fringe and University of Chichester.

🧡 The Nest is home to our Future Theatre Makers programme, with 10 emerging artists having used the space to develop their work.

Thank you to all those who made The Nest a reality and have supported its first year. Why not join us and discover everything on offer? All tickets are under £20, with £5 Prologue tickets for ages 16-30.

thenest.cft.org.uk

31/07/2026

✨ Feel Good Friday: Three Chichester Harbour stories worth celebrating ✨

This week we're celebrating the history and heart of our harbourside communities 💙

⛵ Oyster Boat Terror turns 20 — rescued from a rotting wreck and lovingly restored, this 1890s Emsworth oyster boat has now carried over 5,000 passengers on her decks since restoration. She's just wrapped up special sailings from Itchenor timed with the Festival of Chichester — living history, still afloat.

⛪ Southbourne Free Church marks 170 years — from humble beginnings in a barn back in 1855, the church came together on 5 July to celebrate a milestone worth 17 decades of community and faith.

🎨 Emsworth Arts Trail celebrates 25 years — one of the longest-running open studios events in Hampshire, the Trail marks its 25th anniversary in 2026, opening artists' homes and studios across Emsworth and the surrounding villages for visitors to explore.

Three very different stories, one thread running through them: things built to last, and the people who keep them going. 🌊

📍 Chichester Harbour & beyond

ChichesterLiving