Culture in South Lakes

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

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Culture in South Lakes

16 March-30 December 2023

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Culture in South Lakes
Ben Nicholson's Cold Fell (1922) oil on canvas (part of Abbot Hall's collection). Image courtesy of Lakeland Arts.
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With a rich historic and cultural draw, it’s no secret that the South Lakes is one of the most inspiring places we’ve visited. With an arts scene as dramatic and exhilarating as the landscape it inhabits, the South Lakes has earned its stripes as a place where artistic pioneers, radical thinkers and world-renowned writers produce some of their most iconic works. There’s a fantastic amount going on in the region over the next few months too. We round up some of our favourite places to visit for culture in the South Lakes.

Beatrix Potter: Passions in Paint at the Armitt Museum is not to be missed. Bringing a fascinating blend of history, art and literature, this expanded exhibition offers a unique insight into Beatrix Potter’s life and work. With rarely-seen artwork alongside a number of archaeological works, the collection reveals Beatrix’s early interest in nature and the world around her. This perceptive exhibition portrays Beatrix, not only as a talented writer and illustrator, but also, as an influential figure and passionate conservationist.

Head from Ambleside to Brantwood, a historic house and centre for the arts on the shores of Coniston Water for a stunning exhibition of works by Déirdre Kelly. Tracery – Venice and the Lakes Interlaced is a collection of works connecting architecture, lacework and place, inspired by the hugely influential writer and artist John Ruskin, who famously resided at Brantwood. Over at Wordsworth Grasmere, we’re championing a playful and interesting new exhibition – To The Lakes! takes a look at tourism through the ages and is accompanied by an additional programme of events and activities.

Meanwhile, Emergence Dance are limbering up to perform their latest triple bill of dance at Brewery Arts; a highlight of the dance calendar – not to be missed. And lastly, we’re thrilled that Abbot Hall reopens on Saturday 20 May 2023 with a major solo exhibition by leading landscape artist Julie Brook.

Whether you’re travelling with friends or family, you’ll be spoilt for choice for cultural adventures in the South Lakes.

Where to go near Culture in South Lakes

Manchester
Restaurant
Sampa

Sampa’s underground space is the perfect place to learn about both her new mind-expanding dishes and vintage sherries, reimagined for the late 2020s.

Northern Quarter
Restaurant
Sicilian NQ

Busy backstreet Sicilian restaurant in the Northern Quarter, serving up traditional dishes with well-executed vegan versions that more than match up.

Manchester
Restaurant
Maki & Ramen

Japanese sushi and ramen restaurant on High Street, Northern Quarter, founded by Teddy Lee. House-made noodles, eight-hour broths, plus sushi, donburi and vegan options.

Restaurant Orme
Manchester
Restaurant
Restaurant Örme

A hidden gem in the suburbs of Greater Manchester, serving high-level British small plates to a soundtrack of indie rock and roll.

The Abbey
Manchester
Restaurant
The Abbey

Historic Hulme pub with a very good live gig space, brought to you by the very capable team behind YES, Gorilla, Now Wave and Manchester Psych Fest.

Manchester
Bar or Pub
Pigeon Beer Wanderer

Pigeon Beer Wanderer brings wine-level ceremony to Manchester’s new “Beermuda Triangle”, courtesy of Joshua Lightfoot and his crack team of booze experts.

Image courtesy of Unitom.
Castlefield
Gallery
UNITOM Projects

The exhibition arm of Manchester indie bookshop UNITOM is a dedicated space for contemporary visual culture in the St John’s neighbourhood.

City Centre
Restaurant
Portfolio

Portfolio is a Champagne boutique on Manchester’s Bridge Street, offering a set menu of fine-dining small bites.

What's on: Exhibitions

ExhibitionsManchester
Nothing Gold Can Stay at texture

After recently finding a new home in Cheetham Hill, texture 2.0 hosts its second show, fittingly themed around transience and impermanence.

Free entry
Poster for Bodies in Water. A figure wearing a multicoloured, fringed costume and silver star-shaped headpiece stands knee-deep in a lake beneath dark clouds, with green hills in the distance. Bright green text reads: “Bodies in Water”, “8–25.8.26” and “PV: 7.8.26, 18–21”. Bottom left shows the PINK logo and address: Hilton House, Lord Street, Stockport, SK1 3NA.
Until
Exhibitions
Bodies in Water at PINK

Folklore wraps around human anxiety in this new PINK exhibition, where the dragons and giants of Lake Bala become placeholders for fear itself.

Free entry

Culture Guides

Matt Spratt.
Music

Aphex Twin-endorsed electronica, an eight-hour organ marathon and the most exciting band in Ireland's current folk revival all feature this month.

Food and Drink in the North

Squeeze the most out of these final weeks of summer thanks to our mid-August guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre

From intimate dramas to spectacular outdoor festivals, discover the North West performances worth adding to your diary.

Exhibitions

Summer isn’t usually a high point in the exhibitions calendar, but Greater Manchester’s small galleries seem to have made a pact to change that this year.

Emily Lloyd-Saini as Grace in Space and Harrie Hayes as Lieutenant Strong in Horrible Science
Family things to do in the North

Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

There's no shortage of great films out at the moment, whether you're looking for the latest blockbuster, that hot arthouse flick fresh from Cannes or a cosy classic.