Spring / Summer 2016

www.visitaylesbury.co.uk
Spring / Summer 2016
2/3
Welcome & Getting Around
4/5
Shopping & Nightlife
6/7
Markets & Streetlife
8/9
Aylesbury’s Unique Heritage
10/11
Things to do / Regular events in Aylesbury
12/13
Events March to June
14/15
Events July to October
16/17Contacts
18/19
Map, including places to eat
20 Aylesbury’s Giant Gloriumptious Weekend
Welcome to Aylesbury, a bustling market town in the heart of picturesque
Buckinghamshire. Blending history with the attractions of a modern town,
Aylesbury offers something for everyone - from the Heritage Trail and regular
markets in the historic, cobbled Market Square, to a summer diary packed with
fun events, launching in July with the Roald Dahl Festival and Aylesbury On Sea
(see page 20).
Parking information
The town centre is host to an amazing programme of events and entertainment,
making it a truly unique experience for both residents and visitors.
Other parking is available at Friars Square car park, Station
Way, open 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and 9.30am to
5.30pm on bank holidays.
This guide will tell you what is on and where, as well as giving you details
of attractions and shops within the town.
Aylesbury is well equipped for cycle parking, with over 250
free bike parking spaces in and around the town centre.
See www.cycleaylesbury.co.uk for details.
Aylesbury is proud to have achieved Purple Flag status in recognition of the
town’s night time economy, and you will find many opportunities in this guide
for entertaining, diverse, safe and enjoyable nights out.
There is a handy map at the back of the guide to help you find your way round,
which includes locations of cafes and restaurants if you’re in need of a rest and a re-fuel after all that shopping and entertainment!
The importance of the town centre for events and arts has been recognised
and documented in the Aylesbury Town Centre Plan, which sets out the vision
to grow Aylesbury as a centre for the arts. Aylesbury is part way through an
exciting multi-million pound improvement programme. The town centre has
seen major change in the last few years with the opening of the Waterside
Theatre, a new marina at Circus Fields, as well as improvements to Waterside
South, Vale Park and public spaces – and there’s plenty more to come.
For further information on what to do in Aylesbury and the improvement
programme, take a look at Aylesbury’s new website, which features up-to-date
details on events, gigs, nightlife plus offers from town centre businesses.
www.visitaylesbury.co.uk
Aylesbury has a range of short term and long term car parks
within and close to the town centre. All AVDC car parks are
open 24 hours a day, with the exception of Hampden House
which closes at 10pm. www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/parking
Disabled drivers
If you display a Blue Badge, you can park free in any of the
council’s car park spaces (except for any reserved space,
Shopmobility spaces, Hale Street car park and Walton
Street car park).
Shopmobility is a scheme to allow anyone with a mobility
problem, whether temporary or permanent, to get out
and about in Aylesbury town centre. Manual and powered
wheelchairs, scooters and walking aids can be borrowed
free of charge. Shopmobility is on the ground floor of the
Upper Hundreds car park. Tel: 01296 336725
Online rail and bus information
www.arrivabus.co.uk
Traveline
www.travelinesoutheast.org.uk
Black cabs
01296 422222
4
Shopping
The town boasts three main shopping centres; Friars
Square and Hale Leys, both under cover, and Aylesbury
Shopping Park. All offer many well-known high
street retailers.
Friars Square has Topshop, Office, House of Fraser,
Pandora, H&M, The Entertainer and many more.
Hale Leys has Boots, Accessorize, Next (moving to
Friars Square), Clarks, Vision Express and Toys-UK
amongst others.
Stores within Aylesbury Shopping Park include Argos,
B&M, Lidl and eateries such as Frankie and Benny’s.
Other excellent hunting grounds for quality and
reasonably priced goods and independent shops are
the High Street, Kingsbury, Cambridge Street and
Buckingham Street, all of which are within easy
walking distance of the Market Square. As well as
national and independent shops, Aylesbury has many
gems where you can find unique gifts and treats,
such as St Mary’s Church and the Bucks County
Museum Shop.
Click and Collect
Many shops in Aylesbury offer a click and collect
service, where you can purchase products online and
collet them in-store. Stores which offer this service
include: BHS, H Samuel, Dorothy Perkins, Burton,
Topshop, o2, Claire’s, New Look, Blue Inc, House
of Fraser, Ernest Jones, River Island, Waterstones,
Superdrug, The Fragrance Shop, Shoe Zone, Boots,
Next, Accessorize, Clarks, Sainsbury’s, Marks &
Spencer, Carphone Warehouse, WH Smith, Bon Marché,
Moss Bros and Wilkinsons.
5
Nightlife
We are proud to have been holders of the
Purple Flag since 2011. The achievement of
becoming a Purple Flag award holder is
truly a partnership approach in Aylesbury.
There is a common purpose and aim
between groups to ensure that Aylesbury
Town is a place where spending leisure
time is an enjoyable and safe experience.
The working group has been represented
by the following partners:
• Community Safety Partnership
• Aylesbury Business Against Crime
• Aylesbury Town Centre Partnership
•Pubwatch
•Community lead partnerships including
the Street Angels.
• Licensing committee
• Thames Valley Police
Our efforts are focussed on the following
areas to maximise your night out.
Safety
Safety in the town is paramount and all activities are monitored
by CCTV cameras, and door staff are fully accredited in safety
and well-being. Additionally on a regular basis you will see street
angels assisting anyone who is vulnerable.
Cleanliness
We are keen to maintain the cleanliness in town and the cleaning
regime is based on ensuring that the Environmental Protection Act
Code of Practice on Litter standards are always maintained as a
minimum standard. This cleaning regime ensures the town centre
is cleansed between the hours of 6am and 8am each day and that
the town remains clean throughout the day until at least 8pm.
Transport
The railway and bus stations are close to the town centre with
easy access and operational into late evening. The transport
hub located outside the library provides real time passenger
information to assist in your journey home.
We have a number of instantly recognisable black taxis ranked in
central locations – please see map on page 18 for your information.
Night out
There are over 60 food and beverage eateries in town, and
locations can be found on page 18, they are coupled with a range
of pubs and bars including a pool bar, state-of-the-art theatre and
several night clubs open until 2am. 6
Farmers’ Market
On the last Tuesday of every month,
browse the stalls of locally produced food at
our popular Farmers’ Market from 9am to 2pm.
Regular stalls include home-made pies, honey,
home-cooked ready meals, fruits and vegetables,
cheese and olives. The Farmers’ Market shares the
Market Square with the Vintage & Craft Bazaar, so
why not browse all the stalls and make a day of it?
Vintage &
Craft Bazaar
Every Tuesday 9am – 2pm
Come to the weekly Vintage
& Craft Bazaar, where you can
find unique items from handmade
jewellery and gifts to antique home
furnishings, collectable books and vinyl,
and retro ornaments and accessories.
7
Love Your Local
Market Fortnight
Aylesbury once again joins in the national Love Your
Local Market celebrations, with a series of fun events
in our historic Market Square. Tuesday 17 May Enjoy free cake as we join the launch of this national
celebration of markets Wednesday 18 May Be wowed and bewildered by street magic from Paul Megram Friday 20 May Join us for the launch of Aylesbury Market’s Foody Friday,
with street entertainment and music Saturday 21 May Live music from Ellesborough Silver Band in Market Square,
11.30am – 2.30pm plus more fantastic street entertainment Wednesday 25 May Fancy some new artwork? Visit Market Square to see our free
caricaturist in action from 11am to 1pm and 1.30pm to 3pm. Saturday 28 May Enjoy a musical day out on the market, with performances
from retro swing group The Candy Girls and the local
Rock Choir!
Tuesday 31 May The Farmers’ Market gets involved in LYLM! With free pottery
painting for kids, 10am – 2pm
Streetlife
Watch out for fantastic free street entertainment throughout the summer as
Aylesbury Town Centre comes to life with “Streetlife”, a programme of magical
and musical fun!
We had some weird and wonderful Streetlife performers from 2015 – to find out who is
visiting this year, see #AylesburyStreetlife
8
9
“Memories
are everything
apparently,
and I have only
great ones of
the fabulous
Friars”
A HERITAGE TO BE PROUD OF
David Bowie
Birthplace of the
Paralympic Movement
Friars
The Local Music Club That Rocked The World!
Mark Jordan
Mark Jordan
Dr. Ludwig Guttmann introduced sport as a rehabilitation
method to people with spinal injuries who were patients
at the National Spinal Injuries Unit at Stoke Mandeville
Hospital in Aylesbury. An archery competition for sixteen
disabled athletes was held to coincide with the 1948
London Olympic Games. This was the start of the Stoke
Mandeville Games and the Paralympic Movement was born.
In 1960 the International Stoke Mandeville Games took
place in Rome, the host city of the Olympic Games, setting
a precedent that has continued until today.
The Paralympic Games returned to its birthplace in
2012 for the Flame Lighting Ceremony, starting the 24
hour torch relay that officially opened the London 2012
Paralympic Games.
On 2 September 2016, Aylesbury and Stoke Mandeville
Stadium will once again play host to the Paralympic Flame
Lighting Ceremony for Rio 2016. There are a number of
activities planned to recognise this unique celebration,
which include an afternoon of sports taster sessions
followed by the official flame lighting ceremony at Stoke
Mandeville Stadium and a community event in Vale Park.
There are a range of volunteering opportunities available,
so people can be part of this great event. For more
information visit www.buckslegacy.org
Geoffrey Tyrell
In March 2014, a Heritage Flame Lighting Ceremony
was held at Stoke Mandeville Stadium; the first ever
international leg of a Paralympic Torch Relay.
“(Friars)
is the best
gig in the
country”
Peter Gabriel
Legendary among music fans and artists alike, Friars
Aylesbury is a world famous music club that has been
running in Aylesbury since 1969. With over 93,000
members, it is believed to be the largest music club in
Europe. Having closed in 1984, Friars Aylesbury reopened
in June 2009 to tie in with its fortieth anniversary.
Artists including Queen, Genesis, Blondie and U2
frequented Friars Aylesbury. David Bowie chose Friars
Aylesbury to perform the world debut of two of the
twentieth century’s most iconic albums, ‘Hunky Dory’
and ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders
From Mars’. The opening line of the first song on the Ziggy
album, ‘Five Years’, even references Aylesbury’s Market
Square. For his July 1972 Friars show Bowie flew in 50
American journalists just for this show which put both
Friars and Aylesbury firmly on the cultural world map.
Friars is widely acknowledged as being instrumental in the
success of many of the artists who performed here, and is
fondly remembered as an important stepping stone on the
path to fame.
Aylesbury is proud of its place in rock music history, and
its reputation as a home for genuine music enthusiasts.
As well as being proud of its past, Aylesbury is constantly
looking to the future and supports all live music initiatives
in the town from small pub gigs to concerts at the
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre.
10
11
=Free entry
Things to do
Regular events in Aylesbury
Bucks County Museum
Every Week
Explore displays and exhibitions plus
the Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery
www.buckscountymuseum.org
Vale Park
Aylesbury’s main park boasts ample seating and striking flower
beds, along with a modern fenced play area, a multi games area
suitable for football and basketball, a skate park and
tennis courts. www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/parks
Aylesbury Heritage Walk
A fascinating self-guided walk that gives an insight into the town’s
architectural history. The booklet to accompany the walk costs
just £1 and can be purchased from Bucks County Museum or the
Town Council offices in Church Street.
www.aylesburytowncouncil.gov.uk
Bounce & Rhyme
Every Tuesday & Friday Aylesbury Library 10.30am – 11am
Learn My Way – Free Basic Computer
Training SessionsAylesbury Library
Bookable sessions available on Tuesday & Friday afternoons
Saturday Storytime
Aylesbury Library
Every Saturday 11am
Aylesbury Ducklings
Bucks County Museum
Tuesdays during Bucks term time. Fabulous fun for under 5s.
11am – noon £3 per child.
Regular event
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Live Music The Broad Leys
A modern venue, hosting a range of entertainment from
professional opera, classical and popular music, ballet and theatre
through to community and amateur dramatics
www.atgtickets.com/Aylesbury
Classical Lunchtime concerts
St Mary’s Church
12.45pm £4 (under 19s free)
Last Friday of every month
Every Thursday (except August) Queens Park Arts Centre
Every Month
A fully community based venue, the Queens Park Arts Centre
offers over 60 arts and crafts workshops every week. The relaxed
Limelight Theatre at the centre hosts a range of theatre, comedy
and music. www.qpc.org
Reading GroupAylesbury Library
Odeon Cinema
Alternate Fridays and Tuesdays from 8 April
11am - noon
Poetry Reading Group
First Friday of every month Aylesbury Library
2.30pm
Storytime & Craft
Aylesbury Library
10.15am – 11am
Hosting a range of new releases each week as well as special
screenings www.odeon.co.uk
Aqua Vale
Featuring an eight lane 25 metre competition pool, an indoor
leisure facility with a river ride and interactive flume and a
heated outside pool. There is also a modern gym and fitness suite,
a dance studio, sauna, soft play area and a café.
www.everyoneactive.com
Rogue Leisure
Try out tenpin bowling and indoor karting. The bowling centre
offers 14 lanes of fun for all the family, plus a fully licensed bar
and the Rogue Café serving hot and cold food. The kart track
offers a 300 metre dual-level track, with all the adrenaline- filled
excitement racing just centimetres off the ground can offer!
www.RogueBowling.co.uk www.RogueRacing.co.uk
First Wednesday of every month 2.30pm
Knitting CircleAylesbury Library
Thursdays 14 April, 12 May, 9 June, 14 July, 11 August, 8 September
& 13 October Quiz AfternoonAylesbury Library
Wednesdays 23 March, 27 April, 25 May, 22 June, 22 July,
24 August, 28 September,
26 October
2.30pm
Farmers’ Market
Town Centre
9am - 2pm
Last Tuesday of every month
12
13
March
Crafty Easter Fun Bucks County Museum
29 March to 2 April, 4 to 8 April
Drop in activities £3 per child 10am – noon, 1pm – 3pm
Story Time with Ben and Holly Friars Square Shopping Centre
Wednesday 30 March
Free show at intervals between 11am – 4pm
#AylesburyThursdays
Daredevil Thursday
Thursday 31 March
High Street / Market Square
11am - 3pm
Day of the Dinosaur
Free Comic Book Day Dead Universe Comics
Saturday 7 May
Spring Craft Fair St Mary’s Church
Saturday 7 May 10.30am - 2.30pm
Green Fingers join the
Vintage & Craft Bazaar Market Square
Tuesday 10 May 9am – 3pm
Quiz Night with Fish
& Chip Supper St Mary’s Church
Saturday 7th May 7pm
Tickets £10 Please pre-book 01296 437641 May Makers’ Fair Queens Park Arts Centre
April
Wednesday 6 April
shows at 11am, 1pm and 3pm
May
Friars Square Shopping Centre
#AylesburyThursdays Kids Event Town Centre
Thursday 7 April 11am - 3pm
Coffee Morning –
Author talk by Dinah Latham Aylesbury Library
Thursday 21 April 10.30am – noon
St George’s Day Craft Aylesbury Library
Saturday 23 April 10am – noon
World Book Night Aylesbury Library
Saturday 23 April 10.30am – 2.30pm
Live St George’s Day Music The Broad Leys
Saturday 23 April
St George’s Fun Day &
Scout Parade Market Square
Sunday 24 April 11am – 4pm
Parade at 2.45pm
Saturday 14 May 10am – 4pm
Entry £2 / £1 concessions
Super Hero Fun Run Market Square / Vale Park
Sunday 15 May
Ray Childs Hair & Beauty Official Launch Party
Saturday 28 May Buckingham Street
@raychildsuk1pm
Love Your Local
Market Fortnight Market Square/Town Centre
Tuesday 17 to Tuesday 31 May
The Art Of Islam Festival
Exhibition 26 March to 24 September
Drop-in family activities 31 May to 3 June
See page 7 for further details
Bucks County Museum
Free entry
10am – noon,
1pm – 3pm £3 per child
June
Pirates Fun Day starring Captain Jack Sparrow
Friars Square Shopping Centre
Wednesday 1 June 11am to 3pm free
#AylesburyThursdays Kids Event Town Centre
Thursday 2 June 11am – 3pm
Bucks Open Studios
11 – 26 June
Queens Park Centre & across Bucks
Booklovers join the Market Square
Vintage & Craft Bazaar 9am – 3pm
with music and cake to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday
Tuesday 14 June
Acoustic Open Mic Kingsbury
Sunday 26 June Noon – 2pm
14
15
July
September
Roald Dahl Festival Town Centre
see back page
Saturday 2 July 10am – 3pm for more details
#AylesburyThursdays Kids Event
Town Centre
Thursday 1 September
11am – 3pm
Heritage Flame Celebration
Vale Park Friday 2 September (see page 8)
Aylesbury On Sea Kingsbury
see back page
Sunday 3 July 11am – 4pm
for more details
Heritage Open Days CHAOS Interactive Science Fair Market Square
Sunday 3 July 11am – 4pm
Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 September
Including open buildings, Charter Day celebrations and Heritage Tours. www.heritageopendays.org.uk
Benjamin Britten’s St Mary’s Church
Noye’s Fludde Opera
Tudor Fayre
Thursday 7 & Friday 8 July 5pm (Thurs only) & 7pm
Tickets £5
Sunday 11 September
October
Saturday 16 July 10am - 3pm www.canalrivertrust.org.uk
Summer Reading Challenge Aylesbury Library
Saturday 16 July 10am – 3pm
Thursdays 28 July to 1 September 11am – 3pm
Acoustic Open Mic Kingsbury
Sunday 31 July Noon – 2pm
Footie and Fun In The Park Noon – 4pm
Proms In The Park 7.15pm – 9.30pm
Osiligi Maasai Warriors Troupe St Mary’s Church
7.30pm
Halloween Fun Market Square
Thursday 27 October 3pm – 6.30pm
Wednesday 3 August 11am – 4pm
Church In The Park 10.30am – noon
St Mary’s Church
7pm Thursday 27 October 11am – 3pm
Play In The Park Vale Park
Sunday 28 August
Murder Mystery & Supper
#AylesburyThursdays Kids Event Town Centre
August
Live In The Park Noon – 9.30pm
High Street
11am – 3pm
Saturday 22 October
Tickets £10/£8/£5
#AylesburyThursdays Kids Event Town Centre
Parklife Weekend Vale Park
Wear It Pink
Saturday 1 October
Saturday 29 October Tickets £10, Please pre-book 01296 437641
Marvellous Roald Dahl Activities Bucks County Museum
Weekdays 25 July to 26 August
£3 per child 10am – noon, 1pm – 3pm
Saturday 27 August
Bucks County Museum
11am -4pm
Featuring a wide variety of Tudor themed activities, entertainment,
crafts and games taking place in Bucks County Museum.
Give It A Go Canoeing & Stand Canal Basin
Up Paddleboarding Day
Acoustic Open Mic Kingsbury
Sunday 21 August Noon – 2pm
Town Centre
#AylesburyThursdays
16
17
Contacts
St Mary’s Church
Aylesbury Town Centre Partnership
www.aylesburychurches.org
facebook.com/AylesburyVale
01296 437641
www.aylesburylunchtimemusic.co.uk
Aylesbury Markets (run by AVDC)
Queens Park Arts Centre
facebook.com/AylesburyVale
www.qpc.org
AVDC
Friars Square Shopping Centre
www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk
www.friarssquareshopping.com
facebook.com/AylesburyVale
www.facebook.com/FriarsSquareShoppingCentre
Aylesbury Town Council
Dead Universe Comics
www.aylesburytowncouncil.gov.uk
facebook.com/DeadUniverse.Comics
facebook.com/AylesburyTC
The Broad Leys
Aylesbury Library
www.thebroadleys.co.uk
www.buckscc.gov.uk/libraries
Shoot Pool
0845 230 3232
www.lemonrock.com/shootpool
Bucks County Museum
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
www.buckscountymuseum.org
www.atgtickets.com/Aylesbury
facebook.com/BucksMuseum
Heritage Open Days
www.heritageopendays.org.uk
Take a look at
Aylesbury’s
new website
You’ll find everything you need
to know about Aylesbury town
centre including entertainment,
events, history, culture, gigs,
places to eat and nightlife.
You’ll also find fantastic offers
from town centre businesses.
www.visitaylesbury.co.uk
18
19
Aylesbury’s Giant
Gloriumptious
Weekend
Join us in early July for
two of Aylesbury’s most
popular events – in the same weekend!
Saturday 2 July sees the return of the annual Roald Dahl
Festival, in honour of the local literary legend. In this, Roald
Dahl’s centenary year, the unique festival will be celebrating
one of his best loved books; The BFG! Come along for a
scrumdiddlyumtious, jumpsquiffling day, brimmed full of
colour, noise, activities and entertainment for all the family
to enjoy! Line the streets for the spectacular and colourful
Roald Dahl Parade which starts at 11am.
Watch out for some phizz-whizzing new activities and
splendiferous surprises – find out the latest news at www.
aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/dahl
Don’t miss the Roald Dahl’s Buckinghamshire exhibition
at Bucks County Museum from 2 July to 7 January 2017,
celebrating Roald Dahl’s 100th birthday and his connections
to Bucks.
Aylesbury on Sea will be with us once again on Sunday 3
July bringing an array of traditional seaside fun and games
into Kingsbury. Join in the free activities from 11am until
4pm. This year’s theme is Giants Of The Sea, where amongst
other attractions you can explore the 50ft giant whale that is
beached in the Museum grounds. The seaside wouldn’t be
complete without deckchairs and sand, so there will be
bucket loads of that too. Come and enjoy a GIANT free
family day with all the family.
www.aylesburytowncouncil.gov.uk
Don’t forget the Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery is in the
centre of town, where you can boggle your eyes and
baffle your brain, and let your imagination run wild!
www.buckscountymuseum.org/roalddahl