For 2024 we will have at least 10 dance venues, one in each of our main festival venues as listed below. At least one will have a large wooden dance floor and all of them will have an alternative undercover location if it is wet. At least four more dance venues are available if we need them.
Bridge Yard: A fabulous position overlooking the Town Bridge and river and with three very popular cafe/ restaurants with indoor and outdoor seating. The Weaving Shed where owners, Richard and Natasha Synan, have established themselves as one of the town’s most popular coffee and eating places. Il Fuime which serves the very best of the Italian regions, all of your favourite dishes and some new twists too.
Our second dance venue in Bridge Yard is outside the new River Spice Indian restaurant which already has a strong following.
Westbury Gardens: Dancing overlooking the river and under the town’s giant trees. It will have wooden dance floor for Appalachian and all forms of clog/tap dancing. This is festival central where you’ll find our Welcome Tent selling programmes and commemorative badges, the Pagan Arts & Crafts Market, The Greatest Little Coffee Box On Earth, a fast food stall and of course a cider and beer tent.
Timbrell’s Yard with its outside seating overlooking the river. This is likley to have a wooden dance floor for Appalachian and all forms of clog/tap dancing. They are a proper pub with the heart of a ‘local’, stocking regional craft beers, West Country ciders and carefully chosen wines. Dog friendly. They serve snacks straight from the kitchen, or you can tuck into the full restaurant menu.
The Swan Hotel: The Swan has recently closed but as it’s one of our most popular venues we are trying to get permission to use the yard for dancing and a pop-up bar.
Lamb Yard: A labyrinth of shops based in and around converted mill buildings in the heart of the town. Dancing will be outside the Mill Cafe and Pablo’s Bistro where they serve expertly prepared delicious meat, fish, vegetarian and vegan Spanish tapas.
The Library Car Park is now the home of our children’s’ Fun Zone and the site of our fun fair. There weil be dancing outside the library all day with a fast food stay to keep you going.
St Margaret’s Hall Car Park: will be the site of our artisan market, a bar and a fast food outlet. The Folk Club stage will be inside the hall.
The Three Horseshoes: Dancing in their garden (right) to a very appreciative audience. All you need to know about the Horseshoes is – “Brilliant pub, great music, great welcome, great atmosphere, great beer”.
Outside Holy Trinity Church: Across the footbridge from the artisan market, overlooking the river and en-route to our Trinity Market and the Wiltshire Music Centre stage in the church.