Good morning, Cheshire - and hello, summer holidays 👋 

Summer holidays are kicking off - and we’ve got your first week sorted. Whether it’s dino encounters, tea with a twist, vintage classics or maize mazes, we’ve scouted the county’s best bits to kick off your summer in style.

In this week’s Cheshire Buzz:

• 🧁 Clint Boon brings rock ’n’ roll to afternoon tea

• 🎪 A campervan festival with axe-throwing & tribute bands

• ⚓ Step back in time at a Victorian canal-lift fair

• 🌽 Pick-your-own fruit, get lost in a maize maze

• 🎭 Open-air Austen and Wonderland in Chester

• 🛶 Nostalgic fun at Nantwich’s agricultural show

• 🍽️ Discover a whimsical foodie escape near Northwich

• 🥾 A secret chasm and misty forest walk on the Cheshire border

Let’s dive in!

🎉 What’s On This Weekend

🚐 Dubbed Out Festival
24-27 Jul, The Royal Cheshire Showground
A family-friendly campervan festival under big top tents, blending live bands (Dodgy, East 17), tribute DJs (Elton John, Kylie, UB40), extreme bike battles, circus acts, axe‑throwing, and soft‑play areas - all set to nostalgic vibes and campervan camping spots.
👉 Details

🐄 Nantwich Show
30 Jul, Reaseheath College, Nantwich
One-day agricultural showcase with livestock, showjumping, artisan food, crafts, trade stands, and entertainment - great for family wanderings and nostalgic fun.
👉 Details

🎶 Castle Park Live
26 Jul, Frodsham
Daytime village fête with tribute-band music, circus workshops, bubbles, comedy and arts & crafts in the scenic Castle Park.
👉 Details

🎭 Pride & Prejudice (Open-Air)
24 Jul-31 Aug, Grosvenor Park, Chester
Step into the elegant world of Jane Austen under summer skies. This beloved adaptation brings wit, romance, and Regency fashion to life amidst the trees and lawns -ideal for date-night lovers or anyone who fancies a bit of timeless charm outdoors.
👉 Details

🎭 Alice in Wonderland (Open-Air)
25 Jul-30 Aug, Grosvenor Park, Chester
A whimsical, immersive twist on Lewis Carroll’s classic: follow the White Rabbit through the lush park, encountering interactive pop-up scenes, mad tea parties, and colorful characters. Perfect for families seeking theatre with a bit of wander and wonder.
👉 Details

🎪 WILD
26 Jul, 4-7pm, Queens Gardens, Warrington
A mesmerising urban-forest dance/circus show exploring humanity’s link with nature through acrobatics and choreography.
👉 Details

🚙 Blakemere Village Car Boot
27 Jul, 7am, Blakemere Village
Browse bargains and treasure finds at this popular community car-boot sale - great for early birds and bargain lovers.
👉 Details

🦖 Dinosaur Adventure Live: The Big Jurassic Storm
29 Jul, Northwich Memorial Court
A roaring, family-friendly spectacle featuring life-sized dinosaurs, fossil hunts, rangers and prehistoric thrills for all ages.
👉 Details

🛶 Victorian Fair: 150 Years of the Anderton Boat Lift
26 Jul, 10-4pm, Anderton Boat Lift, Northwich
Step back in time at this one-day Victorian Fair, marking 150 years of the iconic boat lift. Expect costumed characters, traditional games, music, stalls, canal boat rides and family fun throughout the day.
👉 Details

📌 Quick Bites

🏞️ Moorland Adventure Kids Club - 28 Jul-1 Aug, Tegg’s Nose CP - weekday outdoor fun for 8-16‑year‑olds: orienteering, shelter-building, den-making. 👉 Details

🥾 Open Art Exhibition - ongoing until 31 Aug, Grosvenor Museum, Chester - a feast of contemporary art and local talent. 👉 Details

🫖 Mrs Boon’s Rock ’n’ Roll Tea Party - 27 Jul, 2-5pm at Knutsford Market Hall. Clint Boon (Inspiral Carpets’ co-founder) hosts a rock & roll-themed tea party with live tunes, cakes, vintage vibes and it’s dog-friendly too. 👉 Details

🫖 Local Spotlight: Dormouse Haven - Restaurant & Tea Rooms

Nestled just outside Northwich in Bartington, Dormouse Haven delivers a delightful escape into an Alice-in-Wonderland-inspired world with its whimsical décor, seasonal homemade menus, and charming outdoor seating

This spot offers everything from inventive Afternoon Tea to hearty platters and evening cocktails, making it perfect for an indulgent treat or stylish catch-up.

A recent TripAdvisor reviewer summed it up well:

Particularly loved are their themed Afternoon Teas - Mad Hatter and Cheshire Cat options stand out, while the herbaceous garden setting and friendly service add to the overall escapism. Ideal for couples, groups, or anyone with a love for creativity and great food.

🔗 dormousehaven.co.uk

🔥 Hot & New

🌽 Kenyon Hall Farm: Maize Maze & Pick-Your-Own Adventures - Open daily from 20th July. Get lost in this year’s epic Maize Maze (open from Sat 20 July), packed with family-friendly puzzles, hidden clues, and countryside views. Afterwards, enjoy summer’s sweetest tradition with Pick-Your-Own fruit & veg, from strawberries and raspberries to peas and beans. Farm shop, cafe, and play areas also on-site. 👉 Details

🧘 Mini Mindfulness - Tatton Park (31 Jul) - A sensory walk for families with 3-6 year-olds, with nature-themed mindfulness, collecting natural treasures, and gentle reflections in woodland paths. 👉 Details

🗺️ The War Room Workshop - Tatton Park (31 Jul) - Step into a 1944-style SOE war-room and crack codes, plan missions, and solve puzzles in this immersive WWII-themed workshop for 10 to 14-year‑olds. 👉 Details

🌟 Community Highlights

• Raffaele’s £1M Sandbach expansion underway - The popular Italian restaurant is moving to a new, larger home on Congleton Road, with a £1 million refurbishment set for completion by September. (source)
  

• Alsager Roadworks Kick Off - Cheshire East has begun a major summer resurfacing programme, including Sandbach Road North in Alsager (28 July-31 August), part of a £53 million investment in local transport infrastructure (source)
  

• Volunteer Opportunities Bloom in West Cheshire - CWVA is recruiting for summer roles - from youth mentors in Frodsham to community cafe helpers and virtual buddies for isolated residents. Perfect for anyone wanting to give back locally (details)
  

• Devolution Deal for Cheshire & Warrington Moves Ahead - Government confirms statutory tests passed and paves the way for a Mayoral Combined Authority in early 2026, with elections set for May 2027 (source)

💎 Hidden Gem: The Roaches & Lud’s Church Walk

Near Upper Hulme, Staffordshire / Cheshire Border | 9 Miles | Moderate+

This walk is a true adventure and ideal for families with energetic kids or grown-ups chasing something a little more thrilling than your average ramble. This 9-mile circular route begins at Gradbach, looping through the Black Forest, up to the eerie depths of Lud’s Church, then along the jagged ridge of The Roaches before returning via Gradbach Hill.

Lud’s Church is no ordinary cave - it's a deep, mossy chasm formed by a landslip centuries ago and steeped in folklore. Once a secret place of worship for the 15th-century Lollards (and possibly Robin Hood!), the main chamber is always damp, cool, and atmospheric. The Devil’s Pulpit - a natural rock platform adds to the mystique.

From there, it’s a forest climb up to The Roaches (“les roches” - the rocks), where giant gritstone outcrops scatter the ridge like a playground for climbers and kids alike. Look out for Doxey Pool, rumoured home of a mermaid named Jenny Greenteeth, and stop at the hidden Rockhall Cottage, built right into the cliffside.

There’s a bonus peak too - Gradbach Hill, part of the Peak District 75s. It’s unmarked and pathless but offers that satisfying sense of remote discovery.

⛰️ Dramatic cliffs, secret caves, pagan history, and views for days - this walk delivers something special in every season.

🔗 Walk details & Route

That’s it for this week.

Thanks for reading The Cheshire Buzz! See you next Thursday - same time, same inbox.