Press Release: Kirkgate saves Christmas for Carlisle schoolchildren!

Kirkgate saves Christmas for Carlisle schoolchildren!School children in Carlisle will enjoy their annual helping of Christmascheer despite missing out on a trip to the city’s pantomime – thanks toCockermouth’s Kirkgate Centre! This year’s panto at the Sands Centre had to be cancelled after thediscovery of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in the roofof the venue’s events space. However, the Kirkgate …

Press Release: Discovering the history and heritage of Wigton and its people

NEWS RELEASE Immediate: December 1, 2023 A unique project that celebrates Cumbria’s diverse heritage by capturing personal experiences through a series of oral history workshops arrives in Wigton next week. Called In My Shoes, a series of events featuring storytelling and performances is being held in community centres across the region aimed at inspiring people to come forward and share …

Press Release: Kirkgate Arts Awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service

NEWS RELEASE Immediate: November 14, 2023 The Kirkgate Arts and Heritage Group in Cockermouth has been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK. The prestigious award, equivalent to the MBE, has been made in recognition of the exceptional work volunteers do from their base at the town’s Kirkgate Centre for the …

Press Release: New exhibition highlights Cockermouth’s shoemaking heritage

PRESS RELEASE 26th October 2023 An exhibition telling the story of how boots, shoes and clogs were made in Cockermouth for several hundred years opens at the town’s Kirkgate Centre next week. Dead animals, dog and pigeon poo, and even the bark from oak trees were all once used in the shoemaking process! The exhibition reveals the history of making …

Press Release: An “Absolutely Fabulous” Pink October line-up at Kirkgate

NEWS RELEASE Immediate: October 3, 2023 An ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ Pink October line-up at Kirkgate How much pink can one town take? Cockermouth’s entertainment venue the Kirkgate Centre has a run of absolutely fabulous girlie fashion, glamour and fun events lined up from Saturday, 7 October. Cockermouth’s legendary pre-loved fashion shopping experience Cockfrock returns on Saturday and Sunday (7 and 8 …

Press Release: A Kirkgate Big Weekend for Food Festival

NEWS RELEASE Cockermouth entertainment venue The Kirkgate Centre has lined up a weekend of big-hitting shows as part of the town’s Taste Cumbria food festival on 23 and 24 September. Headlining on Saturday 23 September is comedy favourite John Lebbon joined by Irish comedian Kieran Lawless, hailed by reviewers as “hilarious self-deprecating humour from a man desperately trying to be …

Press Release: Comedy Alive in Cockermouth

NEWS RELEASE Immediate: January 23, 2023 Comedy Alive in Cockermouth A popular comedy actor and comedian from the award-winning television series Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights is set to take to the stage at Cockermouth’s Kirkgate Centre on Saturday, January 28. Archie Kelly, best known for his comic portrayal of Kenny “Dalglish” Senior in Phoenix Nights, is top of the bill …

Kirkgate Arts Out West wins major grant

Cockermouth charity Kirkgate Arts and Heritage has won a major 3-year grant from Arts Council England to support its work in small community venues throughout West Cumbria. Arts Out West, which the charity runs with the help of volunteers at over 20 West Cumbrian village halls, community centres, libraries and schools, has been chosen as one of the Arts Council’s …

Kirkgate Exhibition Tells Fascinating Story of Strawberry How

A new exhibition opening in Cockermouth next week (October 26th) relates the fascinating history of the Strawberry How site, a location well-known to generations of the town’s schoolchildren. The Story of Strawberry How is being presented by Kirkgate Arts and Heritage at the town’s Kirkgate Centre from Wednesday, October 26 to Sunday, October 30 (11am to 4pm daily, closing early …