Step into summer with our vibrant programme at Brewery Arts!
Longer days, lighter evenings and a packed programme of events – summer starts here at Brewery Arts…
From the rich folk harmonies of Ye Vagabonds and the politically charged indie sounds of She Drew The Gun to jazz from Tomorrow’s New Quartet and comedy with Mark Watson, there’s plenty to discover across the month. Cinema highlights include Chicago accompanied live by pianist Jonny Best, alongside LGBTQ+ favourites as part of Cinema Rewind with Kendal Pride Festival. Brewery Arts is also proud to showcase its in-house theatre groups this June as their passion for theatre, creativity and talent culminates in a pre-Pride Aperitif and summer show.
Creative Learning continues with inspiring workshops and performances for all ages, while our Open Exhibition celebrates the incredible talent of local artists across the galleries. And with fresh seasonal dishes, craft drinks and the return of the Vats to the bar, there’s even more reason to settle in and make a night of it.
With a Brewery Arts Membership, you can enjoy discounts and 2-for-1 offers on selected events while supporting our year-round programme of live events, cinema and creative learning.
Live Music
Ye Vagabonds
4 June | 7.30pm | Tickets £22.50, Conc. £20.50 | Malt Room Standing
The Mac Gloinn brothers – Brian and Diarmuid – blend rich harmonies with layered folk instrumentation. They have been described as “being at the fore of a new wave of Irish folk”.
Jazz Club: Tomorrow’s New Quartet
11 June | 7pm | Tickets £17.50*, Conc. £16 | Malt Room Cabaret | Age Guidance 18+
June’s Jazz Club spotlights Tomorrow’s New Quartet, which comprises some of the UK’s most promising young jazz stars: Tom Smith, Sam Watts, Flo Moore and Rod Oughton. Their debut album was named Editor’s Choice by Jazzwise Magazine.
*Brewery Arts Members get 2 for 1
12 June | 7.30pm | Tickets £19.50, Conc. £17.80 | Malt Room Standing
Wirral-born Louisa Roach has shaped She Drew The Gun into a fiercely political and poetic project, blending 80s electronica, hip-hop and scouse psychedelia inspired in part by The Coral and mentor James Skelly.
View all Music here.
Theatre & Dance
Brewery Youth Theatre: Love and Hope
25 June | 7pm | Tickets £8.50, Concs. £7.50 | Theatre
Celebrate the work of the young people from Brewery Youth Theatre, and share the stories they have been exploring this year, each with its own message of love and hope woven within it.
Community Dance Platform
27 June | 7pm | Tickets £8.50, Concs. £7.50 | Theatre
This exciting showcase celebrates a range of styles and creativity from the dance community of Brewery Arts and across the South Lakes.
View all Theatre & Dance here.
Comedy
Mark Watson: Before It Overtakes Us
18 June | 7.30pm | Tickets £25 Extended Theatre Seated | Age Guidance 14+
A chance encounter with a stranger sends him spiralling into big questions about humanity’s uncertain future – alongside more urgent concerns, like the worst word he’s ever said in public and the alarming state of the UK sausage industry.
View all Comedy here.
Spoken Word
Act Your Age: Glide Into Pride
10 June | 7pm | Tickets £12, Concs. £10 | Malt Room Cabaret
An evening of spoken word, poetry and sketches alongside extracts from queer literature, from Oscar Wilde and Quentin Crisp to Kae Tempest. The event also features personal stories from queer Kendal, followed by the chance to dance the night away to your favourite disco classics.
Verbalise: Rowland Crowland
27 June | 7.30pm | Tickets £10.50 | Warehouse Seated
Join us in the Warehouse for our spoken word and open mic night with a guest poet. Rowland’s a Morecambe-based poet known largely for his crazy, streetwise poems which blend the mundane with the spiritual and invariably have an undercurrent of darkness.
View all Spoken Word here.
Cinema
June brings a vibrant programme of cinema, live events and world-class performance to Brewery Arts. Chicago (4 June) arrives accompanied live on a Steinway Piano by acclaimed silent film pianist Jonny Best, bringing fresh energy and atmosphere to the Oscar-winning musical.
Cinema Rewind partners with Kendal Pride Festival this month for a celebratory season of LGBTQ+ classics throughout June, including The Birdcage (2 June), Moonlight (9 June), The Handmaiden (16 June) and Hedwig and the Angry Inch (23 June), each preceded by an LGBTQ-themed short film.
Our Stage on Screen programme continues to bring acclaimed theatre and opera productions to Kendal, including National Theatre Live’s The Playboy of the Western World and Les Liaisons Dangereuses, alongside The Met Opera’s El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego.
Plus, don’t miss Our Land (11 June), a thought-provoking documentary exploring the Right to Roam movement and the ongoing debate around public access to nature. The screening will be followed by a special live Q&A and panel discussion featuring voices from the movement alongside environmental writers and activists.
View all Cinema here.
Creative Learning
At the beginning of the month families are invited to discover the magic of gelli-plate printing during our family workshop, Explore, Play, Print! (6 June). Designed to explore shared creativity in a supportive space, you’ll roll, press and peel to reveal bold colours, surprising textures and one-of-a-kind creations.
Throughout the month, our regular visual art classes continue to welcome new young creatives to our studios. Art Explorers for young people in the home education community offers the chance to get creative in a sociable mixed media art class, and Film Crew offers opportunity for those who want to be in front of the camera or behind it, to learn the skills to create short films and reach an audience.
View all Creative Learning here.
Exhibitions
Have your say in our Open Exhibition! Explore the work on display in our Sugar Store & Foyer Galleries and cast your vote for this year’s People’s Choice Award, an opportunity to celebrate your favourite pieces and support local artists.
For our younger local creatives, submissions are open for the Young Artists Open Exhibition 2026, welcoming budding artists aged 4–18 to explore the theme of Adventure. Submissions close on 26 June, so get creating and submit your artwork now!
View all Exhibitions here.
Food & Drink
Back by popular demand, the Vats have returned to the Brewery Arts Bar – setting the scene for cosy coffee mornings, lively evenings and relaxed gatherings with friends old and new.
Our Bar & Restaurant celebrates the flavours of the Lakes with seasonal menus, craft beers and locally sourced ingredients, alongside fresh additions to the Main Menu and a new Garden Menu designed for sunny days in Kendal’s largest beer garden. Whether you’re dropping in before a show, after a workshop, or simply settling in for a slow morning coffee, Brewery Arts is the perfect place to eat, drink and soak up the atmosphere.
When the sun shines, the beer garden comes into its own, with local craft beers, wines, refreshing soft drinks and non-alcoholic options all ready to enjoy outdoors.
Visit Food & Drink to view the Menu and book a table.
Brewery Social
Throughout June, our Brewery Social events bring even more to the Bar. The Brewery Arts Quiz returns on 17 June, while our bi-weekly Tuesday Social offers a relaxed, collaborative creative evening. Join Jackie, Andy & Friends (2 June) for an informal folk session, and enjoy the rich a cappella harmonies of Close Quarters (16 June) – with plenty of opportunities to join in or simply sit back and listen.
On 3 and 24 June, South Lakes Drinks for Artists, Musicians, Filmmakers and Writers offers a laid-back chance to connect, share ideas and meet fellow creatives.
Visit Brewery Social to find out more.
To become a Brewery Arts Member and save on amazing experiences, click here.
