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Carlisle Newsletter, CA3 8TT, Carlisle (2025)

29/09/2025

The ongoing closure of Carlisle's Sands Centre has been highlighted by The Stage, the UK's leading publication for the performing arts.

It highlighted frustration among performers and industry professionals, with comedian Sarah Millican voicing particular exasperation after her shows were twice cancelled.

"What a faff it's been," she posted on social media. "First of all our shows get cancelled due to weird concrete in the roof. Then we notice that the Sands Centre has started booking again so we get two shows booked in for October. Now they're saying the opening won't be until next year."

Former Sands arts and events manager Jonathan Higgins was quoted expressing concern about further delays as winter approaches. "The real concern is we're about to enter another complicated part of the winter and I'm really worried that we could be in a situation where it all gets knocked back again."

Cumberland Council acknowledged the challenges, with leader Mark Fryer stating that "our project team and contractor has had to face several challenges and the storm in January had a major impact on the completion of the necessary works".

The venue has been closed since 2023 due to dangerous RAAC concrete, with reopening pushed back to early 2026 following Storm Éowyn damage.

28/09/2025

Businesses in Carlisle are rallying behind plans to set up a Business Improvement District (BID) for the city 🙌

A steering group has been working together for months as The Great Border City group to come up with ways to help improve the city’s status and focus on ensuring it is a great place to work and live.

The aim is to improve the city through bolder marketing, by staging activities such as events and festivals, creating shopping and food and drink offers, addressing business park issues, offering support to businesses – on recruitment and retention for example – and providing a voice for businesses.

The Great Border City initiative is an independent group who believe that the city can improve its economic standing, vitality, and vibrancy by working together.

Carlisle United owner Tom Piatak said: “As we’re investing in the football club, it’s important to invest in the city and the community as well. The time is right to invest in Carlisle.

“Let’s not waste this opportunity to make this city grow. I believe it’s the right approach and makes tremendous sense. I support the BID fully.”

More than 340 towns and cities across Britain already have BIDs, including Penrith, where the BID has been a funder and supporter of the hugely popular Winter Droving festival, and other town centre events.

The Great Border City group is currently made up of stakeholders from such businesses as Armstrong Watson, Harrison Northern (Halston Group), West Walls Brewing Co, the University of Cumbria, Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, Tullie, and others.

The Great Border City – Carlisle Business Improvement District launch event takes place on 7 October at Tullie, Carlisle, 5.30pm-7pm

Read more here 📎 https://greatborder.city/a-bid-for-carlisle/

27/09/2025

Today, Tullie opens its doors to Colour: A Season of Shades, Tints and Tones, a major touring exhibition exploring how colour has shaped art, identity, politics and culture across centuries and continents 🎨

Visitors will discover how colour is never just what we see – it is something we feel, celebrate, express, and sometimes fear. From the deep blues of religious iconography to the fiery reds of protest, the exhibition reveals how colour reflects power, prejudice, and passion.

The show brings together works by some of the world’s most celebrated artists. Highlights include Wassily Kandinsky’s Orientalisches woodcut, which links sound and colour; Andy Warhol’s iconic Marilyn Monroe (1967); Roy Lichtenstein’s shimmering Moonscape (1965); and Katsushika Hokusai’s atmospheric Mishima Pass in Kai Province.

For its Carlisle leg, the exhibition will also feature paintings and textiles by master of bold colour Kaffe Fassett, who will visit Tullie in the new year for a special talk.

Beyond the gallery walls, the exhibition explores colour in everyday life – from Cadbury’s purple branding to ancient Bronze Age jewellery, and from the dazzling feathers of hummingbirds to the symbolism of skin tone and identity.

Colour: A Season of Shades, Tints and Tones runs until 25 January 2026 📆

It is included with Tullie annual pass or day ticket; under-18s go free.

See more here 👉 https://tullie.org.uk/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

26/09/2025

A pop-up gallery in Carlisle is open for an extra day this weekend 🖼️

Transition, which brings together 30 local artists working in a variety of media at the offices of Intro at 7 Paternoster Row, finishes on Saturday 27 September.

It has been curated by artist Daniel Ibbotson, as part of his Proseed art collective which fosters and promotes Cumbrian artists, and he has added an additional Funding for Florence One Day Art Exhibition of his own work on Sunday.

It is his final fundraising sale before he heads to the prestigious Florence Biennale next month and he is offering 25 per cent off all the work on display 🙌

The gallery is open from 10am to 4pm tomorrow and Saturday for Transition, and then from 10am to 5pm for Daniel's solo exhibition on Sunday.

21/09/2025

Calling all Carlisle sports clubs... ⚽️🏏

Fibrus Broadband are offering £50,000 to support with equipment, facilities, and training costs through its Play it Forward Fund 🙌

Around 40 organisations have already benefited, including Threlkeld Cricket Club near Keswick, which used funding for junior equipment serving 30 children aged five to 14.

Club treasurer Michael Webster praised the support: "We don't want children not giving cricket a try because their parents can't afford equipment. Having kit available makes a significant difference."

The grant helped purchase bats, stumps, balls, and wicket-keeping gear for players of various sizes, while supporting efforts to attract new members.

Linda McMillan from Fibrus emphasised their commitment to improving children's health and wellbeing through grassroots sport investment.

Applications close at noon on Friday, 3 October 📆

Apply here 📎 https://bit.ly/CumbriaPIF

20/09/2025

A CITY DIVIDED - ugly scenes and arrests at demo

Around 400 people attended demonstrations in the city centre last Saturday with those supporting the anti-immigration Carlisle Action protest far out numbering those supporting Carlisle Against Racisim.

During the tense stand-off we observed:
🔸 The Carlisle Action demo was dominated by a group of men who chanted "Shove your refugees up your arse" and other anti- immigration slogans.
🔸 Personal abuse and anti-trans comments were also shouted at one woman including "She's going to cry in a minute" and "What are you?"
🔸 The police failed to enforce their plan to keep the demonstrations well apart. Carlisle Action were not confined to the Greenmarket area they had been allocated and protesters faced each other around the Market Cross.
🔸 A scuffle leading to three arrests took place when Carlisle Against Racism were preparing to leave the area and a man ran over from the other protest.

We took time to speak to many people attending the Carlisle Action protest to find out why they were protesting. They were all at pains to say they were not racist and had no issues will legal immigration. Some endorsed conspiracies about rapes going unreported in Carlisle and others had more basic concerns such as housing.

We also spoke to Carlisle Action organiser Chris Allen (pictured above, holding a megaphone) who said he was pleased with the turnout and to get across the message that "we want to be heard".

He said: "We are sick and tired of being cast aside as though the natives of this country don't have a valid opinion. We want to be at the front of the queue not the back.

"If there is British people that need help we should come first. I want to close the borders now."

Describing himself as a veteran and somebody who is married to "a so-called brown person", Mr Allen said he wanted to see all asylum seekers in Cumbria "incarcerated" and then "deported to their country of origin".

Challenged that this would send Afghan women back to the Taliban, Mr Allen said: "Ninety per cent of them are men and can go home. Women and children? Fair enough, we'll look into them on an individual basis."

"Ukrainians are more than welcome - they are from our continent," he added.

Asked why he had given a megaphone to people who shouted "Stick your refugees up your arse", Mr Allen said: "Every side has its bad apples."

A Carlisle Against Racism spokesperson said: “Speakers from trade unions, parties and community groups at our rally offered positive solutions to the real issues facing working class people, summed up by our motto “Jobs, homes & services – not racism”. But all the racists had to offer was bigotry and hatred, shouting obscenities and insults.

“Carlisle Action clearly broke the terms of the Section 14 of the Public Order Act which was in place, and which stipulated that they must remain in the Greenmarket area.”

19/09/2025

A pop-up gallery in Carlisle is giving local artists the chance to show their work to a wider audience 🙌🎨

📆 Transition has its opening tonight, Friday 19 September, at the offices of Intro on Paternoster Row and then runs until Saturday 27 September.

It has been curated by artist Daniel Ibbotson, as part of his Proseed art collective which fosters and promotes Cumbrian artists.

For Transition, he has brought together 30 artists working in a variety of media, from painting to sculpture to printmaking, all of whom are from the county apart from a few from the North East.

The time of year, as we move from summer to autumn, and Daniel's search for new creatives, inspired the title

"I've got new artists who I haven't used before. I thought, get some new blood in, freshen it up a bit," he said.

The works are for sale, Daniel's last such sale before he heads to the prestigious Florence Biennale next month where he will be exhibited alongside dozens of artists including the filmmaker Tim Burton who is receiving a lifetime achievement award.

He said: "It's a chance to see some artists who haven't displayed in Carlisle before, and some different types of work, a lot of it quite abstract, but there are traditional styles as well."

Tonight, the opening will run from 6pm to 9pm at 7 Paternoster Row and then the gallery is open from 10am to 4pm daily.

All welcome.

14/09/2025

Take the chance to see work by the next generation of student artists from the University of Cumbria which opened last week 🎨

Echoes – MA Creative Practice Final Exhibition 2025 runs until next Friday, 19 September, at the Vallum Gallery in the Brampton Road Campus, Carlisle 📍

It the final exhibition of the University of Cumbria’s MA Creative Practice cohort, showcasing the work of eight emerging artists across a wide range of disciplines and mediums, including illustration, ceramics, photography, sound art, fashion, poetry, and interdisciplinary practices. The show reflects a year of in-depth research, creative experimentation, and professional development, with each artist exploring personal and global themes through their chosen medium. From horror illustration and sculptural fashion to environmental soundscapes and poetic responses to history, Echoes offers a diverse and thought-provoking insight into contemporary creative practice.

The artists are Sophie Atkinson (book illustration); Kara Ashurst (interdisciplinary artist); Juliet Fossey (poet and visual artist); Jessica Jenkinson (interdisciplinary artist): Ryan Yare (composer and interdisciplinary artist, pictured above); Jennifer Barlow (ceramicist); Reuben Hibbert (filmmaker); and Ian Tisdale (comics/games design).

You can explore the exhibition, meet the artists, and browse original artworks, prints, and products available for sale.

📆 Open Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm and entry is free.

13/09/2025

Rival demonstrators are gathering in the city centre today

13/09/2025

Good luck to artist Jess Autumn Bell on her new venture, The Mush-Room which opened at Unit 25 in The Market Hall Carlisle last Saturday 🍄

It offers preloved clothing, homeware, and local artwork with a successful launch day 10% discount.

Owner Jess reported strong opening sales, saying "everyone sold at least one thing and we had loads of people come to support us" The store features work by local artists including Jane Pennington and Dani Munz, plus mystery trinket bags and hidden discount vouchers throughout the Market Hall.

📆 Open Wednesday to Saturday from 9am, with December expansion planned.

Follow .room on Instagram for updates 📲

12/09/2025

Anti-immigration protestors are planning a demonstration in Carlisle city centre tomorrow.

It has been timed to coincide with the a day of national day of action called for by far-right anti-Islam activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson.

Facebook groups such as Enough is Enough Carlisle and Carlisle Action have been active in recent week trying to drum up support for a protest in Carlisle and say they have liaised with Cumbria Police to ensure a peaceful demonstration.

Carlisle Action has more than 3,000 followers on Facebook and Enough is Enough has over 1,000.

Cumbria's police commissioner David Allen recently criticised the Enough is Enough group for spreading false information about a supposed incident in which police were said to be pursuing a knife attacker in Denton Holme.

He described it as "a bare-faced lie with the only intention being to cause racial hatred and unrest".

A counter demonstration is being organised by Carlisle Against Racism at the Market Cross between 12pm and 2pm.

Brent Kennedy, secretary of Carlisle Against Racism, said the group would be holding a public rally with short speeches and music, focusing on the message 'For jobs, homes and services – not racism'.

He added: "This will counter the attempt by a local group with far-right links to sow division among working class people by spreading deliberate disinformation and myths about migrant workers and asylum seekers."

Cumbria police said they had meetings scheduled tomorrow to liaise with both groups.

08/09/2025

This year's fireshow will have a maritime theme, Cumberland Council has announced 🎇

The free family event will return to Bitts Park and feature over 2,000 fireworks synchronised to music.

📆 Saturday, 1 November
🕐 Starting at 6:30pm

Expected to draw more than 35,000 attendees, this marks the 36th year for the region's largest event, organised alongside Merlin Fireworks Ltd.

The extended programme includes a fairground funfair in Castle car park during October half term, plus food and family entertainment on Fireshow day from 5-8:30pm. A Taste Cumbria producers' market will operate in Cathedral grounds throughout the weekend (November 1-2).

Carlisle Newsletter

29/09/2025

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27/09/2025

26/09/2025

21/09/2025

20/09/2025

19/09/2025

14/09/2025

13/09/2025

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