Culture Alfresco at The Henley Festival (6-10 July)

Last chance to see Alexandra Burke, Rumer and Blake live on the floating stage

-      Headliners: Tom Jones, Jools Holland, Alexandra Burke, Rumer, Tasmin Little with the BBC Concert Orchestra and ABBA Symphonic

-      Celebrity chefs Michel Roux Jr and Heston Blumenthal

-      64 legendary acts – 5 art installations over 5 Nights for as little as £35 per head

-      IMAGES: http://bit.ly/iGDdPf <http://bit.ly/iGDdPf>


Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. Legendary Welsh singer Tom Jones opens this year’s unmissable Henley Festival. Now in it’s 29th Year, the festival is the UK’s best summer party - a five night, star-studded, strictly black tie event on the banks of the river Thames in the beautiful town of Henley-on-Thames. Tom Jones and the other headline acts, including Jools Holland, Alexandra Burke, Rumer, Classical Brit Award winner Tasmin Little with the BBC Concert Orchestra, and ABBA Symphonic will entertain fans from a floating stage on the river, against the serene backdrop of the Oxfordshire countryside.

The Festival also features a unique selling-arts programme, using museum-style ‘pop up’ galleries featuring 2 bronze nudes by the father of modern sculpture Auguste Rodin, six monumental sculptures by Salvador Dali, new pieces by Pop-Art icon Sir Peter Blake, classics by 20th century painter John Piper, a life size bronze elephant by contemporary sculptor Sebastian Wylder and a new recent body of work by Rolf Harris, a local resident. Festival-goers will have a one-off chance to buy some of the works exhibited, including Dali’s iconic six-metre high showpiece, ‘Alice in Wonderland’ for a cool £1.5m, delivery included.  Alternatively pick up one of his smaller sculptures for £460,000 each - or something more affordable like a print for a less wallet draining £100.

The riverside setting provides an intimate environment for festival-goers to experience magical summer nights, filled with music, art and fine dining. Watch dazzling firework displays, acts from the world of jazz, opera, pop, comedy and theatre, from the UK and abroad, and then follow the revellers to Chinawhite Club – NEW FOR 2011 – and party late into the night. The Roving Company of Eccentrica will entertain guests with roving street cabaret as they wander through the festival’s incredible art galleries and sculpture lawns.

Renowned for it’s world-class dining, the Henley Festival doesn’t disappoint this year with legendary chefs Albert and Michel Roux Jr hosting the Roux at the Riverside restaurant.  The father and son team will be offering classical French cuisine (think snails and steak tartare) in the quintessentially English lawn tent, which will house their elegant Riverside Restaurant (from £110 per head for three courses).

Culture seekers who prefer informal dining can opt for the Terrace Restaurant, Café du Soir or Heston Blumenthal’s Hinds Head at Henley, serving venison burgers and chips made famous at his historical 15th century Hinds Head pub in Bray, which has attracted international accolades.

All proceeds from the Henley Festival go to local charities, distributed by the festival’s parent charity; the Henley Festival Trust. This year’s recipients include Headway (a brain injuries charity) and the Henley Festival Orchestra – a youth orchestra providing instruments, and music tuition to 50 young musicians from the region who might not otherwise be able to afford it.

‘There’s nothing like the Henley Festival. The beautiful setting and the intimate performances make it the best summer party you can imagine,’ says Tom Jones.


‘This is a festival both for the connoisseur and the party-goer. International performers combine with a jewel box of spectacular cabaret, art exhibitions and world-class cuisine, spread across five days in a magical location on the banks of the Thames.’ says Stewart Collins, Artistic Director  

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