We’re having a splendid summer, and we hope you are too. Balmy days, long warm evenings with a glass of rose in the garden – and just enough rain to ensure we’ve still got something to grumble about!
We think this is what summer’s all about and in celebration of all the good things in life, we hope you will join us for a four-day festival over the August bank holiday weekend. After all the fun of last year, Milk Fest is back and better than ever! Launching on Friday 28 August and carrying on all the way through to Monday 31 August, we can promise a feast of fun for the whole family.
We’ve put together a programme that showcases the cream of Kent, with music from the best local bands and fabulous food and drink from our favourite suppliers. We’ve even crafted a brand new cask-conditioned bitter to mark the occasion, with some help from our friends at the Old Dairy Brewery. This ‘Full Fat Festival Top’ will be on draught all weekend at just a wee £3 a pint, so make sure you sample a glass… and then maybe another!
The Milk House is fortunate to be part of a wonderful local community, so we’ll be raising money all weekend for Sissinghurst village organisations including the St George’s Institute, with proceeds going towards our new village hall.
We can’t wait to welcome friends old and new to the pub for a party in true Sissinghurst style!
FRIDAY 28 AUGUST
PICCOLO PIZZA & TWILIGHT TUNES
Milk Fest kicks off at 6pm on FRIDAY night with some very special ‘piccolo’ pizza portions – bite-sized samples from our classic selection, from the Plucky Hen to the Happy Piggy. You can then choose an Italian drink to pair with your choices – Peroni, Prosecco, Pinot Grigio or Pelligrino…. As the sun sets over the Terrace, there’ll be music from singer/songwriter Tom Harvey, followed by some rollicking blues from The Black Sheep trio. A perfect start to your long weekend!
SATURDAY 29 AUGUST
FAMILY BBQ & BIG TOP
Roll up, roll up on SATURDAY with the whole family – because the big top’s coming to Sissinghurst! The circus swings into town at 1pm, with acrobats, stilt walkers, jugglers and more. Not your thing? Well don’t worry – we’ve got plenty of alternative entertainment lined up, including a bouncy castle, face painting and DIY sundaes before settling the kids down for a movie and popcorn on comfy cushions in the bar.
If that all leaves you feeling peckish, tuck into chargrilled treats from the full-fat festival BBQ, which will take centre stage on the Terrace from midday to 9pm. There’ll be a feast for the ears, too, with the mellow acoustics of Sam Easton, Jemima & Will and Freddy Green, before The Hotelles rock us into the evening!
SUNDAY 30 AUGUST
LOCAL FODDER FAIR
Festival fever continues on SUNDAY with a local fodder fair showcasing our favourite TMH suppliers. Sample some of the fine Kent produce featured on our seasonal menus from Kingcott Cheese, Moons Green Charcuterie, Berry & Shrub, Claire’s Bread and Chegworth Valley – which happens to be complemented nicely by cider from Kentish Pip, Turners Cider and Gibbet Oak. The Old Dairy Brewery will be serving up pints of our exclusive Full Fat Festival Top, brewed specially for us, or you can join the ‘gin crowd’ headed up by Anno Gin! What better way to while away your Sunday?
Running alongside our foodie fair, there’ll be performances from the fleet-fingered Ramblin’ Rags, dynamic duo Toby & Will and the sultry tones of Sorrel Nation, with Dorey the Wise bringing the night to an exuberant conclusion.
MONDAY 31 AUGUST
SISSINGHURST FETE THEN DANCE TIL LATE
It’s not over yet! On Monday, you can’t miss the Sissinghurst Village Fete, one of Kent’s most glorious summer events, combined with the hotly-anticipated dog show (go Polly, our not so pint-sized pub puppy!) We’ll be there, pulling pints from the ‘pop-up’ Hopper Hut bar. And at the end of the fete… we’ll be keeping the party spirit alive back at the pub, with Happy Hour from 5–7pm where you will hear a soulful set by Nick John Wilson, followed by the Devil’s Cut Combo who’ll be performing their rockin’ combinations of early 50s, R&B, Blues and Boogie Woogie. Join us for the bank holiday’s last hurrah – and dance your socks off because summer comes but once a year!
