Chichester BID

The Selsey Tramway Exhibition at The Novium Museum
2024-07-30 10:00 - 2025-09-02 16:30 UTC | Novium Musuem, 1 Tower Street, Chichester, PO19 1QH, United Kingdom
This exhibition recounts the fascinating but ill-fated story of Selsey Tramway.
The exhibition recounts how a railway line was proposed to link the then remote and isolated village of Selsey with Chichester. By August 1897, the Selsey Tramway was born, operated by The Hundred of Manhood and Selsey Tramway Company.

Chichester950 | Religion, Rebellion & Reformation
2025-02-14 09:00 - 2025-11-01 17:00 | Chichester Cathedral, West Street, Chichester, PO19 1PX
An exhibition sharing the story of the Christian faith in Sussex, revealed through people, events and objects, from 1075 to the present day.

To mark our 950th anniversary, we are delighted to present Religion, Rebellion & Reformation, an exhibition sharing the story of the Christian faith in Sussex, revealed through people, events and treasures, from 1075 to the present day.
The exhibition, which runs from 14th February – 15th November 2025, features fascinating artefacts from across the Diocese of Chichester, spanning East and West Sussex. Each object reveals remarkable moments and people from history.
Highlights include:

Bejewelled rings and intricately decorated staffs and croziers owned and worn by the influential bishops of the Middle Ages.
Comparing a delicate bronze Medieval crucifix, unearthed in a churchyard in Coombes, with a simple wooden cross fashioned from duck board by a WWI soldier in the trenches.
A pocket-sized Bible donated by the Sussex Regiment, containing a pressed flower from Macedonia, where its owner served on the front line.
The inspiring story of a group of wealthy and well-connected women who defied societal norms to help establish the first Anglican sisterhood, The Society of St Margaret, in 1854. Read their journals to explore how their tireless work brought lifesaving care to the sick and destitute in East Grinstead and beyond.
Meeting Reginald Peacock, a Bishop of Chichester and the first theologian to write in English—a bold act that ultimately led to his condemnation as a heretic.

These and many other fascinating artefacts will allow visitors to discover nine centuries of hidden histories and to reflect on the enduring role of faith during times of hardship and change.
Religion, Rebellion & Reformation has been curated by the Cathedral’s Canon Treasurer, the Reverend Canon Vanessa Baron, Visitor Experience Manager Rebecca Lewry-Gray, and designed by Chichester-based design team StudioMoo.

Wilfrid the Seal Trail at Chichester Cathedral
2025-04-07 09:00 - 2025-11-15 17:00 | Chichester Cathedral, West Street, Chichester, PO19 1PX
Inspired by St. Wilfrid’s historic journey from Selsey to Chichester, Wilfrid will lead young explorers on an adventure through the Cathedral, uncovering treasures and fascinating history.
Families are invited to seek out artefacts, such as flowers pressed by a soldier between the pages of a Bible in the trenches of WWI and 800-year-old rings worn by Bishops during the 12th century. Led by Wilfrid the Seal, children and their adults will delight in uncovering the rich and vibrant tales behind these historic items.
Ideal for all ages, for younger children there is an eye spy game, and everyone will enjoy making (and eating) the 18th century rice pudding recipe once back home.
Once you’ve completed your trail don’t forget to head to our shop or speak to a member of staff to retrieve your sticker prize!
The trail can be collected from the Visitors’ Desk or at points around the Cathedral and will be running from 7th April – 15th November 2025.

Seeing Each Other: Portraits of Artists at Pallant House Gallery
2025-05-17 10:00 - 2025-11-02 17:00 | Pallant House Gallery, 9 North Pallant, Chichester, PO19 1TJ
Discover the relationships that shaped the last 120 years of British Art in this remarkable portrait exhibition.

This major exhibition brings together over 150 works that explore artistic relationships, identity, and mutual influence in modern and contemporary British art. Spanning 125 years, it showcases paintings, prints, drawings, photography, sculpture, and installations that capture the distinctive gaze between creative peers.
Featuring over 80 artists including Lucian Freud, Lubaina Himid, David Hockney, Lee Miller, Eric Ravilious, Paula Rego and many more, the exhibition unveils friendships and emulation, as well as homages to earlier artists, through intimate portrayals.
From rare portraits of celebrated figures to new commissions, discover connections that have shaped British art and new perspectives on artistic circles, from the Bloomsbury Group to the Young British Artists.

Hand-Made at Pallant House Gallery
2025-06-13 10:00 - 2025-11-01 17:00 | Pallant House Gallery, 9 North Pallant, Chichester, PO19 1TJ
Inspired by Seeing Each Other: Portraits of Artists, artists in the Gallery’s Community Programme have reimagined their own self-portraits.

Now in its 23rd year, Pallant House Gallery’s Community Programme continues to thrive. This season, visitors are able to discover more about the people who are part of this pioneering initiative through Hand-Made, a collection of 120 photographic portraits. In recent years, the Community Programme has focused on creating exhibitions that display artworks created by its members, however this year we highlight its collaborative nature. The close-up photos of hands showcase our inclusive and creative community of artists.
Hand-Made takes inspiration from artworks displayed in Seeing Each Other: Portraits of Artists; in particular a photograph by Snowdon of sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi’s worn hands taken in 1988. As a collection of individual portraits, Hand-Made presents hands that are used for creating, caring, holding, protecting and living. Hands are both intimate and relatively anonymous and, when presented as a set of photographs, they symbolise the power of a shared experience. This collective artwork reflects how the Community Programme is unique in how it brings people together from different walks of life and experiences; the common thread being a shared interest in the arts.
120 artists were involved in the creation of Hand-Made. Captured by photographer Tom Langford, participants were given autonomy to decide how to place their hands and if they wanted to hold an object. For many it was a new experience, and certainly a role reversal to be the primary subject of a portrait. A number of them chose to include art materials and artwork in their portraits to identify their own practice and share their experience of being a member of the group.

Hurrah for Shippam's at The Novium Museum
2025-07-12 10:00 - 2026-02-28 16:00 | Novium Musuem, 1 Tower Street, Chichester, PO19 1QH, United Kingdom
Shippam’s: A Chichester Brand
Admission is free, with donations welcome.
Behind every jar of potted paste was a person, a story – and a city. This summer, one of Chichester’s most iconic names steps back into the spotlight in a brand new exhibition exploring the history, impact, and legacy of Shippam’s.
From humble beginnings in 1786, Shippam’s grew from a family grocer into a nationally recognised food manufacturer – all while remaining proudly rooted in Chichester. Best known for their meat and fish pastes, the company was a household name for generations. But their story goes far beyond the contents of a jar.
This exhibition brings the Shippam’s story to life through rarely-seen photographs, quirky adverts, colourful packaging and real objects from life on the factory floor. You’ll hear from the people who worked the lines, packed the jars and operated the switchboards – their voices captured through brand new oral histories. Visitors can even explore archaeological finds from the old East Walls factory site.

Chichester950 Summer Trail
2025-07-22 - 2025-08-31 | Chichester City Centre
A new summer sculpture trail has launched in Chichester city centre with a code breaking twist. The Chichester950 Code Breaker Trail invites families, locals and visitors to become history detectives, uncovering historic facts while exploring eight striking sculptures across the city.
Created to celebrate Chichester Cathedral’s 950th anniversary, the trail has been designed and built by students from Chichester College, who are also marking their 60th anniversary this year. Each sculpture is inspired by the symbols featured in the Chichester950 anniversary branding.
How to take part:
Download the map below and follow the trail to discover a letter at each of the eight locations. Once all eight letters have been found, you can use the trail’s code breaker to reveal a mystery word.
Then just snap a picture of the entry page of your trail with the mystery word and email it to office@chichesterbid.co.uk by 31 August 2025. The lucky winner will be chosen at random and notified via email. Good luck!
The trail is free to explore and runs until Monday 1 September 2025.
Locations:
Chichester College (2 sculptures)
Chichester Cathedral, West Entrance
Canon Lane, off South Street
Chichester Library, off West Street
St Martin’s Garden (2 sculptures)
Fernleigh, North Street
Prizes:
All correct entries will be entered into a prize draw to win an amazing hamper full of treats and goodies for all members of the family. Prizes have been kindly donated by local businesses including:
• £100 voucher for The Ivy
• £10 voucher for Robin’s Nest
• Stationary from Card Factory
• Goodie bag from Costa Coffee
• Shampoo and finish at Creations
• Fitness watch and silver frame from Whitbys
• 2 pizzas and 2 milkshakes from Shake a Delic
Download the trail to get started…
Click the image to download the trail map.

Chichester International Film Festival
2025-08-08 - 2025-08-24 | Chichester Cinema at New Park Centre, New Park Road, Chichester, PO19 7XY
Chichester’s annual Film Festival run by the Chichester Cinema at New Park includes exciting a fortnight-long range of film premieres, previews, documentaries, music events, silent cinema and retrospectives of the films of David Lynch, Kate Winslet, Jack Lemmon plus a celebration of Country Music on Film, Indian Cinema beyond Hollywood and Jane Austen adaptations.
With talks and events and so much more, visit chichesterfilmfestival.co.uk for further details or the cinema’s website at chichestercinema.org

Quiz Night at The Hole in the Wall
2025-08-17 19:30 | The Hole in the Wall, 1 St Martins Street, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1NP
Join The Hole in the Wall every Sunday* for their Quiz Night.
Fantastic prizes to be won for 1st and 2nd place winners.
£2 entry per person.
From 7.30pm.
Call or pop in to book your table.
*except Bank Holidays.
