A breakfast dilemma, weekend plans and a fireworks winner wanted

Hello Cotswolders,

Here’s a look at what’s happening around the Cotswolds this weekend. On Sunday I’m heading north towards Stow and Moreton, starting with breakfast and seeing where we end up. It’s not a part of the Cotswolds I get to very often.

Daylesford Farm Shop and Café is tempting me. I've always thought it looked a little fancy, but perhaps that's a good reason to go and find out for myself. Can someone like me happily pop in for coffee and breakfast? The farm shop and café at Bruern Farms is the other option, so the day may come down to appetite versus curiosity.

Last weekend took me back to more familiar territory. I lived in Tetbury in my early twenties and worked in Malmesbury for a couple of years. Going back years later, I realised how much of both towns I'd never really explored. I had a lovely walk along the river in Malmesbury and stopped for coffee at Jackdaws. There's plenty to share once I've caught up with the writing.

And the pub quiz? We didn't win, but we didn't come last. A good night, followed by a slightly painful Monday morning.

If you've got a favourite breakfast or farm-shop stop around Stow and Moreton, or somewhere you'd hate me to miss, reply and point me towards it. There's still room for a recommendation to change Sunday's plans.

Could our fireworks winner check their inbox?

A quick update on the South Cerney Fireworks tickets. Our first winner already had plans for the night and kindly asked us to redraw, so we've picked another winner and emailed them.

We're still waiting for a reply. If you entered, please check your inbox and spam folder. If we haven't heard back by next Thursday, 15 October, we'll need to draw again.

I'd much rather the next update was that someone has claimed them and is looking forward to a night out.

Christmas at Westonbirt is still up for grabs

Our Christmas at Westonbirt competition is live, and this is a good one to send to a friend.

The winner can choose whichever suits them: a family ticket for two adults and two children aged 3 to 16, or two adult tickets if you fancy a date night. A pre-booked parking space is included either way.

The illuminated trail runs on selected evenings from 27 November to 31 December. The prize covers an available standard or off-peak date and timed entry slot.

If you're already subscribed, you're already entered. Your friends just need to sign up to the free newsletter through the competition page for their chance to win too.

Entries close at 11:59pm on Saturday 31 October, with the winner announced on Thursday 5 November.

Share the competition and see the full terms.

The giveaway is funded by Cotswold Digest and isn't sponsored or endorsed by Forestry England or Westonbirt.

This weekend: 9 to 11 October

Friday

The King's Speech, Barn Theatre, Cirencester

One from last week's October picks reaches opening night this week. The story follows King George VI and his unconventional speech therapist, Lionel Logue, as an unlikely friendship develops under rather extraordinary pressure. It runs until 7 November, so there's time to find a date if this weekend is already spoken for.

Saturday and Sunday

Dear Zoo, The Theatre, Chipping Norton

If you've read the book often enough to know exactly what's hiding behind every flap, here's a chance to let someone else do the storytelling. Puppets, music and audience participation bring Rod Campbell's animals to the stage in a 55-minute show for ages one and over. Saturday performances are at 2pm and 4pm; Sunday at 11am and 2pm.

Cirencester Park Pumpkin Patch and Scarecrow Trail

The pumpkin patch opens at The Old Kennels on Saturday, with the scarecrow trail adding a reason to stay for a wander. It runs from 10 to 31 October, so you can get the pumpkin choosing started this weekend or keep it in reserve for later in the month.

Sunday

Tetbury Wool Fair, Tetbury Goods Shed

Independent yarn makers, spinning demonstrations and a knitters' table for anyone stuck on a project, with sheep, alpacas and silk moths too. You don't have to be halfway through a jumper to find something to look at. Runs from 10am to 4:30pm, with timed morning or afternoon admission. The talk and spinning workshop are separately ticketed.

Six of the Best, Cotswold Playhouse, Stroud

Six plays by local writers share the stage as part of Play on Stroud, starting at 2pm. A chance to try some new writing and support the people making theatre locally. The titles include Jesus in the Fridge and The Gasman Cometh, which give you rather different things to speculate about beforehand.

These are a few picks, not the whole weekend. Browse all events on the website for more ideas and booking details.

Two to plan ahead for

South Cerney Fireworks Spooktacular, Saturday 31 October

Competition or no competition, put the date in the diary if you're planning to go. Gates open at South Cerney Airfield at 3pm, with the main fireworks at 7:40pm. It's a Halloween outing with entertainment around the display, so allow more time than a quick dash in for the fireworks. Advance booking is recommended.

Mark Simmons: Jest to Impress, Tetbury Goods Shed, Friday 6 November

I'm determined to get inside the Goods Shed for a proper nose around, and this might be the show that gets me there. Mark Simmons mixes carefully built one-liners with jokes prompted by suggestions from the audience. It starts at 8pm. Nothing booked on my part yet, but it's firmly on the list.

A little work behind the scenes

I'm trying to get a bit further ahead with where I'm going and what I'm attending. There's a long list of things I want to see. Finding a date when everyone else is free is the hard bit.

I'm also working on a redesign of the website, with much more focus on what's on around the Cotswolds. The aim is to make it easier to find something worth doing, whether you've got a free afternoon or you're planning a few weeks ahead.

I'm aiming to have it ready for 1 November. Between that, the town write-ups and actually getting out to places, there's plenty keeping me busy.

Have a lovely weekend. I'll be spending some of Sunday finding out whether I've had Daylesford all wrong.

Alex and the Cotswold Digest Team

Details listed for information only. Dates and times may change, and ticketed events may sell out. Please check directly with the organiser or venue before travelling.