Country Life rounds up the best things to see, do and book this weekend: get to know Cecil Beaton, go wildlife watching or get involved in a wine and whisky auction.
Exhibitions
November 18–December 5 ‘Beaton at Brook Street’, Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler Ltd, 39, Brook Street, London W1. Contrasting Beaton’s London home, Pelham Place, with Ashcombe and Reddish, his Wiltshire country houses, plus rare photographs from The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive at Sotheby’s (http://cecilbeatonathome.com)
November 19–December 5 ‘Charles Simpson 2014’, Panter & Hall, 11–12, Pall Mall, London SW1. New works by one of Scotland’s most important landscape painters (020–7399 9999; www.panterandhall.com)
Festivals
November 14–30 Northumberland Music Festival, various venues, Northumberland. Opera from Rossini to Puccini, plus Gilbert & Sullivan, the Military Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and revue (01668 283100; www.northumberlandmusicfestival.com)
November 16 Clovelly Herring Festival, Clovelly, Devon. Cookery demonstrations, live sea shanties, crafts and a ‘Kipperland’ exhibition on the history of the herring (www.clovelly.co.uk)
Fair
November 18–19 The IJF 50th Anniversary Christmas Fair, Newbury Racecourse, Newbury, Berkshire. More than 50 stalls. Tuesday 10am–5pm, Wednesday 9.30am–4pm. Entry £5, supporting The Injured Jockeys Fund (www.injuredjockeys.co.uk)
Family day out
November 15 Winchester Wildlife Watch, Winnall Moors Nature Reserve, Winchester, Hampshire. Wildlife-themed and outdoor activities for children; bring a waterproof coat and wellies. 10am–12pm (winchesterwatch@yahoo.co.uk; www.wildlifetrusts.org)
What to book this weekend
March 12 Scottish Countryside Alliance (SCA) Wine and Whisky Auction, Mansfield Traquair, Edinburgh. Champagne reception and dinner, followed by an auction of rare and interesting wines and whiskies, art and shooting days. Supporting the SCA’s Routes to Rural Employment Initiative. Tickets £125 per head or £1,250 for a table of 10 (07879 772488; www.countryside-alliance.org)
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