Upfront Arts Venue

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Upfront Arts Venue

Arts Venue
Gallery
Vegetarian Restaurant & Coffee Shop
Artisan Coffee
Puppet Theatre
Music Venue Two uniquely designed eco-lodges.

Independently owned and run since 1997 by John & Elaine Parkinson

The gallery is located in a beautifully converted 17th-century farm building.

2004 - Upfront Puppet Theatre founded by John Parkinson.

2012 - The purpose-built 138 seat theatre & performance space was built. Upfront Arts Venue is the home of Upfront Puppet Theatre and the workshops of the artist, John Parkinson, who is the co-

founder and owner of the gallery, along with his wife, Elaine. The gallery presents a changing program of exhibitions every six weeks. It is the home of the “Upfront Artists Open Exhibition” which takes place every January and February, exhibiting selected work from Cumbria and beyond. On-site holiday accommodation -
A self-catering holiday cottage. New Build Container House (Almost Finished)
(See Upfront Holidays page for more info)

Access -
Parking is possible outside the main entrance door of the venue. Level smooth access is available to the downstairs areas of the building including the performance space. The mezzanine floor of the gallery & venue is accessed by our disabled access lift. We also have a disabled bathroom and baby changing facility. We are pleased to answer any questions by telephone or e-mail in relation to special dietary requirements or specific access issues. (Currently Closed Due to Covid-19 Restrictions)
Open Daily 10.30am to 4.30pm. (Closed on a Monday unless a Bank Holiday)

15/06/2026

Make the most of the sunshine when you visit with our outdoor seating areas! 🌿

With plenty of outdoor seating available during the summer months, it gives you the perfect spot to enjoy a drink, a bite to eat, or maybe just a coffee in the fresh Cumbrian air ☀️

12/06/2026

A little look around the venue we call home 🎭🌿

Set in the Cumbrian countryside near Penrith, we’re much more than just what meets the eye. From live performances and music events to peaceful gardens, café visits, family-friendly accommodation, and our soon-to-open puppet museum, there’s always something to discover here.

📍 Just outside Penrith
☕ Café, theatre, events & gardens
🎭 Family friendly atmosphere
🌿 Beautiful countryside surroundings

09/06/2026

We’d love to know… what’s your favourite thing about Upfront? 🌿🎭

Is it the theatre shows, the peaceful setting, the live music events, the café, the gardens, or maybe the puppets themselves? We always love hearing what keeps people coming back.

Let us know in the comments what your favourite part of the venue is ✨

04/06/2026

The wisteria is doing its thing again and the venue looks incredible at the moment 🌿☀️

Every year people stop to admire it and we can definitely see why. Between the flowers around the venue, the peaceful gardens and the countryside views we love these upcoming summer months!

A little reminder that it’s not just what’s inside the venue that makes this place so unique ✨

03/06/2026

Alongside theatre, puppetry and family events, we’ve also got a brilliant mix of live music performances taking place throughout the year. From relaxed acoustic evenings to lively performances that fill the venue with atmosphere, the music nights have become such a special part of what we do here. 🎶

If you’ve not joined us for one of our music events yet, this is your sign to come along and experience it for yourself 🎤

28/05/2026

We just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone that’s supported our music events that we hold here at Upfront Arts Venue.

As I mention throughout the video, we’ve achieved something really special with what we can do here in Cumbria and we can’t wait to keep doing more events in and around Dub N Grub in the future! 🎶

25/05/2026

Days like this make us appreciate just how lovely the venue looks in the sun ☀️🌿

With the sunshine out, the whole venue feels even more special! There’s plenty of spots to sit outside with a coffee during your visit too.

If you’ve not visited us on a sunny day yet, this is your sign ✨

23/05/2026

The wonderful story behind our beautiful Wisteria! 🪻

When the weather is like it is this weekend, it gives us even more of a reason to talk about how stunning it looks around the enterance! ☀️

21/05/2026

Great coffee, homemade food, and a cosy atmosphere… what more do you need? ☕🍰

We’d love to welcome you into our café. We are the perfect place for a lovely lunch with family and friends or just a coffee and a cake. There’s always a great selection of fresh food and plenty of seating to unwind after exploring the gallery and museum spaces. It’s the perfect little hidden gem for anyone visiting the area and looking for somewhere different to spend an afternoon.

📍Upfront Arts Venue

19/05/2026

There’s always something to discover in our gallery 🎨✨

From colourful exhibitions and unique local artwork to creative displays you won’t find anywhere else, you could spend hours browsing the walls! It’s also a great chance to support independent artists and discover pieces that really stand out. 🖼️

Address

Nr Hutton In The Forest
Penrith
CA119TG

Telephone

017684 84538

Website

http://www.up-front.com/

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