Upfront Arts Venue

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)

Tomorrow (27th August) is our final 11am showing of our very own Hansel & Gretel Puppet Theatre production. After tomorr...
26/08/2026

Tomorrow (27th August) is our final 11am showing of our very own Hansel & Gretel Puppet Theatre production. After tomorrow we’ve only got 3 more 3pm shows available on the 28th, 29th and 31st respectively! Please head over to our website for ticket information and come down to Upfront for something a bit different towards the end of the Summer Holidays ☀️🎭

25/08/2026

Our next puppet showing of Hansel & Gretel is on tomorrow at 3pm (Wednesday 26th August). We’re into the final 5 days of the show as the summer holidays approaches the end! Tickets are available through the website 🎟️

23/08/2026

Our Hansel and Gretel Puppet Theatre production is entering the final 8 days! 🗓️

We’ve got one more 11am showing on the 27th August and then 3pm showings on 23rd (TODAY), 26th, 28th, 29th and the final show on the 31st. Head over to our website to find out more booking information 🔗

23/08/2026

Showing today at 3pm !!

20/08/2026

This week we have performances of Hansel & Gretel today at 11am, tomorrow at 3pm and Sunday 3pm.

Also the newly opened museum of puppetry is now available to view at the same time. So why not make a day of it at Upfront Puppet Theatre / Upfront Arts Venue

Tickets can be booked via the link here
www.ticketsource.com/upfrontartslimited

18/08/2026

Bookmark this for your next trip to the Lake District! 🔖

We’ve got plenty to do on site at Upfront from our shop and gallery that’s filled with local produce and artwork to our very own puppet museum filled with puppets from all around the world 🗺️

Located only 10 minutes from Penrith! 📍

16/08/2026

Come and make some lunch with us 🌿🍴

A little look behind the scenes in the Upfront kitchen. From fresh, colourful lunches to homemade favourites and something sweet afterwards, our café is a big part of what we do.

If you’re nearby, come in and see what we’ve got on today. ☕️

British summer means you can have sunshine, rain and clouds all in the same afternoon, so having an all weather plan is ...
15/08/2026

British summer means you can have sunshine, rain and clouds all in the same afternoon, so having an all weather plan is always a win ☔🌿

We’re a great destination for summer days near Penrith. You can come for a puppet show, have lunch or a cake in the café, explore the venue and enjoy a day out that does not rely on perfect weather. We’re a family run business, creative and full of little things to look at, which makes it ideal for holiday makers, local families and anyone looking for something indoors and outdoors this summer.

Some more wonderful photos of our museum opening! 📸The puppet museum is for all ages and is a perfect day out regardless...
13/08/2026

Some more wonderful photos of our museum opening! 📸

The puppet museum is for all ages and is a perfect day out regardless of the weather. We’re located just 10 minutes from Penrith and only 25 minutes from Keswick! Not only can you explore the puppet museum but we’ve also got a café on site, a shop and puppet shows running throughout the summer!

Check out our website for more information:
🔗 https://up-front.com

A couple more pictures from inside our brand new puppet museum! 📸If you’re looking for a day out in the Lake District th...
12/08/2026

A couple more pictures from inside our brand new puppet museum! 📸

If you’re looking for a day out in the Lake District this summer that’s a bit different to what’s on offer in the towns then head over to us and have a look around. We’ve also got our puppet theatre production of Hansel & Gretel running throughout the summer holidays so you may even catch a show while you’re here. Please check our website for the breakdown of dates and times!

Address

Nr Hutton In The Forest
Penrith
CA119TG

Telephone

017684 84538

Website

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