TOWNSPOTLIGHT
Spotlight on Orpington cont .
The Big O Festival
Light Up Orpington Priory Live 2015
Hisar Meze Bar With live music every Friday and Saturday night , authentic Turkish cuisine , and friendly staff who make you feel like one of the family , Hisar Meze Bar is the place to go when you want good company and great food . The menu includes items such as dolma ( vine leaves stuffed with minced lamb , rice , vegetables and herbs and spices ), chicken beyti ( tortilla bread with minced chicken , red and green pepper , chopped mushroom , garlic , parsley and herbs , served with a helping of fresh yogurt , mixed salad and bulgur wheat ) and Sicilian swordfish .
One Inn The Wood This gorgeous micropub offers real ale , Chapel Down wine , Kent Dudda Tun Cider and more – it ’ s a truly local pub . It also offers fantastic food including homemade pork pies with chutney and relish and homemade sausage rolls that are absolutely huge !
Osteria Da Fabrizio This is where you want to go when you are looking for the true flavour of Italy with dancing and a party atmosphere thrown in ! Authentically flavoursome food is paired with friendly staff and a cosy , comfortable restaurant , which makes this an ideal place to go for a romantic meal for two , a family lunch , or a friends ’ night out . Food includes risso al forno ( Mama ’ s rice bolognaise bake with mixed leaf lettuce ), spaghetti Milanese
( spaghetti bolognaise served with a chicken escalope and a glass of house wine ) and stufato di pesce ( mussels , king prawns , sea bass and cod stew prepared with a tomato sauce served with garlic bread and finished with olive oil and flat leaf parsley ).
ANNUAL EVENTS
Light Up Orpington // Nov Christmas stalls , a funfair , entertainment , street food , Father Christmas and his reindeer , fireworks and of course the annual Orpington lights switch on – that ’ s Light Up Orpington . The high street is pedestrianised and it ’ s the ideal way to get in the mood for the festive period . Organised and funded by Orpington 1st , the event has become a key date in the calendar .
The Big O Festival // July You are invited to spend the weekend enjoying the amazing sights and sounds of life in Britain from the 1940s to the 80s . Starting with a parade through the high street , this festival , sponsored by Orpington 1st , is all about nostalgia and having a great time .
Priory Live Music Festival // Aug Sponsored by Orpington 1st , this annual music festival is free to attend and takes place in Priory Gardens . This is where new and exciting musicians come to showcase their new works
– so if you are tired of the same of music , this is the place to come . You ’ ll be amazed at the variety .
TOP SPOT
A newly revamped Walnuts Shopping Centre can be found in the middle of Orpington High Street , and now contains everything you might need under one roof , including a 24-hour gym , Premier Inn and a high spec ODEON Cinema . With plenty of parking , shops , and restaurants , such as the recently opened Nando ’ s , and allowing access to the rest of Orpington right on its doorstep , this is a great place to start your exploration .
DID YOU KNOW ?
The late , great David Bowie played some of his first gigs in Orpington at the age of just 15 . His family lived in Beckenham at the time .
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