Britain's Finest - Events

Gather your family for an unforgettable Father’s Day celebration and treat your taste buds to a culinary adventure with our exquisite Sunday Lunch menu, specially curated for the occasion.

An action packed weekend of family Drag Racing entertainment including Nitro Funny Cars, Jet Car Show and National Drag Racing classes headlined by 200mph Pro Mods. Plus all things powerful off -track including monster trucks, stunts, sideshows and more. Make this bank holiday one to remember and come along to the three day extravaganza that is Festival of Power! We have an action-packed line up of family drag racing entertainment with all things powerful on and off the track. Explosive track action comes in the form of nitro-burning 10,000 horsepower Funny Cars as well as the crowd thrilling side by side Jet Car shootouts! The entertainment off-track is just as spectacular with an array of stunt and exhibition demonstrations including the ever popular car-crushing Monster Trucks, dazzling family entertainment and multiple 2-wheeled mayhem!

Seaweed Festival is held to promote seaweed for its immense health and nutritional benefits.  In a multitude of colours, textures, shapes and sizes, it is tasty, full of minerals, fibre without calories and is the best salt substitute. Along the Quay, there is a surprising amount of dishes and the stalls will be selling a range of seaweed products. It is a very informative event, with suitable activities for all to enjoy, including live music and street entertainments throughout the day.  Bring your own seaweed for advice from experts on its uses.

Embark on an experience of precision and flavour with laser clay shooting and longbow archery. Enjoy a thrilling session of high-tech clay shooting and traditional longbow archery, followed by a delectable five-course dinner. Each dish is thoughtfully paired with exquisite whiskies and gins, creating the perfect harmony of skill and taste. Join us for a unique blend of excitement and fine dining.

The Gentlemen's evening experience includes:

• Laser clay shooting
• Longbow archery
• Five-course dinner
• Whisky and gin pairings

Terms & Conditions

Ticket is valid at The Slaughters Manor House for the listed event only. On the day of the event please bring your ticket or email with you and present to staff on arrival. Tickets can be cancelled up to 7 days before the event, after which they are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Valid until 9 May 2024

The day will be full of fun for all ages and packed with a programme of all sorts of activities, entertainment, and games throughout the day.  Watch the exciting Clovelly Cup yacht race across the bay, starting at 12pm.  Enjoy live music, street entertainments, event-themed arts & crafts, mermaid storytelling, Punch & Judy, face painting and stalls selling delicious food.  Free entry for under 16s who come in maritime-themed fancy dress costumes!

Join garden owner, Vanessa Cook, in the tearoom and courtyard garden where you can enjoy a glass of wine and nibbles and learn about the development and ethos of the garden. This will be followed by an opportunity for you to have a leisurely wander around the garden, enjoying the many different areas of the garden.

This is the chance to have a relaxed summer evening in this beautiful, peaceful garden.

We are delighted that renowned garden designer, Tracy Foster, is returning to Stillingfleet Lodge to lead this workshop where you will learn how to create a planting plan for your garden.

If you want to give your garden a makeover, this is the course for you. Learn how to make a planting plan that will turn an ordinary garden into something unique.

During the session you will find out how to:

• measure up your plot
• assess the site and soil
• draw to scale
• develop you plan.

A planting plan is a detailed document or drawing that specifies the arrangement and layout of plants in a particular area, such as a garden, landscape, or outdoor space.

Tracy will be sharing her expertise and tips on plant selection, such as choosing the right plants for your site, and the quantity of plants you will need and how densely they will need to be planted for the effect you want. There will also be consideration of where to place each plant, for instance to provide focal points, and also the seasonality of the plants to give interest throughout the year.

Once you have developed your planting plan, you will be thinking about planting it up and hope that you will be inspired by the many plants we have for sale in our plant nursery.

Tracy is a Chelsea Gold Medal Winning garden designer who has been creating beautiful gardens in the north of England and elsewhere since 2002. She is perhaps best known for ‘The Bronte Garden’ which one her an RHS Gold and the People’s Choice Award at Chelsea in 2012. She was also a awarded an RHS Silver for her ‘Welcome to Yorkshire’ Garden in 2017.

All courses include entry to the garden plus welcome coffee and biscuits. Unless stated,  materials are provided and you will leave each workshop with plenty of reference information.

A three-day relaxed weekend VW Festival. With all the elements of the shows we all know and love! Quarter mile track action features Doorslammer Drag Racing, alongside Show & Shine, Traders, Fun Fair and Bar meaning you can enjoy the later evenings camping with friends!

Join us for a delightful Family Afternoon Tea with kickstart the summer with a burst of excitement.

Join us for a thrilling Circus Workshop hosted by the talented local performer, Rob Horsman, and don't miss the entertaining sheepdog and duck herding demonstration by David Seamark. Participate in the excitement every hour between 12.00pm and 4.00pm. It's a unique blend of circus charm and adorable duck herding that promises a day filled with fun and unforgettable memories.

After the activities, make your way to your reserved table and enjoy a sumptuous afternoon tea with your family.

Join Colchester Zoo as they celebrate their charity, Colchester Zoological Society and the vital conservation work that they undertake in the UK and worldwide.

From meeting members of the Animal Care Team, to learning how to be a ranger on UmPhafa Private Nature Reserve, there will be lots of chances to find out about their work.

They will also be hosting their very own Conservation Festival on 29th May where you'll be able to find out more about conservation efforts around the world and in the UK.

Celebrate Father's Day on our sun-drenched terrace with a delectable two-course lunch. Enjoy a curated menu while honouring the father figures in your life. Gather with loved ones to toast and create cherished memories in a beautiful setting.

Join us for a delightful Family Afternoon Tea with kickstart the summer with a burst of excitement. Join us for a thrilling Circus Workshop hosted by the talented local performer, Rob Horsman, and don't miss the entertaining sheepdog and duck herding demonstration by David Seamark. Participate in the excitement every hour between 12.00pm and 4.00pm. It's a unique blend of circus charm and adorable duck herding that promises a day filled with fun and unforgettable memories. After the activities, make your way to your reserved table and enjoy a sumptuous afternoon tea with your family.