Nevill Holt Festival’s opening evening wows
- Emily Miller
- May 31
- 3 min read
A night in Harlem and haute cuisine right here in Leicestershire.
Tucked away in the rolling hills of Leicestershire complete with dreamy views stretching across three counties, Nevill Holt Festival kicked off its 2025 season with an unforgettable evening that hit all the right notes: great food, stunning art, and top-tier live music.
Running from May 30 to June 22, this year’s line-up is seriously impressive, with something for every kind of culture-lover. It’s the kind of festival that makes you feel incredibly lucky to have this on our doorstep; I certainly feel lucky to have been invited to this very special event.
We started the night at The Garden by Maison François, a beautifully styled pop-up from the much-loved London French restaurant. The setting was an elegant garden party meets Michelin-level dining, right in the heart of Nevill Holt’s manicured grounds. The three-course meal, designed by chef Matthew Ryle, was a celebration of local and seasonal produce (most of it grown right there on the estate.)
Every bite felt thoughtful, fresh, and indulgent in the best way. The wine selection. Spot on. Add in friendly, polished service and views that make you want to stay for the whole evening, and you’ve got the perfect pre-show experience.
After dinner, we made our way to the Spiegeltent (yes, it’s as magical as it sounds) for A Night in Harlem; a jazz celebration that transported us straight to the golden age of the Harlem Renaissance. The energy, the talent, the atmosphere!
Highlights included a stunning reimagining of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, making its UK debut almost 100 years after it was first performed. And in a lovely twist, the pianist was celebrating his 30th birthday that night, which made the atmosphere feel even more joyful and intimate.
The music might’ve been the headline, but the art absolutely held its own. Chila Kumari Singh Burman’s exhibition Love Memoirs lit up the estate with her signature neon style, full of colour, power and soul. Her work, spread across the chapel and gallery spaces, touched on identity, family, and culture in a way that was deeply personal but also incredibly energising. Alongside Chila’s pieces were curated works from Saatchi Yates and some brilliant local artists, turning the entire estate into a living gallery.
Of course, part of the magic of Nevill Holt Festival is the setting itself. Nevill Holt Hall, a stately home dating back to the 14th century, is the kind of place that feels steeped in stories. It’s seen many chapters, from its medieval roots to a Victorian upgrade, and now, as the home of a world-class cultural festival.
In 2018, they added a 400-seat opera house that somehow manages to feel both grand and intimate, like the whole place was made for nights exactly like this. The gardens, designed by Chelsea Flower Show gold-medallist Rupert Golby, are the icing on the cake, perfect for a post-show stroll with a glass of something chilled in hand.
And the best part is that this year’s programme is packed with variety, something for everyone. Whether you're into opera, jazz, classical, or just love a good talk that gets you thinking, Nevill Holt Festival 2025 has you covered. One of the big highlights is Opera North’s take on Così fan tutte (definitely one for the diary), plus there are loads of inspiring talks from well-known names like Boris Johnson, Prue Leith, and even Bake Off’s Matty Edgell. Politics, literature, wellness, food, you name it, they’ve got it.
It’s that mix of high culture and down-to-earth charm that makes Nevill Holt such a standout. Whether you're in it for the music, the food, the garden strolls or the chance to learn something new, it’s an experience that stays with you long after the last encore.
And good news... it’s already confirmed to return in 2026, there really is nothing else quite like it in the Midlands. Intimate, inspiring, and absolutely worth making time for.
