Tern and The Basement celebrate Worthing Fringe Festival 2026 with immersive dining, wine experiences and creative community projects

Throughout June, Worthing’s creative and culinary scene takes centre stage as Tern and The Basement present a vibrant programme of events, collaborations and community projects as part of Worthing Fringe Festival 2026. Celebrating local talent, Sussex producers and the town’s evolving cultural identity, the series brings together food, art and storytelling in a way that feels both intimate and distinctly place-led.

A key highlight is 30 Days of Worthing, a month-long collaborative project by Sophie Harvey that invites locals to capture the overlooked and unexpected details of the town. Through photography, sketches, written notes and everyday observations, the project builds a collective portrait of Worthing’s hidden corners and quiet moments.

Running alongside this is Fringe Feast, a culinary showcase from Tern celebrating Sussex producers and makers. The programme includes collaborations with Slake Distillery, Knepp Wilding Kitchen, Merakai Brewery, Titch Hill Estate and The Bee Butler, spotlighting the region’s rich network of food and drink artisans.

The festival also features two standout one-night-only dining experiences. On 4th June, FOR THE RECORD offers an immersive dinner pairing food and sound, with Natalie Reilly (AKA Thirteen Scorpios) curating a live vinyl soundtrack. Guests will experience a hyper-seasonal five-course menu by Johnny Stanford, with each dish matched to carefully selected records, alongside English wines and bespoke cocktails in a setting designed for deep listening.

Later in the month, on 25th June, Cellar Door celebrates English Wine Week with a five-course tasting menu paired with five exceptional English wines. Hosted by English Wine GB Ambassador Radu Iosif, the evening showcases the diversity of English winemaking in collaboration with producers, reflecting Tern’s British-only wine ethos.

Together, these events transform Worthing into a hub of creativity, flavour and community throughout June.