Join the internationally acclaimed BBC Big Band for a fun-filled programme of festive favourites, with a Swing twist!

6pm: Café/Bar/Restaurant open
7pm: Auditorium doors
7.30pm: Show 1
8.25pm: Interval
8.55pm: Show 2
9.50pm: Finish

A real Christmas cracker of a programme, featuring big band settings of your favourite yule-tide numbers such as Let It Snow, Santa Claus is coming to town and Mel Tormé’s The Christmas Song – and much, much more.  Add to this a selection of sparkling Big Band classics, and this is the prefect event to warm you up on a winter’s night!

The BBC Big Band’s conductor and music director, Barry Forgie, is joined by the celebrated vocalist and BBC Radio presenter Claire Martin OBE alongside the extraordinary vocal talents of Jeff Hooper, making this the perfect swinging start to your Christmas festivities!

‘World-class musicians … a brilliant musical force’ – The Telegraph

‘They brilliantly continue the tradition of Big Band music. As such they are important, as well as marvelous’  Michael Parkinson

‘A wonderful band’ – Tony Bennett

‘Claire Martin is a consummate jazz singer with old-school virtues …she wins plaudits everywhere she works’ – The Guardian

Conductor – Barry Forgie
Vocalists – Claire Martin OBE, Jeff Hooper

Join the internationally acclaimed BBC Big Band for a fun-filled programme of festive favourites, with a Swing twist!  

About The BBC Big Band

Widely regarded as the world’s leading and most versatile Orchestras, The BBC Big Band continues to delight audiences around the world through their broadcasts on BBC Radio and their live performances.

The Band’s musical collaborations read like a ‘who’s who’ of the international music scene, and have included artists as diverse as:  Tony Bennett, Martin Taylor, Robert Palmer, Louis Stewart, Van Morrison, Amy Winehouse, Mel Torme, Clark Terry, Michael Buble,  Dr John, George Benson, Van Morrison, Georgie Fame and Ray Charles … to name just a few.

In addition to its regular studio recordings and concerts, the BBC Big Band regularly gives live performances at major venues around the UK, as well as touring with major music artists abroad. Within the UK, the BBC Big Band is perhaps best known for its performances and broadcasts across the BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 3 platforms, whilst its performances also reach huge global audiences through its regular broadcasts for the BBC World Service and via the BBC’s website.

Live performances have included numerous appearances London’s Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms and also at the ‘Proms in the Park’ series in Hyde Park; at major festivals such as Aberdeen, Cheltenham, Edinburgh, Great North and Brecon; as well as performances at the UK’s premier concert venues, such as London’s Barbican, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Snape Maltings, Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall and The Sage Gateshead.

About Claire Martin

Linn recording artist and BBC Radio 3 presenter Claire Martin has spent the last 27 years honing the craft of jazz singing.  To worldwide critical acclaim she has established herself as a tour de force on the UK jazz scene gaining an array of awards, including winning the British Jazz Awards seven times,  along the way.

Signed to Linn Records in 1984, Claire has since released more than 17 CDs with the label, collaborating with musical luminaries including Martin Taylor, John Martyn, Stephane Grappelli, Mark Nightingale,  Sir Richard Rodney Bennett,  Jim Mullen and Nigel Hitchcock on many of these recordings.

Claire is a featured soloist with the Halle Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the RTE Concert Orchestra, the BBC Concert Orchestra and, of course, the renowned BBC Big Band.  She also presented BBC Radio 3’s Jazz Line Up between 2000 and 2017.  Claire was honoured with an OBE for her services to jazz in 2011.

About Jeff Hooper

Regarded as one of the finest male jazz and big band voices, Jeff’s early career saw him work with the likes of Matt Monro (who taught him how to tie a bow tie!), Morecambe and Wise, and Stephane Grapelli. He has sung with Dame Shirley Bassey and Sir Tom Jones at the opening of the National Assembly of Wales as well as being featured appearing on numerous occasions on BBC Radio 2’s ‘Friday Night is Music Night’.  Jeff is also a long-time collaborator and friend of the great lyricist Hal David (of Bacharach and David fame), and has performed various new songs by him at David’s request.​

His work is prolific, with overseas concert tours, weekly radio shows on BBC Radio Wales and regular performances across Britain and beyond in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls. Jeff was chosen to front and direct the ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ Tour Band across and has also featured in TV and radio commercials for Skoda, Jeep and VW Motors.

Gig food

Why not begin your evening with a bite to eat? Buy your gig meal in advance and choose your menu options at the bar.

Mains £11.50
  • Southern Fried Chicken Burger/Avocado Mayo/Streaky Bacon/Rocket/Chips
  • Chicken And Lentil Dhansak/Pilau Rice/Poppadoms/Mango And Lime Chutney
  • Vegan Chilli/Steamed Rice/Nachos/Coconut & Lime Yogurt
  • Beer Battered Local Fish/Tartare Sauce/Chips/Crunchy Veg Salad
Sides
  • Garlic Pizza Bread £8.50
  • Hand Cut Chips & Aoli £5

MUSIC’S NOT DEAD
Bexhill’s independent record store Music’s Not Dead will be open in the Café Bar before the show and until the start of the main act.

Booking information

Please note that Booking Fees apply on the following transactions:

Online: Tickets booked online are subject to booking fees when purchased through our website. E-tickets are emailed instantly on the account you have registered with DLWP, please check your Junk folder if they don’t arrive within 30 minutes. Customers can also download their tickets through our website within ‘My Account’.

Telephone: £3.50 per transaction + £2 postage or free collection at the Box Office.

In Person: There are currently no charges for booking tickets in person.

There is a £2 charge to post tickets.

We strongly recommend ticket buyers to take out Ticket Protection insurance with Secure My Booking available when you book your tickets at check out.

 

Please note that we are only able to post tickets within the UK. If you live overseas please select box office collection or print at home tickets. Tickets purchased for post will be sent 10 – 14 days before the show date.

Full terms and conditions can be found here.

Eat before the show

Book online: Pre-show dining can be booked online as an add-on when purchasing tickets for selected events. You will be purchasing a ticket to guarantee your meal before the show.
Please note you must be a ticket holder to the show to book pre-show dining.

Already booked your tickets? If you’ve already booked tickets for a show and would like to add dining, please contact Box Office: boxoffice@dlwp.com

On the night: If you have pre-booked please come to the bar to order from the gig menu and sit at one of the reserved tables.

No re-entry

Please be aware that we operate no re-entry for gigs. This means that once you have entered the building, you cannot go out and re-enter. This policy is in line with other major music venues across the UK and put in place on police advice. No re-entry is clearly signposted as you come through security on the front door.
There is a fenced-off area on the terrace for people who go out to smoke or vape.

Staying locally

There are plenty of welcoming and good value B&Bs & boutique hotels in Bexhill. The De La Warr Pavilion regularly uses the following:

Travel information
  • By Rail
    Direct trains go from London Victoria, Brighton and Ashford to Bexhill.
    There are also trains from London Charing Cross, changing at St. Leonards Warrior Square and from London Bridge or Charing Cross going to Battle. Battle is only a short taxi journey away (15 mins approx).
    Visit www.nationalrail.co.uk for up-to-date train travel information.
  • Taxis
    Town Taxis:  01424 211 511
    Parkhurst Taxis:  01424 733 456
  • By Car
    If driving from the London area:
    Take the M25, then A21 to Hastings. Turn off at John‘s Cross and follow the signs to Bexhill.
    OR
    Take the A22 to Eastbourne, go across the Bishop roundabout to the A271 and follow the signs to Bexhill and the seafront. The De La Warr Pavilion is on the Marina.
    From the Brighton area:
    Follow the A27 out of Brighton until you arrive in Bexhill On Sea.
  • Parking
    Please be aware the Rother District car park outside the De La Warr Pavilion operates paid parking until 7pm. After this time parking is free.
Accessibility

Within the limits of this Grade One listed building, the De La Warr Pavilion strives to be fully accessible with a range of facilities to support your visit.

Assistance Dogs are permitted into the building.

Please contact the Box Office on boxoffice@dlwp.com to arrange a visit.

Facilities for disabled visitors

  • Ramped access at the front of the building
  • A low counter at the Box Office and  Information Desk
  • Disabled toilets on two floors
  • A lift to all floors
  • Accessible galleries on both floors
  • An accessible Café
  • Spaces for wheelchairs in the auditorium for seated events
  • Ramped access in the auditorium for events during the day
  • Ramped access into the Studio
  • Two travel wheelchairs are available for use at the De La Warr Pavilion. To reserve, please call our box office and information desk on (01424) 229111 or ask a member of staff on arrival. The chairs are provided on a first come, first served basis and are intended for use inside the Pavilion. Please contact us for more information.

Facilities for blind or visually-impaired

  • Large print season brochures

Facilities for the hard-of-hearing

  • An T-Switch induction loop in some areas of the auditorium (please indicate when booking as this facility is not available on the balcony)
  • British Sign Language interpretation tours of the building and exhibitions are available on request.