The Phoenix Theatre

The Phoenix Theatre sits right in the heart of Ashington, a proper working theatre that actually programmes real theatre rather than just hosting touring shows. What you get depends entirely on what's on during your visit - drama, comedy, pantomime, local amateur productions. It's a functional space, nothing fancy, but that's rather the point. The real appeal is catching something live when there's a decent production lined up.

If you're staying at Sandy Bay or Church Point holiday parks nearby, this is genuinely worth checking out if your dates align with something worth seeing. Kids will either love it or fidget through it depending on what's on and their age - the pantomime season pulls in families reliably. Theatre types and anyone wanting an actual evening out beyond the caravan will appreciate having a proper venue within easy driving distance.

Best thing to do is check their website before you book your park holiday, because that's what determines whether you'll bother coming. If they've got something you fancy, ticket prices are usually reasonable and you'll find it's the kind of place where locals actually go, not tourists pretending to. Off-season productions tend to be quieter than school holidays, which cuts both ways - less queuing, but possibly fewer big shows. The theatre's modest enough that you won't feel swallowed up by a crowd.