THE Worthies Sports and Social Club is no longer serving food. Due to “unforeseen circumstances” the kitchen has temporarily closed.

The club, in Loader Close, Lovedon Lane, is continuing with its festivities. On Saturday, December 30 the band Mafia will be back for ‘New Years Eve Eve’.

THE Cart and Horses pub in Kings Worthy is offering families the chance to have breakfast with Father Christmas.

Santa will be doing the rounds, spreading holiday cheer and speaking to every child, at a festive brunch on Saturday, December 23.

Tickets cost £40 for one adult and one child and £10 per extra child. To book email bronwynanderson@craftedpubs.co.uk.

WORK on a new cooking area at Sparsholt School should start in the new year. Transformation of the pond area will be moving into the second phase with the replacement of the decking starting in January. Both projects have been funded by the Friends of Sparsholt School (FoSS).

SPARSHOLT pupils raised £105 for Save the Children by coming into school in their Christmas jumpers. The FoSS team also raised more than £500 from recent events including the key stage one nativity, key stage two kaleidoscope and Christmas fair. The parents are now handing over to a new FoSS team.

THE Plough Inn, in Sparsholt, will host an evening of Christmas carols from 6pm on Saturday, December 23.

LITTLETON Posada has nearly finished its travels with Mary and Joseph visiting different spots across the village.

Last week the posada stopped at Littleton Pre-School and watched the children’s end of term show. Many of the kids are hoping to see Mary, Joseph and the donkey again at the Christmas Eve crib service.

Each year the posada raises money for Toybox, a charity working to reduce the number of children living on the streets. For more information or to donate go to justgiving.com/page/posada2023?fbclid=IwAR0vIxb6mX2zkIgqRIVkBh5OLN5dk8EPJg75R9tiWZav_49f553rEIqllRo.

ON Christmas Eve there will be a crib service at St Mary’s Church, in Easton, at 4pm and the midnight communion from 11pm at St Swithun’s Church, in Martyr Worthy.

St John’s will also be hosting a family communion on Christmas day at 10am.

St Catherine’s Church, in Littleton, will be hosting a crib service on Christmas Eve at 4pm and a Holy Communion on Christmas day morning at 10am. Anyone who has hosted Littleton Posada should bring their sheep along to the crib service.

In Sparsholt, there will be a crib service at 4pm and midnight service at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve at St Stephen’s Church. The family service will begin at 10am on Christmas Day.

THE refurbishment of the Chestnut Horse, in Easton, has nearly finished ready for the pub’s January opening.

Joe Hibberd has been appointed as the new head chef and the team is busy preparing menus including small plates, pub classics, sharing boards and seasonal dishes.

Table bookings will be available from Friday, January 5 onwards.

THE Martyr Worthy Lecture Series will be back on Friday, January 12 with David Leakey providing an insider’s view of what goes on in political and parliamentary corridors.

Events start at 6.30pm at Itchen Abbas and Avington Hall with drinks and canapés before lectures commence at 7.15pm. Tickets cost £25. For more information or to book go to tickettailor.com/events/martyrworthylectures.