Berkshire


<p>Grab your ores and prepare for a splash landing. From 6 June to 13 July, The Mill at Sonning theatre go waterside with their rip-roaring production of Jerome K. Jerome’s classic Victorian memoir&nbsp;<em><a href="https://millatsonning.com/shows/three-men-in-a-boat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Three Men in a Boat</a></em>, stacked to the rafters with wit, humour, and mischievous shenanigans. </p>



<p>Gloriously adapted by celebrated star of stage and screen, Clive Francis, the tale follows the rib-tickling trio, Harris, George, and Jerome, as they set sail on the River Thames for an unforgettable adventure through the beautiful Berkshire countryside. The <em>most</em> beautiful in England, if you ask us. Not bias or anything.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/02/The-Mill-Auditorium-0389-1.jpg" alt="three men in a boat mill at sonning Berkshire" class="wp-image-62396" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/02/The-Mill-Auditorium-0389-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/02/The-Mill-Auditorium-0389-1-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/02/The-Mill-Auditorium-0389-1-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/02/The-Mill-Auditorium-0389-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>It&#8217;s a big ol&#8217; dose of feel good theatre that only gets funnier as the show goes on. Yes, it&#8217;s possible. Having had a fresh and modern revamp fit for contemporary audiences, it&#8217;s impossible not to be swept away by this heartwarming tale as the friends navigate not just the river’s currents, but the comical currents of life itself.</p>



<p>Catching a show at The Mill at Sonning is an oh so classy affair. Every ticket includes a two course meal in their glittering restaurant with stonking views over the Thames. Talk about setting the scene. The food is fabulous and the choice is plentiful &#8211; served on white linen tablecloths by the lovely staff. Then, it&#8217;s all about ordering your interval drinks (I&#8217;ll take a large G+T) before settling down in your seat. Following the performance, the Waterwheel Bar is open, and on Friday and Saturday evenings, there&#8217;s even live music to enjoy.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/mill-sonning-bar.jpeg" alt="mill at sonning Berkshire three men in a boat" class="wp-image-57670" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/mill-sonning-bar.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/mill-sonning-bar-800x534.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/mill-sonning-bar-400x267.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/mill-sonning-bar-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/mill-sonning-bar-787x525.jpeg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>No need to worry about being trapped in a stifling theatre during a heatwave either. Although, a heatwave does sound good right about now. The intimate space is fully air conditioned and there&#8217;s only 217 seats so no chance of a bad view. Sit front row and you&#8217;re practically star of the show.</p>



<p>So if you&#8217;re ready to embark, step right up &#8211; we&#8217;re heading through Berkshire, baby. Here&#8217;s all the stops you might recognise in <em>Three Men in a Boat</em>. How many have you visited?</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/kingston.jpeg" alt="Kingston" class="wp-image-64429" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/kingston.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/kingston-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/kingston-400x266.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/kingston-768x511.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kingston">Kingston</h3>



<p>It all starts in Kingston &#8211; the place the&nbsp;three&nbsp;men&nbsp;decide to go on a boating trip together. Cue the chaos.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hampton-court">Hampton Court</h3>



<p>It&#8217;s a royal fly by &#8211; or float by &#8211; as they visit Hampton Court Palace along the way. It&#8217;s here the trio try their hand at a maze.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sunbury">Sunbury</h3>



<p>Next up: Sunbury for a spot of lunch and to enjoy the riverside vista.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-magna-carta-island">Magna Carta Island</h3>



<p>A historical landmark in its own right containing one of the oldest trees in England &#8211; 2000 years old no less. Crikey. The island gets name dropped as the group pass by.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="506" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/09/monkey-island.jpeg" alt="three men in a boat Monkey island estate" class="wp-image-55360" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/09/monkey-island.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/09/monkey-island-800x405.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/09/monkey-island-400x202.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/09/monkey-island-768x389.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/09/monkey-island-900x455.jpeg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-monkey-island">Monkey Island</h3>



<p>An island with a gorgeous five-star hotel where they consider staying but decide against it. Major regrets no doubt.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-marlow">Marlow </h3>



<p>Marlow is seriously pretty and was a pass through destination on their journey.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bisham-abbey">Bisham Abbey</h3>



<p>A stop was made at Bisham Abbey where they visited the grand tudor Abbey and shared some historical anecdotes.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-medmenham-abbey">Medmenham Abbey</h3>



<p>Mentioned in passing, it has a connection to the Hellfire Club.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/08/goring-streatley.jpg" alt="The Swan at Streatley Berkshire riverside hotel, decorative barge weeping willows three men in a boat" class="wp-image-16839" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/08/goring-streatley.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/08/goring-streatley-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/08/goring-streatley-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/08/goring-streatley-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/08/goring-streatley-720x480.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-goring-and-streatley">Goring and Streatley</h3>



<p>No better stop for lunch than Goring and Streatley &#8211; twin villages on opposite banks of the river.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pangbourne">Pangbourne</h3>



<p>Deemed one of Muddy&#8217;s <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/berkshire/pangbourne/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Best Places to Live</a> in Berkshire 2024, it&#8217;s another quaint village the trio pass through.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapledurham">Mapledurham</h3>



<p>Mentioned on their journey, Mapledurham is known for its watermill.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="584" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/reading-town.jpeg" alt="three men in a boat " class="wp-image-58264" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/reading-town.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/reading-town-800x467.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/reading-town-400x234.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/reading-town-768x449.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/reading-town-900x525.jpeg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reading">Reading</h3>



<p>Harris, George, and Jerome may not have had the most glowing things to say about Reading, in fact the word dismal is used in the original works (harsh), but they do decide to stay overnight here.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sonning">Sonning</h3>



<p>We love picturesque Sonning (and so does George Clooney). The very place you&#8217;ll be watching the show is a stop along the way.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-henley-on-thames">Henley-on-Thames</h3>



<p>Famous for its rowing regatta, they pass through this town.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hambleden">Hambleden</h3>



<p>Floating down the Thames, Hambleden is mentioned in passing.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="655" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/06/Cookham-river-e1498735399151.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-9568" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hurley">Hurley</h3>



<p>It doesn&#8217;t get much more fairytale like than Hurley. It&#8217;s here the group visit a church and share some pretty humorous incidents. No spoilers.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cookham">Cookham</h3>



<p>Pinkies up! The group pass through Cookham during their journey and have a spot of tea.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-maidenhead">Maidenhead</h3>



<p>Last but not least, Maidenhead gets a cheeky mention as they row through the town. What they thought of the place though? Well, you&#8217;ll have to find out.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="679" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/image0.jpeg" alt="three men in a boat mill at sonning Berkshire" class="wp-image-64312" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/image0.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/image0-800x543.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/image0-400x272.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/image0-768x521.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p><em><a href="https://millatsonning.com/shows/three-men-in-a-boat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Three Men in a Boat</a> is on at The Mill at Sonning between 6 June &#8211; 13 July with tickets starting at £74 including a two-course meal. <a href="https://millatsonning.com/shows/three-men-in-a-boat/#:~:text=This%20warm%20and%20witty%20play,that%20you%20might%20recognise!)" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Book here</a>.</em></p>


All aboard! Do you recognise these local landmarks?

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