Weekend Hop (Cheltenham)
Lindy Hop, Shag · usually April
- Where
- Cheltenham
- Organiser
- Cheltenham Swing Dance
About Weekend Hop (Cheltenham)
Weekend Hop is a swing dance weekend organised by CheltenhamSwing.Dance. The 2026 edition ran from 3 to 5 April at the Tithe Barn in Bishop's Cleeve, just outside Cheltenham. Friday was a welcome dance. Saturday had five hours of drop-in classes and an evening dance with Pete Long's band Pocket Basie. Sunday had three hours of drop-in classes and an afternoon tea dance. Because classes were drop-in you could choose sessions without committing in advance. Teachers were Jenny Thomas and Benjie Talbott for Lindy Hop from improver to advanced and partner Charleston, and Immy Black and Norman Wakeman, who ran Lindy fun in a second room. Styles listed were Lindy Hop, partner Charleston, Collegiate Shag, St Louis Shag and Heel Shag. It suits improvers and above who like drop-in flexibility. The Lindy Hop classes start at improver level, and the page does not address complete beginners.
What to expect
The 2026 page offered early bird places at GBP 110 for the first 20 and standard places at GBP 135, applied for via the page, with a waiting list used to balance leaders and followers. It suggests signing up with a partner if you can. A limited number of social passes for the three dances could be released nearer the date. The festival is now listed on the organiser's site as CSD Fest in March 2027, so check whether this weekend returns.
New to festivals?
Most UK weekenders welcome improvers and up, and many add a taster or beginners' track – check the organiser's page. Our guide to swing festivals covers passes, tracks and what to pack.
Sources
Checked against the festival's own website on Friday 30 October 2026. Dates and prices change – confirm before you book.
More UK festivals
- Oxford Lindy Exchange (OLX) – Oxford
- Cambridge Lindy Exchange (CLX) – Cambridge
- Edinburgh Lindy Exchange (ELX) – Edinburgh
- Save the Fast Dance (Cambridge) – Cambridge
- Swing Sanctuary (Cambridge) – Cambridge
- Blues at the 'Bridge (Cambridge) – Cambridge
- WGC Swing Festival (Welwyn Garden City) – Welwyn Garden City
- Savoy Jazz Jam (Watford) – Watford