18 unique Cheltenham gifts and experiences to treat Dad this Father’s Day

Father’s Day is just around the corner, and we have rounded up a superb selection of unique Cheltenham gifts and experiences to make Dad feel extra special on his special day.

From relaxing days out and exciting activities to delicious meals and great gift ideas, read on below for some of our top picks… 

Exciting Activities and Escapes 

Escape Entertainment

Escape the everyday with Dad this year at Escape Entertainment. Travel back in time and enter new worlds as you and the family work together to figure out the dastardly puzzles and escape the room. With three exciting experiences to choose from, Castle Heir, Chernobyl Nuclear Meltdown and WWII Mission Intercept, there is something to challenge even the most diehard puzzle enthusiast. 

Eat Sleep Axe

Make dad feel like a true Viking this Father’s Day at Cheltenham’s premiere urban axe-throwing venue Eat Sleep Axe. Test your arm on a variety of fun games, including competition targets, noughts and crosses, or even zombies, all projected onto specially designed end-grain targets. Each lane can take up to four people and sessions last between 60 and 90 minutes. 

Cocktail Making at the Alchemist

Renowned for their clever concoctions and theatrical delivery, The Alchemist is the perfect place to learn the art of molecular mixology and become a true cocktail master. Each masterclass will have a dedicated mixologist from the Brewery Quarter team, who will talk you through each cocktail step-by-step in this mesmerising and highly interactive lesson.

Memsahib’s Lounge Masterclass

Incorporating their gin infusion and cooking classes into one all-encompassing masterclass. This is your opportunity to savour the delights of your own infused gin and a delicious Memsahib Style meal. There will be ample opportunities to sample as you go and an Indian-inspired afternoon tea to round out the session. The best part, this month's masterclass falls exactly on Father's Day!

270 climbing

Do you and your dad have a head for heights? Then why not test your nerves at the newly opened 270 Climbing Park, one of Europe’s tallest high-rope courses?

Offering beautiful panoramic views of the Cotswold countryside between Gloucester and Cheltenham, the ropes range from a gentle 1 metre from the ground to a dizzying 18 metres high. With over 60 obstacles to test your mettle, this one is sure to be a hit for any adrenaline-junkie dads out there! 

Fun and Relaxing Days Out

Cheltenham Open Studios

Fancy a relaxing weekend exploring artworks with the family? With the return of the Cheltenham Open Studios from 10 to 18 June you can peruse the artists of over 200 artists on an open-door-to-door trail of 82 venues, around town and the surrounding area. Meet the artists, view their work, and learn about their practice. A lovely, relaxing day for you and Dad to enjoy.

Prestbury Open Gardens

Want a similarly relaxing day out with Dad while still getting your steps in? Head on over to Prestbury and enjoy a stroll through the Prestbury Open Gardens this weekend, 17 to 18 June. Visit 14 private gardens in the village and chat with the gardeners about the challenges and triumphs of maintaining their pristine grounds. Two gardens have previously been featured in Cotswold Life magazine, while others are newly created. There will also be a BBQ running all afternoon from noon.

Ogbow Tours

Get out and enjoy the sunshine this Father’s Day while learning a little something about our Regency Town with Ogbow Tours. Offering a specialised GPS-guided audio tour for Cheltenham, you can tour the town with Dad at your own pace. Just download the Voicemap App to your phone, hit the road, and find out more about 'Cheltenham: The Party Capital of Regency England'. 

Steam and Real Ale Festival

Steam-powered trips and craft ale sips combine for one glorious day out for Dad this Father’s Day. The Steam and Real Ale Festival returns to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway this weekend Friday 16 to Sunday 18 June. Taste over 40 local real ales at the Winchcombe and Toddington station bars before hopping on board one of the heritage steam or diesel trains for a ride through the beautiful Cotswold countryside, bliss. 

Prescott Bike Fest

Does your dad have a need for speed? Prescott Bike Festival is the place to be for bike fans and motorheads this summer in Cheltenham. Check out the special guests with their rare and marvellous motorbikes in the paddocks. Hit the food village, roll out the picnic blanket and watch the bikes race by in the sunshine. Or, grab your bike and join like-minded motor heads to ‘Run the Hill’, it's all taking place on the 25th of June.

Delicious Dinners

Pho

Serving fantastic Vietnamese street food at an affordable price, Pho is the perfect pit-stop for a light nutritious lunch while exploring Cheltenham’s Open Studios or Ogbow guided tours. Pho specialises in pho (who’d have guessed it) a delicious rice noodle soup from Vietnam. Also on the menu are spring and summer rolls, tasty curries and wok-fried noodle and rice dishes.  

Nook on Five

For those who enjoy dinner with a view, you can’t do much better than Cheltenham’s first rooftop bar and restaurant Nook on Five. With an iconic vista overlooking Imperial Gardens and the Regency skyline of Cheltenham, diners can look forward to an innovative menu of contemporary British and French cuisine and an extensive wine and cocktail list ready to raise a toast to dear old dad.  

Restaurant Journey

Take Dad on an exclusive culinary adventure this Father’s Day at Restaurant Journey. A memorable three-hour dining experience that features 12 unique Japanese-inspired dishes designed to be savoured. There’s something to tempt all taste buds! 

Tailors Eating House

If you prefer the cosy comforts of a local pub to the glamour of haute cuisine, then bring Dad down to Tailors Eating House on Cambray Place. They will be serving up mouth-watering Sunday roasts (one of the best in Cheltenham) and showing all of the best live sports across their 10+ screens!

Thoughtful Gifts 

John Lewis

John Lewis has a wide selection of gifts to treat Dad this Father’s Day. How about a Gentleman’s Hardware gardening set for the green-fingered father’s out there? Some sporty Jlab Audio earphones to help Dad enjoy his favourite tunes at the gym. Or, perhaps a Father’s Day gift hamper full of snacks, chutneys and beers. There’s something for everyone!

Farrar and Tanner

The award-winning online personalised gift retailer now has a brand-new showroom in Cheltenham, making it the perfect place to find the perfect present for the perfect dad! Home to an impressive collection of products from renowned brands including Barbour, Culinary Concepts, L’Atelier du Vin, Robert Welch, Leatherman, and many more. We especially like the stag-adorned whisky tumblers by English Pewter Co and the Manopoulos oak backgammon set.

My Pastalicious

With an incredible assortment of Italian deli products to choose from, you can create a delicious custom food hamper to die for this Father’s Day. Or, grab yourself a selection of organic Italian bread, fresh cheeses and tempting charcuteries and put together a picnic spread he’ll never forget. The My Pastalicious store is only a stone throw’s away from Pittville Park and the stunning Pittville Pump Room, for a leisurely lunch in the park, with a view to rival even the Nook’s!  

Cheltenham Gift Card

Can’t quite decide on what to get Dad this Father’s Day? Take the guesswork out of the equation with a Cheltenham Gift Card, a great, flexible present for any occasion. Currently accepted at more than 80 businesses in the town, including shops, restaurants, hotels, bars and cafes, Dad can shop to his heart’s content and you can pick out an amazing gift together.

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