Cary Comes Home (Cary Grant Festival)

Cary Comes Home returns to Bristol from 27 to 29 November 2026, a three-day festival celebrating the city's most famous cinematic export. It's run by Professor Charlotte Crofts of UWE Bristol, and the whole thing is built around Archie Leach's journey from Horfield to Hollywood. Most of us know him as Cary Grant, the Hollywood legend, but the festival keeps the Bristol roots front and centre.

Before the fame, Leach ran away as a teenager to join the Pender Troupe of Knockabout Boys and Comedians, where he learned the acrobatic skills that would later become a hallmark of his acting. He earned his first Oscar nomination for Penny Serenade in 1941, and he's still remembered as a style icon whose tailored suits and casual chic haven't really gone out of fashion. The festival mixes expanded film experiences with live music and a strong community spirit, with a good deal of it aimed at introducing his work to new audiences.

Beyond the screenings, there are the 'Raising Cary Grant' and 'Looking For Archie' walks, run with Show of Strength Theatre Company, and a best-dressed competition judged by Dominique Breckenridge and Keith Lodwick, a former V&A curator. If you're in the mood for a bit of local history, there's also the blue plaque Historic England unveiled in 2024 at 50 Berkeley Road in Bishopston, one of Grant's childhood homes.

It runs across various venues around Bristol, including Bristol Megascreen and Bristol Aquarium on Anchor Road (BS1 5TT). A full festival pass is £80, day passes are £30, and individual tickets go for £8.50, with concessions at £5.00.