Vinegar Hill Music Theatre

Vinegar Hill Music Theatre

Vinegar Hill Music Theatre
5
About
Now in our fourth season, this live music venue offers the finest in national, regional, and local music talent throughout the summer and fall. A gracious, historic barn, Vinegar Hill is an intimate venue that provides entertainers with a superlative, vibrant setting to showcase their talents. Featuring a variety of genres, like cabaret, classical, rock, folk, and blues, Vinegar Hill Music Theatre resides in the former Arundel Barn Playhouse, a timber barn known as the Smith Sister’s Farm. Located in an area of Kennebunkport’s Arundel, historically known as Vinegar Hill, the venue’s name honors that history. When attending one of our performances, arrive early to enjoy the charming outdoor garden area and one of our signature classic cocktails from the rustic Garden Bar. Social seating and twinkling globe lights create a relaxing setting and help set the tone for an evening of incredible entertainment.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles62 reviews
Excellent
55
Very good
3
Average
2
Poor
1
Terrible
1

Matthew A
Hartford, NY371 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Couples
My second show at VHMT. The first was a seated show the second was no seats (same band). I enjoyed it much more without seats. The place is beautiful. We traveled almost 5 hours to go to this show. It's great to go to a venue with plenty of parking, a great vibe, a nice size, and a wonderful atmosphere. The drink selection is great too. I can't wait for my next show here.
Written December 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jeannine Cantin
Ogunquit, ME163 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2018 • Couples
This is our first visit to this charming small theater in Arundel. It's easy to get to - just off Route 1 a mile or so north of Kennebunk - with plenty of parking. Shows are generally at 8PM. A lovely outdoor garden opens at 6:30PM for drinks - a few snacks are available but nothing substantial to consider a meal. The garden is very neat, well landscaped with seats and lighting - pleasant to relax in before the show. You are charged an extra $3 for a reusable plastic cup that can be taken inside during the show and also reused if you return for another show.
Doors open at 7:15PM. Seating is in comfortable padded chairs on a non graduated floor - I don't think there is a bad seat in the theater. There are four hightop bar tables that seat 4 persons in the rear of the theater. Upstairs are four boxes each with about 12 seats in each.
Lots of candles in alabaster looking holders are on the shelves throughout the theater giving it a relaxing atmosphere. The raised stage is flanked with heavy velvet curtains - Sound and lighting were very professional.
Happy that we found this venue and will surely return for another event.
Written August 30, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

marythorell
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2019 • Friends
Last year we went to a concert here; this year we saw a comedienne. The space is absolutely fabulous no matter who's performing.
Written August 25, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

maureenfrommaine
Wells, ME21 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2017 • Couples
This past weekend we went to enjoy wonderful "dowop" music. The entertainers were wonderful. Great voices!! However, the whole experience was ruined by a group of loud, drunken " guests" of the owner. It was obvious, when requests to the staff to ask them to quiet down went unheeded, the owner, Tim Harrington, cared more about partying. It was extremely disrespectful to both the performers and the audience. At $75.00/ ticket, I would have expected a more professional venue. I won't be going back!!
Written October 16, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello maureenfrommaine, First, our apologies in not responding to you back in October when you originally reviewed us. Second, we respect your feedback and feel badly that your visit was not what we strive to provide. What you experienced was unacceptable, and we have taken steps to ensure it never happens again. We'd love the opportunity to have you back, and would appreciate the chance to connect directly. If you're interested in this, please email our Managing Director, Sarah Dearing at manager@vinegarhillmusictheatre.com or call her at 204-985-5552. We appreciate your consideration and hope we'll have a chance to redeem ourselves. Sincerely, The Team at Vinegar Hill
Written January 29, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Cabrkr
York Beach, ME16 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2017 • Couples
Last evening, 9 of us went to hear the Platters at Vinegar Hill. The venue is charming and the Platters were excellent entertainers. HOWEVER, the behavior of the show sponsors (Pack Maynard, a local real estate company) AND the owner and his posse was horrific. Apparently, "friends" and sponsors are seated in the balcony at this charming barn theater and encouraged to party during the show. And party they did! The performers were distracted and even asked one patron to be quiet. Shouts to the performers were tolerated by the people in the balcony. (They should have been stopped after the first shout!) The people in the balcony talked and partied as if no show was going on. Repeated requests to the ushers and even the manager to do something about the raucous behavior went unheeded. I guess the manager was afraid to tell her boss to be quiet! It was embarrassing that the performers were treated so rudely and disgusting that the powers that be have so little regard for the people who paid $75.00 for the tickets! This was my second experience at Vinegar Hill where rude, drunken, and loud behavior among a few patrons was tolerated and it is a shame.
Written October 15, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Cabrkr, Thank you for your feedback, and our apologies for the extended delay in responding. We're glad you enjoy the venue and agree that The Platters are excellent entertainers. We are deeply sorry that your visit was negative in any way, and agree that it was unacceptable. We have taken steps to ensure this never happens again. We would love the opportunity to redeem ourselves, and would appreciate it if you could connect directly with our Managing Director, Sarah Dearing. She can be reached at 207-985-5552 or by email, manager@vinegarhillmusictheatre.com. Thanks in advance for your consideration, and we hope to hear from you. Sincerely, The Team at Vinegar Hill
Written January 29, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

nepats50
Coventry, RI2 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2018 • Friends
Great quaint place to see a show. However, beware when you order your drinks. They charge a $3.00 up charge for a plastic cup to bring into the venue for your drink. When you order another drink they take that $3.00 cup that you already paid for and charge another $3.00 up charge for a new cup. When the bartender got called out on it she was very rude and threw $3.00 on the bar.
Written July 8, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your feedback. I am sorry to hear that the bartender was rude and we have a meeting to explain the cup program to all of our staff to make it clearer for our guests, and we also addressed how to talk to our guests at that same meeting. Our level of customer service is very important to us. We want all guests happy while they are with us. As for our cup program I would like to clarify with you. Yes we do require the purchase of a Theatre Cup to bring beverages into the theatre. This is to keep our comfy seats from getting damaged from beverages. We also invite our guests to bring their cups back to future performances to avoid the charge and reduce our carbon footprint. If while you are on our property using one of our Theatre Cups and switch beverages our staff will exchange or wash your cup for you at No Charge. This is generous as some theatres make you purchase a cup with every beverage. We do hope that you will try us again!
Written August 2, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

393-On-The-Road
Venice, FL147 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2019
Went to see a comedic act which was ok. The seats are all joined together so if you have someone who figgits a lot near you, you all get to figgit alone with them whether you want to or not!
I have seen two other musical groups there and found that sense the seats are all on a flat floor, not sloped like most theaters, it is difficult to see and hear the groups.
Written August 25, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

travelinbluesgal
Cambridge, MA269 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2019
What a lovely venue! I went here to a Maine mystery writers' panel. The building is beautifully redone. The acoustics seemed good. The staff was very nice. Ticket prices are reasonable and they seem to have a good selection of musical acts, talks, movies and the like. It's a great place to take in an event if you are in the area.
Written August 12, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tom D
Plano, TX144 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2019
My wife and I went to Vinegar Hill July 10th to the event supporting the Center for Grieving Children. The event included hors d'oeuvres from a local caterer and entertainment by The CIE House band. Having never been to Vinegar Hill before we were intrigued. Good reviews and a desire to get out and mingle got us to take action and get tickets. We were glad we did. Evening started out in the garden with a cash bar and included hors d'oeuvres. An excellent variety made its way around the garden as well as at a central station. One consideration is that since its evening and a garden I would recommend some bug spray. We picked up a few mosquito bites but that did not detract from our enjoyment of the evening. At about 8pm the doors to the concert venue opened and we snagged a couple of seats at a cocktail table. I picked us up a couple of the featured blueberry lemonade cocktail that was just perfect for the evening. The barn is air conditioned and has great seats, they all have a great view of the stage. The show started with a comedian, local to Maine but can’t remember his name. Then the CIEE House Band came on and played a great set of covers that really got the crowd rockin’. A wonderful event and for a good cause. The barn has a bar in it too so you can’t help but enjoy yourself at Vinegar Hill. We are in Maine every summer and will be making return visits every year.
Written August 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kr1215
South Portland, ME3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2016 • Friends
Saw a great show with the original cast members from Rent. The venue was amazing and the staff was great! Such an intimate experience and they get unique and varied artists!!!
Written August 26, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Vinegar Hill Music Theatre - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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