Art and the Arts events and exhibitions in Dorset

Dorset has a thriving and vibrant art and arts scene, with diverse and very talented local artists and performers. There are many galleries selling wonderful visual feasts of local artists’ work; plus regular exhibitions and live performances demonstrating a wide range of amazing creative and performing arts.

If you’d like to discover more about local arts events, the following sites have lots of interesting information, plus dates for upcoming performances and exhibitions.

The Dorset County Museum in Dorchester holds regular art exhibitions, as does the Lyme Regis Museum and the Town Mill Gallery in Lyme Regis.

Bridport Arts Centre has a fantastic programme of dance, music and theatre lined up for autumn; and the Dorchester Arts’ programme for the coming weeks includes puppet making and animation; dance and music workshops; children’s theatre; Blues nights and poetry.

The Electric Palace and the Eype Centre for the Arts in Bridport, both have a full programme of performances and events suitable for all ages; including drama, music, comedy, film and dance.

Artsreach is a rural touring arts organisation, giving rural communities all over Dorset the opportunity to see and participate in high quality arts events in their own villages. They also have a full programme of performances for the coming weeks, including The Wolves of Willoughby Chase.

If you’re visiting Dorset soon, don’t forget to book bed and breakfast accommodation in Dorset or self catering accommodation in Dorset as soon as possible.

Film and TV locations in Dorset

Dorset is a beautiful county with breathtaking scenery, picturesque unspoilt villages and charming historic towns; so it’s not surprising that it’s been used as the backdrop to many film and TV productions.

There are too many to list here so we have chosen an eclectic mix of just a few. How many of them have you watched, and did you realise Dorset was featured in them?

• Lyme Regis was the location for The French Lieutenant’s Woman starring Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons;


• Durdle Door makes an appearance Nanny Mcphee;


• West Bay appears in the BBC TV series Harbour Lights starring Nick Berry;


• The 1960’s film The Damned, starring Oliver Reed and Shirley Ann Field, was shot around Weymouth and Portland;


• Lulworth Cove stars in Pirates of the Caribbean


• ITV’s Inspector Wexford series, starring George Baker, has scenes set in Dorset;


• Dorset was the location for the 1967 film Far From The Madding Crowd, based on Thomas Hardy’s book, and starring Julie Christie, Terence Stamp and Peter Finch;


• Much of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage series was filmed in a former gate keeper’s cottage at Slape Manor near Bridport;


• Claysmore School in Iwerne Minster was the location for the famous chandelier episode in Only Fools and Horses;


• A disused quarry at Moreton was used to film scenes for Tenko;


• And the Dorset countryside appears in the 2010 film Tamara Drewe.
  

Do you know of any other films or TV shows that feature Dorset?

To book eco-friendly accommodation in Dorset, please contact us.

Family friendly half-term accommodation in Dorset

Are you considering where to go for your family’s half-term break?

Here at Chesil Beach Lodge we have stunning self catering family friendly accommodation in Dorset that’s perfect for your family holiday.

We have four self-catering apartments including our two-bedroom Lyme Bay Apartment which sleeps up to six people; has a fully fitted kitchen including dishwasher and microwave; a 4’ sofa bed in the lounge; a family shower room; a large conservatory; direct access to the patio and garden; digital Freeview TV and DVD player, and free WiFi.

Our delightful one bedroom Jurassic, Fossil and Chesil apartments include a 4’sofa bed in the lounge, and all sleep up to four people. They are fitted out to the same excellent standard as our Lyme Bay apartment.

We have ample off road parking, and well behaved dogs are welcome by prior arrangement.

Children love exploring the amazing Jurassic coastline and local beaches and coves; and there are many family-friendly Dorset attractions open over half term, including: Kingston Maurward Animal Park and Abbotsbury Swannery and, nearby in Somerset, the Haynes International Motor Museum and the Fleet Air Arm Museum.

If you don’t feel like cooking after a busy day exploring, we’ll deliver a home-cooked meal to your apartment. Our menu includes delicious family meals such as:

• Chilli Con Carne with rice;


• Local Dorset beef lasagne with garlic bread and salad;


• Cottage Pie with seasonal vegetables;


• Roasted vegetable lasagne with garlic bread and salad;


• Chicken Casserole in a creamy mushroom sauce with seasonal vegetables and buttery mashed potato;

and wonderful puddings perfect for autumn days, including:

• Chocolate Truffle Torte with cream


• Lemon Meringue pie with cream


• Honeycomb and chocolate cream pudding

Please contact us to book unique sustainable accommodation in Dorset for half-term.

And don’t forget we’re also taking bookings for self-catering and bed and breakfast accommodation in Dorset for Christmas.

We look forward to welcoming you here.

What’s on in Dorset: October

It’s hard to believe it is October already. Autumn has arrived in style here in West Dorset: we’ve had some glorious sunny autumn days, and the leaves on the trees are turning myriad shades of gold. October also promises to have many fine days: perfect for long walks, and days out visiting some of the many local attractions and events. Here’s our pick of some of the best for October:

Sherborne’s Pack Monday Fair, on the 11th October, is a very popular annual street market: thought to date back to medieval times. Four of Sherborne’s major streets are lined with hundreds of stalls and street traders; and there’s lots of entertainment and a funfair. Pack Monday Fair starts with a noisy midnight procession through Sherborne’s streets, with participants blowing whistles and horns and making as much noise as possible!

There’s some doubt about the origins of Pack Monday Fair: some people say it has connections with the completion of building work on Sherborne Abbey, and gets its name from the day the workers ‘packed’ up their tools; others say that the midnight procession has its origins in the celebratory procession that once marked the completion of repairs to the Abbey following a fire. Another possible origin is the tradition of servants and farm workers gathering in their local market town in order to find employment; followed by a fair held to celebrate their new jobs.

Regardless of its now long-forgotten origins, it’s always a fun and entertaining day out.

In 2009 the Eat Dorset Food Fair was shortlisted in the ‘Best Countryside Event’ by Country Life Magazine. This event is on 16th to 17th October, at Parnham House, Beaminster, and offers two lively and packed days of hands-on sessions and demonstrations and talks from local food producers; as well as some of London’s top chefs. Children can get involved too and have lots of messy fun while they have a go at baking bread, decorating cakes and making chocolate.

For all the book lovers out there there’s the Eype Autumn 2010 Book ‘n’ Author Week, at the Eype Centre for Arts near Dorchester, on 18th to 22nd October. Book ‘n’ Author week is a literary festival featuring a selection of interviews, presentations and talks involving notable contemporary authors who write across a wide range of genres. Visitors are advised to book in advance for this popular event, via the Bridport Tourist Information Office: telephone 01308 424901

On the 30th and 31st October, Sherborne Castle holds its Autumn Colours Weekend. Sherborne Castle’s stunning Lakeside Gardens and ‘pleasure grounds’ were created by Capability Brown, and this is a wonderful opportunity to see them in all their autumn glory. Visitors can enjoy reduced price entry to the gardens and grounds on both days. Opening times are 11am to 4.30pm.

We hope this gives you a small taste of the many interesting and entertaining events coming up in October. To book accommodation in Dorset for your October break, please contact us.

It’s not too early to think about your Christmas break!

Yes, we know it’s only October, but we’re open right through winter, including Christmas, so it really isn’t too early to start planning your Christmas break and booking your sustainable holiday accommodation in Dorset.

You can stay in one of our four delightful self catering apartments, or book into our superior bed and breakfast accommodation – all with spectacular sea views.

If you decide to eat in, we offer delicious home cooked locally sourced dishes that will either be put in your fridge ready for you to heat up or, at your request, we will deliver to you.

There are also lots of superb places to eat out in Dorset over Christmas and New Year; from top seafood restaurants, to ‘Gastro Pubs’, to a 300 year old thatched public house and restaurant with local real ales.

To book accommodation in Dorset for Christmas, please contact us as soon as possible. We very much look forward to welcoming you here.