Dorset diary ...

... THIS MONTH ...

Friday 10th May – Sunday 19th May- Christchurch Food and Wine Festival

at Christchurch

Now seen as one of the best Food Festivals in the UK, Christchurch Food Festival has attracted a number of celebrity chefs over the years including Anton Edelman, James Martin, Gary Rhodes, Jean-Christophe Novelli, Paul Rankin, Brian Turner and Nick Nairn, to name just a few. Well-known TV chef, Lesley Waters, is a regular at the event and has now become the patron of the Festival.

Free event – visit the website for more information on events during the festival.

Wednesday 15 May and Thursday 16 May- French Evenings at Guildhall Tavern

at Guildhall Tavern, Poole

The Guildhall Restaurant hosts popular regular French evenings which give the chance to sample delicious specialities of France with a special menu, live music and a French quiz. Immerse yourself in French culture in a fun evening with great atmosphere.

Booking Essential: call 01202 671717

Thursday 16 May- Poole’s General Market

at Poole High Street and Falkland Square

You will find the best local Organic & Free Range products brought by the Farmers, Nurserymen, Bakers and Pie Makers. 9am – 5pm on the High Street and 9am – 2pm in Falkland Sqaure.

Friday 17 May- Rockley Quay for my Car

at Poole Quay

Tonight will welcome Porsches onto Poole Quay from 6 – 9pm. This unique themed event runs weekly with different vehicles on show every Friday. Whether you’re an owner or car enthusiast, make a night of the event by eating at one of the fantastic restaurants along the Quay.

Saturday 18 May and Sunday 19 May- 50th Anniversary Family Fun Weekend

at Brownsea Island

Celebrate 50 years since the National Trust opened Brownsea Island for the public. Come along and discover everything there is to enjoy on this beautiful island with trails, exhibitions and a new Dorset map of 50 things to do before you are 11 3/4. Open 10am – 4pm.

Saturday 18 May- Mini Steam on the Quay

at Poole Quay

Celebrate the sights, sounds and smells of the age of steam when mini traction engines come to Poole Quay. A great day out for the whole family.

The glorious age of steam will be returning to Poole on Saturday 18 May as a festival of mini steam engines take over Poole Quay

Friday 24 May- Rockley Quay for my Car

at Poole Quay

Tonight will welcome 4X4’s onto Poole Quay from 6 – 9pm. This unique themed event runs weekly with different vehicles on show every Friday. Whether you’re an owner or car enthusiast, make a night of the event by eating at one of the fantastic restaurants along the Quay.

Friday 31 May- Rockley Quay for my Car

at Poole Quay

Tonight will welcome Audi TT’s onto Poole Quay from 6 – 9pm. This unique themed event runs weekly with different vehicles on show every Friday. Whether you’re an owner or car enthusiast, make a night of the event by eating at one of the fantastic restaurants along the Quay.

... COMING SOON ...

Sunday 2 June- Outdoor Concerts – Christchurch and Highcliffe Band

at Highcliffe Castle

An informal outdoor concert from the Christchurch & Highcliffe concert band in the grounds of the Castle from 2-4pm. Christchurch and Highclffe Band is a traditional Brass Band playing a wide variety of music from both traditional and popular genres.

Free outdoor event, donations collected for the band. Please bring your own rugs or low-backed seating. Castle Gift Shop and Tearooms open.

Saturday 15 June- Paye Day

at Poole Quay

From 12 noon, get ready for some swashbuckling fun on Poole Quay in memory of Harry Paye, the renowned Poole pirate. Activities for families will be on the Quay so join the gathering of pirates for a fun filled afternoon!

Wednesday 26 June- Quantum Theatre presents Twelfth Night

at Highcliffe Castle

Quantum Theatre presents a brand new production of Shakespeare’s wonderfully merry play of love and deception, of disguises and madness, and the extraordinary things that love will cause us to see—and do! From 7pm.

Tickets: Adults £13.50, Students, U16s & Season Ticket Holders £10.50, Family Ticket (2 Adults + 2 Children) £44.00 - £1 off each ticket purchased in advance.

Box Office 01425 278807. Open air performance - seating area open from 6.30pm. Please bring your own rugs or low back chairs. The Castle bar will be open for hot drinks & refreshments. Performances will carry on in all but the worst weathers. Car parking charges apply.

Friday 12 July and Saturday 13 July- Asami British Beach Polo Championships

at Sandbanks Beach

Building on the success of the last 5 years the British Beach Polo Championships 2013 promises to be another phenomenal event bringing with it widespread sporting, business and social acclaim.

Wednesday 24 July- The Festival Players present Romeo and Juliet

at Highcliffe Castle

By popular request the Festival Players are touring Shakespeare’s great story of young love and family feuds, set in the colourful world of renaissance Italy from 7pm.

Tickets: Adults £13.50, Students, U16s & Season Ticket Holders £10.50, Family Ticket (2 Adults + 2 Children) £44.00 - £1 off each ticket purchased in advance.

Box Office 01425 278807. Open air performance - seating area open from 6.30pm. Please bring your own rugs or low back chairs. The Castle bar will be open for hot drinks & refreshments. Performances will carry on in all but the worst weathers. Car parking charges apply.

... WEEKLY EVENTS THIS SUMMER ...

Every Tuesday April - September- Coles Miller Dream Machines

at Poole Quay

Head to Poole Quay every Tuesday evening for the UK’s biggest weekly bike meet. The event creates a unique, exciting atmosphere as bikers and spectators enjoy a relaxed evening on Poole Quay. There’s a great selection of pubs, bars and restaurants to make the most of the evening or simply sit along the Quay and enjoy viewing the bikes parked along the front.

Coles Miller Dream Machines is a fully marshaled event, with a £1 entry charge per night or £7 for a season armband (on sale at the Welcome Centre on Poole Quay). Please be aware that the Quay itself is generally a no parking area and closed especially for the event at 5:30pm.

Every Friday May - August- Rockley Park Quay for my Car

at Poole Quay

From Mini’s to 4x4’s – this unique car themed event runs every Friday between 6pm-9pm on Friday’s May to August. Each week there’s a different range of cars to be viewed along the Quay where both owners and enthusiasts can mingle and show off their vehicles.

July - August- Summer Fireworks

at Poole Quay

From the last Thursday in July and every Thursday in August, see the fantastic fireworks displays on Poole Quay. From 7pm enjoy live music, street entertainment, family activities, special themed nights and a fantastic fireworks finale at 10 pm.

... OPEN ALL YEAR ...

Open all year- Farmer Palmer`s

Go down on the farm to Farmer Palmer`s for a day out the family will not forget! You can feed the animals, play in the new sand and water enclosure, have an adventure in Straw Mountain, ride the bumpy trailer - and much more!

Open all year- Oceanarium

Take an underwater adventure around the waters of the world and come face to face with hundreds of awesome creatures. Home to all your favourites from flamboyant clownfish and tiny terrapins, to stunning sharks and the infamous piranha. Immerse yourself in a sea of colour, with 10 spectacular recreated environments:

Open all year- Discover Dorset Tours

Leave the car behind and let Discover Dorset Tours help you find the real `Dorset`! Visit the Isle of Purbeck & Jurassic Coast (Corfe Castle, Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door), Stonehenge, Salisbury and the New Forest or venture into Deepest Dorset.

... MUST DO TOP 10 IN POOLE ...

1. Take in Europe`s largest natural harbour and Brownsea Island

at Brownsea Island

Enjoy a harbour cruise from Poole Quay taking in stunning coastline views, the five islands and world renowned Sandbanks peninsular where you can catch a glimpse of spectacular houses worth millions of pounds.

A short boat ride from Poole Quay or Sandbanks takes visitors to the birthplace of the Scouting & Guiding movement, a world of peace and tranquillity, with breathtaking coastal views, walks and family trails. Bill Oddie of BBC`s Autumnwatch described Brownsea Island as "the best place for seeing wildlife in Dorset"

Full season opening is from 24 March to 4 November, 10am - 5pm. For group bookings, telephone 01202 492161

2. Relax on Poole`s stunning beaches

at Sandbanks, Shore Road, Canford Cliffs, Branksome

Walk along Poole`s 3 mile stretch of blue flag awarded beaches to explore five individual and unique beaches, including Britain`s best beach - Sandbanks. Golden sands, crystal clear water, stunning views and contemporary waterside café bars & restaurants are all on offer, along with designated zones for swimmers and windsurfers.

Open all year round, dogs permitted 1st October - 30th April

3. Soak up the bustling Quayside

at Poole Quay

With its bustling atmosphere, busy marina, spectacular views, factory price shopping, boat cruises and a wide choice of restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs to visit, Poole Quay offers a great day out to suit all tastes. The Quay is a great base to just sit back and watch the visiting yachts in the marina, fishing boats and feature vessels and don`t miss the luxurious, globally renowned Sunseeker Motor Yachts being built just across the water.

Open all year.

4. Discover fascinating history

at Poole Museum

Poole`s rich history is revealed in Poole Museum`s four floors of galleries. Displays range from archaeology to art, from pirates to potteries.

Facilities include a terrace and visitor lounge with magnificent views over Poole Harbour and Old Town. The original fabric of the 18th century harbour warehouse which houses the main displays has been carefully revealed to provide the perfect setting for the story of Poole and its people to be told.

The Museum and temporary exhibitions are free of charge, and fully accessible. Opening hours: Tuesday- Saturday - 10am to 4pm. Sunday - 12 noon to 4pm. Closed Monday.

5. Explore striking parks and gardens

at Poole Park, Hamworthy Park and Upton Country Park

Almost one fifth of Poole is made up by publicly accessible green space. Poole, Hamworthy and Upton Country Park, make up the borough`s trio of award winning parks. Poole Park and Upton Country Park have been recognised as two of the finest parks in the country after each received a sought after Green Flag award.

Car parking can be found at each of these parks but they are also very easy to reach by bus, foot or bike. Open all year.

6. Dine Alfresco

at Across Poole

Home to a selection of the South West`s best restaurants with the freshest fish from the bay (including locally caught oysters), and some of the best tables and views in the UK. From fine foods to pub classics, we know you will find something to make your mouth water. Open all year.

7. Cross Poole`s unique Twin Sails bridge

at Poole

The Twin Sails Bridge will be the first bridge of its type to be built and the world class design was chosen to symbolise the aspirations of the town.

Poole is proud of its maritime and industrial heritage and this is reflected in the world class design of the Twin Sails Bridge – with its two triangular shaped lifting leaves symbolising the sails of a yacht.

The Twin Sails Bridge provides critical infrastructure for 26 hectares of brownfield land, one of the largest regeneration areas in the South West. Open all year.

8. Be entertained at Poole Lighthouse

at Lighthouse - Poole`s centre for the Arts

Take in a show or concert at the largest arts centre outside London with a year round programme of national and international events.

With various productions including theatre, musical, dance, comedy and more, there is something for everyone. Open all year.

9. Experience Tower Park leisure and entertainment complex

at Tower Park

Tower Park in Poole has something for everyone. With our indoor Splash Down water centre with exciting water rides, a recently refurbished 16 screen Empire cinema, bowling, bingo, fitness club, kids play area, amusement centre and plenty of places to eat, there is more than enough to entertain you.

Free parking for all visitors. Open all year.

10. Be thrilled by Poole Pirates at Poole Speedway

at Poole Speedway

Watch current Sky Sports Elite League winning team, Poole Pirates battle it out on the speedway track offering exhilarating, edge of the seat action from the world`s top riders.

March to October