Welcome to the Chideock and Seatown Community Website. This website belongs to ‘the community’ and is all about Chideock, North Chideock and Seatown. We hope these pages will be of interest to both local residents and visitors to our village.
Chideock is an amazingly busy village with lots of groups that anyone can join and lots of entertainment and events that are happening so please take your time to look through our website – not forgetting our stunning Photo Galleries.
If you are a visitor to this beautiful part of West Dorset please check out our Accommodation Guide.
- CAROLS IN ST.GILES CHURCH SUNDAY 21ST DECEMBER
- MINCE PIES and FESTIVE CHEER IN ST.GILES CHURCH Tuesday 23rd December 10 – 12noon
‘In the Bleak Mid-Winter’ arrangement at the Christmas Flower Festival in St.Giles Church
Come and join us experience the beautiful Christmas floral displays whilst enjoying warm mince pies and festive biscuits and non alcoholic mulled wine. Fresh good quality tea and coffee. A Christmas Raffle and a warm welcome in our cozy church. £5.00 (to include refills).
Continue reading → - LOTS GOING ON IN BRIDPORT OVER CHRISTMAS!!!
Continue reading →Merry Christmas!
The Chair and Management Team of the Bridport Local Area Partnership would like to wish all of our members a very happy Christmas and New Year. Thank you for your support during 2025 and we look forward to continuing this through 2026. Please note that the next bulletin will be circulated in three week’s time on 6th January.
Bridport Young Performers – Beauty and the Beast
Bridport Young Performers present Beauty & the Beast The Musical at the Electric Palace from Monday 15th December to Thursday 18th December at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from the Bridport Tourist Information Centre, South Street, Bridport DT6 3LF or from the Electric Palace – Adults £15, Under 16’s £10.
Bridport Young Performers is a youth theatre group run by young people, for young people aged 9 – 25. The company aims to develop their members’ performance and personal skills through workshops, trips, performance opportunities and their annual Christmas show, performed at the Bridport Electric Palace.Christmas 2025 at Bridport United Church
Christmas events and activities at Bridport United Church:
- Thursday 18th December – Messy Church Noisy Nativity 3.30pm
- Sunday 21st December – Carol Service 4pm
- Wednesday 24th December – Christmas Eve Carol Service with Holy Communion 4pm
- Thursday 25th December – Christmas Morning Service 10.30am
Bridport Museum Festive Fun
3rd – 24th December – Toys from the Past Stocking Trail (every day) – There will be fun for all the family with our Toys from the Past trail. Hunt around the museum to find the presents hidden in the galleries and learn about the gifts children would have received in the past. Complete a trail and enter our raffle for a chance to win a stocking full of gifts. There will be a small prize for every child.
Saturday 20th December 10am – 4pm – Christmas Crafts – An opportunity to take part in a hands on Christmas craft activity making festive decorations.
Christmas Eve Opening 10am – 4pm – Our museum shop is stocked full of unique handcrafted Christmas gifts and stocking fillers for all the family and will be open on Christmas Eve this year so do drop in.
These are family friendly drop-in activities, no extra cost and no booking is required. Admission to Bridport Museum is free for all under 21s. Normal admission charge of £5 for an annual pass applies to adults 21 and over. Visit our shop for free.
Bridport Food Bank Christmas & New Year Opening
Bridport Food Bank, St Mary’s Church, South Street, Bridport will be open on Monday 22nd and Monday 29th December, 4pm – 6pm.
There will be no food bank on Wednesday 24th or Wednesday 31st December.
Normal opening hours will commence on Monday 5th January 5pm – 7pm andWednesday 7th January 11am – 1pm.Bridport Library Family Festive Fun
Join us for an afternoon of Christmassy crafts and festive bingo on Wednesday 24th December from 2pm – 4pm at Bridport Library, South Street, Bridport, Tel: 01308 422778.
West Bay Discovery Centre Christmas Opening Times
We’ll be open this Christmas season on selected days, thanks to our fantastic volunteers. Come and enjoy our free children’s activities during Christmas and New Year at the Discovery Centre. We have several runaway Christmas puddings hidden around the Centre – can you help us find them?
The Centre will be open on 26th, 28th, 31st December 2025 and 1st January 2026, 11am – 4pm. Free, children and family drop-in event, no booking required and donations are very welcome.
Christmas Bin Collection Dates
The rubbish and recycling collections over the festive period may change from your usual day from Thursday 25th December until Monday 12th January. To view the changes please visit the following link: Christmas and New Year rubbish and recycling – Dorset Council.
Bridport Round Table West Bay Wallow
The West Bay Wallow, also known as the Boxing Day Swim is an annual charity event that draws huge crowds and takes place at West Bay Harbour at 12pm(registration from 10.30am). If you aren’t quite brave enough to face the swim on Boxing Day, come along to watch and support everyone taking part and help raise money for local charities. There are prizes for the best fancy dress and it’s always entertaining to cheer people on.
Harmony Mental Health Drop-in December
The Harmony Drop-in and Community Front Room calendar for December is available to view online. You can just drop in anytime between the times shown and if you just need a quiet place, you’re very welcome – our staff are here to support you.
Bridport History Society – Talk
The next meeting of the Bridport History Society is on Thursday 8th January when the Society will be welcoming Charlotte Nickels who will give a talk titled ‘History of Paper.’ The talk will be held at the United Church Hall on East Street, Bridport.Doors open at 2.15pm for a prompt 2.30pm start. All are welcome. Members £1pp and visitors £5pp. Bridport History Society meets on the second Thursday of each month (except July and August).
Bridport Millennium Green
An alternative 12th Night and celebration to welcome 2026. An evening of music and words with Rough Assembly & Friends on Friday 9th January at 7.30pm in Bridport Town Hall. Entry £12 (£10 members), cash payable on the door and includes a glass of wine and mince pie. All proceeds in support of Bridport Millennium Green.
Bridport Winter Warm Venues & Food & Clothes Support
Refreshments are free of charge or for a small donation at these Bridport Winter Warm Venues. They are open to everyone in the community and a great chance to make new friends and chat. No need to book, just turn up. Food and clothes support is also available from local organisations including Bridport Community Fridge, Bridport Food Bank, Bridport Clothes Bank and the Beacon Church Community Kitchen (see page 2 of the poster for details).
Volunteer Centre Dorset – Training & Development 2026
Our new 2026 Learning, Training & Development programme is ready for bookings. Whether it is learning something new, doing a refresher, or joining a workshop on business planning or funding applications – please take advantage of this FREE training, learning and development for any of your team. This offer is open to staff or volunteers in the voluntary and community sector.
MY TIME Young Carers – FREE Young Carers Awareness Training
MYTIME Young Carers are really excited about launching Spotlight Sessions, our new free awareness training designed to help Dorset’s communities understand, recognise and support young carers.
Spotlight Sessions are for any local group, club, setting or volunteer-led organisation that would benefit from knowing more about young carers. We want to reach the whole of Dorset, with a particular focus on communities where young carer awareness may be low or where families may not realise support is available.
How the sessions can be delivered:
• Online sessions (ideal for reaching wider areas and reducing travel costs).
• In-person sessions at our new HQ in Broadstone.
• In-person sessions hosted by a community group or suitable venue.
• Open online sessions that individuals can sign up to (minimum of 8 participants)
These Spotlight Sessions are built to be flexible, accessible and community-led.
For more information, please contact: josh@mytimeyoungcarers.orgBridport Area Neighbourhood Plan (BANP) Review
The Bridport Area Neighbourhood Plan 2020 – 2036 has been a valuable resource for the local community and has been drawn on extensively in planning related matters. It is good practice to review the plan every five years and as part of the review process, comments from the public are sought. Paper copies of review documents are available in Bridport Library, Bridport Tourist Information Centreand Bridport Town Council offices. You can also visit our website for full details: Bridport Area Neighbourhood Plan – Bridport Town Council. The consultation closes on Tuesday 30th December 2025.
West Bay Car Boot Sale – Grants Scheme
The West Bay Car Boot Sale Grants Scheme is open until 9am on Monday 5th January 2026. Bridport Town Council manages and distributes the funds generated from pitch fees in the form of grants to community and voluntary organisations whose work benefits people living in the Bridport Local Area Partnership area. Further information including the guidance notes and application form can be found here.
Dorset Council Capital Leverage Fund (Round 6)
The current round of Dorset Council’s Capital Leverage Fund (Round 6) is currently open. Applications close at midnight on Thursday 15th January 2026. The aim of the Capital Leverage Fund is to support community and cultural organisations to deliver capital projects which provide new and improved facilities for our communities and residents. More information is available here.
Dorset Council Draft Alcohol Licensing Policy
Dorset Council is inviting feedback on its Draft Licensing Policy for 2026–2031, which sets out the principles the council will apply when exercising its functions under the Licensing Act 2003. Licensing Authorities are required by law to publish such a policy at least every five years, and the council is now seeking views during an 8-week consultation period.
The Licensing Policy aims to make sure that the council promotes the four key licensing objectives outlined in the Act:
- the prevention of crime and disorder
- public safety
- the prevention of public nuisance
- the protection of children from harm
Licensable activities covered by the policy include the retail sale of alcohol, the supply of alcohol in clubs, the provision of late-night refreshment, and regulated entertainment.
The consultation survey is available online at: https://consultation.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/c-e/licensing-policy/ and closes on 11th January 2026.The Pilsdon Community Christmas Newsletter
The Christmas edition of the Pilsdon Community newsletter is now available and includes Christmas at Pilsdon, Pilsdon’s 67th Anniversary, Renovations, Comings and Goings and a word from the new Chair of Trustees.
Mayor of Bridport Blog
The latest edition of the Mayor’s Blog is now available and features Bridport’s Remembrance Parade, Harmony’s 10th anniversary celebrations and AGM, All Aboard the Bridport Line book launch, Weldmar Christmas Tree and Carols at Groves and the Pymore Inn Christmas Tree lighting.
Copyright © 2025 Bridport Town Council, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
enquiries@bridport-tc.gov.uk
http://www.bridport-tc.gov.uk/
Bridport Town Council, Mountfield, Rax Lane, Bridport, DT6 3JP - Community Cafe – Friday 19th December in the village hall.
Chideock Community Café Held in Chideock Village Hall
Friday 19th December 2025
From 2.30pm until 4.30pm
Come along with friends or to meet some new ones
Everyone is welcome
Tea/coffee & Cakes/biscuits available
We look forward to seeing you!!
Continue reading → - CHIDEOCK NEWS – DEC/JAN 2025/6
- CHIDEOCK W.I REPORT
Chideock W. I.
At our November Meeting we had a most interesting talk from David Knapman of Axminster Heritage Centre regarding ‘Axminster Connections to Chideock’.
David spoke about our inheritance of Roman roads, for example from Exeter to Dorchester, and their development over the years until the advent of railways.
During the eighteenth century the eight day journey from Exeter to London was reduced to three days and the introduction of Turnpike Trusts led to further road improvements on major routes but cross country routes were reported as steep, narrow, rocky and dangerous. David spoke of George III’s visit to Chideock enroute to Exeter after his holiday in Weymouth. The King walked up Chideock and Charmouth Hills to lighten the carriage load, chatting to residents as he passed.
It seems that butter also played a significant role with the London populace demanding sweet, reduced salt butter: the longer the distance the butter had to travel, the more salt it needed to preserve it. Consequently Epping Forest Butter was regarded as the best. Sidmouth to Chard to Bridport became known as ‘The Dairy Triangle’ as it hosted an abundance of ‘Milking Devons’. In 1844 when the Bristol to London Railway became available, milk could be transported to London very quickly, enabling large quantities of butter to be made there also. Rail routes were established to Dorchester in 1847, Bridport in 1857 and Axminster in 1860. Farmers then turned more to rearing beef with, for example, an exceptionally prized cow named ‘Temptress’.
David’s two books on our local history, ‘Unsteady Progress’ and ‘Axminster Legacies’ are available from the Axminster Heritage Centre: a nice Christmas Gift for your favourite historian perhaps….
The WI is having a break from a formal December meeting but we will be living it up at our Christmas Lunch. Get that prosecco on ice…..!!
We hope to see you at the Christmas Fayre on Sat 29th Nov…..unless we already have…meanwhile
Merry Christmas Everyone from Us All at WI.
Continue reading → - STEP OUTSIDE WITH A NATURE BUDDY
Date: 23/10/2025Step outside with a Nature Buddy
If you’ve ever wanted to spend more time outdoors but felt unsure about how to start, you’re not alone, and help is at hand.
The Nature Buddies Network is a Dorset-wide initiative designed to support people to get outdoors and enjoy nature to improve their health and wellbeing. Whether you’re feeling isolated, anxious, or lacking the confidence to get outside alone, Nature Buddies can help.
Managed by Dorset National Landscape in partnership with Volunteer Centre Dorset, and supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project matches trained volunteer Nature Buddies with people who could benefit from FREE, gentle, friendly support to enjoy the outdoors.
Nature Buddies can accompany you on a walk, help you visit local green spaces, support you to try an outdoor activity or even take part in nature-based activities with you at home.
It has been proven that spending time in nature – even just a couple of hours a week – can lift your mood, ease stress, boost your immune system and improve your physical wellbeing. Whether it’s a stroll through a local park or simply sitting among trees, let nature be your natural health service.
If you or someone you know could benefit from a Nature Buddy please visit: https://www.dorset-nl.org.uk/project/nature-buddies-network to find out more, or call Kate on 01305 228246 / email: kate.townsend@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.
Contact:
Kate Townsend
Project Coordinator
Email: kate.townsend@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Phone: 01305 228246
About Dorset National Landscape:
Dorset National Landscape covers over 40% of Dorset, stretching from Lyme Regis in the west, along the coast to Poole Harbour in the east, and north to Hambledon Hill near Blandford Forum.
The Dorset National Landscape is beautiful, but people make it outstanding. Our mission is to protect and regenerate this designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. And to make sure everyone can enjoy it.
As a small team, we work in partnership with many others. Bringing together landowners, the local community and other organisations to create and deliver our Management Plan. Through this plan, our team and partners make sure that Dorset National Landscape is a beautiful, thriving place that all people feel they can be part of.
Find out more www.dorset-nl.org.uk
About Stepping into Nature:
The Dorset National Landscape has been running ground-breaking health and wellbeing projects since Stepping into Nature was set up in 2016.
The Dorset landscape is full of opportunities to enjoy nature in fun, social and creative ways. For some of us though, finding opportunities to enjoy nature that suits our needs are harder to come by. Ability, confidence, and age can all influence what we can and can’t do. The Stepping into Nature project is about listening to our community in Dorset and working in partnership to enable everyone to enjoy nature.
Find out more: www.stepin2nature.org
About the National Lottery Heritage Fund:
Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past. Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities. heritagefund.org.uk Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund
Continue reading → - CHIDEOCK NEWS – NOVEMBER 2025
- NEWS FROM CHIDEOCK. W.I.
Chideock W.I. October Meeting
Chideock W.I. met for a jolly celebration of all things contemporary with singer songwriter Miranda Pender. Miranda delighted us with her performance of ‘Musical Musings’, singing her own songs with acoustic guitar accompaniment. Miranda’s musings ranged from subjects as far apart as explorations into familial ancestry to the fate of the notorious captain of the Costa Concordia. Have you ever thought about a man who buys ‘petrol station flowers’ for his partner? Miranda has and, perhaps reminiscent of the late and wonderful Jake Thackray, she made us chuckle with her related fantasies. Miranda has a performance history in Essex folk clubs and now can be found on her own You Tube channel.
So What’s Next? Apart from the Book Group, Walking Group, Create with Company and Lunch & Natter
The W.I. CHRISTMAS FAYRE is fast approaching.
A DATE FOR ALL YOUR DIARIES: Sat 29th Nov, 12noon-3pm in Chideock Village Hall.
Tasty food, interesting stalls and produce and always a warm welcome. Free Entry. Looking forward to seeing you all.
Continue reading → - CHIDEOCK NEWS – OCTOBER 2025
