Bridport Holidays Farmers Markets Dorset The Bridport Prize

Bridport Tourism Guide

Bridport is a busy market town renowned for its local produce, markets and artistic leanings. A market has been held in the town for over one thousand years. The Farmers Market is on the second Saturday of each month and there are also markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Bridport also holds an annual food festival. Bridport Food Festival takes place in June and showcases local and organic produce, as well as the ideal opportunity to sample some of West Dorset's finest local products.

The town is quite near the coast with West Bay, which used to be known as Bridport Harbour, just over a mile to the south. This makes Bridport and excellent base for exploring both Dorset's Jurassic coastline and the West Dorset countryside. Traditional industries were rope making which by the thirteenth century had made Bridport the most important ropemaking centre in the country. The hangman's rope was made here! One business in the town continues rope making today.

Another local industry that continues today is Palmers Brewery. The Old Brewery in Bridport has been brewing since 1794 and is the only thatched brewery in the country. Their beers are available in pubs all over West Dorset and as far as Taunton and Glastonbury. While in Bridport you can take a brewery tour. These are run during the summer every week day at 11am. In your entrance fee you'll be given a guided tour of the brewery and shown how their traditional ales are made. You also get to sample the beer! Book tours online or through Palmers Wine Store, adjacent to the Brewery Tel: 01308 427500. The minimum age for those on the tour is thirteen. J C & R H Palmer Ltd, The Old Brewery, West Bay Road, Bridport, Dorset DT6 4JA. Tel: 01308 422396. Fax: 01308 421149. Email: tours@palmersbrewery.com

A good way to tour the town and see the sights is to get a copy of the "All about Bridport and West Bay" leaflet which includes a town trail. These are available from Bridport Tourist Information Centre at 47 South Street, Bridport DT6 3NY. Tel: 01308 424901.

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Bridport Museum

To find out more about Bridport's history Bridport Museum is well worth a visit. It houses fifteen collections from archaeology, geology, natural history, costume, fine art and of course exhibits on social and industrial history of the town.

The Tudor building it's in dates from the sixteenth century but the interior has been revamped in recent times to house the museum collections. The museum also arranges a variety of exhibitions from its collections. Check the weblink right for further information.

Bridport Museum is open from April to end of October Mon-Sat 10am-5pm. Bridport Museum, The Coach House, Gundry Lane, Bridport DT6 3RJ. Tel: 01308 422116

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Bridport Arts Centre - The Bridport Prize

Bridport has a strong tradition of appreciating the arts. In 1973 The Bridport Prize International Creative Writing Competition was founded here which has always attracted submissions from all over the country and overseas. Many prize winners have gone on to become household names. The competition is organised from the Arts Centre.

The Centre originates from an 1838 Wesleyan Chapel and a Georgian schoolhouse and now contains a two hundred seat theatre where regular drama productions and independent cinema are held. The Arts Centre also hosts a variety of exhibitions in its three galleries. There is also a cafe and bar.

Click on the link right for up-to-date information of what's on.

Bridport Arts Centre, South Street, Bridport, Dorset DT6 3NR. Box Office Tel: 01308 424204. Email: info@bridport-arts.com

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Dorset Heritage Coast - Coastlinx53 Jurassic Bus Service

Bridport is under two miles to the coast. West Bay, formerly Bridport Harbour, is the pretty harbour village with its wide beaches stretching west and east. This is one of the Jurassic Coast's Gateway Towns. From Bridport it's easy to access the South West Coast Path which will take you by Dorset's spectacular cliffs and fossil rich beaches.

The hugely useful CoastlinX53 Bus Service provides good links to the coast and passes through Bridport. The bus route extends from Exeter in Devon to Poole in East Dorset. You can then pick up additional buses that will take you down to the coast.

This is hugely useful for those wanting to do coastal walks but don't want the hassle of leaving cars all over the place. You can buy a ticket for unlimited daily travel and low floor buses run every two hours.

You can download timetables and related bus leaflets from The Jurassic Coast website, link right.

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The Melplash Show Bridport

The last Thursday before the August Bank Holiday sees one of the biggest agricultural shows in the South West at The West Bay Showgrounds between Bridport and West Bay.

The Melplash Show brings people from all over Dorset to take part in horse and livestock competitions and where you'll finds marquees full of rural crafts, local produce and trade stands.

Check the weblink right for more information.

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