Our friends at the Bull Hotel have welcomed the New Year in their blog with a post on the Spirit of Bridport, very fitting we think! Here it is….
Happy New Year! 2012 promises to be such a great -and busy- year… on top of Bridport’s established food, literary and quirky events, ‘Spirit of Bridport’ has been created to celebrate the 2012 Cultural Olympiad during the year, culminating with a three-week Festival of Culture in the Summer.
Fra Newbury 'Spirit of Bridport' painting
From 11 to 27 August 2012 ‘Spirit of Bridport’ will bring together our heritage and our present. Bridport will be filled with art, theatre, music, sport and all manner of fun and entertainment for all.
Foodies will have their tastebuds and nostrils tickled with pop-up cafes and restaurants, cooking events and of course the local pubs and restaurants (including the Bull Hotel and The Stable cider house!) offering their fantastic menus with local produce.
Moules Frites at the Bull Hotel
Art lovers will have a chance to meet local artists and check-out their work at ‘Bridport Open Studios’ during August bank holiday. With more than 200 artists in the area, the art on display is very varied, from established painters to newcomers, pottery makers, textile artists, sculptors, photographers… All tastes and pockets.
Bridport Open Studios
The Melplash Agricultural Show and the Carnival are also a yearly event in Bridport’s diary loved by locals. But ‘Spirit of Bridport’ has more in store for 2012. The newly refurbished Town Hall and the Museum (free entry) will celebrate the town’s rope and net making history. The Bridport Art Centre and the Electric Palace will offer a mini film festival, inspirational sports speakers, comedy nights and exhibitions by internationally recognised photographers.
Bridport is also home to a national theatrical puppet-making workshop at the Lyric Theatre, home of the Stuff and Nonsense Theatre Company. They will offer a pupping making extravaganza for young children and families, great fun.
No festival is complete without music. Many pubs have live music during the year (including the monthly Hayloft Sessions above The Stable cider house) but during the festival there won’t be an evening without a band, a singer, a musician or a DJ playing their sounds somewhere in town. There might be a bit of busking Sidmouth-style and a song-writing competition with Billy Bragg.
Music
Since all this has originally been inspired by the 2012 Sailing Olympics in Weymouth, sport has not been forgotten. Bridport Gig Rowing Club -who are doing really well at national level we’re proud to say- are organising gig boat regattas In West Bay and there will be fencing and bowling as well.
Gig Rowing
When we said busy for 2012, we meant it! Organisations and community groups all over town are getting together to give Bridport’s people and their visiting friends a year to remember.
We very much look forward to welcoming you at The Bull Hotel and The Stable in Bridport and we wish you a very happy and fun 2012, wherever you are…
See you soon in Bridport.
sending...
