Sandwiched between west Dorset’s rolling hills and the rugged drama of the Jurassic Coast, Bridport is well placed for a scenic getaway. Beyond its obvious natural charms, the town has plenty more to woo visitors. It’s a hub for independent shops and restaurants that contribute to the town’s welcoming quality, and is a treasure trove for antiques lovers.
Bridport has so many antiques stores that the area around St Michael’s Trading Estate is dubbed the Art & Vintage Quarter, and a monthly antiques market is held on the last Sunday of the month.
The town’s prosperity was originally built around its rope-making industry, which flourished thanks to the high-quality fibres available locally, plus Bridport’s coast-adjacent location. Its association with the craft dates back to the 13th century, when King John demanded that the workers here laboured ‘by night and day’ to produce rope and cable for the nation’s war ships.
Its rope-making heritage is still celebrated, but Bridport’s appeal today lies in its proximity to golden beaches and bucolic walks (which also make it a good filming location for television), as well as its laid-back holiday atmosphere and top-class shopping.
Shop
Ink & Page
A passion for creativity in all its forms led David and Kim Squirrell to found Ink & Page, a bookbinders shop and flourishing component of Bridport’s artistic scene. The 19th-century brick building that houses the shop and its bindery is as photogenic as the stock inside, which includes beautiful hand-bound books, block prints and other paper items made by local artists and craft workers.
inkandpage.co.uk
The Alleyways Antiques Centre
At the beating heart of Bridport’s Vintage Quarter, and with over 50 traders, The Alleyways has been run by Samantha and Richard Payne-Withers since 2011. The well-defined units supply everything, from decorative French finds at Amelie’s Barn to Mark Hix’s vintage kitchenalia.
bridportantiques.co.uk
Sladers Yard
This West Bay building started life in 1805 as a warehouse for Georgian merchants importing flax for Bridport’s rope trade. It then opened as an art gallery in 2006 and has built a strong reputation in the UK modern art scene, showcasing and selling contemporary fine art and craft, as well as exquisite sculptural wooden furniture by Sladers Yard co-founder Petter Southall.
sladersyard.co.uk
Studio 49
An eclectic trove of antique carpets, unusual decorative works, pleasing sculptures and more, Paul Michael Farnham’s base in the Vintage Quarter is well worth a stop-off. With regularly updated stock, there’s always something new to see – one current highlight is an extraordinary life-sized gouache on linen of a white tiger from Udaipur, priced at £14,000.
@paul_michael_farnham
Old Albion
This charming reclamation yard is a feast for the eyes, bursting with interesting finds from all eras. Enjoy hunting here for bold painted furniture, architectural elements and vintage textiles, or simply browse the store’s eclectic home and garden curiosities. Prop hire and bespoke industrial lighting add yet another layer to their one-of-a-kind offering.
54D St Michael’s Trading Estate; @oldalbion
Chilli by the Sea
Named after the owners’ dog, and starting life in a converted horse box, Chilli by the Sea is now a brick-and-mortar shop in the heart of Bridport, selling garden and home accessories and vintage-style furniture with an industrial edge. It’s also great for gifts, with a stylish selection of cards and jewellery. chillibythesea.co.uk
Eat
Soulshine
Run by former River Cottage colleagues, Joel and Andy, Soulshine on Bridport’s South Street is a joyful hub of freshly made dishes based around an ethos of locally sourced produce from small-scale artisan suppliers.
Stop off for a Goose & Badger coffee (roasted nearby), grab a wholesome lunch, or see in the evening with a section of sophisticated sharing plates, such as Dalwood asparagus with whipped Westcombe ricotta, salsa verde and hazelnuts.
wearesoulshine.co.uk
Platform
A former railway building and two beautifully renovated vintage train carriages – Beeching and Brunel – house this atmospheric restaurant and cocktail bar, located just down the road from Bridport in West Bay. You can’t go wrong with the varied menu (though the seafood here is a particular highlight), while the quirky interior design makes for
a romantic backdrop.
platformrestaurant.co.uk
Stay
Outbuildings
Set just a couple of miles north of Bridport, this ‘luxury farm’otel’ has a selection of meticulously designed rooms that boast sumptuous William Holland bathtubs and divine Naturalmat mattresses. The food is top-notch (think burgers, bavette steak and wild garlic pappardelle), and unique experiences, such as a woodland hot tub and private ‘Hay Barn’ cinema, up the ante.
@outbuildingsdorset
Bridge House
Grade-II listed Bridge House is a characterful haven close to the centre of town. It’s kitted out in treasures from the local antiques shops and vintage market, which fit its sympathetic renovation and add a warmth to the space. Bedrooms feature restful paint shades and stylish wallpapers and, in the summer months, the Potting Shed garden bar and kitchen serves pizzas and burgers in the pretty walled garden.
bridgehousebridport.co.uk
Visit
Symondsbury Estate
It’s easy to spend an entire day exploring this working estate, which has been owned by the Colfox family for the past four generations. It has a number of trails to follow, which take in everything from expansive views over Dorset’s rolling hills and Jurassic Coast to the mysterious sunken pathways of the ‘Holloways’. Afterwards, there’s a deli, shops and an art gallery to browse, and even creative workshops and luxury accommodation options.
symondsburyestate.co.uk
Bridport Museum
Celebrate Bridport’s rope and net-making heritage, along with many other facets of its rich history, with interactive displays and intriguing artefacts at the town’s museum. Exhibits include fine art, archaeology, fossils and textiles. During the summer months, the museum also hosts guided historic walks throughout the town that bring the area’s fascinating past to life.
25 South Street; bridportmuseum.co.uk
Don’t miss
Bridport Hat Festival
Possibly the most fun and unusual event in the town’s calendar, this year’s festival takes place on 6th September, with attendees sporting their most inventive, quirky or stylish headgear to take part in a raft
of hat competitions, as well as other attractions such as ‘Hat Hurling’ and a mass hatted photoshoot. It’s a perfect time to experience the very best of the town and its joyful ‘hatmosphere’.
bridporthatfest.org
