Well, despite the drops of rain yesterday, the summer continues on and there’s some great events to do in Poole if you’d like to continue enjoying the sunshine!

In this week’s issue: A brand new accessible play area is coming to Hamworthy Park, a Nathan Outlaw-backed restaurant is heading to Canford Cliffs in September, Poole could be on course for its first directly elected regional mayor, and there is a new direct bus route linking Poole to Bournemouth Airport. Plus the Poole Military Tattoo is coming up fast and tickets are going quickly. Oh, and today happens to be my birthday, so if you enjoy the newsletter, getting a friend to sign up would be a very welcome present!

Dive in and enjoy!

PooleNow is now proudly sponsored by Bournemouth One, the local radio station bringing you music, news and travel updates across Dorset. Listen whilst you read!

Hamworthy Park's play area is about to get a serious upgrade, and this one has clearly been designed with a lot of thought.

Work starts in the coming weeks on a fully accessible play space, developed with local children, families and the charity Diverse Abilities. It's a £190,000 refurb, and it shows: the park will be split into four zones covering water play, sensory features, swings and slides, and quieter activities for anyone who needs a break from the noise.

The centrepiece is a ramped playboat, a nice nod to Hamworthy's maritime history, with sensory equipment on deck and slides built in. Elsewhere there's a wheelchair-transferable roundabout, accessible water play, a playhouse, inclusive picnic seating, and a quieter corner with Braille and multi-sensory panels, a storytelling chair and an interactive rain wheel.

This is part of the council's wider Plan for Play programme, which is refurbishing around 100 play areas across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, with major work happening at nearly 20 of them.

View the designs here!

If you work near Bournemouth Airport, or just fancy a more direct way to get there, there's a new bus route worth knowing about.

The YX1, run by Morebus in partnership with Yunex Traffic, now connects Poole Bus Station to the airport and the Aviation Business Park, running via Hamworthy, Upton, Creekmoor, Broadstone and Canford Heath.

It was set up primarily to help staff at Yunex Traffic's new facility at the business park get to work, but it's open to everyone. Morebus general manager Richard Wade said it should also benefit other local residents working at the airport.

The catch, for now, is the timetable: it's a Monday to Friday commuter service, with a single morning departure from Poole at 6.36am and an afternoon return from the business park at 4.18pm. So it's really aimed at people doing a fairly standard working day out that way, rather than a service you could hop on any time.

Still, if you've got a Poole to airport-side commute and have been relying on driving or a roundabout bus journey, this is one to check.

Full timetable and ticket information is at morebus.co.uk.

Poole could be on course to get its first directly elected regional mayor, after BCP Council and three neighbouring authorities confirmed they want to press ahead with a new Wessex Mayoral Strategic Authority.

The leaders of BCP, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire councils have written to the Government confirming they're ready to move forward, after all four authorities already went through local government reorganisation in recent years. A mayor for the combined area would be a genuinely big change: someone directly elected to make decisions across Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire, rather than each council acting alone.

The stated case for it is the usual one for devolution: bringing decisions closer to local people, unlocking investment and driving growth in every part of the region, rather than have those decisions made in Westminster.

There's no guarantee it happens, and no confirmed date yet. The four councils are pushing for elections in 2027, having originally hoped for May 2026 if the plan had been approved earlier. It's now in the Government's hands to decide whether to formally invite Wessex to proceed.

It's early days, and there'll no doubt be plenty of debate locally about what a Wessex mayor would actually mean for a town the size of Poole within such a large combined area. We'll keep you posted as the picture becomes clearer, but it felt like a big enough shift in how the region is run to flag now rather than wait for a final decision.

There's a serious new food destination coming to Canford Cliffs this September, and it's got a genuinely well-known name attached to it.

Outlaw House, a new coastal restaurant, bar and boutique hotel, is taking over the former Loch Fyne site on Haven Road during the week of Monday 7 September, creating around 40 jobs across the kitchen, restaurant, bar and guest rooms.

Seafood chef Nathan Outlaw has worked with the team on the menu, sourcing and kitchen mentoring, though he won't be running the place day to day. That job falls to Executive Chef Fergus Coyle, who's leading a seasonal menu built around Dorset and South West produce, think Dorset crab scones, cider-battered gurnard, roasted bass, and a St Clement's cheesecake with blackberries and citrus curd.

The business says it's building direct relationships with regional fishermen, farmers, growers, cheesemakers, vineyards and artisan producers, alongside investing in training for local hospitality staff.

Full opening and booking details are expected shortly and we’ll update you when we find out more!

Poole Harbour is about to get a lot tastier, courtesy of a new series of themed food cruises from Coastal Cruises Poole.

Street Food at Sea will pair an evening sailing around the harbour with a different food theme each time, with ideas on the table including Mexican taco nights, Greek gyros and souvlaki, American smokehouse barbecue, Caribbean, Italian, Thai, Indian and Turkish evenings.

Rather than bringing in outside suppliers, the family-run cruise company wants the series to showcase independent food businesses already operating around Poole.

That's also a call to action for anyone reading this who runs a food business. Coastal Cruises Poole is actively looking for local caterers, chefs and street food traders to take part, with cruises generally running for somewhere between 30 and 120 passengers. If your food already draws a queue at markets or festivals, this could be a fun way to reach a new crowd.

It's a nice example of a local business deliberately choosing to lift up other local businesses rather than importing outside catering, and the idea of eating your way around the world while sailing round one of the largest natural harbours in the world is a pretty good sell.

Sailing dates and themes for the first cruises are expected soon. Local food businesses interested in taking part can get in touch at [email protected]

Do you need an atrium for your stairwell? I think you might! 👉 View the property

According to the British Medical Journal in 1934, King Edward was heard to declare the view from Constitution Hill afforded "one of the finest views in the kingdom." High praise indeed, and well worth checking out for yourself from the hill today!

With the Poole Military Tattoo coming up, we’ve gone for a relevant quiz question this week:

Poole Stadium will be filled with music, marching and a fair amount of spectacle on Saturday 12 September, as the Poole Military Tattoo returns for its Salute to the Services event.

The Tattoo celebrates the Armed Forces alongside uniformed services including fire, police, ambulance, NHS and coastguard crews, as well as cadets and veterans. There are two performances on the day, an afternoon matinee and an evening sundowner show, so there's a choice depending on how late you fancy staying out.

As well as being a good family day out, the event is raising money for the Royal British Legion and Lewis Manning Hospice Care, two causes with strong local ties.

A word of warning if you're planning to go: all tickets are pre-booked online rather than sold on the door, and organisers are expecting demand to be high, so it's worth booking sooner rather than later.

If you're driving, there's parking on site at £3.50 per car, though the organisers are actively encouraging people to use public transport where they can. It's about a 15-minute walk from Poole bus station and 10 minutes from the train station, so it's an easy one to reach without the car if you'd rather.

Tickets and full details are available at poolemilitarytattoo.com.

MAKE GEEK, Dolphin Shopping Centre

Eight days of tabletop gaming, dice, models and geek culture from Lucky Feat Dice. Drop in to browse, meet fellow players and pick up something for your next campaign. Runs until Saturday 22 August.

Find out more here

Power of Poole, Poole Museum, 10am to 5pm

An exhibition telling the story of Poole Power Station, which stood for more than 45 years as a symbol of modern Britain, using newly acquired objects and rarely seen items from the museum's stores.

Coasts in Mind: A Lifetime of Change, Poole Museum, 10am to 5pm

An exhibition exploring 100 years of change in Poole Harbour through the pictures, objects and stories of the people who live here.

Life in Full Colour: The Art of Jason Wilsher-Mills, Poole Museum, 10am to 5pm

A bold, playful exhibition exploring Jason Wilsher-Mills' experience of disability and his love of popular culture. Running daily.

Bike Nights on Poole Quay, The Quay, Poole, 5.30pm

A weekly bike meet on Poole Quay, with food and drink from the harbourside eateries and pubs.

Sbomb Bike Night, S BOMB, 6pm

A relaxed evening of bikes, drinks and good company by the harbour. Free entry, with a food truck and full bar available.

Poochie Ryders After Party, S BOMB, 7.30pm

A charity night in aid of Staffie and Stray Rescue, with a live auction hosted by Claire Goose and Gary Mehson and a raffle. Tickets £5.

Wiggles and Giggles for Under 5s, Poole Museum, 10.30am to 11.30am

A playful weekly session for under 5s and their grown ups, exploring music, movement and hands on activities. Runs every Wednesday.

Live Music: Kingsmen Live Band, Bermuda Triangle Pub, 8.30pm to 10.30pm

Live band performance at the pub.

Sbomb Blue Light Night, S BOMB, 6pm

A night for blue light and public service workers, with discounted drinks. Free entry, with a food truck and full bar available.

Poole Quay Summer Fireworks, Poole Quay, 7pm

Free family entertainment on Poole Quay, with live music and street entertainment from 7.30pm before the fireworks finale at 10pm. No tickets required.

Car Nights on Poole Quay: Minis and Minors, The Quay, Poole, 6pm

This week's themed car meet on Poole Quay, part of the weekly Car Nights series, with food and drink from the nearby eateries and pubs.

Rock n Roll Legends Cruise, Coastal Cruises, Poole Quay, 7pm

A tribute cruise around Poole Harbour celebrating rock and roll legends including Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Billy Idol and The Drifters.

Book tickets here

Guided Bat and Moth Night Walk, Upton Country Park, 8pm

Join the Dorset Bat Group and Upton's Research Volunteers for a guided night walk to spot the park's nocturnal wildlife. £6 per person, under 5s free (book a space), babes in arms don't need a booking. Booking essential, and sensible footwear is recommended for the uneven, fading-light conditions.

Book online here

Live Music: Rock It Science, Bermuda Triangle Pub, 9pm to 11pm

Live music performance from Rock It Science.

DJ Set: DJ Garphie, Bermuda Triangle Pub, 9pm to 1am

Electronic music in the upstairs club room.

Bournemouth Friday Fireworks, Bournemouth seafront

A free fireworks display, part of the weekly summer series running until 28 August.

Country in the Square, Falkland Square, Poole, 12noon to 3pm

A new free family event outside the Dolphin Shopping Centre, with live country, folk and Americana music from Route 66 and a line dancing session hosted by DJ Dom Yates. There's a prize draw for a pair of Ariat cowboy boots, and nearby shops and eateries to visit.

The Great Duck Races, Bournemouth Gardens

A family-friendly duck racing event.

Traitors Afloat, Coastal Cruises, Poole Quay, 7pm

An immersive live-action game cruise around Poole Harbour at sunset, with a hosted interactive game, onboard bar and prizes.

Live Music: Biff Country, HonkyTonk Collective, 8pm

Biff Country returns with the full band for a night of dinner, drinks and live music. Free entry.

Live Music: Saurus, Bermuda Triangle Pub, 9pm to 11pm

Live band performance at the pub.

DJ Set: Penthouse, Bermuda Triangle Pub, 9pm to 1am

House music in the club room.

Upton House Junior Parkrun, Upton Country Park, 9am

A free, weekly 2km run for children aged 4 to 14. Registration required.

Register here

Live Music: The Third Degree (featuring Hugh Budden), Bermuda Triangle Pub, 4pm to 6pm

Sunday afternoon live music session.

Brass in the Bandstand: Poole Borough Band, Bournemouth Bandstand

A live brass band performance from Poole Borough Band.

Sound Bath with Vivienne Yardley, Rockwater, 7.15pm to 8.30pm

Sound bath session at Rockwater Branksome.

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