There’s plenty happening around town this week, starting with the arrival of Bruno Lounge and an upcoming relaunch of Drift Bar. Find out about the Giant Sea Eagles that have been spotted over Brownsea, and a photography exhibition. We also take a look at a creative new project celebrating the town with the launch of a Poole-themed colouring book, highlighting some of the places locals know and love.

Elsewhere in this week’s issue, we’ve got a fresh round of Kingston Lacy’s upcoming Easter events, plus an opportunity for aspiring performers as Lighthouse announces auditions for this year’s pantomime.

And as always, there’s lots going on across Poole and the surrounding area. From theatre and live music at Lighthouse to a Murder Mystery Cruise in Poole Harbour, plus quiz nights, art exhibitions and St Patrick’s celebrations, there’s plenty to keep you busy over the coming days.

Let’s get into it.

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A new café-bar is set to open its doors on Poole Quay this week.

Bruno Lounge will officially open at 15 The Quay on Wednesday 18 March, joining the popular Delfino Lounge nearby.

The new venue promises the same relaxed atmosphere that the Lounge brand is known for, with a menu of food and drinks served throughout the day.

Describing itself as a “home from home”, Bruno Lounge will feature board games, toys for children and even treats for visiting dogs.

Doors will initially open from 9am to 4pm, before closing briefly ahead of an opening party and reopening to the public at 8pm.

Spring has arrived at Kingston Lacy, with the gardens currently bursting into colour thanks to thousands of daffodils (see header above!) and the stunning cherry blossom in the Japanese Garden.

We visited over the weekend and it’s a beautiful time to explore the grounds, with the first real signs of the season appearing across the estate.

It’s also the final week to see the “Meet Rembrandt” exhibition, which closes on Sunday 22 March.

Looking ahead, Kingston Lacy’s popular Easter Adventures trail begins this weekend and runs from 21 March to 12 April.

Families can head to the Easter adventure field and take part in ten fun activities, including a rope maze, carrot throwing and a rabbit racecourse, before collecting a chocolate egg at the end.

The trail costs £3.50 per child, which includes a trail sheet, bunny ears and a dairy or vegan chocolate prize.

Normal admission charges apply, although National Trust members can enter for free.

A new outdoor photography exhibition exploring England’s seaside culture is arriving in Poole town centre this week.

England-on-Sea, by photographer Brent Jones, will be displayed across Falkland Square and Kingland from 17 March until 14 June.

The exhibition features 20 images from a much larger project that saw Jones travel the entire English coastline while living out of a Ford van.

The photographs capture everyday life by the sea – from humour and eccentricity to quieter moments of people simply enjoying the coast.

Jones said his connection to the seaside began in childhood growing up in the coastal village of Fawley.

Three white-tailed eagles, the UK’s largest bird of prey, were recently spotted circling above Brownsea Island.

Often nicknamed “flying barn doors” because of their enormous wings, the birds mainly hunt fish, gliding low over the water before snatching their prey from the surface.

If you’d like to try spotting one yourself, the National Trust is hosting a Wild Wetland Bird Walk on Brownsea Island on 28 March.

Meanwhile, Birds of Poole Harbour has also launched a new Osprey Recovery and Bird Ringing Experience, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the Poole Harbour Osprey Translocation Project.

The guided event includes a visit to the new bird ringing station at Carey’s Secret Garden, before finishing at the osprey viewing platform to hopefully spot the returning pair CJ7 and 022.

Drift Micro Bar is currently undergoing refurbishment and will soon reopen as PaGe One Bar, with a grand opening planned for 26 March at 7pm.

The venue promises to keep the same friendly atmosphere while introducing a refreshed interior, a wide range of drinks and a strong focus on live music.

Opening night will feature live performances from 7pm to 11pm, with organisers teasing that the acts will include some familiar local faces. We’ll post more in our events section next week!

A new colouring and activity book celebrating Poole’s landmarks has been created by a local teacher.

The Poole Colouring and Activity Book for Kids and Families, written by Andy Storey, features 32 colouring pages and 8 activity pages inspired by places across the town.

Designed for children aged 6 and above, the book includes puzzles such as mazes and word searches alongside illustrations of recognisable local landmarks.

Each location also includes “Did you know?” facts and What3Words codes to help families visit the places featured in the book.

Andy, who has lived in the area his entire life, based the illustrations on photographs taken while walking, running and cycling around Poole. “It’s the end result of one of my many ideas that often come to me when getting some exercise, and is hopefully a fun way for families to explore Poole.”

It is now available online via Amazon.

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A Poole brewing company says it has been left shocked after plans for a new tap room were refused just weeks before the venue was due to open.

The Barking Cat Brewing Company, based on West Quay Road, had planned to open a brewery and tap room where visitors could sample beers brewed on site.

The business had already secured a premises licence allowing alcohol to be sold both on and off the site, but was required to submit a planning application for a change of use to allow the tap room element.

On 11 March, the company received notice that the application had been refused.

Planning officers cited two main concerns: the need for a flood risk assessment and the potential increase in pedestrian movements through the industrial site, which they said could create safety risks with vehicle access.

The brewery owners say they were surprised by the decision, particularly after investing more than £250,000 into the project.

They had hoped the venue would help create a small cluster of independent businesses in the area, alongside neighbouring drinks company Shanty Spirit, just a short walk from Poole Quay.

Since the refusal, the owners have met with local councillors and Poole MP Neil Duncan-Jordan, who visited the site to discuss the situation.

The company is now considering its next steps, which could involve submitting a new planning application with the help of specialist planning consultants.

You can follow their progress here.

Dreaming of performing on stage this Christmas?

Lighthouse Poole is inviting dancers to audition for the ensemble cast of its 2026 pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk.

The auditions, taking place on Thursday 16 April, are completely open and give aspiring performers the chance to gain experience working alongside a professional cast.

Two types of roles are available: a Young Ensemble for dancers aged 16–19 and a Professional Ensemble made up of experienced triple-threat performers who can sing, dance and act.

Successful performers will join the cast for the full run of the show, with rehearsals starting on 26 November and performances running from 10 December to 3 January.

Anyone interested must register in advance by 5pm on Thursday 9 April.

To register interest, email [email protected] stating:

If you’ve ever wanted to try kayaking, paddleboarding or sailing, this could be the perfect opportunity.

Rockley Watersports is hosting a free open day at Poole Park Lake on Saturday 28 March, giving visitors the chance to try a range of watersports completely free of charge.

From 10am, visitors can hop on the water and have a go at kayaking, paddleboarding or sailing with guidance from the Rockley team.

There will also be a fun selection of pedalo boats available to hire, including flamingo, toucan, swan, dragon and even unicorn-shaped pedalos.

There’s no need to book – simply turn up and enjoy a day by the lake.

One of the county’s biggest environmental events is returning next month.

The Great Dorset Beach Clean takes place between 1–12 April, with volunteers heading to beaches across the county to help remove litter and protect the coastline.

One of the organised clean-ups will take place at Knoll Beach in Studland on Saturday 4 April, hosted by Clean Jurassic Coast and the National Trust.

Volunteers will meet outside the café at 2.30pm, with litter pickers and bags provided on the day. Participants are asked to bring their own gloves and wear suitable clothing and footwear.

Parking will also be free when signing in for the event.

CHAS Art Exhibition, GATHER at Dolphin Centre, Poole, 10am–4pm
Canford Heath Arts Society brings its latest exhibition of local artwork to Poole town centre. Free to browse and enjoy.

The Talented Mr Ripley, Lighthouse, Poole, various times until Saturday 21 March
A gripping stage adaptation of the psychological thriller following Tom Ripley’s journey of deception and ambition.

St Patrick’s Day Celebration with Murphy’s Lore Trio, Portsmouth Hoy
Celebrate St Patrick’s Day with live Irish music, themed food specials and plenty of Guinness flowing. Booking recommended – call 01202 673517 to reserve a table.

The Good Quiz, The Goods Yard
Put on your thinking caps, gather your teammates and take part in the no pen, no paper, NO CHEATING, speed quiz!

Chewing the Fat Business Networking, 2 Dean Park Crescent, Bournemouth, 9:30am–12pm
A networking event for entrepreneurs, business leaders and innovators to connect, collaborate and help shape the future of business in the BCP area.

BSO: Mahler’s Fifth, Lighthouse, Poole, 7:30pm
The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra performs Haydn’s Cello Concerto alongside Mahler’s powerful Symphony No.5.

Innocent Bystander (Live Music), Bermuda Triangle Pub, Ashley Cross, 9pm–11pm
Enjoy an evening of live music from Innocent Bystander at this popular Ashley Cross pub.

All-Female Birding & Bird Photography Morning, Upton Country Park, 10am–1pm
A relaxed birdwatching and photography session exploring the wildlife of Upton Country Park. Meet at the Welcome Centre.

Pepper and Honey, Lighthouse, Poole, 8pm
A thought-provoking theatre production exploring identity, belonging and the meaning of home.

K-Pop All Stars, Lighthouse, Poole, 7:30pm
A high-energy tribute show celebrating the global phenomenon of K-pop with live music and choreography.

Martin Harley, Lighthouse, Poole, 8pm
Slide guitar master Martin Harley brings his acclaimed blend of Americana, blues and folk to Lighthouse.

The Rheumatics (Live Music), The Brewhouse, Poole, from 8:30pm
Live early punk and proto-punk covers performed by The Rheumatics.

The Scanners (Live Music), Bermuda Triangle Pub, Ashley Cross, 9pm–11pm
Live music night at the Bermuda Triangle featuring The Scanners.

Dorset County Orchestra Spring Concert, Wimborne Minster Church, 7:30pm–9:30pm
Featuring violinist Rose Gosney performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto alongside Romeo and Juliet Overture and Capriccio Italien.

BSO: John Williams Blockbusters, Lighthouse, Poole, 7:30pm
A spectacular orchestral celebration of the iconic film scores of John Williams.

Murder Mystery Dinner Cruise, Poole Quay, departs 6:30pm
Enjoy a three-course meal while solving a thrilling whodunnit as you cruise around Poole Harbour.

Live & Unheard: March, Lighthouse, Poole, 8pm
Unsigned music night featuring Green Isaac, Kolumbia and Karl Thomson performing live.

Kingsmen (Live Music), Bermuda Triangle Pub, Ashley Cross, 9pm–11pm
Saturday night live music with Kingsmen.

The Alibi (Live Music), The Goods Yard, Broadstone, evening
Live rock music from The Alibi.

Upton House Open Day, Upton Country Park, 12pm–4:30pm
Explore the historic house, browse books and gifts, and take a guided tour of the ground floor rooms.

Drift Tones (Live Music), Bermuda Triangle Pub, Ashley Cross, 4pm–6pm
Sunday afternoon live music session.

Rockwater Quiz Night, Rockwater Branksome, 7pm–9pm
Test your knowledge across a range of quiz rounds with prizes up for grabs. Doors open 6:30pm.

The Dubliners Encore, Lighthouse, Poole, 7:30pm
A stage show celebrating the music and legacy of legendary Irish folk band The Dubliners.

Speed Quizzing, Bermuda Triangle, Ashley Cross, 7.30–10.30pm Every Monday with Quiz Master Johnny. £3 per person with jackpot win up for grabs. Fast-paced, fun and competitive.

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