Hello Poole!

First up, sorry if you didn’t receive last week’s newsletter. There was a delivery issue and it didn’t land in everyone’s inbox. If you missed it, you can catch up right here: Issue No.15

This week we’ve got something special for you:
🧭 A famous 15th-century ship is sailing into Poole next month — book your deck tour now.
🔥 A Dante inspired art exhibition is taking place — find out where and when.
📅 Plus, we’ve got this week’s best local events lined up for you.

Let’s get into it!

Got some feedback, an event, business, or local story to share? Drop us a message at [email protected] or just reply to this email. We read every email we receive and we’d love to hear from you!

🏖️ Sandbanks tops the charts (again)

It’s official: Sandbanks is still the most expensive seaside location in Britain.

Lloyds Bank has named the exclusive Poole peninsula number one in its latest report, with average house prices coming in at a hefty £965,708. That’s despite a slight drop from last year.

The report looked at 197 coastal locations – and the south coast dominated. Nearby hotspots include Lyme Regis and Lymington, where homes also command six-figure sums.

To emphasise the point, check out this week’s PooleNow Property Pick where we’ve found the most expensive house currently available in Poole.

🏥 Poole NHS clinic moves from The Dolphin

The NHS Outpatient Assessment Clinic at The Dolphin shopping centre is relocating to St Mary’s Maternity Unit from Thursday 5 June.

Originally opened in 2021 to help cut waiting times during the pandemic, the clinic offered hospital services right in the heart of town – and proved popular with locals for its convenience and accessibility.

The move comes after Beales announced its closure, but despite space still being available, NHS budget constraints mean the clinic will be moving out.

Dolphin Centre Manager John Grinnell says the team is now reimagining the space for something that can “deliver value for our community”.

🌿 Stinging nettle champions wanted

The famous Stinging Nettle Eating World Championships are back at the Bottle Inn in Marshwood.

Up to 40 contestants will take part in the iconic nettle eating contest, stripping 2ft stalks of leaves in just one hour.

The event – revived by new pub owners Tessa and Julian Blundy – promises music, cider, and food vans to round out a very Dorset day.

The tradition dates back to 1986 and is returning home to the Bottle Inn after several years away.

🏋️‍♀️ Free fitness weekend across BCP

BH Live is opening the doors to its leisure centres for a free weekend of fitness and fun on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 June.

Centres in Bournemouth and East Dorset – including Littledown, Pelhams, and Queen’s Park – are offering public swimming, gym sessions, and taster classes like yoga and Les Mills favourites, all at no cost.

There’s loads for kids too: inflatable challenges like Crusher, Raptor Run and AirJumpX, plus Wet & Wacky splash sessions. You’ll even find free health checks and giveaways, with a chance to win a month’s membership.

Spaces are limited, so registration is a must. Choose your centre and book your spot at:
👉 bhliveactive.org.uk/open-weekend

🏡 PooleNow Property Pick

This week, in a follow up to the news that Sandbanks is the most expensive seaside location in Britain, we’ve found the most expensive house currently available. If you won the Euromillions this week, would you drop the £15,000,000 asking price for this? Take a look: 👉 View the property

🧭 Step aboard history in Poole this June

The iconic Nao Santa María is sailing into Poole from 12–22 June, and you can book now to explore one of the most famous ships in history.

A faithful replica of the vessel captained by Christopher Columbus on his 1492 voyage, the ship will be open daily from 10am–8pm for self-guided tours across all four decks. Expect time-period décor, fascinating info panels, and the chance to chat with the crew to get a taste of 15th-century life at sea.

It’s a floating museum with a story that changed the world — and it’s docking right here in Poole.

🎟 Tickets: £10 adults, £5 children, £30 family
👉 Book here

🏫Do you want secondary school information?

Are you a parent of a current Year 5 student? We’re planning on putting together information about all of Poole’s local secondary schools - when open evenings take place, entry criteria, etc. Would this be useful? Let us know what you think, plus if there’s something you’d really like us to include, add it to the feedback box after pressing the vote button.

🪺 Rare osprey hatchlings in Poole Harbour

There’s exciting news from the skies above Poole Harbour, the south coast’s only breeding ospreys have welcomed their third chick of the season!

CJ7 and 022, the now-famous osprey pair, are back nesting in Wareham, and three out of their four eggs have hatched safely, with hopes high for chick number four in the coming days.

This marks the second year in a row that this pair have laid four eggs — highly unusual for ospreys, and if all four hatch again, it’ll be a record-breaking moment.

You can watch it all live via the Birds of Poole Harbour webcam, which has captured every flap, feed, and sibling shuffle.

🖥️ Watch the livestream

3 Local stories you might have missed

1. John 'Willo' Williams retires after 23 years

2. Dominant Bournemouth beat already relegated Leicester

3. Passengers' first renationalised SWR train ride

🌊We need your advice!

We asked this last week, but we’re asking again so we’ve got everyone’s vote: We’re running out of room in our current PooleNow format, so we’re thinking about changing how we deliver it — and we’d love your input!
One idea is to send two emails per week: one with news, and a separate one with events.
Another option is to keep everything together but still send it across two emails per week to avoid it feeling too long.
Which would you prefer? Or do you have a better suggestion? Let us know below!

🎷 Friday Night is Music Night at Lighthouse

Step into the glitz and glamour of the 1920s and 30s at Lighthouse Poole this September.

BBC Radio 3’s Friday Night is Music Night returns with the BBC Concert Orchestra and a line-up of West End stars on Friday 19 September, all under the baton of conductor Michael England.

Expect a night of timeless classics – from Puttin’ on the Ritz and Let’s Face the Music and Dance to Cole Porter’s I’ve Got You Under My Skin.

Priority booking is now open for Lighthouse Friends. General sale begins Friday 30 May.
🎟️ lighthousepoole.co.uk

🎨 New art exhibition inspired by Dante’s Heaven

The Wider Circle – a Dorset-founded artists collective – is launching a new exhibition at Upton Country Park this June.

Running from 5–16 June at The Gallery Upstairs, the show draws inspiration from Bournemouth poet James Sale’s latest book DoorWay, a modern take on Dante’s Heaven written after a near-death experience.

The exhibition includes original work from six artists – in media ranging from glass and oil painting to digital art and calligraphy – with live performances at the private view event.

It’s free to attend and open daily from 10am–4:30pm.

📍The Gallery Upstairs, Upton Country Park, BH17 7BJ
More info: widercircleexhibition.com

What’s on this week in (and around) Poole

🎶Family Fest is back!

This weekend, Family Fest 2025 is bringing three days of music, food and family fun to The Meadows in Wimborne from Friday 30 May to Sunday 1 June.

Set on 12 acres of countryside, this family-friendly festival features live music across the weekend (including Rudimentalists on Friday and Yazadi on Saturday), plus appearances from local artists like Lottie and Chloe Allonby.

Beyond the beats, there’s something for everyone: children’s shows, workshops, crazy golf, a quiet/SEN zone, food stalls, bars, traders, and even mascots for the little ones (who get in free if they’re under 5!).

Friday kicks off with a chilled evening session from 4–9pm before the main days on Saturday and Sunday. If you’re after a fun, affordable way to start summer as a family — this is the one.

🎟️ Tickets and Info

Tuesday

Spring Science, Branksome Centre, 12:30pm & 2:30pm
Hands-on science experiments for kids aged 4–11 during half-term.
Book your session

Poole Runners Upton Summer Series, Upton Country Park, from 6:30pm
Racing for juniors and adults in a beautiful park setting.
See race info

Bike Night, Poole Quay, from 6pm
See the winner of Bike of the Night, plus live music and entertainment.

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!

Wednesday

Poole Pirates Speedway – Poole v Plymouth, Poole Stadium, 7:30pm
Catch the KO Cup clash under the floodlights at Wimborne Road.
Buy tickets

Thursday

Live and Unheard, Lighthouse Poole, 7:30pm
A night of original music from emerging UK talent.
Book now

Friday

Live Wrestling, Junction Leisure Centre, Broadstone, 6:30pm
Expect body slams and big drama at this family-friendly wrestling night.
Get your tickets

Fritillaries: Hannah Pawson, Lighthouse, 8pm
Contemporary folk songwriter Hannah Pawson, a Bristol-based musician, uses her guitar and banjo to entertain
See her live

Saturday

Creekmoor Family Fun Day, Julia’s House Shop, Creekmoor, 10am–4pm
Mermaids, meerkats, music, face painting, and much more.
Join the fun

Get Up and Bounce, Upton Country Park, 10am–3:30pm
Bouncy castle fun in the Walled Garden for kids up to age 10.

Patrick Monahan: The Talkinator, The Lighthouse, 8pm
Stand-up comedy written by a human, performed by a human
Get your tickets

Sunday

Critical Mass Bike Ride, meet at Poole Quay, 12pm
Ride together to call for safer streets and better cycling.

Teed Up (live blues band), The Lord Nelson Pub, Poole Quay, 4pm
Live blues grooves at a top harbourside music spot.

Monday

Quiz Night, Bermuda Triangle Pub, 7:30pm–10:30pm
Weekly general knowledge showdown with snacks included. £3pp.

Got a story? Know an inspiring individual? Want to promote a local charity? We’d love to hear about it—just drop us a message at [email protected].

That’s it! See you next week!