Hello Poole!

The big headline this week? Marks & Spencer has submitted plans for a brand-new store right here in Poole – big news for shoppers, we’ve got the details below.

We’ve also got:

• Seafood & Sounds: All the details you need to join in.

• Dorset Council’s Local Plan: 5,000 homes proposed near Lytchett – what you need to know.

• Cycling History in Poole Park: From Victorian racing to Olympic glory – and today’s photo feature.

• Spooky Season Starts: Dare to join the ghostly Tours of the Unexplained?
  Plus your What’s On guide for the week ahead. Scroll down and get planning!

Let’s get stuck in 👇

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🛒Marks & Spencer set to return to Poole

M&S has submitted planning applications to turn the former Homebase store at Redlands Retail Park into an M&S Foodhall. They plan to split the building into two, with two thirds of it becoming M&S and the other to be an as yet un-named ‘bulky goods’ store. This would be significantly larger than either of their current local stores in Broadstone and Westbourne.

M&S claims the store will “deliver the soul of a fresh market, with the mind of a supermarket” alongside approximately 90 local jobs.

The full application can be found on the BCP Planning website

🦞 A feast of flavours at Seafood & Sounds

The clue’s in the name – Seafood & Sounds is Poole’s weekend to celebrate everything we love about great food and good vibes. On Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September, the Quay and Old Town will transform into a hub of flavours, live music, and coastal charm.

Expect some of Poole’s favourite restaurants to pull out all the stops, with Guildhall Tavern, Hotel du Vin, and Fisherman’s Café among the local stars serving up tasters and special dishes inspired by our maritime heritage. Think fresh shellfish straight from Poole waters, locally caught fish cooked to perfection, and irresistible plates from pop-up stalls dotted along the Quay. There’ll even by an Oyster Bar set up outside St Tropez Club serving fresh oysters and champagne!

Stroll between venues, enjoy live music as you go, and discover the creativity of Poole’s chefs who know how to make the most of the sea on our doorstep. For anyone that enjoyes food, this will be a dream weekend and a brilliant excuse to support our local independent restaurants and cafés.

If you love good food, get this in your diary now and bring your appetite.

📅 Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th September
📍 Poole Quay & Old Town
🔗 Full details: seafoodandsounds.co.uk

🏗 Dorset Local Plan: 5,000 homes proposed near Poole

Dorset is changing – and your voice matters. Dorset Council has launched its Local Plan Options Consultation, setting out how the county could grow over the coming years. Among the proposals are major housing developments close to Poole, including sites around Lytchett Minster, Lytchett Matravers and Upton – with around 5,000 new homes suggested. Some of the sites under consideration are Bulbury Woods Golf Course and the land surrounding Lytchett Minster School.

The plan also looks at land for employment, traveller sites, and renewable energy projects like wind and solar. This is your chance to have a say on how and where development happens.

📅 Consultation now open
🔗 Full details and feedback: Dorset Council Local Plan Consultation

👢 Lavender Moon expands

Independent country and western boutique Lavender Moon has officially doubled in size, launching its expanded store at the weekend in Kingland Crescent.

The bigger space means more menswear, jeans, and a wider selection of Ariat boots, plus a new partnership with Wrangler – including their Lainey Wilson Collection.

Owner Bethany Waring said the move was driven by customer demand for more choice: “When I heard the unit next door was becoming available, it felt like the perfect opportunity to grow.”

Lavender Moon is now the fourth Kingland independent to expand since the initiative launched in 2021, reinforcing the town centre’s revival.

🏡 PooleNow Property Pick

Would you like a 17th century manor house with it’s own tennis court and within walking distance of the exquisite rhubarb flavoured ice cream at Pamphill Dairy? Yes please. 👉 View the property

🚴 When Poole Park was the home of cycling glory

If you’ve strolled through Poole Park lately, you might have noticed the striking cyclist silhouettes near the old track – a reminder of the park’s incredible racing heritage. When the park opened in 1892, its cycle track quickly became the place to ride. By the early 1900s, races drew crowds of up to 12,000 spectators, cheering on local stars like the Banten brothers, who ran a bike shop and rode for the Wesley Guild Cycling Club.

The track’s biggest claim to fame? Training future champions. Bill Harvell, who honed his skills here, won an Olympic bronze medal in 1932 and led Poole Wheelers to a national title the following year. And let’s not forget Marguerite Wilson from Bournemouth, who became the first full-time female professional cyclist, smashing 16 distance records.

Back then, the track was just gravel and cinder, barely two metres wide in places – and riders still managed to dodge benches, trees and the lake! Racing here was fast, furious and unforgettable.

Today, Poole Wheelers are still going strong, and families still ride the track for fun. Maybe you learned to ride here too?

3 Local stories you might have missed

1. Changes coming to Morebus fares across BCP and east Dorset – Bournemouth One

2. The Town Pastors helping keep people safe at night

3. BCP Council debt rises by nearly eighty million in one year – Bournemouth One

👻 Dare to Explore Poole’s Haunted Past?

Step into the shadows of Old Town Poole with Spectre & Host’s Tours of the Unexplained – a spine-chilling theatrical walking tour that will leave you questioning what’s real and what lurks in the dark.

Your guide, Mr Spectre, will lead you through cobbled streets and narrow alleyways, sharing eerie tales of tragedy, mystery and mischief. From heartbroken cries to ghostly laughter echoing through empty halls, these stories will send shivers down your spine.

Tours run from Wednesday 1st October until Sunday 2 November, but tickets are disappearing fast – with several dates already sold out!

Are you brave enough to join? Book now and uncover the secrets of Poole’s darker history:
👉 Get your tickets here

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

Multiple Days

The Gallery Upstairs: Between the Forest and the Sea
Above the Tea Rooms, Upton Country Park
Thursday 28th August – Tuesday 9th September
Paintings, prints, jewellery, photography, and more in this creative exhibition by Deborah and David Robinson. Free entry.

Swanage Folk Festival, Swanage
Friday 5th September – Sunday 7th September
A weekend of folk music, dance workshops, ceilidhs, and family fun on the Swanage seafront. Headliners include Kate Griffin, Mike McGoldrick, and Bonfire Radicals.

Dorset Wine Festival, Royal Bath Hotel, Bournemouth
Saturday 6th September – Sunday 7th September
Two days of wine, culture, and community, with tastings, performances, and expert talks.

Tuesday

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!

80s Fancy Dress Quiz Night, The New Inn, Oakdale, 8pm
A new monthly quiz night with a retro twist. Dress 80s for a chance to win prizes and enjoy cash rewards for top teams.

The Poole Pirates v Redcar Bears, Poole Stadium, 7:30pm
The Poole 'Wessex Marine' Pirates will host the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-final on TUESDAY 9th September at 7.30pm

Wednesday

Live Music: Almost Nearly Famous, Bermuda Triangle Pub, Ashley Cross, 8:30pm-10:30pm
An evening of live music in Ashley Cross with Almost Nearly Famous.

Thursday

New World vs Old World Wine Dinner, Hotel Du Vin, 7pm-9pm
A five-course wine-paired dinner exploring Old vs New World wines. £79.95pp.
Book now

The ELO Show, Lighthouse, Poole, 7:30pm
The world’s greatest tribute to Jeff Lynne and E.L.O with full band and string section.
Book tickets

Live Music: Aaron O’Shea, The Bricklayers, 8pm
Come and hear live music during happy hour!

Friday

Live Music: The Harry Skinner Band, Bermuda Triangle Pub, Ashley Cross, 9pm-11pm
Blues and roots from The Harry Skinner Band in Ashley Cross.

Saturday

The Tandy Presents Low Tide, The Tandy, Sandbanks, from 9pm
Balearic and deep house beats by DJ George Long with 2-for-1 cocktails 9–11pm.

Bournemouth Brick Festival, Bournemouth International Centre, 10am-4pm
A LEGO fan’s dream with displays, activities, traders, and speed-building competitions.

Bournemouth Comic Con, Bournemouth International Centre, 10am-4pm
Meet sci-fi stars, explore cosplay competitions, and shop for collectibles. Guests include Brian Blessed and Hattie Hayridge.

Sunday

Lillie’s Self-Love Sauna Socials, Poole, 9:30am
A restorative morning with yoga, sauna, and cold water therapy in a serene setting.
Book your place

Live Music: Outlandish, The Tap & Grape, Broadstone, evening
An eclectic mix of folk, world, and funk from three multi-instrumentalists.

Live Music: James Hunter Acoustics, Bermuda Triangle Pub, Ashley Cross, 4pm-6pm
Acoustic vibes to wrap up your weekend.

Monday

Pub Quiz Night – Bermuda Triangle Pub, 7.30–10.30pm
£3 entry includes quiz and bar snacks. Friendly fun to start the week.

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That’s it! See you next week!