Hello Poole!

It’s Half Term Halloween week and there’s no shortage of spooky fun! From Bunty the Bone Dog’s adventure trail and Day of the Dead festivities at The Dolphin, to eerie ghost walks, parties and live music across town, there’s something for everyone. We’re also celebrating local success stories, from Mark Bennett’s national baking wins to Poole Pirates’ brilliant season.

Enjoy!

PooleNow is proudly sponsored by Bournemouth One radio station – and right now you can bag half-price vouchers for local restaurants, gyms and more at vouchers.bournemouthone.com

🕸️ Half-Term Fun Across Poole

Families across Poole can look forward to a fun October half-term packed with spooky trails, creative workshops and autumn adventures for all ages.

👻 Upton Country Park
Up until Sunday 2 November, join Bunty the Bone Dog on a spooky quest to recover their missing bones. Trail maps (£4.50 including a cuddly prize) are available daily from the new Welcome Centre. Expect riddles, puzzles and face painting.

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💀 Poole Museum
Even before reopening, Poole Museum is brimming with creative, spooky activities and storytelling for families this half-term. Full details

🎭 Activate Performing Arts at Lighthouse Poole
On Thursday 30 and Friday 31 October, children aged 7–14 can enjoy two days of workshops in dance, rap, theatre, poetry and puppetry, all led by professional performers and musicians. Book here.

⚽ BCP Leisure
Local leisure centres are offering a range of family fun — from Holiday Sports Heroes at 2 Riversmeet (28–30 Oct) to a Spook Zone soft play at Kings Park, and free Ladies Junior Rugby trials at Ashdown Leisure Centre.

🎬 Purbeck Film Festival
Running until 2 November, Dorset’s much-loved film festival returns with Sir Sam Mendes as patron and more than 90 screenings across 31 venues.

🏁 Poole Pirates Celebrate a Remarkable Season

It wasn’t quite the treble they hoped for — but the Poole Wessex Marine Pirates still have plenty to be proud of after a thrilling end to the season.

Following a tense BSN Series Final against Redcar Bears, Poole were pipped by just two points on aggregate after the teams drew on the night at Wimborne Road.

Manager Neil Middleditch praised the team’s spirit, saying:

The Pirates’ campaign saw them retain the SGB Cab Direct Championship title and lift another trophy earlier in the year. Despite heartbreak in the final, their consistency, teamwork and resilience once again proved why Poole remains one of speedway’s strongest clubs.

🥐 Double Win for Patisserie Mark Bennett

A huge congratulations to Patisserie Mark Bennett, who scooped two national awards at the Baking Industry Awards 2025!

🏆 Speciality Bread Product of the Year – French Onion Soup Loaf
🏆 New Bakery Product of the Year – Dirty Chai, Chocolate & Pistachio Babka

Owner Mark Bennett dedicated the win to Andy Hayman, the bakery’s late manager and long-time colleague. An amazing achievement for one of Poole’s best-loved local businesses.

🎨 ‘Poole’ Autumn Exhibition by PEDAS

The Gallery Upstairs, Upton Country Park | 17 Oct – 3 Nov

Members of Poole & East Dorset Art Society (PEDAS) showcase what Poole means to them in a beautiful exhibition celebrating the town’s people, history and coastline.

We popped by for a visit and will be posting a preview of some the amazing artwork on our social media pages soon. It is definitely worth checking out!

Free entry, open daily 10am–4:30pm.

🌐 New Operators for Poole Tourism

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole’s official tourism websites are getting a new lease of life as BCP Council steps back from destination marketing.

The Destination Management Board and Christchurch Town Council have formed a new group, Bournemouth and Poole Tourism, which will run the area’s websites and social media with local agency Soul Motion.

Local firms are being invited to join the Bournemouth and Poole Tourism Partnership Scheme, which offers enhanced listings, advertising opportunities and inclusion in future marketing campaigns.

💼 Meet the Funder – Business Growth Dorset Event

10 November 2025 | The Kings Arms, Dorchester

Local businesses are invited to Meet the Funder, hosted by Evolve in partnership with Business Growth Dorset and the British Business Bank. Hear from national and regional funders including Dorset Business Angels, Foresight Group, FSE Group, Angel Investors Bristol and Innovate UK Business Growth.

The panel will be chaired by Warren Munson, Founder of Evolve, and offers a rare opportunity to explore grant, equity and debt funding, network over lunch, and book one-to-one chats with funders.

Free to attend, booking essential.
🔗 Book here

🌊 Support us at PooleNow

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🏡 PooleNow Property Pick

Would you like to live in 400-year-old Jacobean mansion house? Of course you would 👉 View the property

🏘️ 116 Homes Planned for Constitution Hill

BCP Council has unveiled plans to transform Constitution Hill in Parkstone with 116 new affordable homes and 12 specialist units for social rent.

The redevelopment includes landscaped gardens, play spaces, and improved accessibility, with cycle storage and biodiversity-focused design.

Still in early stages, the project will go to Cabinet and Council in the new year for approval.

Find out more and share your views on the consultation site:
🔗 haveyoursay.bcpcouncil.gov.uk

🗳️Poole Town Council Priorities

If you haven’t yet voted on what you think the new town council’s priorities should be, please do so below. Will be reporting on the results soon!

3 Local stories you might have missed

1. Council to regain control of Upton Park Farm – Bournemouth One

2. Coastal defence renewal works under way in Bournemouth - BBC News

3. New therapies centre opens in Poole – Bournemouth One

Last week 36% of readers knew that The Arndale Centre was renamed The Dolphin Centre in 1989, so keeping up with theme, do you know when The Arts Centre was renamed?

💀 Day of the Dead Celebrations Return to The Dolphin

After last year’s spectacular success, The Dolphin’s Día de Los Muertos celebration returns on Friday 31 October, from 10am–4pm.

Expect live Mariachi parades, vibrant performances, face painting, and storytelling throughout the day. Come dressed in your brightest colours to celebrate life, love and memory under the glowing marigold archway.

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

Multiple Days

Bunty the Bone Dog’s Halloween Adventure Trail, Upton Country Park, Sat 25 Oct – Sun 2 Nov, 10am–3pm
Follow Bunty’s spooky trail to recover missing bones, solve riddles, and win a cuddly prize. £4.50 per trail map.

Poole & East Dorset Art Society Autumn Exhibition, The Gallery Upstairs, Upton Country Park, Fri 17 Oct – Mon 3 Nov, 10am–4:30pm
Paintings capturing “What Poole means to me.” Free entry.

Autumnal Makers Market, Upton Country Park, Fri 31 Oct – Sat 1 Nov, 10am–4pm
Browse local artisan crafts and enjoy seasonal treats in the Walled Garden.

Poole Beer Festival, St Aldhelms Centre, Branksome, Fri 31 Oct – Sat 1 Nov
85+ beers and ciders, live music Saturday night, £10 per session.

We Rise Exhibition, Lighthouse Poole
Sat 20 Sept – Sat 1 Nov
Last chance to see this celebration of artists from the south coast, presented by Boscombe Radicle Arts Collective.

Meet Rembrandt: Slow Looking Experience, Kingston Lacy
12 Sept – 16 Nov
Take time with Rembrandt’s Self-portrait in a Feathered Bonnet in an intimate, slow-looking setting.

Tuesday

Halloween Special Live Music Showcase, The Tap & Grape, 7.30pm
The Acoustic Connection hosts local talent in a relaxed live music night. Free entry.

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

Mark Thompson’s Spectacular Science Show, Lighthouse, 2.30pm
Awarded ‘Best Kid’s Show at Edinburgh Fringe’ by The Derek Awards, this interactive show promises to entertain and educate in the most spectacular way

Almost Nearly Famous, Bermuda Triangle Pub, 8:30–10:30pm
Lively covers and pub classics at Ashley Cross.

Halloween Phaser Night, Lemur Landings, 6:30pm
Spooky phaser tag adventure for ages 6–11.

Thursday

Justin Live – Justin Time To Rock, Lighthouse, 11am and 2.30pm
Get ready to sing, dance and laugh along with BAFTA Award-winning Justin Fletcher, star of Something Special

Skinny Malinky’s TACO Thursday, Bermuda Triangle Pub, from 5pm
Taco night returns – when it’s gone, it’s gone! 🌮

Autumn Nocturnal Discovery Walk, Upton Country Park, 4:30–6:30pm
Join Dorset Bat Group for a guided wildlife walk. £6 per person, fancy dress encouraged.

Live and Unheard, Lighthouse, 7.30pm
Three more highly rated music acts have a rare opportunity to experience a larger stage

The Remarkable Ben Hart, Lighthouse, 7.45pm
Is it magic? Is it psychology? Or has Ben Hart uncovered something far more remarkable?

Friday

Day of the Dead Celebrations, The Dolphin, 10am–4pm
Live Mariachi, face painting and stories in a joyful community celebration.

Halloween Afternoon Tea, Upton House, sittings 12–2pm & 3–5pm
Classic tea with a spooky twist. Booking essential.

HarBOO!r Kids Halloween Party, Harbour View Bar & Kitchen, 2pm
Spooky games, crafts and snacks – limited tickets!

Pumpkin Party, The Grasshopper, 1:45pm
Sensory play, disco and glow fun for little ones.

Nightmare on Parr Street, The Bricklayers, from 6pm
Live music from Running Wylde, prizes for best costume and free entry.

Blue Boar Halloween Disco, Market Close, 8pm
Fancy dress, buffet, £20 tickets include drink and hamper draw.

Ghost Walk with Granny & Cockle, Poole Old Town, 8pm
Discover haunted tales on a guided night walk. Get haunted

HALLOWEEN PARTY, Bermuda Triangle Pub, 7:30pm–1am
Fancy dress, live band, DJs and chaos on the dance floor.

Saturday

Polaris 34 Squads Final, Lighthouse, 2.30pm
Established in 2015 Polaris has been showcasing professional jiujitsu to fans across the world for almost a decade. Teams will clash, legends will rise, and only one team will be crowned Polaris Champions!

Spooky Soirée, The Larder House, Southbourne, from 7pm
Pier Journal presents a two-floor Halloween takeover with cocktails and costumes.

80s Halloween Party, S Bomb Vintage Workshop, 7:30pm
Dress up for a retro movie-themed night with DJ Cliff Knows Nothing.

Ghost Walk with Granny & Cockle, Poole Old Town, 8pm
Second night of spine-tingling storytelling.

Rattlesnake 'n' Tailfeathers, Bermuda Triangle Pub, 9–11pm
Live rock and roll energy in Ashley Cross.

Sunday

Surfers Against Sewage Beach Clean, Sandbanks Beach, 10–11:30am
Join the Million Mile Scream autumn beach clean.

Sunday Supper Club, Sage Bistro, 5–7pm
Cosy evening menu featuring baked cod and pear tart.

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!