Why the Spotlight on Dorset is Great News for Dorchester
Thursday, August 14th, 2014
Two Dorset locations (Bridport and Studland Bay) were included in the Times’ list of the top ten places to be seen this year, published last weekend.
While Dorset has always been loved and treasured by those who know it, the county is now starting to gain some serious wider recognition, with glowing write-ups in the broadsheets and big-name celebrities starting to discover its unique charms and lifestyle.
With Dorset now firmly on everyone’s radar, Dorchester can only benefit from the extra attention being shown to the county.
Situated right in the heart of Dorset, Dorchester showcases the very best the county has to offer, replete with history, character, a thriving cultural life and a real sense of community. Just a short drive away from stunning coastline and beaches, and with beautiful countryside right on the doorstep, it really is the perfect location.
Dorchester has become a place that people from across Dorset and further afield head to for shopping and family attractions. Visitors to Dorchester are spoilt for choice when it comes to independent shops, with an amazing selection of specialist and boutique outlets providing a unique, unbeatable shopping experience.
In the evening, the town offers a plethora of options for anyone looking for food, drinks and entertainment. We have an astonishing variety of international and local cuisines available here, from both prestigious chains and much-loved local independent restaurants. And if you’re looking for a really unforgettable dining experience, Dorchester is now home not only to Michelin starred restaurant Sienna, but also former Masterchef winner Matt Follas, based at the Casterbridge Hotel.
One of the most noticeable things for any visitor to Dorchester is that the town is so thoroughly embued with a sense of history. From the Roman ruins to the Georgian architecture of South Street, the past is always present here. Yet visitors will also find a town that looks forward as well as back, as evidenced by Brewery Square, the biggest retail and accommodation development in the South West. Dorchester is also a pioneer in new initiatives like the intelligent pay-on-exit parking system (backed by the BID), which uses number plate recognition in the first scheme of its kind in the UK.
Dorset’s time in the spotlight is long overdue, and Dorchester has all the assets and charms needed to be a major part of this revolution.
Can we make Dorchester the most wheelchair friendly county town in the country. I know we cannot do anything about the hills but basic access could be improved