Arts by the Sea Festival returns for 2023

Bournemouth’s annual celebration of arts and culture has announced its 2023 dates and theme.

Arts by the Sea Festival will return to the resort’s beaches, gardens and outdoor spaces from Friday September 29 to Sunday October 1.

This year’s theme is ‘Moment’.

Its concept will be woven into a mix of large-scale spectaculars, music, film, art and dance with guests invited to take a moment, be present, and notice the world around them.

Arts by the Sea Festival attracts around 120,000 people.

Tor Byrnes, Artistic Director, pictured left, said: “This year we’re really inviting every participant to find their own unique piece of joy, stillness, flow or movement in their own Moment.

“It’s up to you whether you share that, keep it as a personal present or connect with others as a collective experience.”

More than 100 local and national artists, performers and musicians are expected to take part in the 2023 festival.

Arts by the Sea was originally launched in 2011 by Bournemouth Council (now BCP Council).

• artsbythesea.co.uk or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @artbythesea.

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Bike and board shop to stage second annual open day

A Christchurch bike and board shop is staging its second annual open day this Saturday, April 15.

Guardhouse Sports, located in the Grade 2 listed Guardhouse on Barrack Road, is collaborating with several businesses to mount the event.

All proceeds will go to Amelia’s Rainbow which supports children in Dorset with disabilities or serious, chronic or terminal illnesses.

Attractions include:

• Guided demo rides with the latest bikes to try from Yeti Cycles and Mondraker.
• New product displays with Marin Bikes, Muc-Off, Beachbum, Jobe SUP, Big Bobble Hats and FatStick Boards.
• Riding skills from Urban Displays, cars on show with Kustom Kolors and food and drink from Ricky’s Southbourne.

Guardhouse Sports was launched by father of two Ian Wagman, pictured right, after he sunk a six-figure sum, including all his redundancy, into the new venture.

He said: “Despite the tricky trading conditions since we opened 18 months ago we have managed to successfully establish and grow the business and our offer and have attracted some of the UK’s leading brands in bike and board sports.”

The open day is from 10am to 5pm.

All are welcome.

• guardhousesports.com

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New hospitality initiative to have first UK challenge in Bournemouth

A new hospitality initiative is to hold its first UK challenge in Bournemouth this September.

Fit for Hospitality aims to provide practical support for those in the industry on how to work on their physical and mental wellbeing.

It will also stage free to enter challenges and events across the UK.

Founder Simon Maguire, pictured left, spent decades in hospitality, most recently as MD of Luxury Family Hotels, and now heads up hospitality leadership training for West Peak.

Inspired by his own personal industry experiences, he is on a mission to support fitness and wellbeing within hospitality with exercise and challenges providing not only a goal to work towards but a sense of achievement.

To kick start the initiative, Fit for Hospitality is organising a 5k or 10k fundraising run on Thursday September 21.

The race will take place along Bournemouth beach promenade and is open to anyone who works in hospitality.

There are 600 free places on a first-come basis, with participants encouraged to sign-up and raise funds for Room to Reward, Hospitality Action and Springboard.

Simon said: “Each of these charities are crucial in supporting not only those working within hospitality, but also the unsung heroes within our communities.”

Sponsors for the event are Umbrella Training Limited, Harri, Thissaway and WPA Health Insurance.

More details can be found by clicking here.