Lyme Life Magazine - Winter 2022

I t ’s t h e m o s t w o n d e r f u l t i m e o f t h e y e a r !

Those hazy days of summer seem a distant memory but there is still plenty to look forward to in Lyme Regis From wave watching at the Cobb to the magical run up to Christmas winter is one of the most spectacular times of year to enjoy Dorset’s favourite seaside resort

In this edition of the Lyme Life Magazine, we bring you all you need to know about upcoming festive events from the Christmas lights switch on at the end of November to the Lyme Lunge on New Year’s Day, we have your Christmas holiday covered!

But aside from Christmas events, there is plenty more to enjoy in Lyme Regis this winter The quieter months are the perfect time to explore, so take a look at our special features on the historic Town Mill a hidden

gem in the centre of ‘Old Lyme’ and our Architectural Tour looking at some of the most interesting buildings in town, with thanks to the Lyme Regis Society

You can also enjoy a winter coastal walk between Lyme Regis and Charmouth with the third installment of our Lyme Life Walks feature, and we bring you the latest events coming up at the Marine Theatre the perfect place to escape the winter weather. We also share some of the best places to drink and dine that Lyme Regis has to offer in our Eating Out section, and we bring you all the dates for your diary so you can start planning for 2023!

CONTENTS

PAGES 4 5

A magical Christmas in Lyme Star t the festive season the best way with the switch on of Lyme’s Christmas lights

PAGE 6

Santa Claus is coming to town!

Find out where you can meet the big guy in red this Christmas

PAGE 8 9

Discover Lyme’s hidden gem

We explore the historic Town Mill the cultural hear t of Lyme Regis

PAGE 10

A Lyme Christmas tradition

It doesn’t get more festive than the annual Carols Round the Tree

PAGES 12 13

Lyme Life Walks

Follow our winter walk from Lyme to Charmouth and back along the beach

PAGE 14

New Year’s Day in Lyme Celebrate the New Year with the annual duck race and Lyme Lunge

PAGES 16 17

A Postcard from Lyme Look back at the highlights of 2022 in Dorset’s most popular resor t

PAGE 18

Winter at the Marine Theatre

Find out what’s coming up at Lyme’s little theatre by the sea

PAGE 20 22

An Architectural Tour of Lyme Take a closer look at some of Lyme’s most impressive and historic buildings

PAGES 24 29

Eating Out in Lyme Regis Feast on the best food and drink Lyme Regis has to offer this winter

PAGE 30

What’s On Get all the dates in your diar y for events in and around Lyme Regis this winter

Francesca Evans Editor

A magical Christmas in Ly me R eg i s

The steep and idyllic setting of Broad Street in Lyme Regis lends itself to creating one of the most magical dis plays of Christmas lights in the region

Now widely regarded one of the most admired displays in the South West, the illuminations never fail to draw in crowds and gasps of wonder from onlookers soaking up the seasonal atmosphere

Improving the town’s Christmas lights display was a long held ambition of six times Mayor of Lyme Regis, the late Barbara Austin MBE

She formed a small committee who worked tirelessly with her to ensure that Lyme Regis had one of the best displays for miles around

When Barbara died at the end of 2012, the committee decided to carry on her work and have continued to raise thousands of pounds each year to keep Barbara’s legacy alive

Now led by chairman Rob James, the committee has worked hard in recent years to purchase multiple sets of lights to rotate year on year, rather than renting the dis plays, including an ammonite theme centrepiece that is strung across the high street

They have also built up the big switch on event to be come one of the most popular and highly anticipated in

the local calendar, drawing in huge crowds of residents and visitors alike

This year ’ s display will be switched on on Saturday, November 26, starting this very special season in Lyme Regis

The festive extravaganza promises to be fun packed for all the family, with an illuminated carnival at 5pm fol lowed by a countdown to light up the town’s huge Christmas tree

A Christmas lantern making workshop will be held in Lyme Regis Baptist Church Hall from 2.30pm. Children and adults are invited to join in the fun and make a lantern This is a free event with all materials provided

At 4 15pm the judging of the lanterns will be held in the Baptist Church with prizes for best entries in each of the age categories Lanterns made at home as well as at the workshop are welcome to enter

The illuminated carnival will set off down Broad Street at 5pm, including the parade of lanterns, Lyme Regis Ma jorettes and Father Christmas on his sleigh

They will be led to Christmas tree at Bell Cliff at the bot tom Broad Street, where crowds will gather around the tree for the big switch on moment.

Santa Claus is coming to town

CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL & SANTA’S GROTTO

Father Christmas will be meeting children in his new grotto in Lyme Regis this December.

The grotto will be open on Saturday, December 17 and Sunday 18 at Lyme Regis Baptist Church Hall It costs £5 per chil to visit, including a certificate and small gift

Organised by Lyme Regis Regatta & Carnival Committee, online bookings for Santa’s Grotto slots will open nearer the time, so keep an eye on the website lymeregiscarnival co uk or search ‘Santa's Grotto Lyme Regis’ on Facebook for details

This event will tie in with the annual Christmas Tree Festival at the Baptist Church Hall, with all proceeds going to local good causes.

A stunning array of glittering Christmas trees decorated by local groups and organisations will be on display from December 16 to 18

Meander through a mini forest of sparkling trees adorned with lights and creatively decorated to reflect the theme of the organisation.

The magical spectacle which brings extra festive cheer to the town is free to attend, with any donations greatly received

Local groups and organisations are invited to secure their place at the festival. Full details are available via the website lymeregiscarnival.co.uk/christmastreefestival

Now in its 21st year, the Lyme Regis Charity Santa Sleigh will once again be making the rounds in the run up to Christmas

After making an appearance at the Christmas lights switch on on November 26, Father Christmas will be touring the town on December 11, 12 and 13 to meet children and families

This will be the twenty first year that Uplyme residents Neville and Sarah Causley and their family have run the sleigh, which brings joy to both children and adults alike, as well as raising thousands for local and national charities each year

This year ’ s chosen charities and the exact route have not yet been announced, but over the three nights Santa is expected to visit most residential streets in Lyme Regis, as well as stopping off in neighbouring Uplyme and Charmouth

So listen out for those festive tunes you ’ re sure to hear the sleigh before you see it!

LYME REGIS CHARITY SANTA SLEIGH

A hidden gem in the hear t of Ly me R eg i s

Dating back to at least 1340 and rebuilt in the 1600s following the English Civil War, the Town Mill is tucked away in ‘Old Lyme’ and is often described as the town’s “hidden gem ”

After hundreds of years of milling, it was closed down in the late 1920s and eventually left to deteriorate But some 70 years later, in the 1990s, a successful restoration project saw local volunteers raise more than £500,000 to save the building from dereliction Bit by bit the Town Mill was brought back to life and eventually the wooden water wheel started turning again

It continues to mill flour to this day, with volunteers still using traditional methods and the water mill, producing wholegrain wheat, rye and spelt flour, all available in the Town Mill shop along with a selection of baking kits and flour gift packs

An exclusive guided tour with one of the knowledgeable volunteer millers is the best way to experience the Town Mill You will visit all three floors of this historic building and your guide will talk about the history, restoration and present day working of the mill You’ll even get to see the working water wheel in action!

The hour long tours, held daily at 11 15am (subject to avail ability) also include a demonstration of the milling process to show you how flour is made the traditional way You will also have the opportunity to get hands on at interac tive points, including raising a sack hoist and milling grain

Tours cost £10 per adult, discounted to £8 for groups of 6+, and are free for under 16s Tickets are limited so pre book by calling 01297 444042 or you can email info@townmill org uk

It’s not just the mill itself that you’ll find at this historic site, as the attraction has become a hub for independent, artisan businesses Buy unique gifts from handmade jew ellery to natural seaweed art, watch the potters at work or take a sewing class with Sew La Di Da Vintage

The Malthouse Gallery is a unique and sought after exhi bition space hosting a varied arts programme throughout the year With over 55,000 visitors annually, the gallery at tracts both established and emerging artists, many with work available to purchase

One of the most popular additions to the Town Mill com plex is Lyme Regis Brewery The micro brewery has been crafting award winning artisan beers on the Jurassic Coast since 2010, and a new team who took over in 2018 has turned it into one of the trendiest spots in town

Set in an idyllic cobbled courtyard right next to the ancient mill, the brewery is perfectly complimented by The Straw berr y Tree, ser ving up authentic Spanish tapas in its newly extended restaurant, including outdoor seating in the tranquil millers’ garden

There’s certainly plenty to explore, so plan your visit today at www townmill org uk

A Lyme Ch ristmas t radit ion

The annual Carols Round the Tree is one of the longest running traditions in Lyme Regis a festive favourite with residents, visitors and those who re turn home to be with family for the Christmas holi day

Having been organised by the Rotary Club of Lyme Regis for more than 60 years, the event underwent a two year hiatus during the coronavirus pandemic, but is scheduled to return this year on Friday, December 23 at 7pm.

Hundreds are expected to gather around the town’s huge Christmas tree at The Shambles, at the bottom of Broad Street, and join in singing traditional Christ mas carols in an event that never fails to warm the heart

Carols will be led by Lyme Regis Town Band, with town crier and presidents of the Rotary Club, Alan Vian, acting as MC for the evening Among those to take part will be the Mayor of Lyme Regis, Cllr Michaela Ellis, and her consort. Due to the popularity

of the event, the road will be closed for safety and song sheets will be provided so all can join in the fes tivities

All are welcome to this free event, with a collection in aid of Rotary charities Christmas street collections will also be held in Lyme Regis on December 22 and 23, and in Charmouth on Christmas Eve, to raise funds for Lyme Heartbeat, which supplies and maintains public use defibrillators around the town, and other Rotary charities.

Fresh bread from Leakers of Bridport and Pauls Bakery of Seaton Award-winning Chunk of Devon pasties

Fresh coffee from The Coffee Factory Delicious bakes from Spongbakes Cakes

Range of fresh sandwiches, baguettes, soups and specials made in-house Selection of cheeses, charcuterie and artisan products

Lyme Life Walks with Clare Mackenney

Lyme Regis to Charmouth Coastal Walk

Start: Charmouth Road car park, Lyme Regis DT7 3DW and finish on Lyme Regis seafront

Distance: Approximately 4.5 miles, 2 2 ½ hours

Walking from Lyme Regis to Charmouth has become a much better experience as you may have read about the improvements to the coast path

Many years after being diverted due to the original route becoming unstable from landslides and cliff erosion, a new path has been instated

Dorset Council worked together with Lyme Regis Golf Club who generously gifted land on the edge of the golf course Together with the local community and South West Coast Path volunteers, the new route was designed Here, I have suggested a 4 5 mile circular walk from Lyme Regis to Charmouth, making use of the new coastal path route There is a mixture of pavements, quiet roads and some sections across the golf course and woodland path The return along the beach is a fantastic alternative but you must plan your walk by checking the tide times it is not very easy if the tide is high and you may even be cut off in places

On this walk, enjoy fabulous coastal views, a chance for some beach combing and fossil hunting plus not one but two Mar y Anning statues, this walk has something for everyone

Where to start?

Wherever you start there are hills! You may want to de

cide how much hill you want at the start or the end, our suggestion if parking is the long stay car park on Char mouth Road which is a good compromise

Through The Spittles

Head out of the Charmouth Road carpark and follow the footpath uphill for 150 metres A few metres after the en trance to the football club on the same side of the road, you will see a footpath sign and gate in the hedge point ing uphill across the field to what is locally known as The Spittles

Heading this way is through a fairly steep field and some woodland (well known for it’s lovely bluebell displays in the Spring) bringing you out onto Timber Hill If it looks too muddy you can continue walking up the main road instead (about ¼ mile), then turn right to reach the same point

Don’t forget to turn around and admire the views of the town and coastline behind you

Timber Hill Road

Continue up along Timber Hill for ½ mile note that this is a fairly quiet road but there is no pavement Go past the entrance to the golf club and join back with the main road (A3052) Continue for another 100 meters along the pavement until you see footpath signs on the right for the Coast Path

Across the Golf Course

Head straight across the golf course following the coast path signs You leave the golf course round the edge of a putting green and then take the new path through the woods (Langmoor Coppice)

After a short distance you will come across the imposing statue of Marr y Anning by Greta Berlin ( What3Words location is totally ruby thickens)

Ver y different from other depictions of Mar y Anning, here she is younger, forthright, determined hammer in hand, apparently found in a rubbish landslide on the beach Making the statue even more dramatic is the ichthyosaur on her head; a find she would have been so proud of but also representing the struggles and oppression of women at the time, as well as the unfairness of how Mary’s discoveries where not properly paid for or credited to her amongst the elite gentlemen of the era

A view of the Coast

The new route is a great improvement; in the next section you are saved from straying golf balls by a new fence around the golf course Previously the route dropped back onto the main road and there was no view of the coast on this walk once you had left Lyme Regis

Now, as you come to the top of Charmouth with the golf course to your right, take the small detour to the top of the cliff known as Black Ven (not too close as it’s a sheer drop below) The view is fantastic looking back across towards the Spittles to the East Beach defence walls and the Cobb in the distance

Into Charmouth

You may feel that this is a good place to turn around and retrace your steps if you prefer a shorter walk To continue, follow the lanes through the houses down into Charmouth Hopefully you will come out round the back of Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre and the café will be open for a cuppa or an ice cream

Back Along the Beach

As previously mentioned, it is essential to check the tide times for the second half of the beach walk If unsure, the Heritage Coast Centre can help advise on the best times

When you have ensure it is safe, walk out all the way out along Charmouth West Beach and then the easiest option is to hug the land around the end of this beach section as the coastline bends round towards Lyme Regis At low tide there is then a nice sandy beach to walk back along up the defence wall get it wrong an you’ll be walking through back sludge at the bottom of the cliff, or even calling the coastguard!

Mar y Anning (again)

Follow the coastal defence walk back towards the town and you will soon meet the other Mary Anning A beautiful representation of yet another determined (less fraught) Mary looking out towards the cliff with her trusty dog by her side This statue was made pos sible by the remarkable fundraising campaign of Mary Anning Rocks, initiated by a local student, and was in May 2022

From here if you have time head to Lyme Regis Museum and learn more about the sci ence behind the coast, the life of Mary Anning, famous authors and local history (open daily 10am 4pm)

You can extend your walk out to The Cobb, around the town or double back on yourself and take the steps up to the start point of Charmouth Road car park

Clare Mackenney is the creator and author of the Flip Flops or Wellies blog, which promotes attractions, activities and days out in the West Dorset and East devon area Visit her website www flipflopsor wellies com for lots more local walking routes

Photo by Glenn Patrick

The iconic Lyme Lunge will return to Lyme Regis beach on New Year’s Day, and a fancy dress dip in the balmy waters of Lyme Bay is just the thing to lift your spirits the morning after

Organised by the Rotary Club of Lyme Regis, the Lunge has raised more than £30,000 for local and national charities over the past 10 years It is now the most popular way to welcome the

New Year in Lyme Regis, with hundreds joining the dash to the sea each year, watched by crowds of thousands

Swimmers will parade their costumes on the beach before a quick dash to the sea at 1pm sharp and they don’t stay in long, so make sure you get there in plenty of time!

Full details and sponsorship forms will be avail able at lymeregisrotary.org

Before heading down to the beach for the New Year’s Day Lunge, don’t miss the annual duck race in aid of Lyme Regis Christmas Lights Committee The race will start from Windsor Terrace at 12noon and fnish on the bridge outside Jordan Flats, just a short walk from the seafront and should fnish in plenty of time to get to the Lyme Lunge Ducks are available to buy for £1 each at lymechrist maslights co uk/buyducks or may be available to purchase at the start line depending on availability

ARMS

LYME REGIS

Our contemporary new menus combine pub classics with enticing specials, making the most of the freshest, seasonal ingredients.

Behind the bar you’ll ind award-winning beers, Dorset ciders, ine wine by the glass, classic cocktails and barista Illy coffee.

Three luxury en suite bed & breakfast rooms just a few steps from the beach and harbour. Find the perfect gift with Abode Interiors at The Cobb Arms - a wide range of antique and contemporary furniture & interiors on sale. Find us opposite the famous Cobb harbour in Lyme Regis

Postcards from another year in Dorset’s most popular resort

Having recovered from the coronavirus pandemic, 2022 has been a year to celebrate in Lyme Regis, with a full programme of all the favourite festivals and events, plus some one ofs including the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend and the unveiling of the Mary Anning statue Pictured clockwise from above youngsters in the Easter Bonnet Parade; the popular junior parkrun is launched in February; all sparkles in the carnival procession; celebrating the Queen’s jubilee; Gail McGarva leads a boat launch in March; a colourful entry as 2022 is kicked of with the Lyme Lunge

The unveiling of the Mary Anning statue was watched by hundreds Below, Candles on the Cobb returned at the end of August Left, ifeboat crew members and their children dressed up as pirates during Lifeboat Week in July Top left, street theatre during the Fossil Festival in May, and below left, live music at Lyme Folk Weekend in September

Winter under the twinkling lights of the Marine

With colder, winter nights drawing in, we ’ re all looking for a remedy to lift the spirits With its twinkling lights, cosy atmosphere and wide rang ing programme, a trip to the Marine Theatre is just the ticket!

From live music to comedy, theatre, film screen ings and community events, Lyme’s little theatre by the sea offers something to suit all tastes

This winter, the Marine is doing its bit to help with the rising cost of living by offering free community events for senior citizens with its ‘Senior Mo ments’ project

The theatre hopes to actively engage with the se nior community through a series of 10 artistic ac tivities and events, encouraging inclusivity, creativity and joyful expression amongst older people, in Lyme Regis and the surrounding area a tonic of happiness after Covid 19

The events will be documented on film, which will in clude interviews on the thoughts, experiences and mem ories of seniors, and sometimes younger people The final event of the series will be the screening of the film at the theatre and they will also be available for residential homes for those that are not able to travel.

Having already hosted a well attended tea dance, up coming events in the ‘Senior Moments’ programme in clude a Vintage Tea Party on Tuesday, November 22, from 2pm to 4pm

Relax and enjoy listening to the fabulous singer, Kate Mullins, performing songs of yesteryear. Singing along will be very much encouraged and complimentary re

freshments and cake will be available

A Christmas cabaret will follow on Friday, December 2 at 2pm Charlie Bicknell and Louise Innes deliver a little taste of Christmas, showcasing excerpts from their pro duction 'Snow Angel' Expect something a little bit differ ent from Bing Crosby, and for goodness sake don't ask for trifle!

This will be followed by the full performance of ‘Snow Angel’ on the evening of Friday, December 2, with open ing at doors 6 30pm and tickets costing £16 in advance

A shamelessly festive cabaret show celebrating all that is Christmassy, featuring music from Michael Bublé and Tiny Tim to Frozen mashups and the return of the small and ever popular Eskimo Mad capped, joyous and at times preposterous, this is an

evening of festive frivolity with a tiny sparkle of magic that will delight the unhinged and charm the pants of everyone else.

The festive theme will continue on Saturday, De cember 10 with the Marine Theatre’s annual free yuletide film, this year being the Oscar winning ‘Miracle on 34th Street’, with doors opening at 6pm

After a divorced New York mother hires a nice old man to play Santa Claus at Macy's, she is startled by his claim to be the genuine article. When his sanity is questioned, a lawyer defends him in court by arguing that he's not mistaken

There will be a change in tempo on Friday, Decem ber 16 when legendary ska act Bad Manners will perform in what is expected to be a sell out show, with doors opening at 7pm and tickets costing £24

Featuring vocalist Buster Bloodvessel, Band manners were at the forefront of the ska revival movement in England in the late 1970s They quickly became the nov elty favourites of the fad through their frontman's silly on stage antics, earning early exposure through 2 Tone Records package tours and an appearance in the live doc umentary Dance Craze

The Marine Theatre will close the year with back to back screenings of two Christmas classics Raymond Briggs’ ‘The Snowman’ and Julia Donaldson’s ‘Stick Man’ on Tuesday, December 20, with doors opening at 1pm and tickets for the double bill costing £6

Keep your eyes peeled for exciting announcements of more events at the Marine Theatre in 2023!

Architectural Tour

ENJOY AN OF LYME REGIS

Lyme Regis is home to some beautiful archi tecture that has been preser ved and cared for over the years

The Lyme Regis Society aims to retain the beauty and architectural integrity of this his toric town and its local surroundings, and here has picked a few of the many There are many buildings of note, taking a closer look at their features and histor y

The Cobb

Where better place to start than Lyme’s most historic landmark the curved Cobb harbour, at the western end of the seafront Edward I (1272 1307) encouraged mer chants to build a harbour called ‘Le Cobb’, although there must have been an earlier one as wine was being im ported to Lyme in 1254

The Cobb was first built of wood and then later in stone and has been fortified at different times The oldest visi ble part of the Cobb may date to about 1550 but most of the breakwater we see today was built (and re built) be tween 1785 and 1826 Prior to 1826 the Cobb had been breached by many great storms during which boats and houses were washed away and lives lost

The low squat building on the Cobb consists of a two storey stone and wood clad building dating from 1723 containing rooms used for training, facilities for the fish ing community and a freezer facility for storing fish The aquarium has also been housed in this building since 1958

The Cobb is part of the sturdy stone sea defences that curl round to protect the harbour, the buildings along the shoreline and the sandy and pebble beaches, or ‘Front’ beach At the very end of the Cobb, massive stone blocks further help reduce the impact of waves and sea erosion

Plans are under way for a programme of stabilisations works in the near future to upgrade the Grade I listed Cobb

Sundial House

Sundial House on Marine Parade was built in 1901 in the ‘Arts and Crafts’ style It was designed by Arnold Mitchell (1863 1944), an architect who built or altered several houses in Lyme It has four stories and a basement, with a sundial prominently featured above the ground floor window

At the time it was built, Sundial was the tallest building on Marine Parade and the last house along the seafront, next to Librar y Cottage With its striking stone tower like structure, the originally exposed west side look like a castle tower until The Bay Hotel was built next door in 1924

Edward Ffooks (1859 1932), a Sherborne solicitor, owned the house from 1903 and used it during the summer hol idays, at Easter and occasional weekends When the fam ily was not in residence, the house was let furnished and with a cook caretaker

The lead covered staircase is an interesting detail, as is the house being let when the family weren’t there, but holiday homes have a long history in Lyme

The golden colour of the house comes from the Ham stone used for the window bays, door surrounds, etc but

most of the stonework is a mixture of chert, pale lime stone and even the local lias, which also provided the prominent fossils Mitchell’s obituary claims that it was “largely built from stones and fossils collected from the foreshore over which some argument with the Local Authority is believed to have arisen”

Library Cottage

Immediately to the east of Sundial House is Library Cot tage (pictured on page 20), built in the 1830s in Regency seaside style The building opened as the Marine Circu lating Library in 1839 with a reading room overlooking the sea In addition to providing new and popular books, the library also offered daily and weekly newspapers and other periodicals

Library Cottage is unusual in having had two very differ ent frontages over its 180 year life The original slate roofed Library Cottage was rather plain, apart from the two, two storey bay windows which had over sized roofs at both levels In 1936/37 the cottage’s appearance was completely changed when older decorative French lead work was added to the front The bay windows were pre served, shorn of their amazing roofs, and the main slate roof altered and thatched

The decorative leadwork on the front reportedly had been used by the architect Arnold Mitchell at Little Cliff, Sid mouth Road, before it was moved here, according to au thor John Fowles, or may possibly have come from France originally Mitchell also designed the stunning plaster work ceilings inside the house

The 1840 Directory describes the owner, John England, as ‘Bath Proprietor, Bookseller, Stationer, and Public Library’ The England family ran the Library and the Baths in Ar gyle Cottage next door to Librar y from about 1834 and they also had a monopoly on bathing machines in 1834 The family’s business seemed mostly based around the tourist trade baths, library, bathing machines, lodgings and a small school The library closed in the later 19th cen tury, but the cottage kept the old name and survived re markably unchanged

The Three Cups Hotel

From the late 18th century the ‘original’ Three Cups Hotel was a building on the opposite side of Broad Street to the current Three Cups, at the bottom of the hill on the site of what is now The Sanctuary Bookshop Following a fire in 1844 which destroyed the building, the ‘ new ’ Three Cups took over the name

The building which became the ‘ new ’ Three Cups was built around 1807 as a boarding house called Hiscott s then one of the largest buildings in Lyme It had an eye catching three storey porch but was otherwise quite plain The rendered band on the porch at first floor level had the name lettered on it

In the early 19th century, boarding houses and hotels were a new phenomenon taking overnight business from the more traditional inns Hiscott’s was cheaper and less grand than the original Three Cups

In the 1848 Directory, Hiscott’s was listed as The Three Cups and Mrs Mar y Heatherington, the licensee of the original Three Cups, had taken the building over and brought the old name with her

In September 1867 Tennyson, the Poet Laureate, stayed at Miller’s Cups Hotel The name at this time had lost the ‘Three’ but gained the landlord’s name Other illustrious guests are said to have included Henr y Wadsworth Longfellow, Charlie Chaplin, Hilaire Belloc and G K Chesterton, and J R R Tolkien

The Three Cups is now owned by Bridport based Palmers Brewery and is grade II listed It has stood empty since it closed for business in May 1990 and Palmers still have plans to re develop it

The Philpot Museum

The Philpot Museum was commissioned by Ted Philpot, designed by George Vialls and built in 1900/1 The mu seum occupies the site of the house in Cockmoile Square, where fossil hunter Mary Anning was born Vialls’ design was in the northern European renaissance style and con sidered very grand

In 1918 the building passed to Ted Philpot’s niece Caroline, who donated it to the town, although it wasn’t until 1921 that it opened just two rooms as a museum During the Second World War the museum ’ s collections were packed up and the ground floor used as an Air Raid Protection post From the end of WWII the museum went into de cline until well into the 1960s

The building’s proximity to the sea wall meant that the elaborate east wing felt the full force of the weather and it was demolished for safety reasons in the 1960s Its replace ment was not quite as magnificent, but more practical, and a new staircase was added as additional access to the top floor, which greatly reduced the display area In 1988 the museum went through huge building works and a refresh of the displays, completed for Mary Anning’s 200th birth day

Between 1993 and 1999 the building was cleared of its col lections, stripped of its floors and replastered The east wing ‘loggia’ was glassed in to create the modern day en trance and shop All the galleries were re designed

The new seaward extension, ‘The Mary Anning Wing’, was added in 2017 when the museum benefitted from a Lottery grant amongst other monies to extend the building with a glass and zinc covered wedge

The Guildhall

In 1275 Edward I granted the people of Lyme the right to have a Guild In the early 19th century, the ground floor of

the Guidhall housed a butcher's shop and the western end was a prison, for men on the lower level and women above In the 1880s, this lower section was converted into a store for the town's fire engines The upper floor com prised three rooms: the council chamber, the muniments room (which held extensive borough records) and the courtroom, accessed through the butcher's shop by way of a staircase

In the 1880s, town councillor Thomas Philpot proposed that the Guildhall should be rebuilt to mark the jubilee of Queen Victoria and the architect George Vialls was en gaged The exterior of the new building incorporated the Venetian windows (with some minor alterations) that graced the former courtroom The major work included the construction of the tower, staircase and mayor's par lour, and an open arcaded market The prison’s iron stud ded door and grated window were retained The opportunity was taken to set back the north wall as part of the widening of Bridge Street

The courtroom, now the town council chamber, on the first floor was recreated with a higher ceiling and the wooden wall panelling from the former building was in stalled and supplemented The Mayor’s Parlour is the for mer muniments room The former council chamber was located where the present staircase stands The stone coat of arms behind the mayor's seat is of Charles II

Today the Guidhall still hosts council and civic meetings and events including weddings

The Marine Theatre

The exposed site on the eastern edge of the town was empty until 1806 when Giles Davies built the ‘Davies Baths’ with a ground floor reading room above In 1824 the building was sold but remained as baths, with the reading room also used for public events, dinners and bazaars Jefferd’s Baths continued appearing in the Directories until 1855 The exposed site right on the sea had problems with the sea walls in front failing in the 1850s

From the 1860s the ‘Volunteers’, (local soldiers), were common and Lyme had a very ac tive group In the 1890s a local benefactor bought the site and had a large drill hall built for the Volunteers to train and drill in

The new wooden building was designed by George Vialls, had a stage for theatre, and was lit with gas From 1920 the Drill Hall Theatre was used for theatre performances The hall also showed films, being fitted for sound in about 1929 In the later 1930s the frontage was adapted to make it simpler and more modern, was rendered and renamed The Marine Cinema

During World War II the Marine Cinema was used as the American Forces canteen The building was purchased by the Town Council in 1960, and in 1962 the renovated ‘Marine Theatre’ re opened

In 2001 the people of Lyme Regis voted by referendum for a charitable trust to take over the Marine Theatre, and 2003 saw the Marine transferred to the Lyme Arts Community Trust

The Regent Cinema

The plain, square proportion of the rendered facade in subdued classical style, topped with a bevelled cornice was set back from the line of adjacent buildings Centre of the frontage are three tall arched windows with small pane glazing in neo Georgian style, separated by pilasters with Art Deco capitals Beneath these windows were three sets of double doors of the main entrance to the right, with a shop unit to the left The foyer contained the ticket ofce, the stairs to the upper foyer and entrance to the lower au ditorium seating and a counter offering a selection of drinks and snacks

In October 2000, English Heritage awarded the cinema Grade II listed building status In 2003 Scott cinema purchased the Regent cinema and in 2015 the company decided that the building interior needed a complete refurbishment which commenced later that year The cinema re opened early in 2016

The Regent Cinema was destroyed by a fire on 22nd March 2016, the fire started in the main roof, believed to be caused by an electrical fault In 2021 WTW Scott cinemas sold the cinema to a local developer who intends to retain a cinema on the site ‘The Phoenix’ meeting rooms and café opened in August 2022 in the foyer and shop area

Belmont

Belmont is a fine, early example of a maritime villa, a new building type in the second half of the 18th centur y The house was originally built by Samuel Coade, in 1784 he transferred the house to his niece, Mrs Eleanor Coade Eleanor Coade was an enter prising business woman, buying a failing artificial stone manufacturing site in London in 1769 and turning it into a thriving business Coade stone was used by architects to provide stone embellishments for important houses

Mrs Coade owned the house until shortly before her death in 1820 The leasehold was purchased by Mrs Fretwell who named the house ‘Belmont’ In 1881 Dr Richard Bangay from Cheadle near Manchester bought Belmont and added two large gabled wings, erected conservatories across the rear of the property and built the three storey obser vatory tower to house his telescope The Bangays sold the house to Cooper family in 1896, who owned it until 1959 when they sold to Dr & Mrs Raynham

The Coade connection resulted in the house receiving Grade II listed status in 1953 The author John Fowles purchased the house in 1969 and wrote ‘The French Lieu tenant’s Woman’ in the first floor writing room Fowles’ second wife Sarah offered it to the Landmark Trust, and using a legacy from Joyce Hanson, they purchased the house The Landmark Trust returned the house to its original Regency splendour and incor porated some pragmatic internal changes so the building could be used by visitors The building was restored 2013 2015 Belmont is available to rent to visitors and writers

ABOUT THE LYME REGIS SOCIET Y

The Lyme Regis Society aims to retain the beauty and architectural integrity of Lyme Regis and local surroundings including mature trees and footpaths by working with local councils, resi dents and other organisations

The society also provides advice on planning and repairs to buildings in Lyme Regis. It publishes three ‘All Over The Town’ newsletters a year, holds monthly talks from September to April and organises visits to historic places of interest

The society offers talks on topics such as ‘The Three Cups Hotel, its history and visitors’ and ‘The Architectural history of Coombe Street’

Its upcoming December talk will be the second in a two part series on the Three Cups Hotel, fea tured on these pages, by local expert John Dover This will be held at the Woodmead Halls from 2pm on Tuesday, December 13

This special feature gives a taster of the history

of some of the town’s iconic buildings More in depth articles can be found in the ‘All Over the Town’ newsletters and in the society’s ‘Historic Houses’ series of booklets 1 to 4, which can be purchased from many shops in the town or from the Lyme Regis Society website

To find out more about the society, to attend one of its monthly talks or to become a member, visit the website www lymeregissociety org uk

Donald Hardy commissioned a purpose built cinema on the site of The Bow House Hotel at the top of Broad Street Watkins' architectural practice in Bristol proposed an elegant classic 1930s Art Deco design

EATING OUT

THE ALEXANDRA HOTEL

WITH its expansive private garden and stunning views over the Jurassic Coast, The Alexandra Hotel & Restaurant is a peaceful oasis in the hubbub of Lyme Regis

Privately owned and managed by the Haskins family for over 40 years, the Alexandra provides guests with the upmost in comfort and luxury

This December, why not take a break from the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping with a coffee or drink in the cosy hotel bar, catch up with friends over a festive afternoon tea in the calm and tranquil orangery, or treat your loved ones to a delicious dinner?

From December 5th to 23rd, the Alexandra will be offering its Christmas menu, including tra ditional turkey with all the trimmings, as well as other seasonal options, served alongside eco friendly, homemade crackers

The hotel will also be putting a festive twist on its elegant afternoon teas, to be enjoyed in the orangery with beautiful views across the lawn and beyond to Lyme Bay

Or if it’s just a drink you fancy, the Alexandra will be ser ving Christmas cocktails alongside its usual bar menu of local beers and wines

from Furleigh Estate and Lyme Bay Winery

The Alexandra prides itself on using the best local produce the West Countr y has to offer and is committed to substantiality and being as environmentally friendly as possible

The hotel closely follows the Good Fish Guide, issued by the Marine Conservation Society, in creating its varied menus, and has received sev eral accolades and awards for its considerate approach

As well as taking a local approach to its food, the Alexandra also supports local artists and makers, displaying a stylish selection of paint ings, ceramics and jeweller y, which will be complimented with full Christmas decorations over the festive season

If you ’ re really looking to take the stress out of the run up to Christmas, why not expand your visit and stay the night in one of the Alexan dra’s 25 individually decorated rooms, many with amazing sea and coastal views?

The hotel is open to guests until December 23rd before its annual winter break and refresh, and will be reopening in Februar y for 2023 bookings

BAROQUE

HAVING opened in April 2022 for its first summer season in Lyme Regis, Baroque quickly jumped up through the TripAdvisor rankings to the number two restaurant in Lyme regis and fourth in Dorset

Classically trained head chef Mark Stout and PR consultant Jane Jones have finally achieved their ultimate dream The pas sionate foodie couple searched over many years for their ideal restaurant venue and it seems their patience and sheer determi nation has finally paid off

Jane said: “We’ve hit the ground running since Easter this year when we opened We bring you our take on Baroque Born in Dorset, we ’ re so proud of our roots and want nothing more than to show support of our wonderful county by supporting and purchasing local!”

Baroque, one of the latest eateries to open in the desirable year round destination of Lyme Regis, offers a unique melting pots of flavours Combining local produce with a wealth of global spices, the delicious menu perfect for sharing is cooked on

a gargantuan, traditional Argentinian grill

Intimate, with a fabulous al fresco seating area including a private terrace tucked just off the high street, Baroque believes that sourcing local produce is a must but takes inspiration from across the globe Its unique concept and menu has proved a hit over the past six months, with dishes including Lebanese spiced charred cauliflower, prawn pil pil, slow wood fired lamb shwarma, tomahawk steak , plus tantalising, retro home made desserts, such as Baba au Rhum

After a successful summer, Mark and Jane have taken a short break with Baroque re opening on November 17th for the Christmas season with a few new ideas

They will be opening their Spice Shop, offering an eclec tic range of exotic spice rubs

and marinades, and spice and herb in fused oils to use at home perfect for stocking fillers!

Baroque is also launching its Thursday night club ‘Tapas On Us’, ever y week throughout November and December, with a free plate of Baroque house tapas for any two people ordering two mains ac companied by retro hits from the 70s and 80s It’s your Thursday Night Club in the

heart of Lyme Regis!

From November 17th, Baroque will be open Thursday to Saturday from 6pm, and from December 13th will also be open Tuesday and Wednesday nights for festive bookings, including private hire of the in timate restaurant, dining in or takeaway Mark will also be serving up his incredible infused mulled wine so why not join them for a glass or two?

Baroque’s unique menu uses local produce and inspiration from around the globe Photos by Rob Coombe

EATING OUT

THE PILOT BOAT

FOLLOWING a near £2million in vestment by the owners, Palmers Brewery of Bridport, The Pilot Boat, one of Lyme’s traditional public houses, has been transformed into one of the most popular and expansive eating out venues in the area

With a 100 seat air conditioned restau rant, spacious bar and attractive terrace, the new look Pilot Boat has already estab lished a reputation as a must visit destina tion for those looking for a little bit more than run of the mill pub grub and lively entertainment

The Pilot Boat has been run as a family business by licensees Robin and Angela Collyns with son Ben as general manager for four years Robin and Angela are highly experienced in the hospitality trade, hav ing trained with Berni Inns in the 1980s and having managed a number of success ful pubs and restaurants in the past

The new Pilot has been operational since June 2018 during which time it has been one of the must visit venues in and around Lyme Regis for people keen to experience the casual dining atmosphere which has made it so popular

Robin said they were “delighted” with the support they had received, especially from local people who were regulars of the old style pub and had been slightly sceptical about the extent of the refurbishment He said: “The new Pilot is ver y different from the old one but we hope we have re tained some of the values and traditions that made it one of Lyme’s most popular pubs over the years

“We have listened to what local people want and have tried to create a community venue as well as a great place to eat and have a drink We invest heavily in making the Pilot as festive as possible and we look for ward to welcoming customers old for their Christmas celebrations ”

The Collyns family have been anxious to establish the Pilot as part of the commu nity and have made their impressive premises available for a number of chari ties to boost their fundraising, including Cancer Research UK and Save the Chil dren

As well as providing excellent dining facil ities, with the emphasis very much of local produce, the Pilot also has three well ap pointed bedrooms which have proved to be extremely popular

The Pilot Boat’s special Christmas menu offers two courses for £21 and three for £26 Four starters are available: roast parsnip and thyme soup with stilton cream and Charmouth Bakery bread; beet root, bocconcini and rocket salad with hazelnut and chive dressing; breaded but

terfield king prawns with marie rose sauce; and ham hock, pearl barley and pea salad with a light mustard dressing

For mains, roast turkey crown leads the choices available with garlic and rosemary roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, roast parsnips, carrots, cumin and cranberr y braised red cabbage, winter greens and red wine gravy

Other options include grilled fillet of hake, lemon buttered new potatoes, tenderstem broccoli, hazelnut and parsley butter; cranberry and almond nut roast with gar lic and rosemar y roast potatoes, roast parsnips and carrots, cumin and cranberry braised red cabbage, winter greens and red wine gravy; 6 oz flat iron steak with skinny fries, garlic and herb butter, rocket and pickled red onion salad; Moving Moun tains hot dog with cranberr y and caramelised red onions, winter slaw, American mustard mayo and skinny fries

For dessert, traditional Christmas pudding with vanilla custard is on offer with a veg etarian option, with Christmas Mess (mixed berr y compote, vanilla ice cream, spiced berr y coulis, crushed meringue, whipped cream and toasted pistachios); chocolate salted caramel tart with crème fraiche); or a selection of cheeses with spiced gooseberry and onion chutney, cel ery and cheese crackers

Booking is essential on 01297 443157

Photo by Max Redwood

THE OYS TER & FISH HOUSE

THE Oyster & Fish House is one of the most pic turesque spots in Dorset to enjoy locally sourced fish and seafood, by renowned chef and restaura teur Mark Hix MBE and his team

Situated off Cobb Road, high above the town’s seafront gardens, a large terrace wraps around the informal, light and airy dining room with floor to ceiling windows offer ing outstanding views across Lyme Bay to ever y guest, perfect for wave watching this winter

The Oyster & Fish House’s menu changes twice a day de pending on what the fishermen have brought in, using the best of local produce, fish and seafood caught off the South West coast

The menus are built around the long established, per sonal relationships that Mark has with his suppliers and use only responsibly produced, carefully sourced and simply served British, seasonal ingredients The Oyster & Fish House also serves by catch, supporting local Lyme Bay Reserve fishermen

The Oyster & Fish House is currently open six days a week, serving lunch from 12noon to 2 15pm and dinner from 6pm Tuesday to Sunday Drinks, snacks and oys ters are also available throughout the afternoon

Bookings are now being taken for Christmas parties for 8 15 people with a two course festive menu available throughout December for £35 per head, or go large and choose the blow out menu for £80 with roast duck cooked three ways Winter feast menus are also available for larger parties of 16 or more

Mark has a number of special events coming up this win ter, including a Meet the Fishermen Supper on Novem ber 29 and an Evening with Valentine Warner on December 14

For a more personal and unique dining experience why not book one of Mark’s Kitchen Table events, where he will cook you a six course meal in his home in Char mouth?

Pull up a seat at Mark’s stunning kitchen island as he talks about local producers, his life in food, foraging and, it goes without saying, a fishing tale or two Mark has also recently teamed up with the award win ning Chesil Smokery to create his own range of smoked fish

Responsibly sourced, cured and smoked in Dorset, Hix Smokin’ House has been a natural progression for the chef, who started smoking fish for his restaurants in his back garden 14 years ago

All of the fish sent to the smokery is caught off the South

just 20 minutes inland

The Hix Smokin’ House range will include anchovies, sardines, salmon, haddock and hot smoked mackerel Serving suggestions, recipes and videos will be available to view on The Oyster & Fish House website (see below for example recipe)

To book at table at The Oyster & Fish House, Mark’s Kitchen Table, special events or to buy from the Hix Smokin’ House range visit the website theoysterandfish house co uk

West coast, apart from responsibly sourced Scottish salmon, and sent straight from the fishing boat to the smokery,

Christmas hampers will also be available to purchase on line including local wines from Devon vineyard Castle wood

Perched above Lyme’s seafront gardens, with inside and outside seating available, The Oyster & Fish House offers spectacular views across Lyme Bay

EATING OUT

HAVING built up a name for itself in Lyme Regis town centre, The Good Food Café has now expanded earlier this year to taken on a second premises

Owners Mark and Marie Sainsbur y have come full circle, having first met when working at a café owned by Mark’s parents in Cornwall

Wirth Mark having previously worked in IT in London, and Marie in hairdressing and aromatherapy, the couple opted for a career change after the coronavirus pandemic hit the UK, and took over the popular Broad Street deli and café last year

They then opened a second premises, tucked away in the historic Old Bonded Stores on Marine Parade –a stone’s throw from the town’s main beach just in time for summer

The new café provides another wel coming and relaxing spot to enjoy hot drinks, snacks, cakes and lunch, or you can order a takeaway online and collect

Good Food By The Beach has been predominantly run by Marie and their daughter Lucy, while Mark looks over the Broad Street café and deli

Mark describes Good Food as a tradi tional café with a focus on offering quality produce from the local area This includes fresh bread from Leak

ers of Bridport and Pauls Baker y of Seaton, award winning Chunk of Devon pasties and delicious cakes from Spongbakes Cakes, as well as a selection of cheese, charcuterie and artisan produce in the deli

A selection of soups, sandwiches and light lunches are made fresh on site, and served alongside coffee from The Coffee Factor y, based at Seaton Junc tion, to be enjoyed in the bustling cafe or as a takeaway

There are also plenty of vegan and gluten free options

Good Food By The Beach is operating as a ‘miniature’ version of the main café, offering a scaled back menu but still including all the most popular dishes, including a variety of tasty sandwiches and baguettes, pasties, cakes and hot and cold drinks to enjoy beachside

The menu is available online via the Good Food website thegoodfood cafe co uk and you can scan a QR code (see advertisement on page 9) to order your lunch from Good Food By The Beach.

The Good Food Café & Deli is open daily from 9am to 5pm or 10am to 4pm on Sundays

So whether you ’ re looking for a cosy café and deli this winter, or a seaside spot to enjoy on warmer days Good Food has you covered!

A welcoming atmosphere and delicious, homemade cakes sandwiches and more at The Good Food Café & Deli in Broad Street, Lyme Regis Photos by Rob Coombe

Good Food’s sister cafe, Good Food By The Beach, is based in the historic Old Bonded Stores on Marine Parade, Lyme Regis

THE COBB ARMS

NESTLED at the far western end of Marine Parade, overlooking Lyme Regis’ world famous Cobb harbour, the Cobb Arms is the perfect place to unwind, relax and enjoy the best family welcome West Dorset has to offer

Just a few steps from the beach and harbour, this vintage style, family run pub was built in 1938 by Bridport based Palmers Brewery, founded in 1794, and has since be come an iconic part of the Lyme Regis community

Whether you are enjoying a pint of award winning real ale, looking for a special dinner with freshly prepared and locally sourced ingredients, choosing a G&T from the ex tensive gin menu, or booking a snug room for the night you are guaranteed a warm welcome from the Valentine family and their team Soak up the atmosphere and extensive views of Lyme Bay, with three bar and dining areas and two outdoor seating areas to choose from you are sure to find the perfect spot to enjoy your favourite beverage or delicious meal

Food can be enjoyed in the cosy restaurant bar or on the verandah overlooking the harbour and, behind the bar, you’ll find award winning beers, Dorset ciders, fine wine by the glass, classic cocktails and barista Illy coffee

The Cobb Arms also offers three luxury en suite bedrooms for bed and breakfast and is completely unique in that you can find a wide range of stylish antique and contem porary furniture and interiors on sale in the pub perfect for a souvenir to take home or Christmas gifts

The Cobb Arms has recently appointed experienced new head chef George Marsh and transformed its menus to offer a contemporary choice of pub classics and enticing spe cials, making the most of the freshest, seasonal and local produce Examples from the new autumn menu include hand picked Portland crab on sour dough toast; a seafood soup with chunky helpings of fish and mussels in a rich broth, rouille, parmesan and toasted croutons; pigeon breast, prosciutto, pine nut and golden raisins salad with a raspberry vinaigrette; Gold Award venison sausages with creamy mash and seasonal vegetables with gravy; smoked haddock kedgeree and a free range soft boiled egg; and hand dived Lyme Bay scallops with garlic, with parsley and olive oil

In a twist on the traditional Sunday roast, the Cobb Arms is now serving roast sharing platters every week, with booking always advisable Reservations are now also being taken for the festive season with a unique Christmas menu offering three courses for £30 or two courses for £25 The Cobb is also planning big celebrations to see the New Year in with a bang!

Chef George will be showing off the best the Cobb Arms has to offer with a six course tasting menu available on two special nights at The Pop Up Kitchen in Lyme Regis Wednesday, December 14th and Thursday, December 15 Spaces are limited and book ing is essential by calling 01297 443242 or 07889 647 708

What’ s on...

DON’T MISS A THING IN AND AROUND LYME REGIS THIS WINTER!

NOVEMBER 19th

Twinning Association

Cof fee Morning

The Lyme Regis/St George’s Twinning Association host a coffee morning at Lyme Regis Baptist Church from 10am to 12noon Ar ts & Craft Fayre

Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre host this Ar ts & Craft Fayre from 10am to 4pm offering the chance to buy some unique Christmas gifts by local ar tists and makers.

NOVEMBER 22nd

Vintage Tea Par Relax and enjoy enter tainment from singer, Kate Mullins, per forming songs of yester year at this free tea par ty at the Marine Theatre from 2pm

NOVEMBER 23rd

Talk on Lyme Regis Town Mill Uplyme & Lyme Regis Hor ticultural Society will hold their annual general meeting at 7 30pm in Uplyme Villag ll followed by this talk on th historic Town Mill Entr y i free for members and £3 for visitors

NOVEMBER 26th

Christmas Lights Switch-On Lantern making workshop at Lyme Regis Baptist Church from 2 30pm, followed by lantern competition at 4 15pm and illuminated parade at 5pm followed by the big switch on

DECEMBER 2nd Christmas Cabaret Charlie Bicknell and Louise Innes deliver a little taste of Christmas in this free festive cabaret at the Marine Theatre, star ting at 2pm

CEMBER 10th

Over 70s Christmas Lunch

Lyme Regis residents aged 70 and over are welcome to this annual lunch at the Woodmead Halls Tickets available by calling 297 443942

Miracle on 34th Street’ The Marine Theatre’s hosts a free screening of this Christmas classic, with the bar opening at 6pm and flm at 7pm

DECEMBER 11th to 13th Charity Santa Sleigh Look out for the Charity Santa Sleigh on the evenings of December 11th to 13th, touring the streets of Lyme Regis, Uplyme and Charmouth and raising money for good causes

DECEMBER 16th to 18th Christmas Tree Festival & Santa’s Grotto

The annual Christmas Tree Festival will be open at Lyme Regis Bapist Church throughout the weekend, alongside a Santa’s Grotto on the 17th and 18th, costing £5 per child

DECEMBER 17th

Lyme Regis Football Club Christmas Raf fe Festive hampers, restaurant vouchers, bottles, gifts and more are up for grabs at Lyme Regis Football Club from 7pm, with raffe tickets costing just £1 each, followed by live music at 8pm.

The Great Gatsby Christmas Ball

The Lyme Regis branch of Cancer Research UK host this glam event at the Woodmead

H lls, featuring live music from the Gershwin gang Band, a disco, buffet, Christmas cocktails and grand tombola Tickets available by calling 07796 951 911.

CEMBER 20th

Festive Film Double Bill

The Marine Theatre screens festive favourites ‘The Snowman’ and ‘Stick Man’ back to back, star ting at 2pm, with tickets costing £6.

DECEMBER 23rd

Carols Round the Tree

The Rotar y Club of Lyme Regis stage this traditional festive event around the Christmas tree in Broad Street from 7pm

JANUARY 1st 2023

New Year’s Day Duck Race A duck race in aid of Lyme Regis Christmas Lights Committee, star ting from Windsor Terrace at 12noon

The Lyme Lunge

The Rotar y Club of Lyme Regis host this fancy dress New Year’s Day dip, with swimmers going in at 1pm sharp off Lyme’s sandy beach

DECEMBER 11th

Lyme Bay Chorale

Christmas Concer t

A concer t to include Vivalidi’s Magnifcat from 4pm at St Michael’s Parish Church in Lyme Regis

Look out for weekly live music and DJs at Lyme Regis pubs, a varied programme at the Marine Theatre and regular events at the Town Mill and Lyme Regis Museum!