The sun, and crowds, came out for the Highcliffe Food and Arts Festival 2022.

With the best food, art, drink and music that the New Forest can offer the revitalised Burley Festival returns next month, fully refreshed after a two-year lay-off, bigger and better than ever, with a host of new attractions, family camping in the O'Deer Campsite and free entry for under-10s.

One restaurant that has been on our ‘must visit’ list for a while now is Dicky’s Bar & Brasserie in Southbourne. With a family get together planned we had the perfect chance to give the venue a try. We booked a table on a Sunday night in late February and the place had the encouraging busy hum of other diners on arrival. Dicky’s has a luscious décor with opulent furnishings mixed with more modern touches such as bare wooden tables. Lovely lighting levels and a mix of high and low seating creates a relaxed and trendy atmosphere.

Dorset’s only free seafood festival promises a magnificent haul of great fish and shellfish, fine local produce, glorious live music and to top it off a wonderful fireworks display on Saturday evening.

FOODIES FESTIVAL – the biggest gourmet food and drink touring festival in the UK – is coming to Bournemouth for the first time this September 17th - 19th, with MasterChef and Bake Off champions, top music acts, live theatres and gastronomic delights from around the world!