Summer events and entertainment at Mapperton

A summer of very special events is planned at Mapperton House and Gardens.

From the Mapperton Creepy Crawly Show, featuring three days of family fun and a hands-on display of reptiles and insects, to concerts, open-air theatre and a wedding showcase, the stunning setting of Mapperton is set to become a popular venue for entertainment of all kinds.

Mapperton’s new Sawmill Café and Coach House venue are at the heart of the packed events calendar, providing a fully equipped space for all kinds of entertainment, with delicious food on offer from the Café team.

The Creepy Crawly Show will be held from August Bank Holiday Monday until Wednesday 28 August when there will be the chance to explore World Life Conservation’s collection of exotic creatures from around the world including spiders, scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, cockroaches, stick insects, snakes, lizards, tortoises and more.

Open-air Shakespeare is back with a musical version of Hamlet on 19 August in the gardens and The Skimmity Hitchers are performing their very own very special brand of “scrumpy and western” in The Coach House at 2pm on Saturday 15 September.

A Wedding Showcase will be held on Saturday 8 September to let brides and grooms-to-be see how their dream day can become reality at Mapperton.

The ever-popular Autumn Charity Plant Fair on 16 September brings the summer season to a close.

Viscount Hinchingbrooke says: “We have put together a magnificent calendar of summer events, with something for all ages to enjoy.

“The new Sawmill Café and Coach House provide a wonderful base for us to hold shows and activities, with outstanding locally-sourced food & drink.

“We’re hoping Mapperton will become a really popular new venue in the Beaminster area for entertainment, corporate events, weddings and celebrations of all kinds.

“We are lucky to live in such a beautiful place and we are looking forward to sharing it with more visitors.”

The Sawmill Café and the adjoining Coach House venue have been transformed with the aid of a £140,000 LEADER grant from the Southern Dorset Local Action Group, which aims to support rural businesses and promote tourism away from coastal areas.

The Coach House is a new multi-purpose events space with seating for up to 120 or 200 standing. It is equipped with a full AV system, controllable lighting and is heated by a new biomass boiler.

2018 Mapperton Events Calendar

Sunday 19 August – Musical Shakespeare in the Gardens – Hamlet

The Three Inch Fools are a five-strong troupe of actors with all manner of musical instruments, performing a highly imaginative and vibrantly musical take on Shakespeare’s plays. 2.30pm.

Monday 27 August to Weds 29 August. The Mapperton Creepy Crawly Show. Free with paid entry to Mapperton Gardens.

Saturday 8 September – Mapperton Wedding Showcase.

Saturday 15 September – Skimmity Hitchers at the Coach House. 2.30pm.

Sunday 16 September – Autumn Charity Plant Fair. 10am to 4pm. Share of proceeds to Cancer Research UK.