Fringe Venues 2025 Q-Z

A new venue off Park Walk, with a choice of two rooms or the garden area.

The larger room has a capacity of 40 seated, 50 standing, the smaller room, 20 seated, 25 standing.

Main room – £12 per hour, small room £8 per hour.

Location: Abbey Walk, SP7 8BB
Contact: Anne Dowsett
Email: clerk@shaftesburyquakers.org
Phone: 01747 852377 (email contact preferred)

A modern building just at the edge of the main town, situated next to the Football Club, the venue is the main function hall and suited to comedy, acoustic or classical music, choirs and the like.

The performance area can accommodate up to 10 performers with an audience of up to 60 people seated, 100 standing.

Location: Coppice St, SP7 8PF
Contact: David Taylor
Email: djtdjt1@djtdjt1.plus.com
Phone: 07720 443319
http://branches.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/shaftesbury

This venue is the site of Shaftesbury Abbey, destroyed by Henry VIII in the sixteenth century.

Three areas are available:
– The garden: at least 200 capacity. There is no seating, so people bring their own blankets and fold-up chairs.
– Lodge function room seats approx 30 with small area for performer.
– Museum can seat about 40 for a speaker.

A small marquee is provided (approx 7m x 5m) in the garden.

This unique venue is suitable for choirs large or small, acoustic music (not loud rock or pop), classical music, brass bands, dance and lectures.

Location: Park Walk, SP7 8JR
Contact: Annabel Turner
Email: office@shaftesburyabbey.org.uk
Phone: 07967 328212
www.shaftesburyabbey.org.uk

The Shaftesbury Arts Centre is a thriving community centre, run almost entirely by volunteers.

The Rutter Room (middle picture) is a large quiet fully equipped room which would suit comedy, spoken word and the like. The stage area accommodates up to 6 people and has an audience capacity of 60.
It has an adjoining bar and is served by a lift with wheelchair access.

Charge of £35 per slot.

The fully equipped Theatre (bottom picture), also doubles as a cinema. It produces many productions and performances throughout the year including opera and comedy. It also hosts bands playing pop to rock.

The stage measures 7m x 6.8m. The seating capacity is 157.

Tickets can be sold by the Centre on the performers’ behalf. Please contact the venue for more information.

Charge of £75 / slot + 10% of ticket sales.

Location: 11-13 Bell St, SP7 8AR
Contact: Charlie Hamilton
Email: manager@shaftesburyartscentre.org.uk
Phone: 01747 854321
www.shaftesburyartscentre.org.uk

The venue is the rear garden of this local delicatessen, accessed by a wide side door.

The gravel/lawn performance area with gazebo has room for up to five performers, and the garden an audience capacity of 30 mixed seating/standing. Stunning views over Melbury.

Suitable for small musical groups, poetry and spoken word.

Location: 37 High St, SP7 8JE
Contact: Alex Korom-Percy
Email: info@theshaftesburydeli.co.uk
Phone: 07881 309002
theshaftesburydeli.co.uk

Open to all performers, the busking stage is set on the beautiful Park Walk. Enjoy music, comedy and more while soaking up the stunning views and tucking into a tasty meal from our new street food market.

Limited PA Facilities are available.

Please contact Cal to arrange a free slot. Open Saturday and Sunday 11am – 9pm.

Location: Park Walk, SP7 8JR
Contact: Cal Hopkins
Email: cal@shaftesburyfringe.co.uk
Phone: 07400 344330

Shaftesbury library is a small but busy library that caters for all ages. Situated in Bell Street, the library is spread across a single storey and has an open children’s area, ideal for hosting activities and events.

Suitable for children’s and poetry/spoken word performances.

Available Fri 10am – 5pm and Saturday 10am – 1pm.

Location: Bell Street, SP7 8AE
Contact: Fran Craft/Alex Yarwood
Email: shaftesburylibrary@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Phone: 01747 852256

Shaftesbury Lido is a popular local open air amenity, not far from the centre of town, sporting a large swimming pool. The venue is the open air courtyard area to the front of the Lido, but poolside performances may be possible! Please enquire.

Both courtyard and poolside area can accommodate thirty or so (all standing).

Would suit acoustic music and comedians alike.

Location: Barton Hill, SP7 8DQ
Contact: Billy Maddock
Email: assistanttownclerk@shaftesbury-tc.gov.uk
Phone: 01747 852420
http://www.shaftesbury-tc.gov.uk/services/lido

The point of contact for performances in and outside the Town Hall, plus all street performances.

Performances must be suitable for all ages.

Location: Shaftesbury Town Hall, SP7 8LY and High Street
Contact: Rose
Email: volunteers@shaftesburyfringe.co.uk

Situated not far from the centre of town, the Shaston Social Club offers performers a fully equipped stage and dance hall which can hold up to 400 people, 250 in the hall, 150 standing in the bar area.

Ideal for all performance genres.

Location: Bleke St, SP7 8AW
Contact: Charlie Dymock
Email: shastonsocialclub@outlook.com
Phone: 07502 302862

This venue is situated in St James, a village below Shaftesbury town. The Church dates from the Saxon period and has superb acoustics.

It can accommodate 200+ people in pews and chairs. The venue would suit large/small/choirs/classical/opera etc. It has recently accommodated a 40 piece classical orchestra!

There is a car park available.

Location: Foyle Hill, SP7 8HE
Contact: Andrea Blows
Email: andreablows4@gmail.com
Phone: 01747 853088

St Peter’s is a Saxon church located in the High St.

Suitable for acoustic performances/small or large choirs/jazz/ classical music etc. The altar is used as a stage.

It has excellent acoustics and is able to accommodate up to 150 people in pews with another 30 standing.

There is a charge of £15/hour for the first two hours, then £10/hour. Min charge £30.

Location: High St, SP7 8LY
Contact: Anita Fisher
Email: office@shaftesburycofe.org.uk
Phone: 01747 853060

This venue is a typical church hall situated at the top of Gold Hill.

The hall is up a few steps and has room for up to 6 performers with seating for approx 50 people plus some standing. No stage.

The hall has been an excellent venue for comedy but is also suitable for poetry/spoken word and acoustic music.

There is a charge of £10 / hour.

Location: Gold Hill, SP7 8JW
Contact: Anita Fisher
Email: office@shaftesburycofe.org.uk
Phone: 01747 853060

This is a well known outdoor venue in the very heart of Shaftesbury, all happening around the busy cafe The Ugly Duckling.

The venue is suitable for small acoustic bands or individuals, up to 4 performers. Audience capacity is around 40 mixed seated and standing.

Swan’s Yard is a bustling thoroughfare with no end of passing punters.

Location: Swans Yard, SP7 8JQ
Contact: Swans Trust
Email: admin@swanstrust.org.uk
Phone: 01747 850944
swansyard.co.uk

A very large performance area as can be seen on the photograph, the venue can accomodate up to 100 people seated. It is suitable for dance, theatre, comedy and so on.
The garden area is also available, please enquire for details.

Location: Bimport, SP7 8BW
Contact: Sophie Franks
Email: sophiefranks@btinternet.com
Phone: 07974 121872
www.hallshire.com/halls/view/2733/shaftesbury-trinity-centre-trust

A managed outdoor stage in the grounds of Trinity Church, with food and a bar.
5m x 3m stage with stretch tent over. Power, sound equipment, lighting and a technician can be provided.

£10 hire charge to cover stage costs.

Location: Abbey Walk, SP7 8Bb
Contact: Mark Cook
Email: fringebigstage@gmail.com
Phone: 07872 858990
Facebook page

Situated in St James not far from the bottom of Gold Hill, Ye Olde Two Brewers has a long splendid garden with great views.

The Garden (middle picture) is an outdoor venue and suitable for bands offering a variety of pop/covers/blues etc. although anything will be considered.

The Skittle Alley (bottom picture), is situated just across the way from the pub and is suitable for acoustic music/ poetry and comedy. It will be organised so as not to clash with the performers playing at the pub.

Location: 24 St James St, SP7 8HE
Contact: Juliet Owen-Nuttall
Email: thetwobrewersshaftesbury@gmail.com
Phone: 01747 854211