Things to Do in Poole This Summer at The Dolphin

The summer holidays are nearly here and Poole is at its best. While the beaches will be busy, some of the best days out this summer are right in the middle of town. The Dolphin has a full season of free events, local makers and great food waiting for you, whatever the weather decides to do.

Here is what is happening at The Dolphin this July and beyond.

Catch Wimbledon in the mall

Until 12 July you can watch the Wimbledon action on the big screen in the mall. Pull up a seat, grab a coffee from Grounded Coffee or a bubble tea from Bubble CiTea and cheer on your favourites. It is completely free and you do not need to book. Just wander in.

Browse the Makers Market

On 7 and 8 July our STREET MARKET welcomes the Makers Market, packed with handmade and one of a kind pieces from Dorset makers. From prints and ceramics to candles and jewellery, everything is locally sourced and produced by the creative people on our doorstep. Because every stall is run by the maker themselves, you can hear the story behind every piece you take home.

Free things to do in Poole for families

School holiday budgets stretch further at The Dolphin. GATHER hosts free community events and workshops throughout the summer, from local charities to creative sessions like Hello You Studios on 4 and 5 July. Later in the month, Poole Men’s Shed arrives from 26 July with a week of demonstrations and friendly faces.

If you have little ones who find busy places overwhelming, join us for Sensory Sunday on the last Sunday of the month. The lights go down, the music goes quiet and the whole centre takes a gentler pace.

Lunch that pleases everyone

Feeding a family during the holidays is no small task. Our STREET FOOD hall on the first floor brings together a world of flavours under one roof, so nobody has to compromise. Noodles from Noodlebar, tacos from Loco Lime or something sweet from Kaspas afterwards. Meanwhile, the grown ups can linger over coffee while the kids decide which pudding is calling their name.

Rainy day sorted

British summer being what it is, it pays to have an indoor plan. With over 90 stores, from Primark and H&M to the independents of KINGLAND, The Dolphin is Dorset’s largest indoor shopping centre. Add The Project Climbing Centre and a wet Wednesday suddenly looks a lot brighter.

Make the day go further

A day out does not need to cost a fortune. Alongside the free events at GATHER and in the mall, our retailers run offers throughout the summer, so it is worth checking the latest offers before you visit. Between the free activities, the offers and everything under one roof, a summer day at The Dolphin is an easy win for the holiday budget.

Plan your summer day out in Poole

The Dolphin sits right in the heart of Poole town centre, a short hop from the Quay and well served by buses and parking. Opening hours, offers and the full events calendar are on our What’s On page, and you can explore every store on our Stores page.

Whatever your summer looks like, there is much more to discover at The Dolphin. Come and see us soon.