Salary will be in line with the national minimum wage.
Local Employment: P/T Bar Work – The White Lion
Salary will be in line with the national minimum wage.
Performing at 8pm in Broadwindsor Square on Tuesday, 24th May will be the Wyld Morris Dancers. The White Lion will be open for refreshments both before the performance and afterwards 🙂
Frustrated by the gender division in traditional Morris dancing groups, retired airline stewardess Briony Blair established Wyld Morris as a way to let men and women dance together. The group, which is now 20-strong, will soon celebrate their tenth anniversary.
When talking to the West Dorset magazine, Briony commented, ““At Wyld Morris we’re not picky about who wants to join us: all are welcome, and we love sharing our passion for this with other people. Our members range, at the moment, from their early 40s to one member who is now 85 and is still dancing well.”
“Collectively, we may not be the best Morris dancing group in the world but we have fun and we always have a great reception form the public when we perform.”
The main photograph show the group performing in Bucky Doo Square in Bridport.
The group meet on Wednesday evenings at Monkton Wyld Court, Charmouth at 7.30pm. Anyone who is interested in learning more about the group should visit wyldmorris.org.uk or email brionyblair@hotmail.com.
See you on the 24th!
With great anticipation, The White Lion opened its doors at 6pm last night with members of the Management committee lined up to welcome everyone….
Chairman Rick Dyke invited Elaine Leader, with Ryan & Rosie to ceremoniously cut the ribbon….
First customers were Adam Slater who bought a pint of Palmers Tally Ho! and Mike Eltherington, who enjoyed a pint of Palmers Copper.
Rick introduced the pub’s management…
Our resident poet, Peter Roe performed his poem, written specifically for the event, ‘Heart Of A Lion‘…
Rick thanked those involved…
How much will it cost you for your pint or glass of wine?
The pub will be open from:
On Tuesday nights, the pub will not be serving food but customers are welcome to take in their fish and chips from Nat’s van that comes to the village every week.
Our Community Pub, The White Lion opens tomorrow (Friday,29th) at 6pm 🙂
If you are up early enough in the morning, please tune in to Radio Solent at 7.05am – Click HERE for the link – and you will hear Chairman Rick Dyke being interviewed. If you missed it – listen below.
Later at 8.05am, village resident, Izzy Masey will be giving views from the community’s perspective and our resident poet, Peter Roe will recite his poem, written specifically for this occasion ‘Heart of a Lion‘ which is added below…
We have learned
from ages past
That hope and heart
and courage lasts
This beating heart
of wood and stone
A redoubt of place
for our village soul
A bastion of community
A centre for connection
participation, commiseration
and joyous celebration
Shelter from the storm
Take time to think
By our hearth
take food and drink
Reflect on the journey
Those that led and fell
Those valiant hearts
whose tales we’ll tell
On this small spot
of England’s ground
As long as people
gather round
About the Lionheart…
that lives in England still
This beating pulse
of a communities will
This White Lion…
This lions heart…
This Broadwindsor!
Peter Roe – April 2022
The pub will be open from:
On Tuesday nights, the pub will not be serving food but customers are welcome to take in their fish and chips from Nat’s van that comes to the village every week.
The White Lion at Broadwindsor will be reopening as a Community pub on Friday, 29th April at 6pm.
It follows months of negotiations with owners Palmers Brewery, a hugely successful public fundraising campaign and weeks of hard work by volunteers to refurbish the West Dorset village’s only public house.
The campaign had been spearheaded by parish council vice-chairman David Leader, who died suddenly last month at the age of 64.
Rick Dyke, Chairman of the White Lion Management Committee, said: ‘Without David’s energy, enthusiasm and diplomacy, we would not be about to reopen the pub. We hope that The White Lion will become the community hub that David envisaged.’
He paid tribute to the local community which has so generously supported the committee’s fundraising efforts.
He added: ‘I’d also like to thank the many volunteers who have so freely given their time to help with the refurbishment, some of whom have been almost living in the pub in recent months. They know who they are!
‘I am sure everyone who visits The White Lion will agree that the transformation has been remarkable. I’d also like to thank all the committee members who have given so much of their time, knowledge and experience in delivering this project.’
Around £50,000 was raised for refurbishment and working capital through public donations, grants, funding from the Parish Council, a contribution from Palmers Brewery and events, including a band night and two themed food evenings. A pop-up bar in the village hall (The Comrades Arms) has been running since October and raised nearly £10,000.
The tenancy agreement for The White Lion was signed by committee members on 14th February. Work has been going on behind the scenes ever since to get the pub ready to open.
Manager Kate Staff, whose parents live locally, will be running the pub with her daughters, Chloe and Louise. They met the community at an open evening in the pub in February when visitors had the opportunity to find out more about the refurbishment and future plans.
Since then, Kate has been leading the volunteer decorating team in transforming the interior into a lighter and brighter space.
‘It’s lovely to be a part of this amazing project,’ she said. ‘We’re really looking forward to opening the doors and welcoming customers back into the pub.
We want The White Lion to be the kind of place where people can meet up with family and friends or feel comfortable to come in on their own. The White Lion has played a central role in village life over the years so long may that continue.’
Initially, the pub will be open only for drinks until new equipment is installed in the kitchen. But it’s hoped that it won’t be long before the pub is serving food again.
The White Lion aims to be modestly profitable but not for private profit, offering food and drink with an emphasis on local produce. The atmosphere is intended to be warm and friendly and a hub for the community.
The pub will be open from:
On Tuesday nights, the pub will not be serving food but customers are welcome to take in their fish and chips from Nat’s van that comes to the village every week.
A message from Andrew Hookings:
After six months since we re-opened The Comrades Arms, it is now time to call last orders. So, next Tuesday, 19th April will be our last night.
During that time a number of people from our community have volunteered to help behind the bar, and I thank them for all their time and help.
You, our customers have supported the bar and enabled us to raise almost £10,000 towards the refurbishment of The White Lion – so a BIG THANK YOU to all of you too.
I hope you will all give the newly furbished community pub – The White Lion at Broadwindsor, together with Kate, our manager along with her team of Chloe and Louise, all your support and I trust you will enjoy many happy times there.
– Andrew.
Andrew leaves the village next weekend to spend the next few months in France with Margery. Margery will be providing an update on The White Lion next week, which is expected to include their opening date! Exciting times 🙂
We wish Andrew and Margery (& Edgar) safe travel and to them both…
There wasn’t much room for dancing as the Comrades Hall was at full capacity on Saturday night. All band members were from within a 25-mile radius and all performed well but the stars of the evening had to be Phil and Lauren Rosenberg who, following there enclore continued to be applauded as they left the main hall 🙂
McIntyre: Tina, Pete & Warren had travelled from Yeovil and performed with Dave and Ann Shaw and Mick Massey.
Local band HiDDen: Hazel, Dave and Rick.
Last to perform – No photos as yet – Cell Division were Ian, Des, Andrew, Paul and Simon from Puncknowle, Cattistock & Grimstone.
Organisers Dave and Ann Shaw released the following news:
We think we can safely say that a good time was had by all at the Save The White Lion fundraising gig on Saturday night!
We raised a whopping £1,350 (updated) on the night, which will be used to help fund the pub’s sound system/PPL-PRS licence.
Massive thanks to everyone involved for all your hard work and efforts over the past few months, and to all the lovely people who supported the event.
Here’s to much music-making at The White Lion!
– Dave & Ann (Shaw) x
Photo credits: Ann Shaw
In response to the many questions being asked on several occasions, it would appear that the sub-group have become a Community Sub-Committee and are creating another questionnaire…
The White Lion Community Sub-committee:
The community sub-committee comprises Sara Dyke, Izzy Masey, Annie Bowman and Dorothy Rowe and has met 3 times to date. Their first meeting involved “brainstorming” every possible community use of the space within the pub both out of and within licensing hours.
From this meeting a draft consultation questionnaire was devised ready for distribution once the pub is open. The farming community was contacted and likewise Rev Jo for feedback and ideas for pub use.
It should be stressed that the intention is to complement the use of Comrades Hall rather than to compete with it.
The refurbishment of the pub will create a versatile area which can be used as a community space as well as a traditional pub, although the business’s long-term viability depends on it being a successful pub first and foremost and this remains our priority.
The sub-committee have also visited the Axminster Waffle House which runs as a community not for profit cafe and runs community groups and outreach work for community benefit which could be duplicated here in Broadwindsor.
The hope is to release the questionnaire once the pub has opened and have a community notice board within the pub for residents to also have their say. Collaboration with Kate regarding her time and ability to host/facilitate new ventures is also crucial.
The sub-committee is mindful of getting a community space absolutely right and will be thinking carefully about what can realistically be delivered, to start slowly and then gain momentum. The pub will be a truly community pub to be used by all as we have all worked so hard and donated so generously for this vision.
Rick Dyke
Chairman, The White Lion Management Committee
The White Lion Management Committee met yesterday and the following was discussed:
Refurbishment:
We are in desperate need of people to prep, sand and paint the rear corridor and toilets as soon as possible.
Please call into the pub if you can help.
Kitchen equipment update:
Drinks product range:
Music system:
Further fundraising:
Furniture:
Celebration Gig, Saturday 2 April, 7-11pm:
Community use of pub:
Membership:
Opening:
It is looking like the pub will be open for drinks by the end of April, with the food offer available at a later date once the kitchen is fully up and running.
The 12 strong Management Committee comprises of:
*Sub-group – details to follow.
The White Lion Management Committee met last night and the following was discussed:
Refurbishment:
Kitchen equipment:
Discussions ongoing. Agreed to earmark some Comrades Arms money for the coffee machine.
New till:
The new till will have a direct link to the kitchen. Card machine in hand.
Telephone engineers coming on 1st April and will create Guest WIFI.
Tree felling:
Going on this week behind the pub. (Photo credits: Peter Roe).
Fire Risk Assessment:
Will take place in next few weeks.
The Management Committee comprises of:
Please support this fundraiser on Saturday, 2nd April –