The cast and producers of Pirates of the Pavilion have yet again entertained us with a hilarious show and watching it in the grounds of Nothe Fort made the experience even more unforgettable.

Because of Covid-19 extra measures have been put in place to ensure everyone’s safety and on arrival we were asked to sanitise our hands and collect our chairs before being shown to our socially distanced area where everyone had a good view of the stage.

We arrived with enough time to catch some of the pre-piratey entertainment (I recommend joining in to warm up) and also grab some delicious lemon cake and popcorn from the Café.

I had been keeping an eye on the weather all day and packed waterproofs and blankets for myself and my son.  I was actually tempted to take hot water bottles but I changed my mind at the last minute in case anyone there thought I was slightly bonkers haha.  We did have a little drizzle before the show started but luckily it was dry for most of our time there and we even had the sun occasionally peeking through.

If you’ve seen the show in previous years then you’ll recognise most of the cast and if you’ve been to see the Christmas panto then you’ll know the very funny Gwynfryn West who has joined the pirates this year to play the evil pirate Blackhead.

The regular cast includes Isla Rose as Pirate Poppy, Liam Mellor as silly Seadog Billy, Robert Squire as Captain Filibuster, Tegen Jones as the Spirit of the Seas and Alex Rogan as Dapper Dick.

As you would expect with any pirate adventure, there’s a treasure map and lost loot which the bad guy wants and the good guys have to get to save the day.  To everyone’s surprise we find out that Captain Filibuster is actually married and his wife who is brilliantly played by Luke Attwood gets everyone into ship shape.  Expect some very outrageous costume changes including a bikini which my son cried with laughter about and had to ask if they were his real boobies which he was holding up!

The crew and accompanying dancers on board the Saucy Sally will entertain you as they sing, dance and perform some hilarious scenes with our favourite being Seadog Billy when he appears on stage.  I especially loved the cast making use of the wonderful surroundings and staircase which goes right up to the top of the Fort.

The show is suitable for children young and old and the grown ups will definitely have a good giggle over the rude bits and relatable Covid jokes.

If the weather is appalling then the show will still go on in the Weymouth Pavilion so you don’t need to worry about torrential rain if we do have any this week.

Pitaes of the Pavilion will be performing at 4.30pm and 7.30pm up until Sunday 23rd August 2020 so if you’re looking for an entertaining show with loads of mischief and gags then I’d thoroughly recommend it.  For more information and tickets, please visit the Pirates of the Pavilion.

Good to know:

There are toilet facilities and a café serving sandwiches, pastries, children’s lunch boxes, cakes, snacks and drinks. 

Dorsetmums was invited to see the Pirates of the Pavilion for review purposes however all words are my own.

During the Summer Holidays The Walled Garden in Moreton are running a Dinosaur Trail and we visited recently with friends to enjoy some fun in the sun.

The Walled Garden is set within 5 acres of formal gardens and we started our afternoon in the play park so the kiddies could burn off some energy and we could catch up. In the same area you’ll find some wandering chickens plus guinea pigs, rabbits, 2 huge snoring piggies and probably some other animals which were hiding from the sun.

We then picked up a trail form and the children wasted no time hunting for the Dinosaurs in the stunning gardens and doing their best to answer the themed questions so they could receive their prize at the end.

They are taking everyone’s safety seriously and on the 2 entrances and at other locations you’ll find hand sanitiser plus there are visual reminders to social distance from others. The Café has an entrance for customers going in and a separate exit for those going out and there’s plenty of spaced seating inside and out. Having eaten in The Dovecote Café a few times before I can thoroughly recommend the food which is fresh and tasty.

By now us Mums were in need of a cuppa and we were delighted to find out that The Dovecote Cafe were taking part in the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme so our planned quick drink turned into a Cream Tea for 2. I have always LOVED scones and these did not disappoint. They were huge and perfectly baked with lashings of jam and clotted cream on top. They were so good that I popped my head in the Café when we finished and thanked the baker for her amazing scones.

There is plenty of free parking at The Walled Garden but there is also a field nearby which is offering free parking to discourage visitors from parking on the road. The Walled Gardens has toilets and everything you need to enjoy a day out.

Some of you may not know that Employ My Ability is based at The Walled Gardens and they offer vocational qualifications for those with learning disabilities and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Students are able to gain real hands on work experience in the hospitality, horticultural and retail industry giving them a start to employment within the local community. For this reason you will see donation boxes dotted around and signs asking for a donation should you wish to bring a picnic.

While we were in Moreton and also because we were melting from the sun we took a dip in the river which is very close by. The water level in the ford was quite low which was great for the kids because it was very shallow all the way across. With all of our current public splash parks and pools being closed it really was the perfect way to cool down. One thing you must note while you are there though is that it is essentially a road and you may have the occasional car or horse rider wanting to come through.

So definitely put Moreton on your Summer Holiday list of places to go because we had a wonderful time there and look forward to going back already.

Dinosaur Trail forms cost £2 per person and once completed you will receive a prize. For more information, please visit The Walled Garden.