Damien Hirst, Cock and Bull, 2012
© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2013 Photograph: Helen Cathcart/Guardian
I went to college here. It’s a good old-fashioned seaside town, with a gorgeous harbour. There are lovely seaside hotels and B&Bs – it’s like a representation of how the English seaside used to be. There’s some good fishing around here, too – I’ve been bass fishing a few times between Weymouth and Lulworth Cove.
• For a guide to Weymouth, see visitweymouth.co.uk Photograph: Helen Cathcart/Guardian
There used to be lots of brilliant ice-cream parlours around Dorset when I was a kid, selling homemade produce. Most of those have disappeared now, but there are still a few good, local artisan ice-cream makers around the county. This company – based in Wareham, near the isle of Purbeck – is one of them. They have some very unusual flavours – like Dorset watercress and Dorset Blue Vinny, made with a local cheese.
• See purbeckicecream.co.uk for where to buy in Dorset Photograph: Helen Cathcart/Guardian
The stretch of coastline around Poole is just fantastic – and Durdle Door, a few miles west, is one of the best visitor spots. It’s a huge rock arch jutting out into the sea. Kids love it, and it’s an easy walk from Lulworth Cove, which is also gorgeous. Lots of TV programmes and films have been filmed here – it’s instantly recognisable as Dorset.
• See worldheritagecoast.net Photograph: Helen Cathcart/Guardian
This market is in the old trading estate, St Michael’s, in Bridport, on the last Sunday of every month. There are always good bargains to be had, especially when you’re used to London prices. I’m always popping down there whenever I’ve got a few spare hours, buying bits and pieces for my little house in Lyme, and random things for the restaurant. I picked up some great vintage garden furniture recently.
• The Alleyways Bridport Antiques Centre, St Michael’s Trading Estate, Bridport, Dorset DT6 3RR. bridportantiques.co.uk Photograph: Helen Cathcart/Guardian
I keep an old vintage speedboat in the harbour at Lyme Regis, and take it out for a couple of hours whenever I can for a bit of fishing, a bit of relaxing. I just love being out on the water, looking back on Lyme. Most people who visit the seaside never actually venture out to sea, but you get a totally different perspective of the coastline.
visit-dorset.com Photograph: Helen Cathcart/Guardian
I saw the film The End of the Line here recently, about marine conservation. That shows how rooted the theatre is in local issues. They really support local artists, too – they have all sorts of random productions and screenings. Just in the last month, they’ve crammed in a production of the musical Piaf, a panto, and a kids’ show.
• Church Street, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3QA. marinetheatre.com Photograph: Helen Cathcart/Guardian
