All photos courtesy of  Sam Huson Photography. See https://www.samhudsonphotography.co.uk/

A truly fantastic dinner event

 Christchurch Rotary is delighted to report that its inaugural ‘Dinner About Town’ event, held on the evening of Wednesday 16th September, was an overwhelming success, drawing enthusiastic praise from diners and local businesses alike.

The sold-out progressive dining experience brought diners together for a unique culinary journey across Christchurch Town Centre, raising vital funds for Parkinson’s UK (Christchurch Branch) alongside Christchurch Rotary who support a wide range of local good causes and community projects.

Grateful thanks to our hosts and our sponsors

Diners began the evening at Christchurch Sailing Club with a sparkling champagne reception, courtesy of Majestic Wine in Christchurch, before following custom ‘Dinner Passports’ to sample courses across four of the town’s premier dining venues: Captains Club Hotel & Spa, The Priory Restaurant, The Boathouse, and Eighteen Restaurant & Bar. Live musical performances at each venue added to the vibrant atmosphere throughout the night.

Beyond fundraising, a core objective of ‘Dinner About Town’ was to champion Christchurch Town Centre and highlight the extraordinary quality of the local hospitality trade.

A wonderful experience for all

Howard Matthews, President of Christchurch Rotary, said:

“As a Rotary Club, we are absolutely delighted to support our local business community through this event. Christchurch has a thriving hospitality sector, and bringing people into the town centre to experience four wonderful venues in one evening was a brilliant way to showcase that. The warmth and community spirit shown throughout the night was truly fantastic.”

Speaking on behalf of the participating venues, Chantelle Lewis, Restaurant & Bar Assistant Manager at Eighteen Restaurant & Bar, added:

“We were thrilled to be part of such an innovative event. ‘Dinner About Town’ brought a brilliant energy into the town centre, enabling us to showcase Eighteen Restaurant & Bar while bringing people together for a great cause. It was a pleasure to welcome the diners through our doors.”

Our Charities

The event also provided a platform for Parkinson’s UK (Christchurch Branch) to raise awareness of their work supporting individuals and families affected by Parkinson’s across the local area, a charity close to the heart of Christchurch Rotary.

Alan Ponting, Chair of the Parkinson’s UK Christchurch Branch commented:

“We are immensely grateful to Christchurch Rotary for selecting us as a beneficiary of this fantastic event. It gave us a wonderful opportunity to speak directly with the local community, share the vital work our branch does right here in Christchurch, and highlight the support available. The generosity shown throughout the evening was truly heartening.”

Diner Feedback & Highlights

Post-event feedback from our diners has been overwhelmingly glowing, praising the smooth organisation, the unique feel of strolling through the historic town centre between courses, and the standout hospitality of the restaurant teams.

“My husband, Adrian, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and it was wonderful to see local residents, businesses, charities and artists come together to celebrate life in Christchurch while supporting a good cause.”

“It was perfect from start to finish. Thankyou so much for a wonderful evening.”

“It was a fabulous evening. Well done Christchurch Rotary.”

“Absolutely superb evening from start to finish. Food was amazing and there was a great buzz in the restaurants created by guests, staff and entertainers”

Dinner About Town 2027 !!

With a sell-out crowd, strong backing from local business sponsors, and over £900 raised through a grand raffle alone, organisers are already looking ahead. Building on this initial success, Christchurch Rotary is excited to confirm plans to return with ‘Dinner About Town’ in 2027, with hopes of expanding the event to include even more town centre restaurants and welcome additional diners.