Clubs, Sports and Activities

Bladen Social Club in Briantspuddle

Festive letter from Ruth and the team at Bladen Social Club – December 2025

As the Christmas Festive season is now upon us, we wish all our patrons and supporters a very merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year, and thank you for your support throughout this year.

Through your support it has been possible to carry out much needed maintenance this year, replacing several windows and painting the exterior of the building. There is still work to be done in completing the exterior and interior decorating and we hope you will continue to support us in the same way during 2026 so this work can be continued.

Over the festive season Dorset Police will no doubt be carrying out their usual Drink Driving Awareness activities so rather than driving out of Briantspuddle for a drink why not walk to the Bladen Social Club and join us for some competitively priced drinks. Or if you are going out for a Christmas meal, why not join us for a night cap when you return to Briantspuddle.

The Bladen Social Club is open on Monday, Friday and Saturday evenings every week from 6:30pm. As usual we will be closed on Christmas Day but we will be open on New Year’s Eve.

We are staging a New Year’s Eve event with a 60s, 70s, 80s disco, silly games and other fun. Tickets are on sale in Briantspuddle Village Shop, Saturday Coffee Shop and Bladen Social Club. Tickets include a glass of fizz to let in the New Year and finger buffet (children go free). PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED. It was hoped to open the club for drinks but this is not now possible due to staff shortage.

Our regular activities are: Monday evening – Short Mat Bowls, Friday – league skittles and a meat draw and Saturdays are when we hold either a quiz night, games night, knockout darts or pool competitions or themed evenings, all of which will resume in the New Year. We already have a Valentine’s evening planned for 14th February.

Without you the Bladen Social Club is just four walls, a roof and plenty of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. What makes for a good atmosphere and enjoyment is your presence.

The opening hours for the club are:

Bladen Social Club Calendar of events

January events to be confirmed

Bladen Social Club Horticultural Show

The Horticultural Show is held annually on the first Saturday of August in Briantspuddle Village Hall.  The first Horticultural Show was held in 1969 and it is hoped that there is still enthusiasm to enter every year and that folk will come along to see who won what, meet up with friends and neighbours, have a drink in the bar, and buy a raffle ticket or two.

It costs around £350 to put the show on with printing, hire of the Village Hall, the judges, and engraving of trophies and cups to be paid for. Due to the high cost of running the show sponsorship for these expenses would be very much appreciated.

There are classes for everyone including vegetables, flowers, pot plants, baking, preserves, handicrafts, photographs and children’s classes. Do read the show schedule carefully, especially the Show Rules.

About the Club

Bladen Social Club can be found in the centre of Briantspuddle, adjacent to the Village Hall and close by the Village Shop. It was built entirely by villagers in 1957 as a meeting place for families and their friends and yes, for those who were “keen to have a drink”. In fact some of the original villagers were so thirsty that you will still find them at the bar!

Members are able to bring guests, and temporary membership is available for holiday makers. Historical photos of the village are displayed around the club and local characters are only too happy to share their memories. It’s also a family club, for all ages, offering quiz nights, bingo and lively indoor sports nights including skittles, darts, dominoes, pool and snooker. The Club organises many community, fundraising and charity events and works closely with the Village Hall Committee to hold joint private and public functions as well as popular community events.

Events are open to members only, although two non members may be signed in as guests by each member. Membership of Bladen Social club is open to all and costs £7.00 per year. If you would like to join the club, or just join us during a holiday break, call in when we are open and ask about our full or temporary membership options. Alternatively contact bladensocialclub@gmail.com

Puddle Peddlars

We are a sociable adult cycling group who like to ride our bicycles through the beautiful countryside. We combine each outing with a refreshment stop (cake, drink and natter). E-bikes welcome, road and MTB. If you’d like to join our WhatsApp chat for news on upcoming rides, please get in touch with Julia or Paul Bradley on 07525 265166 or on the Briantspuddle page of Facebook.

The Community Group

The aim of this group is to create a social hub at the Village  Hall for all residents, their family, friends and visitors. It is run by volunteers who are keen to keep life in this village active and vibrant. The Group sponsors:

The Saturday Morning Coffee Shop.

In need of breakfast, a mid morning break and refreshment, a place to meet and talk with friends? Then why not come to the Saturday Coffee shop at Briantspuddle Village Hall, which is open most Saturdays throughout the year from 10 am to Noon. The Coffee Shop Offers bacon rolls, homemade cakes, filter coffee and tea to drink in or take away at very reasonable prices. (coffee is £1 per mug, or a pot of tea £1, cakes £1 each and bacon rolls are £1.50 each). For more information contact Jenny Beedle on 01929 471002

A Lunch Club – “Lets Lunch”

This a monthly lunch club for the over 55’s who live in the parish. A home-made hot lunch, pudding , cheeseboard plus tea or coffee is provided for £7.00. The menu is posted on village notice boards. Reservations can be made on Saturday’s at the Community Group Coffee morning or by contacting Jenny Beedle on 01929 471002.

Book-Let

A book loan scheme called Book-Let started in 2008 and is held on the second Saturday each month from 10am till 12 noon outside the Diamond Jubilee Room at the Village Hall and in conjunction with the Saturday Coffee Shop. We have an extensive selection of books from which to choose including crime, historical fiction, biographies and general fiction. We also have a small selection of poetry books. There is a charge of 30p per book borrowed which enables us to raise funds to purchase equipment for the Village Hall.

We are pleased to accept donations of books in good condition. Once we have finished with a book it is passed on to local charities. For further information contact Angie Talbot 01929 472483 or email angie@pbtalbot.plus.com

Occasional organised talks in the winter months.

The Briantspuddle Singers

The Briantspuddle Singers was formed at the end of WW2 to provide an opportunity for local people to participate in choral singing, including public performances. The Singers perform 3 concerts per year, with professional soloists and instrumentalists, as well as joining with other members of the Dorset Guild of Singers to mount a major production at The Lighthouse, Poole in alternate years. In the intervening years the Guild runs at least two choral workshops concentrating on voice production and choral singing.  We also have links with the Dorset Rural Music School.

Briantspuddle Singers meet every Tuesday at 7.45pm in Briantspuddle Village Hall. If you are interested in singing with our local choir, we would love to hear from you. We meet on Tuesdays from 7:45-9:15pm led by our conductor Felicity Goodman, who ensures lively and fun rehearsals. We sing a wide variety of music from classical sacred music such as William Byrd’s Ave Verum Corpus to Gilbert and Sullivan, as well as favourites such as We Gather Lilacs and Les Miserables.

Singing is now widely known to life the spirits so if you ever think about singing regularly, do consider joining us. If you are interested, please contact Jill on 01929 472 643.

Pilates

The class is run by Kathy Ashdown on a Tuesday morning in the Briantspuddle Village Hall from 0930. For details she can be contacted via her website http://www.peverellpilates.com

Pilates is a holistic and complete workout for the entire body and mind. Pioneered by Joseph Pilates with its origins in yoga, boxing, gymnastics and martial arts, it has been adapted to provide a comprehensive approach to exercise for all ages and abilities.

Unlike many exercise programmes, which can over-work dominant muscles, Pilates promotes small controlled movement that rebalances unhealthy posture and movement patterns. Designed to stretch and move every part of the body and with its focus on core stability, the use of breathing and correct alignment, it helps to build core strength, tone, flexibility, mobility and re-alignment. By leading from a strengthened core the body moves more efficiently. Medical professionals recommend Pilates as a preventative and rehabilitate exercise program, a discipline followed by many elite athletes, famous singers and dancers. Pilates benefits include relief from back pain and a positive impact on individuals’ mood, motivation, stress and improvement in memory.

Hatha Yoga

Briantspuddle village Hall on Fridays from 10:00 – 11:30 All levels and ages welcome.
Cost – £12 per class (discount available for bulk booking)

“Hatha Yoga” is simply a practise that involves physical techniques. The literal translation of “Hatha” from sanskrit is also “force” or “effort”. The word “Hatha” comes from the sanskrit roots ‘ha’, meaning ‘sun’, and ‘tha’ meaning ‘moon’. Yoga means Union. So Hatha Yoga involves bringing into balance these two sides of ourselves, the masculine and feminine, the outer and inner, active and passive, light and dark. Hatha Yoga practises have a long history and have evolved over time. In a class today you could expect postures, breathwork, mudra, mantras, visualisation. Typically Hatha yoga is conducted more slowly and with static holds than other forms of yoga. You can expect to start with checking in and withdrawing the senses, some pranayama (breath), some movement usually involving Sun Salutations or variations, some more static held postures in standing, sitting and laying down, and finishing with a relaxation or “Yoga Nidra”. Adaptations are always possible for different needs, whether that is a long term condition, a recent injury, pregnancy or anything else.

For more information please contact Frances White on 01929 472927 or 07974 39134

Short Mat Bowls

The Short Mat Bowls Club meets in the village hall on the first and second Tuesday afternoons of each month at 2:30pm and on Monday evenings at 7:30pm during the remainder of each month. Sessions last approximately two hours and we charge £2 per player on Monday evenings or £2.50 per player on Tuesday afternoons in order to pay for the hire of the hall. On Tuesday afternoons the £2.50 includes tea and biscuits.

The club was founded with grant aided assistance from the Dorset Partnership for Older People Programme (POPP) and although POPP is primarily focused on those over 50 years of age the short mat bowls club welcomes all age groups to participate.

As a relatively new club none of the current players are experts and we are all enjoying trying to perfect our bowling skills together. We have two mats and plenty of bowling woods so we have capacity to welcome any new members who would like to “try their hand” at short mat bowls, or for more expert players whose skill and knowledge of the game we would much appreciate.

If you are interested either turn up on one of the days and times above or telephone Peter Talbot on 01929 472483.

Sponsored by the Dorset Partnership for Older People Programme

In nearby Bere Regis

Over 50s Lunch Club Bere Regis “Salt and Pepper”. Tel 01929 472327

Pop in Place. Bere Regis Community. Tel 01929 472023 or 472037

ROGS. Bere Regis. Golf. Tel 01929 553814

What’s on in Dorset

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