News Directory

Upcoming event - August - Dartmouth Royal Regatta 26th August to 29th

2026-06-16T08:16:00+00:00

The Dartmouth Royal Regatta is a spectacular tradition that celebrates the towns maritime heritage to the fullest, featuring sports, live music and all manner of family activities all are welcome! The curtain is raised on Wednesday 26th August and the grand fireworks finale on the Saturday 29th August. You can find more information from the website here

Upcoming event - July - Pre-registration open for the Classic Channel Regatta: July 7th to July 16th

2026-06-16T08:09:00+00:00

The Classic Channel Regatta is coming to Dartmouth! pre-registration is now live, for more information about the event and to sign up please visit their site https://www.classic-channel-regatta.eu/

Christmas 2025 in Dartmouth

2025-12-08T13:37:00+00:00

Dartmouth is full of festive sparkle this December. All month long, families can enjoy the magical Steam Train of Lights, a glowing coastal journey that brings Christmas to life in full colour. On the 13th of December, The Concert Band of the Britannia Royal Naval College will fill The Flavel with seasonal music at their annual Christmas concert. A perfect pair of events to get everyone in the holiday spirit along with plenty of other Christmas themed treats to get your teeth in to so why not come and see them for yourselves?

20th Anniversary of the Dartmouth food Festival October 25-27

2024-10-16T09:48:00+00:00

Join us this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Dartmouth food festival!

Along with all of the amazing food and events available, this year a new hard back book to celebrate the 20 years is being released “Dartmouth Food Festival Cookbook: A Celebration of Food, Friendship & Feasting” is packed with recipes and photos taken over the 20 years for you to salivate over.

For full details on the event and to pre-order your tickets and/or the new book please go here

Charity Beer Festival Oct 18-20

2024-10-16T09:25:00+00:00

Upcoming events in October 2024

We have a very exciting charity Beer festival coming to the Flavel in Dartmouth courtesy of the Dartmouth Rotary, Starting on Friday 18th to Sunday 20th October.

There will be Live music and great food to help keep the great selection of real ales and craft beers, from many local breweries, flowing.

Tickets start at £10 (includes three drink tokens!) and can be pre-purchased online or purchased on arrival, additional tokens can also be purchased on the day.

All proceeds go to local charities so why not get involved?

Full details and tickets available from here

Dartmouth Regatta: A Historic Celebration of 180 Years Awaits

2024-09-27T15:11:00+00:00

Dartmouth, UK – Get ready to set sail into a spectacular celebration as the Dartmouth Regatta marks its monumental 180th anniversary this August! This beloved event, known for its vibrant atmosphere and exhilarating competitions, promises to be a memorable experience for locals and visitors alike.

Family Fun Weekend: August 23-25, 2025

Kicking off the festivities, the Family Fun Weekend from August 23rd to 25th will feature an array of activities for all ages. Expect lively entertainment, delicious local cuisine, and engaging games, creating the perfect setting for families to enjoy the last days of summer. Live music will fill the air, and children can participate in a variety of workshops and outdoor adventures, ensuring smiles all around.

Grand Opening Ceremony: August 27, 2025

The excitement reaches new heights on Wednesday, August 27th, with the grand opening ceremony. This year’s ceremony will celebrate the regatta’s rich history with a special parade featuring historical vessels and local dignitaries. Attendees can look forward to captivating performances that pay tribute to the maritime heritage of Dartmouth, setting the stage for an unforgettable regatta.

The Regatta: August 28-30, 2025

From August 28th to 30th, the heart of the celebration will pulse with thrilling races and competitions on the stunning River Dart. Sailors and rowers from near and far will compete in various categories, showcasing their skills in what is expected to be a fierce but friendly rivalry. Spectators can cheer on their favorites while enjoying stunning views of the iconic Dartmouth scenery.

A Grand Finale: Fireworks Display

As the regatta comes to a close, prepare for a breathtaking fireworks display on the evening of August 30th. The night sky will illuminate with a spectacular array of colors, celebrating not only the regatta but also the vibrant community spirit that has endured through 180 years. It’s a fitting end to a remarkable event and a perfect opportunity for families and friends to gather and share in the magic.

Save the Dates!

Mark your calendars and gather your friends and family to join in this historic celebration of the Dartmouth Regatta. With an exciting lineup of events and activities planned, it promises to be an epic weekend filled with joy, competition, and community spirit. Don’t miss out on the chance to be part of a tradition that has shaped Dartmouth for nearly two centuries.

For more information and updates, visit the official Dartmouth Regatta website. Prepare for an adventure on the water, and get ready to celebrate a legacy that continues to inspire generations!

Tornado rips through South Devon

2017-08-02T07:48:48+00:00

The powerful steam train Tornado has been steaming through South Devon on Sunday.

There was disappointment earlier in the month when the first steam train to reach 100mph this century failed a test and was unable to pull the Torbay Express tour train to Kingswear.

But she is back in action and has powered her way to Kingswear with carriages of happy travellers and will be leaving at around tea-time.

Russian spy plane seen over Dartmouth

2017-08-02T07:46:38+00:00

David Bown was in his garden last week when a silver speck in the sky caught his eye. He said: “I took the picture on Wednesday, July 12th, in the early afternoon. I was using my camera, it was a lovely sunny day and I saw the light hit it. I took several photos; it was about 10,000ft, going slowly.
“It’s a propeller aircraft. As soon as I saw it in the viewfinder, I knew it was a bit special. I used to be a bit of a plane spotter many years ago. I did some research online and it is an Antonov AN-30, they are phasing it out, a new jet will replace it soon.
“I think it was flying under the Open Skies Treaty which came into force on January 1st, 2002 and has 34 states which are parties. It covers unarmed surveillance flights over the entire territory of its participants. Russia and the UK are signatories and the Treaty is designed to enhance mutual understanding regarding military forces etc.”

Expected bad weather forces luxury cruise ship to avoid Dartmouth - here’s where it’ll be instead

2017-08-02T07:42:55+00:00

The ‘most luxurious ship ever built’ will not be visiting Dartmouth on Wednesday as planned – but she will be able to be seen in Tor Bay instead.

The cruise ship Regent Seven Sea Explorer was due to return to Dartmouth on Wednesday for the second of three visits this summer.

But Dart Harbour said on Tuesday: “We are sorry to let you know that Seven Seas Explorer will not be calling to Dartmouth tomorrow, July 26, because of the expected heavy weather tomorrow – she will be anchoring in the shelter of Tor Bay instead.”

The 55,000-ton, 224-metre vessel, which is only one year old, is arriving in South Devon from Southampton at the start of a 15-day Iceland and Greenland cruise.

Tor Bay Harbour Authority said Seven Seas Explorer is expected to arrive at 6am and depart at 6pm. She will be at anchor south of Torquay Harbour and passengers will be transported ashore to Beacon Quay. A ‘restricted zone’ will be in place.

Call for local communities’ ideas for affordable housing projects

2017-08-02T07:42:50+00:00

South Hams District Council is challenging local communities to come up with affordable housing projects on which it can spend some of the £4.4 million worth of developers’ cash it is sitting on.
The cash – known as Section 106 money - has been squeezed out of developers to mitigate against the impact of their housing projects across the district when it comes to education, roads, open space, sports facilities and affordable housing.
Now the district council wants local communities to spell out how the cash should be spent.
It wants parish and town councils, councillors and neighbourhood planning groups to come up with projects that the it can invest the affordable housing share of the 106 money in.
And later in the year it will be doing the same for the cash designated for open space and sports and recreation projects.
Cllr Simon Wright, the district council’s executive portfolio holder for support services explained: “We will be consulting with town and parish councils and ward members on when contributions are due for payment from developers. We will also be asking local councils, members and neighbourhood planning groups to come forward with specific proposals for affordable housing.
“If communities come forward with applications for affordable housing, we can really put this money to good use. We will shortly be contacting town and parish councils, groups and members with how they can apply.”
Developers are required to hand over money to mitigate against the impact of their development to be spent on the infrastructure in the communities where the development is taking place.
Often developers hand over cash for affordable housing instead of building affordable homes as part of their development.
Some of the money waiting to be spent on affordable housing and community facilities includes £459,415 from the Riverside development in Totnes – now called Camomile Lawn - and £150,191 from Sawmills Field in Dartington.
There has been criticism from local parish councils that they have little idea about how much money is available for their communities and calls for greater transparency.
South Hams Council said that hundreds of thousands of pounds of 106 money had already been spent on projects around the South Hams – including £320,000 towards the cost of the all weather pitch being built on the King Edward VI Community College site in Totnes.
Mr Wright said the district has now laid out plans to improve the process it goes through when spending the money that is gets from developers.
This includes plans to keep communities up-to-date on how the money is spent and a redesigned process of how funds could be spent on affordable housing projects.
He said: “While £4 million does sound like a lot of money, S106 contributions are constantly being added to the pot and then spent on improvements such as sports pitches, play parks and affordable homes.
“This is not a new pot of money, it’s continually being collected and distributed across the district.
“What is new, is how we’re striving to improve this process. Until now, what has been missing is a constant method of sharing the details of when money is collected and how it is spent, so the money can go to the local communities it is intended for.”