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Welcome to The Dorford Centre!

We are open for bookings and welcome any enquiries and discussions on specific needs.

Drop in or contact us and we would be pleased to show you around.

 

The Dorford Centre

If you are looking for a venue to hold a private, business or community event, our well equipped conference and meeting facilities are available for hire.

The Dorford Centre is a contemporary, modern and extensive conference centre situated near the south coast in the centre of Dorchester, Dorset. The centre has excellent conference, meeting and exhibition facilities available at very competitive rates. Various levels of service are available to assist you and ensure the smooth running of your event. The centre is located opposite the Top 'O' Town car park where daily parking rates apply.

Our rooms are all disability accessible. 

 

 

Open Monday to Saturday

 

Room Tariffs per four hour session
The room hire rates below will apply from 1st October 2025 - proposed room rates from 1st October 2026 are shown further down the page

 

Our session times are 9am to 1pm, 1:30pm to 5:30pm and 6pm to 10pm. Evening bookings are only taken on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. From 1st October 2026, evening bookings will only be taken on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Room Capacity
(Theatre)
Capacity
(Boardroom)
Capacity
(Cafe Style)
Price
(Charity)
Small local club/organisation run on charity basis Price
(Non-Charity)
GROUND FLOOR
Conference Hall 260 Please
contact venue
120 £121 £158 £200 (under 100 del £185)
Lounge 50 22 35 £63 £84 £105
FIRST FLOOR
Room 2 25 12 - £42 £58 £74
Room 3 N/A 7 - £42 £58 £74
Room 4 30

18

15
classroom
£53 £68 £84
Activity Hall 50 30 40 £58 £79 £100

Please note:

1) Bookings outside of normal office hours (9am – 5pm weekdays) will incur a £20 per session staffing cost - this will increase to £25 from 1st October 2026.

2) We have a limited number of tables depending upon building usage. If you are planning an event which requires a large number of tables, please discuss at point of booking.

 

Proposed room rates per four hour session - from 1st October 2026

 

Room Price
(Charity)
Small local club/organisation run on charity basis Price
(Non-Charity)
GROUND FLOOR
Conference Hall £127 £165 £209 (under 100 del £194)
Lounge £66 £88 £110
FIRST FLOOR
Room 2 £44 £61 £77
Room 3 £44 £61 £77
Room 4 £55 £72 £88
Activity Hall £61 £83 £105

Please note: Bookings outside of normal office hours (9am – 5pm weekdays) staffing cost will increase to £25 per session.

 

Layouts

Boardroom style is a formal square or rectangle of Go-pak tables. Cafe style is more informal with delegates seated around rectangular tables. If Boardroom is required in the Conference Centre, some delegates find it difficult to hear each other.

 

Refreshment Tariffs

Unlimited drinks for a morning session (4 hours): £2.75 per head (£3.00 per head from 1st Oct 2026)

Unlimited drinks for a day session (8 hours): £4.50 per head (£4.75 per head from 1st Oct 2026)

Single drink: £1.40 (£1.50 from 1st Oct 2026)

If you bring your own refreshments, there will be a small cover charge for cups, hot water etc – please discuss when booking .

 

 

Click on a room to take a tour ... 

 

 

Image 1 from Rooms | Dorchester Baptist Church Image 2 from Rooms | Dorchester Baptist Church Image 3 from Rooms | Dorchester Baptist Church

 

 

Image 4 from Rooms | Dorchester Baptist Church Image 5 from Rooms | Dorchester Baptist Church Image 6 from Rooms | Dorchester Baptist Church

 

 

Image 7 from Rooms | Dorchester Baptist Church

 

 

 


Our clients are always extremely happy with the service provided at the Dorford Centre...

 

“Thank you for all your help and support to make the event run so smoothly.  We thoroughly enjoyed being at The Dorford Centre today, and the facilities worked so well for us. You and your lovely team are a credit to your organisation."

"Thank you for making us so welcome. It's great to find a community space that is so well-run, friendly and with such good facilities.  You're top of our list for whenever we pop into Dorset!"

 

“The conference was a huge success and many commented on the wonderful loving atmosphere in the room - that doesn't just come with the people present at the time - that gets created by everyone involved in all the preparation too.” 

“ The cookery session last night was brilliant and it was made so easy because of your great facilities, equipment and amazing team."