Bridport traders, the town council and the chamber are on a mission to breathe new life and vitality into the high street of this seaside town, and with a few campaigns up their sleeves, their quest is one of hope.
On market days, Bridport is a shining example of a thriving town.

Saunter along any one of the town’s three main streets on Wednesday and Saturday and you can find everything from flowers to plants, hardware to electricals, antiques, bric-a-brac and a mouth-watering selection of food.
On the remaining week-days things are a little quieter so traders are starting a campaign, backed by the town council and the chamber through Totally Locally Bridport, to encourage more people into the town on non-market days.
The Magic Tenner campaign will run for ten weeks and focuses on how spending £10 on a local shop, organisation or service can grow and add extra cash to the local economy.
“The campaign works by spending £10 on items from local producers. For example, if you buy a local-made pie from a local shop, a big part of your money is passed on to the local piemaker.
“The piemaker sources his ingredients from a local farm and spends a big percentage of his money with the farmer. The farmer then spends some of his money at his local garage, the garage owner then…well, you get the idea,” said Totally Locally. Roy Gregory from Clocktower Music said: “The campaign is aimed at boosting footfall every working day of the year for the Independent Businesses in Bridport and District. The Town is extremely popular for visitors to its Wednesday and Saturday Market and we wish to additionally make Bridport a destination town for the large number of small businesses that also exist in the area.

“You can find the majority of items that are available on the internet here in Bridport.
“There can be few High Streets where you can see ‘David Bowie’ and visit a forge.”
Mayor of Bridport Ian Bark said: “Business is a vital part of what makes Bridport such a vibrant town in which to live. It is not only the high street with its range of wonderful shops but businesses large and small beavering away on trading estates, in offices and at home that make this an economically healthy town throughout the year.
“That said we are a coastal town and there is a distinct seasonality to the trading that takes place in some sectors more than others. The hope is always that the peaks are sufficiently high to fill the troughs.
“To that ends as mayor, I will be supporting the Totally Locally group in their efforts to increase footfall to the independent businesses in the town. There is much work to be done and I am sure that by working together we can take Bridport forward into a new, more prosperous era for businesses and, pleasanter shopping and relaxing era for customers.”
Totally Locally Bridport are inviting all local independents to join, email totallylocallybridport@
gmail.com or ring Roy on 07429 102645