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Bridport is a vibrant traditional market town in West Dorset with a good mix of independent and multi-national shops lining its three main streets. It also has a popular and thriving Street Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Previously, Bridport was chosen as one of the original pilot towns as part of the government’s launching of the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative.

A rich variety of locally produced foodstuffs are seen on the market and in the many food shops. Bridport has Beacon Town status for the quality and diversity of the food that is produced in and around the town. As an added attraction, on every second Saturday in the month, the Farmers’ Market can be found at the Arts Centre in South Street.

The trading estates are home to a variety of businesses - manufacturing, retail and services. The workforces of some of these businesses have specialist skills and so their businesses trade internationally as well as countrywide. The historic links to our rope and net heritage continue today through netting businesses, large and small, within the town. Amsafe has evolved from Bridport Gundry, a famous rope making company, and is now recognised internationally as a world leader in textile air cargo restraint, providing cargo nets, pallet straps etc.

The South West Quadrant represents a major mixed use development opportunity which could include business starter units, affordable and residential housing. It will require sensitive planning and adequate investment in the local infrastructure so as to successfully integrate it in to the town centre area.

Bridport is a popular retirement area and a number of care and service businesses have grown up and expanded in particular support of this age group.

With a well-established artistic community, many artists are self-employed working from small studios tucked away in Bridport’s historic back streets. The Bridport Open Studios and Dorset Arts Weeks enable them to open their businesses to the public.

Bridport has a Chamber of Trade and Commerce whose aims are “To ensure that Bridport provides the ideal environment for businesses to thrive and to supply the goods and services that the town needs to remain economically vibrant”.

Contact: Secretary Karen Hussey - 07979 527596, Email: husskey@yahoo.com

A variety of businesses have advertised within this guide, while the Community website www.bridportandwestbay.co.uk also lists contact details of a number of town businesses.

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