Sculpture By The Lakes, The Retreat
Sculpture by the Lakes, Pallington Lakes, Dorchester, DT2 8QU -
Up to
100 guests
Offers
catering
External Catering
allowed
About Venue
Sculpture by the Lakes is an enchanting twenty-six-acre park showcasing an extraordinary collection of more than thirty sculptures by renowned British artist, Simon Gudgeon. His work is featured in prominent collections around the world, including those of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, HRH Prince Charles and TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Simon’s sculptures can also be seen in Hyde Park and America’s National Museum of Wildlife Art.
You can hire the entire park exclusively or one of the stunning dedicated event spaces. Exclusive hire includes the entire park: lakes, river, island, all event spaces, parking, event manager liaison and is perfect for summer parties in a marquee, renewal of vows, client party, team building, birthday party and product launch or film. The Retreat is has it's own lake and gardens; guests can sip cocktails while watching the sun set from the upper sun deck with spectacular views of the River Frome and meadows.
The park offers a serene escape from city life, where guests enjoy the wonderful sensory experience - explore the beautifully landscaped gardens bursting with colour, pristine lakes and meandering river teeming with wildlife and discover Simon’s sculptures set within this idyllic natural setting.
The Retreat:
A stunning double storey timber building with a roof terrace offering spectacular views over the entire park situated in its own exclusive area, marked yellow on the attached plan. The Retreat sits by the River Frome in the south-eastern corner of the park. Available Wednesday – Sunday, the space accommodates 60 people for lunch or 100 for a drinks reception.
Capacity & Layout
Standing
up to 100
Dining
up to 60
Theatre
up to 60
Boardroom
up to 30
Cabaret
up to 30
Classroom
up to 60
Food & Beverage
Catering arrangements
Catering facilities
Refreshments
Facilities & Amenities
Premises parking
Overnight accommodation
Space Rules
Cancellation policy
100% refundable 5 days before the event
Location
Reviews
- Hug DealerJuly 2025
The sculpture park was relaxing and visually stimulating venue. I loved how tranquility of it was. The vibe of the place is incredible, very chilled, but with a lot to see and great walking around looking at all the art The place is incredible. The coffee was good in the cafe and we had a picnic.
- Paul FisherAugust 2025
Peace and tranquility. I have visited twice now and have been very impressed both times. While there were many more people there the second visit, it still didn't feel crowded. This is a wonderful place to visit to breathe deep and unload. Sit by the river or lay on the grass, wander through the formal gardens and read the plaques in the path. There are many places to sit and ponder or just enjoy the sculpture. The whole place is cleverly laid out and the art is thought provoking. I will be going back again and again.
- Katie WalkerSeptember 2025
19/09/2025 - A very beautiful and peaceful place. We came from Cambridgeshire to visit during our holiday and it was truly worth it. The peace and tranquility of the gardens and grounds was astounding. The sculptures were incredibly beautiful and I loved the QR codes besides them for more information. The cafe had lovely cakes and selection of drinks, the waitresses were lovely, chatty and gave excellent service. The gift shop had some lovely local items to sell, we purchased some local cider and local handmade soap and all very reasonably priced (we are used to Cambridge prices!). My boyfriend (now fiance) proposed to me whilst we were here in the gardens and it was truly so special I'll never forget it
- Phil JSeptember 2025
Truly amazing place. The whole experience has been well thought through and implemented. From the opening sculpture reminding how important nature is to our wellbeing to the carefully placed seating where you can sit and enjoy the calm. A number of the sculptures are interactive and I particularly enjoyed the one where you lay flat on a suspended round cushioned platform to watch the clouds drift by to the sound of water, the gentle rustling of trees and the watch the wildlife. Sculpture by the Lakes well exceeded my expectations.
- Beth PriceAugust 2025
It’s a beautiful place to visit, especially on a summer’s day. Very peaceful and relaxed, you can take you time wandering around the lake - at least two loops to do both halves of the path and see everything. There’s also a small kitchen garden with flowers, vegetables and fruit which is pretty to see. Excellent food and drinks in the onsite cafe - would recommend the sticky ginger cake - but you can also get takeaway sandwiches from the pantry or bring in your own picnic. The tickets were a little on the expensive side at £16.50pp (if you book online there’s a £1.50 discount) but understand they are very focused on conservation and ecology, which probably comes with higher maintenance costs. All in all a nice day out.
