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Kingston Maurward, Outdoor Showground photo #2
Kingston Maurward, Outdoor Showground photo #3

Kingston Maurward, Outdoor Showground

Location pin

Kingston Maurward, Dorchester, DT2 8PX - 

  • Credit card

    From
    £1500 min spend

  • Users

    Up to
    212 guests

  • Table with chairs

    Offers
    catering

  • Delivery truck

    Internal Catering
    allowed

About Venue

Kingston Maurward is a stunning country estate in Dorset with sweeping parkland, historic architecture, and lakeside views that create a truly memorable backdrop for any occasion. The setting blends heritage charm with wide open grounds, giving you a beautiful mix of elegance and space to make your event feel unique.

This is a venue that works incredibly well for weddings, private celebrations, and large-scale gatherings, as well as corporate away days and team events. With both indoor and outdoor options across the estate, you can shape the day exactly how you’d like it, whether that’s an intimate ceremony or a festival-style celebration under the open sky.

What makes Kingston Maurward really special is the level of choice and flexibility you get. The estate can be hired exclusively, so you have the grounds and gardens all to yourself. There are premium options available too, from tailored dining experiences to private bars, making it easy to create something personal. You’ll also find a helpful on-site team who know the estate inside out, ready to support with planning and smooth delivery on the day.

The estate is just outside Dorchester, so it’s easy to reach while still feeling tucked away in the Dorset countryside. There’s parking on site, good transport links nearby, and plenty of space for guests to relax and enjoy the surroundings.

About this space:

The Outdoor Showground at Kingston Maurward is a vast 5-hectare open-air space designed for large-scale events and creative set-ups. Surrounded by estate parkland, it offers the flexibility and scale needed for everything from music festivals and outdoor cinemas to seasonal celebrations and community gatherings. With utilities already in place, it’s a practical canvas for organisers who want to bring big ideas to life.

This space is especially suited to events that need room to spread out, with easy access for staging, temporary structures, and guest facilities. Whether you’re planning a multi-day festival or a one-off showcase, the Showground provides the infrastructure and freedom to shape it your way.

- Capacity: Very large outdoor area across 5 hectares
- Power, water and drainage available on-site
- Parking and WCs included within the grounds
- Flexible set-up for stages, marquees, and temporary structures
- Suitable for festivals, concerts, outdoor cinema, and seasonal events
- Dry hire with external suppliers welcome
- Late night hire options available
- Disabled access throughout the site

Contact us through VenueScanner to check availability, book this space, or explore other areas within Kingston Maurward that may suit your event.

Capacity & Layout

Standing

Standing

up to 212

Food & Beverage

Catering arrangements

Catering arrangements

Catering facilities

Catering facilities

Alcohol

Alcohol

Facilities & Amenities

Cloakroom

Cloakroom

Disabled access

Disabled access

Heating

Heating

Lectern

Lectern

Natural light

Natural light

Outdoor / Garden / Beach

Outdoor / Garden / Beach

Telephone

Telephone

Print/Scan/Copy

Print/Scan/Copy

Stage

Stage

Table / chairs included

Table / chairs included

Premises parking

Premises parking

Overnight accommodation

Overnight accommodation

Breakout rooms

Breakout rooms

Audio & Visual

Microphone

Microphone

Projector & screen

Projector & screen

TV screen

TV screen

Flipchart

Flipchart

WiFi

WiFi

Space Rules

Allowed events

wedding

Wedding ceremony licence

ticketedEvents

Promoted/ticketed events

alcoholLicense

Licensed for alcohol

Attendee Minimum Age

18

Cancellation policy

50% refundable 14 days before the event

Location

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Reviews

  • Caitlin Howell Evans
    July 2025

    Lovely day out for younger children. Great that parking and access to the gardens, animals and playground is free. The pigs were a particular favourite for my two. Brilliant way to enter the children during the school holidays.

  • Kimberley Loder-horne
    April 2025

    Great little afternoon out and unbelievable that it's FREE entry! Beautiful gardens, lots of nice walks and small gardens to explore, nice little cafe and shop, clean toilets and plenty of animals and birds to see. Very pleased we decided to visit while on holiday in Weymouth

  • Anne Raine
    July 2025

    We had a great time here, very family friendly, free entry, outdoor picnic area, indoor cafe and play area for under 8s. Lots of animals to look at; sheep, pigs, ponies, alpacas and guinea pigs. Great shop too for local souvenirs

  • Paul G
    April 2025

    We have driven past this for the last 14 years and never been in. A few days ago we decided to try. Expecting to be there only a couple hours, we were taken back by a whole day here! Massive grounds to walk and you get to enjoy a sandwich and hot drink in the cafe. There is a selection of animal for kids and adults to enjoy. And entry for Free! Great day out.

  • Lisa Stacey
    August 2025

    Brilliant day out if you make the most of the beautiful grounds, visit the animals and enjoy a picnic in the grounds. We didn't realize there was a soft play barn inside until the end of the day when we stopped for an ice cream in the cafe at the end of the day, so kids are keen to return. Also a sweet little play area and they did a lovely kids trail with fairy wand and a prize at the end. I would recommend the fairy doors were raised up above dog cocking leg height as we saw a dog wee against one of the fairy doors which was disgusting considering the kids were opening the doors to get the trail stamp. I did notice the cafe did a kids lunch box which was fairly priced. We would love to come back.

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