Special Event Archives - Bridport Literary Festival

Apothecary

Apothecary, Bridport’s legendary spokenword gathering, is celebrating its 10th anniversary at this special event which will be MCed by poet, comedian and author Jonny Fluffypunk and opened by Bridport Mayor, Anne Rickard. The audience will be treated to a diversity of contributions, embracing poetry, stories, comedy and music. These will include a set by the great Fluffypunk himself. With the motto, 'Take the Talking Cure', Apothecary has seen over 200 different local people perform or read their original writing. Its supportive, inclusive ethos has helped nurture a vibrant community of writers and performers, of all ages and abilities, from the region. Priority booking - Become a Friend - Contact TIC Bridport to book tickets - 01308 424901

When: Tuesday 11th November 2025 @ 7.00 pm

Where: Bridport Town Hall

Paul Lashmar - Drax of Drax Hall - How One British Family Got Rich (and Stayed Rich) from Sugar and Slavery The Dorset based Drax family are unique in that they are the only colonising family to still own a plantation in the West Indies. As global movements for racial justice continue to challenge the legacies of empire, Drax of Drax Hall offers a vital case study of how Britain’s colonial wealth survives—and thrives—in plain sight. From the violent origins of British colonialism in the Caribbean to the quiet entrenchment of inherited privilege in the English countryside, this is a history that lays bare the enduring legacies of empire—and the families who still profit from them. Through meticulous research and gripping storytelling, Paul Lashmar exposes the deep roots of inequality, the persistence of elite privilege, and the unfinished business of reparations. Drax of Drax Hall tells the full, unflinching story of the ancestors that pioneered the British sugar industry and created the blueprint for slave-based plantation economies. In this final event in the BridLit calendar 2025, local journalist Paul Lashmar will be in conversation with Alan Smith, First Estates Commissioner of the Church of England about his recently published book Drax of Drax Hall. The event will be chaired by David Olusoga, who wrote the foreword to the book. in conversation with Alan Smith and chaired by David Olusoga David will be in the Electric Palace in the evening for his own event and book signing. Become a friend

When: Friday 12th December 2025 @ 4.30pm

Where: The Bull Ballroom

Special Event

Special Event | Apothecary | Jonny Fluffypunk

Special Event | Paul Lashmar | Drax of Drax Hall

Third Party Cookies

Tracking Cookies

Privacy Policy