Wimborne, Ferndown and Ringwood sit in a gorgeous cluster of East Dorset / New Forest fringe towns — family-friendly, lots of good village halls, and just a short drive from my base in Bournemouth. This is a practical guide for local parents thinking about booking a children's entertainer for a birthday in the area.
Do local entertainers travel here?
Yes — easily. Wimborne is about 25 minutes up the A341 from Bournemouth, Ferndown roughly 20 minutes, and Ringwood 30 minutes over the border into Hampshire. I cover all three regularly. Most full-time Dorset entertainers include this travel in their standard quote, but always ask — some suppliers add a small fee for Ringwood because it crosses into Hampshire.
Popular party venues
Wimborne
- Allendale House Community Centre — spacious main hall, kitchen, parking
- Colehill Memorial Hall — friendly village hall with plenty of chairs
- Pamphill Village Hall — picturesque rural setting, plenty of outside space
- The Tivoli Theatre meeting rooms — in-town option for smaller groups
Ferndown
- Ferndown Community Centre — big, modern, car park, disabled access
- Barrington Centre — centrally located, multiple room sizes
- King George V Pavilion (via the parish council) — good for summer garden-edge parties
Ringwood
- Greyfriars Community Centre — flexible main hall with car park
- Poulner Community Hall — a parent favourite, easy parking
- Rockford Village Hall (a few miles out) — rural charm, warm atmosphere
- The Furlong Centre — compact, in-town option
Most village halls in East Dorset cost £25–£50 for a 3-hour weekend booking. Call the parish clerk directly rather than using third-party booking sites — it's usually faster and cheaper.
What a local party typically costs
For a 30-child birthday party in Wimborne, Ferndown or Ringwood with a professional magician, party dancing and party extras, typical all-in budgets look like:
- Hall hire: £30–£50
- Entertainer (45-minute show): from £200
- Entertainer (2-hour package: show + dancing + circus + games): from £325
- Party food & cake: £80–£150
- Party bags & decorations: £40–£70
For a more detailed breakdown, see my dedicated post on children's entertainer cost in Dorset.
Booking timings: how far ahead
Rural Dorset weekends book up faster than people expect, especially in the spring and summer. My honest advice:
- 1Regular weekend in term time: book 4–6 weeks ahead
- 2School holidays or bank holidays: book 8–12 weeks ahead
- 3Summer garden parties (Jun–Aug): book 10–14 weeks ahead
- 4Christmas parties: I'm usually fully booked by early October
Parking and arrival logistics
This is the single biggest thing parents forget. Always let the entertainer know:
- Where to park — some village halls have a separate kit drop-off door
- How many steps up to the hall (we bring a lot of kit!)
- Whether the venue has a kitchen, tables, and chairs you can use
- What time you have access — I need 30 minutes to set up
A local bonus: New Forest nearby
If your Ringwood party is in summer, don't overlook a pre-party picnic at a New Forest car park (Hightown, Ocknell, or Poulner Lakes) followed by a hall-based entertainment slot. It's a brilliant combo — natural excitement first, then the structured party to finish — and uniquely works where you live.
Throwing a party in Wimborne, Ferndown, Ringwood, Verwood, Corfe Mullen or anywhere else in East Dorset? Get in touch and I'll tell you honestly which venues work best for your child's age group and size of party.
Written by
Children's Entertainer Dorset
Professional Children's Entertainer
Children\'s Entertainer Dorset is a full-time professional children's entertainer based in Bournemouth with 15+ years of experience throwing brilliant parties across Dorset. He has performed at thousands of birthday parties, school shows and family events.
