Pavilion Theatre

The seafront at Weymouth has a proper old-school theatre, and it's the real deal. The Pavilion sits right by the water with that slightly faded elegance Victorian seaside buildings do so well - the kind of place where you can practically hear the echo of decades of summer seasons. Inside, it's all red velvet seats and ornate plasterwork, the sort of theatre that makes you sit up straighter without meaning to.

You'll catch everything from musicals and comedies to drama and live music throughout the year. The programming is solid, genuinely varied stuff rather than just touring shows - local talent gets a look-in too. It's the sort of venue where you might discover something unexpected, or catch a proper West End production without leaving the coast. The sightlines are decent even from the back, and there's something intimate about the space that larger modern theatres lose.

If you're staying at Waterside or Chesil Beach Holiday Park - both just minutes away - an evening here beats another night of takeaway pizza in the caravan. Families with kids will find plenty of school holiday shows and pantomimes, though older theatre-goers get the real treat: this is still a working theatre with real atmosphere, not a museum piece. Check the website for what's on and book ahead - popular shows sell out. A couple of hours plus dinner beforehand makes for a proper night out. The seafront location means you can walk off before heading back to your pitch.