The Dorset County Show will move to a new showground at Pigeon House Farm on Slyers Lane for its 2027 event, ending a 26-year run at Cokers Frome, on the outskirts of Dorchester.
The relocation is intended to provide greater certainty for one of Dorset’s major agricultural and countryside gatherings. The existing showground has been earmarked for development, meaning the move is designed to secure the event’s longer-term future as well as protect its charitable work promoting agriculture and the countryside.
A new base close to the existing site
The new venue is only a few fields from the current showground and is already familiar to many visitors. In recent years, land at Pigeon House Farm has been used to extend car parking, while it became an important part of the vehicle arrival arrangements in 2024 after visitor numbers reached a record the previous year.
Organisers said the new showground offers additional acreage for expansion and creates scope for investment in infrastructure. That capacity will be important as the Dorset County Show has continued to grow, with increases in the number of visitors, exhibitors, campers and attractions.
- The 2027 event will be held at Pigeon House Farm on Slyers Lane.
- The move follows 26 years at Cokers Frome.
- The show welcomes 60,000 visitors annually, according to the announcement.
- The new site is expected to support further expansion and infrastructure investment.
Show’s agricultural and countryside role
The Dorset County Show has developed beyond its core agricultural displays while retaining a broad connection with rural life. The programme includes attractions ranging from alpacas to a music stage, reflecting the event’s expansion in recent years.
Keeping the show in the same local area means many regular visitors will have a short transition to the new venue. The organisers’ announcement also points to the practical familiarity created by the site’s previous use for parking and vehicle access.
The change of location will be formally marked when the show opens its gates on 4-5 September 2027. The event is expected to begin its first season at Pigeon House Farm with the additional space available for future development and continued charitable activity.
Planning for the next stage
The move follows a period in which the show has attracted more people and a wider range of participants. A venue with more land is intended to give organisers room to accommodate that growth while providing a stable base for the annual event.
For Dorset’s agricultural community, the new site will remain a focal point for showcasing farming, countryside interests and rural attractions. The relocation therefore represents a change of ground rather than a move away from the show’s established role in the county.
