Christchurch & District Chamber of Trade & Commerce

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Christchurch & District Chamber of Trade & Commerce

Welcome to The CCTC page, which has been created to enable the members to keep up to date with Chamber news and events.

Christchurch Chamber Of Trade and Commerce was founded in 1930 and today has over 130 members representing a diverse range of business in the Christchurch Borough. The Christchurch Chamber Of Trade and Commerce aims to:

-Act on behalf of the business community in Christchurch to create a network for mutual business enhancement

-Act as the mouthpiece for the Christchurch business community at l

ocal, national and international level

-Provide assistance for the growth of businesses at all stages of their development, with emphasis on start-ups and small businesses. What’s in it for my business?

1. Expand your network of local contacts

2. Regular networking and business development events

3. Current news on matters affecting your business

4. Opportunities to promote your business

5. Representing you at local, national and international government levels

6. Access to training, business support and advice

7. Access to cost savings through Members-to-Member Benefits

14/06/2026

Have you checked out our Chamber Chat? 📰

Hear more about it from our very own print expert Richard! 👏

12/06/2026

ROADWORK UPDATE! 🚧

Following a meeting this morning with Christchurch & District Chamber, Christchurch BID and BCP the revised development works for the former Police station in Christchurch are as follows.

Presently (12/06/26) to Friday 26 June 2026 One lane outbound towards Bournemouth on Barrack Road closed

Tuesday 16 June 2026 one inbound and one outbound lane closures – 2-way free flow traffic maintained on Barrack Road

On Friday 26 June 2026 all works cleared off Barrack Road.

Bargates full closure 29 June to 17 July 2026 for new pedestrian crossing to the development on northern arm of roundabout.

Fountain roundabout night time resurfacing works postponed until early September (date to be agreed).

11/06/2026

UPCOMING SOCIAL 🎉

🍗 We are pleased to invite you to our Summer Boat and BBQ trip! ⚓️

📅 30th July at 6.15pm
📍 Meet at Tuckton Tea Gardens
🎟️ £45 per person

To sign up email [email protected]

We look forward to seeing you there! 🎉

09/06/2026

MEET THE TEAM 👋🏼

What is your name and job title? I’m Richard Oswald and Bargates Representative on the Chamber, along with Chamber Chat

How long have you been with the Christchurch & District Chamber of Trade & Commerce? I’m a relative newby at just over 3 years.

What does your role involve? I help put together the quarterly newsletter, which is distributed by hand to over 565 local businesses.

What do you enjoy most about your role? It’s great that by working with other agencies has shown time and time again that you can get things done. The BID, Town Council and BCP all want our town to prosper, and the Chamber is very much part of that team.

What is your favourite thing about Christchurch? I love the amount of independent stores, cafes and restaurants. Special mention to Castle Sounds, the best shop in town!

What is your favourite local business, café, or place to visit? It would be unfair to single out just one. So, Castle Sounds.

If you could have dinner with any person, past or present, who would it be and why? Probably Mary Dickinson, who is credited with inventing the Melton Mowbray pork pie.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - “Nobody wins unless everybody wins” – Mr B Springsteen

08/06/2026

Huge congratulations to both and Time Stone. Stavy and her team celebrated an incredible 30 years in business on Friday, whilst Joe and his crew held a grand opening of the rebranded and relocated store. 👏

Both are long time Chamber members and do so much to help the business community. We wish them every success. 🎉

04/06/2026

UPCOMING EVENT:

Dorset’s Disability Charity is delighted to announce that it will be opening the gates to the Sensory Garden and Nature Nook at The Treehouse as part of the National Garden Scheme on Wednesday 17th June, from 10am-4pm.

Located in Hurn, the gardens at The Treehouse are fully accessible, and have been specially designed to engage all the senses, enabling people of all abilities to enjoy and explore nature. The garden is designed to delight every sense, with striking and colourful flowers, soft leaves and grasses, edible herbs, rustling leaves, beautiful scented plants and the sound of water. Along the winding path are musical instruments, whilst in the outdoor learning Nature Nook visitors will discover a wishing tree, mud kitchen, fire pit, story-telling throne and produce grown by children we support.

Tickets will be available on the day, costing £5 for adults and free entry for children.

Find out more at diverseabilities.org.uk/daevents/open-garden.

02/06/2026

MEET THE TEAM 👋🏼

What is your name and job title?
Sue Harmon-Smith – Chamber Secretary

How long have you been with the Christchurch & District Chamber of Trade & Commerce?
I was asked 10 years ago, by the then President Stephen Bowden, if I could just do the Executive Committee minutes but I have acquired a fair bit of other things since then

What does your role involve?
Putting together the agenda and minutes for the Exec then the follow up if needed but I also took on looking after everything to do with membership as well as organising events, which is relevant to past experience. And helping the President, Tim Lloyd, with anything which needs doing.

What do you enjoy most about your role?
I love the involvement with all sorts of things going on in Christchurch especially as the Chamber works closely with the BID, the Town Council and lots of other organisations so every day is different!

What is your favourite thing about Christchurch?
I was Tourism Manager for 14 years starting back in the 80s and this gave me such a wonderful opportunity to get to know Christchurch so well. My favourite thing is probably all the quirky stories from the past – real “I bet you didn’t know…” stuff

What is your favourite local business, café, or place to visit?
I can’t pick out just one 😊 I love Captain’s Club, Stewarts Gardenlands, the Thomas Tripp, Place Mill, the Regent Centre and quite a lot of other places too

If you could have dinner with any person, past or present, who would it be and why?
Lots of names come to mind but I think Stephen Fry. He is so funny with such a sharp brain. I think he would be fascinating to talk to.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
“Be kind as everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about”

What are you currently reading, watching, or listening to?
Love a good film – just seen the Devil Wears Prada 2 at the Regent. I have both Audible and a kindle so tend to listen/read two books a week. Like a good thriller and am reading Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeny, which is a bit weird.

31/05/2026

EXCITING NEWS! 🤝

Ian Girling, CEO of Dorset Chamber, has invited our Chamber to become an Associate member. This partnership will bring greater support for Christchurch, help raise our profile across the county, and open the door to even stronger business connections.
Best of all, our members will benefit from closer links with the wider Dorset business community, creating new opportunities to connect, collaborate, and grow.
A real win-win all round — watch this space! 👀

28/05/2026

How We Work with the BID

The Christchurch & District Chamber of Trade & Commerce collaborates very closely with the Christchurch BID to help the town centre businesses in a variety of ways.

🧭 Whilst the Chamber dates back 90 years and historically covers BH23, the BID has served its first 5 year term to promote and support Christchurch town centre and the Chamber are 100% behind the BID being voted in for a second term. This close alliance sees Chamber members and BID directors serving on each other’s management bodies as well as planning events, promoting the town and talking to the councils to help the businesses. 💻

If you are a BID levy payer the Chamber would welcome you joining for free! You just need to opt in so message us if you’re interested. 💬

24/05/2026

🥘 CHRISTCHURCH FOOD FEST LOCAL 🍦

The Christchurch Food & Wine Festival started back in 2000 as the town’s millennium project created by Mary Reader. It ran for 19 years with an enthusiastic band of volunteers encompassing events around the town as well as the familiar stalls on the Quay and High Street and many celebrity chefs. In 2019 the Real Food Co. took it on and after two years of Covid, in 2022 filled the Quay with stalls again.

The were keen to have the Festival back in the High Street to complement the shops and focussed on local traders. And so for three years Food Festival Local has built year on year to the fantastic event we have today! Well done on another brilliant year! 👍

The Chamber’s very popular President, Tim Lloyd, has been involved since Day One 26 years ago and still volunteers today!!

Address

Christchurch
Dorset

Website

http://www.christchurchchamber.co.uk/

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