Special Events

PomPom Chain

Would you like to be part of a World Record attempt?

Dry Dock is attempting to break the world record for the longest PomPom Chain (currently at 45,736 pompoms).

You can help in 3 ways:

1. Donate some wool (any type, any colour, leftovers or full balls)
2. Make a pompom or two at Dry Dock - we have wool and pompom looms
3. Make a pompom or two at home and bring them into Dry Dock

Pompoms need to be a maximum of 5cm across. Give us your name and where you are from, and how many pompoms you have made, and we will add you to the list. There will be a prize for the group or individual who contribute the most. We are also planning to make a map showing all the places that the pompoms have come from.

UPDATE: 18 September 2025

The target is 45,736, and so far we have 3,723, so we're just under 10% there.

The furthest PomPom donation has come all the way from Germany.

Please keep up the hard work everyone, we really appreciate the effort that everyone has put in.

UPDATE: 30 September 2025

We have made it to 4,795, which means we've managed to increase our count by over 1,000 in less than 2 weeks!

Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed so far.

Announcements

PRESS RELEASE: Leigh Henderson to leave Dry Dock

11 October 2025

I am incredibly proud of being a member of the Dry Dock team since its inception in July 2023, before we opened. I was in the core group of people that started Dry Dock, alongside Sam Watson (founder & director), Alan Farrell (volunteer & bid writer) and Liam Ormerod (accountant & director) + myself, Leigh Henderson (Events, Live Music & Marketing Manager).

People said the place would never survive but in the last 2 years we have achieved a national profile (being featured on This Morning TV, several times on BBC News, ITV documentaries, radio stations, overseas TV channels and going viral on all major online news publications). Since opening, we have run over 2,000 events, including several day long live music festival and entertainment events featuring between 10-20 live acts, including hosting the longest running and one of the busiest Open Mic Night in town + the only Original Music Open Mic in Dorset, supporting the local live music scene, while gaining between 2,000-15,000 views on over 100 live promotional videos and racking up 8 million+ online content views on our events promos per year across an audience within Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester, while not paying a penny on digital ads. We have also supported these charities and organisations (Reach, Macmillan, Weldmar, Lantern Trust, Mind and many others) and becoming the only pub venue that has been supported by the Job Centre and government Wellbeing events. But most importantly, we have proved that the ‘no alcohol’ pub concept works, and we not only survived but thrived.

During the three calendar years I have represented Dry Dock as part of the management team, I have met many incredible people and made great connections while having established an inclusive, innovative brand.

On a personal note I am seeking new challenges with a genuine passion, unparalleled enthusiasm and commitment to supporting Weymouth venues and businesses to grow.