Dorchester now has its very own app, providing a great new resource for residents and visitors.

The Dorchester Business Improvement (DBID) in partnership with Dorchester Town Council and local company Key Digital have launched an exciting, smartphone app which should prove to be a real hit with both visitors to Dorchester and the local community.

Phil Gordon, DBID project director, said: "This is a fantastic tool to provide you with information about almost anything you might want to know to help make your visit to town an enjoyable one.

"With great innovation and a lot of hard work, especially by the team at Key Digital, I think we have produced something incredibly special for our county town.

"Dorset Council has now closed the Tourist Information Centre in the library and so, the timing of this project could not have been any better - You can think of it as a kind of TIC in your pocket. The DBID also set up a network of Tourist Information Points (TIP's) in shops and attractions in town that will continue to stock some literature for visitors to town."

The brand-new app, called Discover Dorchester, is designed and built in Dorchester and its purpose is to promote the town, its heritage, attractions and the town's businesses.

Neil Strudwick, DBID chairman, said: "The Dorchester BID started discussing the idea with our digital partners - Poundbury-based Key Digital - some time before Christmas as they had already developed an app for a holiday park client and felt that with some further development, it could work well for Dorchester.

"DBID had discussions about the proposed app with Dorchester Town Council early this year and we were delighted to learn that they would like to partner with us & jointly fund the app project."

The app will help visitors coming, or thinking of coming, to the South West, discover how much there is to see and do in Dorchester, plan an itinerary, or just navigate around the town when they arrive.

It will also help residents be informed about events and special offers in town, make a list of their favourite places/shops or just explore and discover new shops or other businesses around the town.

Dr Jon Murden, the newly appointed chairman of the Dorchester Tourism Partnership and director of the refurbished Dorset Museum - which reopens on May 28 - said: "The Discover Dorchester app is a fantastic innovation and gives you an instant connection in the palm of your hand with everything that Dorchester has to offer."

The Discover Dorchester app officially launched today (Monday) part of English Tourism Week and is now available to download from both the app store and play store.

Councillor Gareth Jones, mayor of Dorchester, said: "The new Discover Dorchester app is an impressive resource for visitors to the town, helping them to get the most from their visit to the town.

"The wide range of town information will be equally valuable to residents. The town council is delighted to be partnering with the Dorchester BID in this exciting initiative."

David Lakins, owner of Key Digital, said: "As a local digital agency I am delighted the Key Digital Agency team were given the opportunity to deliver such an innovative solution to help the visitor economy of Dorchester bounce back after lockdown."

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