This page is being hosted on Circular Dorking’s website on behalf of the organisers of Pippfest. 

Thank you to all who visited, all who took part and all who supported.

The list of those involved is massive which shows the amazing support for Pippfest and for a Community Hub in Pippbrook House

Post Pippfest: Meeting 1st October 2024

CHiP (Community Hub in Pippbrook) What Can You Do To Help?

Sunday 1 September is the Pippfest party to celebrate our ownership of Pippbrook this beautiful Grade II* listed Gilbert Scott building… our house!

Tomorrow the planning begins for the final push on making this a Community Hub for everyone.

Join us and be a part of something
simply amazing!

• Do you have ideas, strengths, experience, expertise or a wonderful combination of
  any of these that could help us drive this project through?
• Do you have a few hours a month that could feed into making this project come to fruition?

We will be meeting Tuesday 1 October, one month after the Pippfest party to share ideas and make a start on the final push to create something beautiful and magnificent for the benefit of the whole community. Please join us!

Put this date in your diary:
Tuesday 1 October, 7.30pm (7.00 for refreshments)

At Burgundy and Black St Martin’s Walk Dorking RH4 1 UT

Let us know you are coming then we will know how many tea bags to buy!

Listen to Sally Elias talk about all things CHiP Pippfest and the local Dorking community on Surrey Hills Radio.

What is CHiP?

CHiP (Community Hub in Pippbrook House) is an initiative, started by Jacqui Hamlin and Sally Elias in 2016. Its aim is to make this fabulous Grade II* listed example of George Gilbert Scott architecture available for community use. This building has essentially been empty for many years now and CHiP feels that it could be put to good use by the many local charities, voluntary organisations and community initiatives that currently struggle for space to operate. The CHiP team are flexible on the business model and as long as it works for the benefit of the community – they have been open to it.

CHiP has been working with MVDC for several years now in the hope of finding a working model that suits all parties, even bringing in a London company with experience in this field who has been prepared to get involved financially. Currently MVDC is arranging financing for essential repair works.

Pippfest 2024 – The Big Community Party for everyone!

Held on the first Sunday in September (this year Sunday September 1st 2024) in the grounds of Pippbrook House. The aim is to remind the town that this precious resource is still empty and therefore available for community use.

PIPPFEST is free fun for family and friends. You can come and enjoy the music, the art, the company — just bring your picnic rugs! However, there will be food and drink trucks offering Surrey’s finest! Local artisans will be showcasing and selling their work and, of course, there is a funfair for the children.

Pippfest Event Map and Listing

Download Event Map and Listing

Parking is available at the back of Dorking Halls.

Music

2024 full line-up of amazingly talented local Musicians.

• Bloco Do Sul • 11:00 – 11.40
• Molly Pinner • 12:00 – 12:40
• Anouska Assisi • 13:00 – 13:40
• 3times7 • 14:00 -14:40
• Dr Spangles • 15:00 – 15:40
• Funky Town • 16:00 – 16:40
• Tuco • 17:00 – 18:00

Food and Drink

Healing Fields and Flower Arena

The Healing Fields is a beautiful green space full of therapists offering holistic treatment taster sessions for a £15 donation. 

There is also a Flower Arena which offers free workshops every half hour from midday until 5pm. 

• 11.00 • Opening meditation with Kate Winter
• 12.00 • Belly Dancing with Frith
• 13.00 • Crystal Healing Intro – feel the energy and learn how to attune with Shirley O’Donoghue
• 14.00 • First Aid Homeopathy with Kate Winter – a guide to the must have homeopathic remedies
• 15.00 • Jewellery Making with Sheila
• 15.30 • Life Coaching with Clare Davis
• 16.00 • Bach Flower Remedies for Emotional Health & Wellbeing
• 17.00 • Introduction to Reiki  –  What is it and how does it work?

Festival goers will also be offered the opportunity to leave messages of love and hope (anonymously if you wish) and hang them from the trees. At the end of the festival we will make a mural of the messages and transfer them to the Dorking Main Railway Station as part of the @Platform1 installation.

Participating people and organisations include:

Lucis College will be offering a wide range of complementary therapies including Reflexology, Indian Head Massage, Reiki, Crystal Healing, Crystal Face Massage,  Chakra Balancing and Crystal /aura readings, Kinesiology, Thai Foot Massage, Shamanic Healing, Spiritual Healing, Ear Candling, Ear Seeds.

Tarot Card readers Paula Vgori and her partner Michelle were the hit of Pippfest 2023 and will be back offering readings. 

Craft Stalls

Creativity at the heart of our community. Explore our local stalls:

Heal the World – Eco Hub

Hosted by Circular Dorking, this area showcased some of the remarkable community groups and their activities.

Phil will be there with his Bikes Revived Van offering bicycle safety checks for free.

Phil from Bikes Revived Van will be offering bicycle safety checks for free.

Artists Colony

Watch the amazingly talented local artists at work!

After Pippfest their work will be taken down and transferred to Dorking Main Railway station where it will be installed by The Mens Shed, and will form a year-round outdoor exhibition called @Platform1.

Participating artists this year include:

Thank you to our Sponsors

Pippfest is run CHiP with the amazing help of local group of volunteers and organisations. It is very much run on a shoestring and relies on the good faith and help of so many who give their time and expertise freely and are fully invested in our inclusive and vibrant local community. This is what makes Dorking and the surrounding area so special.

Individuals to whom Pippfest is so grateful

We would like to send a special thank you to the following individuals:

Kathy Kyle Bonomini
Simon Edmands
Andrew Fuller
Liz Fuller
Ken Kempster
Tom Lawrenson
Jack Newsham
Chris Nolan
Shirley O’Donoghue
Claire Parker
Nigel Raven
Rosie Riordan
Caroline Salmon
Wendy Saunders
David Tobitt
Naoise Walsh
Sir Adrian White
Jessica Yee