Pippfest 2025

Dorking’s Big Community Event
Pippfest 2025

Years of drawing attention to the empty Grade II* listed Gilbert Scott building finally got a result  and when the Dorking Halls had to close last summer for repair works the obvious venue to relocate was Pippbrook House.

The new venue is working well and is open to people for hire for community and personal events as well as continuing some with some of Dorking Halls favourite activities. Dorking museum volunteer will be offering free tours around the building so please make sure you book your slot on arrival. 

To celebrate this and to have one last blast, Pippfest will launch in typical style with Bloco do Sol marching into the Pippbrook campus at 11am. This will be followed by with non-stop music and art activities throughout the day.

As usual local artisans will be selling their products and community groups will be telling their stories in the Healing Fields. You will be able to find out more about how to get involved in town projects by talking to Circular Dorking or River Watch.

Organiser Jacqui Hamlin said,

“Finally we feel that after all our hard work there is something worth celebrating! This isn’t the end but hopefully it is a good start to getting value for money from this beautiful building that we have come to love so much during our campaign.”

See the amazing line-up so far! More to be added soon.

Pippbrook House will be open and Dorking Halls staff will be on hand to tell you about upcoming events. Volunteers from Dorking Museum will be guiding people around Pippbrook House and sharing the amazing history of the building. Each tour lasting 30 -40 mins.

Tour times:

Pippfest Event Map 2025

Map enlarged view

Full listing and will be available soon.

Parking is available at the back of Dorking Halls.

Please note: As a park, the Pippbrook House grounds do not have toilet facilities. The nearest facilities are across the road at Dorking Halls and Dorking Sports Centre.

The 2025 full line-up will follow soon please come back to visit this page for updates which will be added as we get them. Compere for the day will be Surrey Hills Radio.

12:00 -12:40 Molly
13:00 -13:40 Chantelle
14:00 -14:40 3times7
15:00 -15:40 Nick Edwards
16:00 -16:40 Easy Skankin’
17:00 -18:00 Funky Town

Healing Fields Graphic

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

People and organisations participating in this area 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.

Medium Paula Vgori and her partner Michelle were the hit of Pippfest 2024 and will be back offering readings. 

Please note that the times are approximate so make your way to the Flower Arena by the tennis courts at the back of the site five minutes before it is due to start.If you have a blanket to sit on that would be helpful and maybe take some water too.

Craft Stalls

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

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

Watch 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. This year The Green Room Theatre, home of Dorking Dramatic & Operatic Society are sponsoring the Artists Boards.

Participating artists this year include:

Surrey Hills Radio supporting Pippfest 2024

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

Pippfest is run by CHiP with the amazing help of a group of local 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.

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

Kathy Atherton
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

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

Circular Dorking Logo