Summer is right around the corner… nearly. And for Weymouth, that means a lot—not a sudden change, but a gentle awakening: the first glimmer of soft, warm sun on the quiet, wintry tide. It’s the returning crowds and the smell of chips finally being freed as the shops open their doors once again. Of course, it isn’t quite summer yet, but this time of year is quietly fascinating—as Weymouth begins to stir, preparing for its golden season. In this piece, I’d like to explore the small but meaningful ways the town is preparing for the summer.
Just weeks ago, the beach was a formless stretch, visited only by the occasional dog walker and icy winds. But now, all huts are up, with buckets, spades, and the first brave ice creams of the season being spotted across the sands. That’s not all, though—the rides are about too. The helter-skelter towers above the beach, and, notably, the much-anticipated Ferris wheel has been approved. In the heart of town, more outdoor seating is beginning to appear, and the shops are looking livelier with an increasing number of stands outside. And, just outside of town, Haven’s Weymouth Bay holiday park has plans to expand, including planting five hectares of wildflower meadow.
There’s a beauty to this rhythm—the quiet shifting of the seasons mirroring the town’s slow transition into summer. It’s a hushed but vivid step into character, one that Weymouth embraces year after year, never tiring of the role. There’s something so careful and deliberate, yet undeniably joyful, about the return of the flowers, the rides, the crowds—a kind of choreographed rise between people and planet. A shared effort where the town and tide move in sync, preparing for what’s to come.
As the days lengthen and summer begins to emerge, Weymouth reaffirms its place as one of beauty and of tradition, but also as one of renewal. This annual preparation reminds us of the steady repetition of our world and the coming together of the familiar and the new. It is nice to notice and to celebrate this revival, even if it happens year on year. An endless cycle of experience and re-experience.
Which also means, of course, an endless cycle of ice-creams. That’s the important thing, anyway!
By Jacob McCulloch
