Recce in Dorset for The Right Place and setting up at The Customs House in August

The iconic Colmer's Hill and Symondsbury seen from Allington Hill.

We went back to Dorset last weekend for a flash visit of just three days... We needed a break from the overcrowding and constant house building in the South East, and I was looking for inspiration for my third novel, The Right Place, set in the area. And I did find inspiration! Symondsbury (above as seen from Allington Hill) is definitely going into the novel!  

We also went back to The Customs House in West Bay, where we will be opening a unit in August; we had visited back in February when the refurbishment work had just started; The Customs House has now been open for three weeks and it has been a great success, with more sections to open in the future! It is also a great place for events (music, etc.) so watch this space! 
We met with two of the managers to discuss logistical stuff such as setting up, stock management, etc. 
We were shown the location of our small unit (we will be starting very small. If things take off, we will upgrade to a bigger space within the building!). More about this soon, as we will create a dedicated Facebook page and/or blog with news about our stock, etc. It will be a joint Matt ArtPix and Arcane Publishing venture, so expect loads of colourful art, antiques, carefully selected second-hand books and also a special section dedicated to new fiction published by indie authors and publishing imprints! 
This is the space where our unit will be... OK, it takes a lot of imagination, but honestly, it will be there from 1st August! 

The Customs House is a historical building owned by English Heritage. It is located at the heart of West Bay literally on the beach... We just cannot wait to set up in August! 

Over that weekend, we stayed in the best B&B EVER. The prices are incredibly reasonable (trust a skint writer) and we loved it so much that we are going back in August when we set up the unit! It is the most stupendous place... We don't want to reveal too much about it just in case we need to go back another time (we're selfish like that!)
Let's just say that it is just on my favourite road, the B3157. 

We spent our last day in Eype and on Pilsdon Pen. Look at what we left behind when we left in late afternoon... 

All pictures @Matt ArtPix