HatFest: Our Prizewinners!

10/9/2025

Last Haturday, Sept 6th, Millennium Green was the venue for the BRIDPORT HAT FESTIVAL ‘Elegant Ensemble’ competitions, which were sponsored, compèred and judged by our good selves at T Snook, hatters.

As the festival itself was founded, in 2010, by the shop’s owner, Roger Snook (aka The Guvnor), it was only right that he led the judging panel for this section of the day’s competitions, in which the whole costume of the entrant was considered in terms of elegance and style.

He was joined on the panel, as usual, by his wife Monica (with shop dog Tuppence) and Phil Hunt of Sunday Afternoons UK (suppliers of sunhats), whilst the proceedings were compèred by Snookette Sue. This year, however, for the first time the shop closed early to enable its entire staff to attend the event and even chip in with the judging… and very tricky it was too, as the standard was so high!

The category winners were:
• Best Dressed Lady: Pat Annable, from Bournemouth
• Best Dressed Gentleman: Carlton Dunford, from Bridport
• Best Dressed Couple: Chris Scott & Pam Golding, from Swindon.
The prizes were Snooks vouchers to the tune of £125 each for the winning lady and gentleman, and £250 for the couple.

Snooks also sponsored the jazz group that played to a packed Millennium Green throughout, the much-appreciated Julie Lewis Quartet – they were fabulous.

We hope you can join us once again at Millennium Green during the next Bridport Hat Festival, always on the first Saturday in September!