Single seat
£69 per seat
Book 1 to 9 seats. Includes drinks reception, dinner, casino and dancing.
Book seats
Dorset Cross-Chapter
Charities Black-Tie Gala Extravaganza
- The Cumberland Hotel, Bournemouth
- Saturday 13 March 2027
- 6pm – 1am
Early bird tickets Just £69! Limited availability – once they’re gone, they’re gone!
Get ready for a spectacular evening of networking, celebration, glamour & fundraising!
Highlights of the evening
- Black Tie & Glamour
- Drinks & Dinner
- Casino
- Charity Auction
- Dancing until late
- And a few surprises along the way…
One spectacular night.
Multiple BNI chapters.
Four incredible causes.
Dress to impress. Bring your sparkle.
Prepare to party.
Four incredible causes
Every ticket, bid and donation on the night helps raise money for our four chosen charities.
-
RNLI
The charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteer lifeboat crews and lifeguards keep people safe around the coasts of the UK and Ireland — including right here on the Dorset coast.
Find out more about RNLI (opens in new tab) -
The Steve Bernard Foundation
Set up in memory of “Stevie B” to support the sport he loved. Run entirely by volunteers, it has raised more than £700,000 for over 600 sporting projects across Bournemouth, Dorset and beyond.
Find out more about The Steve Bernard Foundation (opens in new tab) -
The John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation
Founded in memory of Lt John Thornton RM, the JTYAF gives young people in Dorset and Wiltshire scholarships and bursaries to help them climb as high as they can dream — almost 2,700 awards since 2008.
Find out more about The John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation (opens in new tab) -
Poole Community Exchange
An independent community hub in Parkstone, Poole, helping local people overcome loneliness and financial hardship through affordable food, community meals, activities and wellbeing support.
Find out more about Poole Community Exchange (opens in new tab)
Tickets
Only 125 seats left
Sponsored table of 10
£750 per table
Host your team, clients or friends at your own table of 10, with your business as the named table sponsor.
- Public acknowledgement on the night and in our social media posts
- Named table sponsor on your table and in the event programme
- Your logo on the menu
- Your banner in the hall
Need an invoice for your business? Ask us to invoice you.
Book a table
Wanting 10 or more seats? Book a sponsored table of 10.
Ticket sales close at 11:59pm on Monday 1 February 2027.
Book your tickets
The evening
-
6:00pm
Arrival drinks
Welcome reception
-
7:00pm
Dinner
Three-course dinner
-
8:30pm
Charity auction
-
9:30pm
Casino & dancing
Fun casino by Play Learn Hire — roulette, blackjack and more
-
1:00am
Carriages
Timings are a guide and may be subject to change.
Venue & travel
The Cumberland Hotel
27 East Overcliff DriveBournemouth
BH1 3AF
Open larger map (opens in new tab)
- Parking
- Parking details to follow. [TBC]
- Staying over
- The Cumberland Hotel is offering gala guests a special rate of £80 per room for the night of Saturday 13 March 2027, based on two people sharing a standard double or twin room, including bed and full English breakfast.
- Sea-view rooms are an extra £45 per room per night.
- A non-refundable deposit of £30 per room per night is payable when booking. Rooms must be booked directly with The Cumberland Hotel’s central reservations team:
- 01202 298350
Questions
What is the dress code?
Black tie. Dress to impress, bring your sparkle!
Is there an age limit?
Yes, this is an 18+ event. ID may be requested.
How do I tell you about dietary requirements?
Add dietary needs and allergies for each guest when you book. You can update them later using the “Manage my booking” link in your confirmation email. [TBC: cut-off date]
Can I change guest names?
Yes. Use the “Manage my booking” link in your confirmation email to update guest names and dietary needs at any time before ticket sales close.
How does paying by bank transfer (BACS) work?
Choose “Reserve and pay by bank transfer”. We’ll email you our bank details, the exact amount and your booking reference. Please pay within 3 days using the reference so we can match your payment. Your booking is confirmed once we’ve received it.
Can I get a refund or transfer my ticket?
Tickets are non-refundable, but they can be transferred to another guest — just update the guest name using your “Manage my booking” link.
Is the casino real money?
No — it’s just for fun! Our casino is run by Play Learn Hire, with full-size tables and professional croupiers, and is played with fun money that has no cash value. Never played before? The croupiers will show you how.
Is the venue accessible?
Accessibility details to follow. If you have any access needs, please get in touch and we’ll do our best to help. [TBC]
Who do I contact with questions?
See the contact details at the bottom of this page.
Sponsor or donate a prize
Put your business in front of BNI members from across Dorset and help us raise even more for our four charities.
Whether you’d like to sponsor part of the evening or donate a prize for the charity auction, we’d love to hear from you.
-
Sponsor table of 10
£750
Book your sponsored table online in the Tickets section above — or ask us for an invoice, so it can be treated as a marketing expense for your business.
- Public acknowledgement on the night and in our social media posts
- Named table sponsor on your table and in the event programme
- Your logo on the menu
- Your banner in the hall
-
Business banner
£50
Display your business banner at the event in front of BNI members from across Dorset. Limited spaces available.
Enquire
Or tell us about another sponsorship idea, or a prize you could donate to the charity auction:
Contact us
Sarah Bennett Thurston
This isn’t just a night out… it’s a night to remember — and a chance to raise money for some incredible causes.
Our sponsors
A huge thank you to the businesses whose generosity makes the evening possible.
-
Jonathan McHarg Consulting Ltd
Independent IT consultancy with 30+ years’ experience in IT strategy, security, cloud migration and data analytics — from outsourced IT director support to ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials guidance.
Visit website of Jonathan McHarg Consulting Ltd (opens in new tab) -
Play Learn Hire
Running our fun casino on the night! Play Learn Hire bring authentic full-size tables, professional croupiers and personalised fun money to weddings, parties, corporate nights and charity fundraisers across Dorset and the South.
Visit website of Play Learn Hire (opens in new tab)