Welcome to the Jailhouse!
PUBLIC STATEMENT – EXPIA LIMITED
CLOSURE OF THE JAILHOUSE CAFÉ
The board of trustees of Expia Limited (Jailhouse Café) will be closing the café at HMP the Verne as from the 31st of January 2026. The decision has not been made lightly. The café building requires extensive works to bring it in line with current legislation. The charity does not have the funds to carry out these works.
We would like to thank you for all your custom over the years supporting us at the café.
The Jailhouse Diner at the Grove will remain open and we look forward to seeing you there.
The Jailhouse farm shop will be rebranded as the Jailhouse gift shop. This is situated behind the Diner in the Governor’s garden, and you will be able to purchase our popular branded goods, including the jams chutney aprons etc as well as our prison made goods, plants and flowers. We hope to have this open in the next few months.
Thank you,
Steve Butler
Chairman
Expia Limited
16th January 2026
The Jailhouse Diner - Portland
Our new American themed diner at the Grove on Portland.
Open Hours
Monday to Sunday 09:00 to 16:00 (during quiet times the Diner may close early, please phone to confirm)
Bookings on 01305 824364
The establishment of the new venue has kindly been supported by HMP Portland and Young Offenders Institute, the Ministry of Justice, the National Lottery’s Community Fund, the Clothworker’s Foundation and The Dorset Growth and Resilience Fund along with volunteers from the Portland community, Steven Jones Plan Design and Nantes Solicitors.
The Jailhouse Café - Portland
PUBLIC STATEMENT – EXPIA LIMITED
CLOSURE OF THE JAILHOUSE CAFÉ
The board of trustees of Expia Limited (Jailhouse Café) will be closing the café at HMP the Verne as from the 31st of January 2026. The decision has not been made lightly. The café building requires extensive works to bring it in line with current legislation. The charity does not have the funds to carry out these works.
We would like to thank you for all your custom over the years supporting us at the café.
The Jailhouse Diner at the Grove will remain open and we look forward to seeing you there.
The Jailhouse farm shop will be rebranded as the Jailhouse gift shop. This is situated behind the Diner in the Governor’s garden, and you will be able to purchase our popular branded goods, including the jams chutney aprons etc as well as our prison made goods, plants and flowers. We hope to have this open in the next few months.
Thank you,
Steve Butler
Chairman
Expia Limited
16th January 2026
Opening Hours
Open 7 days
Monday to Saturday 09:00 to 16:00
Sunday 09:00 to 15:00
Bookings on 01305 825186
Located within the Verne Citadel the café has a wide range of hot and cold meals, snacks, and beverages with outstanding views across the harbour and Weymouth Bay.
The Jailhouse Merchandise
The Farm Shop - Portland
Located at the Grove on Portland we have a range of hanging baskets and flowers for sale along with wooden pots, bird and bug boxes and, of course, Jailhouse branded merchandise.
Please see our
Facebook page
for opening times at the moment as they are varied during the summer months.
Come visit us at our Facebook page for the latest news and activities.
