Bournemouth
An elderly couple
plot how to get
their surfboard
back
England’s south coast is getting younger, says Hester Lacey
Boring old Bournemouth is having one hell of a makeover. Whoever would have thought that this genteel little south coast town, associated for so long with retirement homes and the blue rinse set, would be described as “the Ibiza of England’s south coast”? But comparisons to the Med’s clubbing capitals have been buzzing around for some years now. And just to prove how cool it now is, it’s got one of those SoHo-type names. Bournemouth with mojo has now been dubbed “BoMo”.
A sunset stroll
along
Bournemouth’s
beach
Spiralling student numbers at Bournemouth University – which passed 16,000 this year – have played a big part in BoMo’s increasingly youthful profile.
To keep them happy, more than 250 bars and restaurants with food from around the world have sprung up in the town.
You can now eat Japanese at Funki Sushi, Lebanese at Retro and Thai at Tuk Tuk.
And then club till dawn every night of the week.
Despite its lack of rollers, Bournemouth has something of a reputation for surf culture. And the town is set to ride a wave of fame once Europe’s first artificial surf reef is built right here, just off Boscombe beach. Scheduled for completion in autumn this year, it’s just part of the revitalisation of one of Bournemouth’s shabbier districts. The old pier, built in the 1880s when buckets and spades were the order of the day, will also be refurbished and a new open-air area for concerts built on the seafront.
Perhaps in the future people won’t only compare Bournemouth to an island in the Med known for its party scene, but also a Pacific one known for its big waves – Bournemouth, southern England’s very own Hawaii (!).
5 Nightspots
Dusk till Dawn
205 Old Christchurch
Road, tel: +44 (0)1202
551681
Intimate venue with
international DJs such as
Mark Knight (Ministry of
Sound) and Dan Carro
(Fabric).
Elements
Fir Vale Road, tel: +44
(0)1202 311178
Bournemouth’s biggest
nightclub, packs in 2,300
for its dance, house and
garage, and indiethemed nights. Prince
William was spotted
partying there this year.
DNA
224 Old Christchurch
Road, tel: +44 (0)1202
319362
Reggae, rum cocktails
and jerk chicken bring
the Caribbean to BoMo.
Klute
20 Exeter Road, tel: +44
(0)1202 252511
More lounge than club
with a long cocktail list
and live DJs.
K1 Bar Club
Terrace Road
Club with R ’n’ B, soul
and funk, and stand-up
comedy nights.
Przebudzenie
Bournemouth przestało się już kojarzyć ze spokojnym, zamieszkałym przez emeryt
