Bournemouth is more than just a coastal paradise attracting visitors to its beaches, it is a town with a thriving nighttime economy, a busy financial sector, multiple music venues and a bustling youth culture with just under 23,000 students at the three universities in the area and welcomes a high number of international students who visit Bournemouth to learn English.

The changing face of the shopping centres saw the loss of three department stores and has given the opportunity to reimagine their use with the former Beales building and House of Fraser building are both to become mixed residential and commercial spaces. The former Debenhams building prominently located in the square reopened in 2021 as Bobby’s a multi-functional destination, centred around beauty, health, food, drink, art, culture and community.

The Square and shopping precincts have historically been a focal point for retail and hospitality, mixed with offices and some residential premises. But as the mix of businesses within the town centre changes some upmarket brands have taken the opportunity to capitalise on the emerging leisure demographic. The Botanist restaurant is due to open in Bobby’s in mid-2025 and The Ivy restaurant has opened and taken up central space on the other side of the Square, which provides a focal point for events and a hub central to the main shopping quarters and the lower and upper gardens.

Christchurch is in a prime location providing a vibrant mosaic of independent boutiques, artisanal shops, and modern establishments with a steady flow of local customers and attracting visitors from near and far, establishing a robust and diverse customer base.

The town has a train station on the mainline to London and easy connections to Birmingham and Manchester via Bournemouth. Bournemouth Airport is located on the outskirts of the town and is not only an international airport but a key employment site with 2 large Business Parks with strengths in cargo, freight, engineering and manufacturing including MRO. Currently employing over 4,000 people with further investment taking place there will be an additional 2,600 jobs opportunities.

Beyond the High Street, Christchurch offers a quality of life that attracts residents and visitors alike surrounded by natural beauty, the River Avon and River Stour, walking trails lead visitors through the town and nearby coastal wanders at Mudeford and Hengistbury Head, all providing a picturesque setting for work and leisure.

Poole is a well-connected town with mainline train links and the Port of Poole and resents a compelling proposition for retailers and investors due to its diverse economy, tourism appeal, strategic location, ongoing development projects, and supportive business environment.

Prospective businesses can leverage these factors to establish a strong presence and tap into the town’s economic potential. Large businesses choosing to HQ from Poole include Sunseeker, LUSH, Merlin Entertainments and RNLI all increasing footfall into the town centre. Bournemouth & Poole College North Road campus is located within a short walk of the Dolphin Centre and high street.

The Dolphin Centre, at the top of the high street, is an indoor shopping centre with occupiers from fashion to food and everything in between alongside the KINGLAND development, a new shopping district of 10 hand-picked independent retailers, which has brought together Dorset’s most innovative young entrepreneurs to create an exciting, curated retail environment in Poole town centre.