Westover Road
Running alongside the Central Gardens, and thus having no opposing buildings, the appeal to walk and shop along Westover Road is evident. Yet its origins, dating back to around the 1830s when a handful of houses – or rather large villas – were built, give no hint of what was to develop into, and be known a century later as, Bournemouth’s ‘Bond Street’.
Meeting with the Bath Hotel to the south, the road curves away to join Gervis Place at the edge of the town’s inner shopping area. The road’s offerings are what makes it standout in that it is not specifically devoted to retail. Technically split into two, independent shops form the northern half and cultural, social and leisure inclusions are to be located at the other.
For the rest of the nineteenth century, the road remained dedicated to housing, but this was to change in 1906 when a handful of red-bricked shops, adorned with canopies, replaced the villas. Yet it could be argued that it was the Interwar-year period that really put the road ‘on the map’ when in 1929, both The Pavilion and Regent cinema opened their doors, followed by the Palace Court Hotel in 1936.
After giving The Pavilion its royal opening, the Duke of Gloucester is quoted as saying that Bournemouth was the “Acting Physician to the industrial towns, bringing health to the sick, vigour to the convalescents, and being a playground to those in full health.” Originally intended for concert use, it was adapted to a more theatrical use, yet it has had its musical stage set alight, with the likes of Van Morrison, who has been a regular over the years, and even The Who before they were famous in 1965 as well as Pink Floyd (1967). The theatre has continued to adapt and move with the times, offering up a welcome mixture of stage plays and live performances – from musicals to stand-up comedy.
The Palace Court Hotel, with its classic art-deco design, enjoyed many years of service and was frequented by visitors from all over the UK. Epitomising 1930s sophistication, it was instantly recognisable by its ‘liner style’ white concrete. It was a popular destination for locals, where they enjoyed lavish afternoon teas and were regularly entertained by brass bands. In recent times it became the Bournemouth Hilton and presently is a Premier Inn.
In recent times, Westover Road enjoyed not just one but two cinemas. Along with an ABC there was an Odeon. Originally called the Regent, the cinema showed its first feature back in 1929, coincidentally the same year the Pavilion opened its doors. Built in a Renaissance style, it enjoyed many years of service to the community. In 1949 it became known as the Gaumont. A highlight for the cinema came in 1963 when they hosted a not-so-well known band called The Beatles for six performances (the group also stayed next door at the Palace Court Hotel). The cinema showed its last film in 2017 when Odeon relocated to the BH2 complex just on the other side of the Central Gardens. Alas, this has left a large ‘blot on the landscape’. As the below photo shows, the cinema remains bordered up.
Opening in 1909 and still trading today, Robert Old, a clothes shop dedicated to men (or as their website eloquently refers to it as a tailor’s studio), has been serving only the finest in menswear throughout this time. However, the shop saw the need to adapt to the ever-changing market, and in 2006, offered online retail. This decision alone has undoubtedly helped the retailer maintain their footing on arguably Bournemouth’s most prestigious shopping street.
Serving up ice creams was Fortes which was located towards Gervis Place. Charles Forte, having first opened an ice-cream parlour on nearby Old Christchurch Road in 1927 followed up by acquiring premises on Westover Road. It was popular with all ages, be it as a social meeting place for the youths, or a welcome respite from the sun on a hot summers day.
Fortes has long gone from Westover Road – a pub/restaurant called The Brass Haus now resides there. It has recently had a refit and changed its name from The Brasshouse to reflect its German theme. The layout of the main floor with its many long benches, attempts to bring a more social atmosphere.
As with all high-streets up and down the nation, Bournemouth has seen many shop closures in recent years, and even the large companies like Marks & Spencer – which until 2017 had a store in a commanding position within the town centre – felt compelled to close its doors. The department stores have all but disappeared, being unable to compete and adapt in today’s market.
So what does the future hold for what was referred to as Bournemouth’s very own Bond Street? Walking along the road in 2022, it is clearly visible how bleak and desperate the situation has become, with no less than four shops in a row displaying ‘for sale’ signs above them. An employee of one of the few remaining shops cites the council’s rates as the number one cause of closures. They went on to say that in order to meet what had become a considerable amount of expenditure, the only way forward would be if their shop was reduced from three to two floors.
One promising note is the proposed redevelopment of The Palace Court Theatre (which was located at the back of the Palace Court Hotel), thanks to the Arts University of Bournemouth’s recent purchase.
Sources, photos and further reading
Westover Road
https://www.streets-of-bournemouth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Bournemouths.Buildings.pdf
The Pavilion
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Bournemouth.htm#pavilion
https://www.concertarchives.org/venues/bournemouth-pavilion-theatre
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Bournemouth.htm#pavilion
Palace Court Hotel
https://www.dorset.live/news/history/bournemouth-dorset-history-tour-guide-5646553
Odeon/Regent cinema
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/20081
Robert Old