The Bournemouth International Centre, or the BIC to almost everyone, changes character more often than any other building along this part of the coast. One Friday night the pavement is full of fans in tour shirts waiting for the doors; two weeks on, the same entrance swallows several thousand conference delegates wearing lanyards. This is the South Coast's largest indoor venue, and it stands immediately behind the beach.
What to see and do
Breadth is the whole idea behind the programme. Live touring music is the main attraction, and the principal auditorium brings in acts that would otherwise bypass this region altogether; over a year the line-up stretches from rock and metal to pop, soul and country, along with the large tribute shows and variety bills that pack out a Saturday. Comedians on national stand-up tours call in here. So does televised darts, which gives the hall the feel of a football terrace. Weekend events such as comic conventions and brick-building shows spread across the exhibition floors and draw families for a day out, and the same spaces are used for the political party conferences that now and then put Bournemouth in the national headlines. The calendar changes a great deal from one month to the next, so check what is on before building a visit around it, and look through our what's on guide as well as the venue's own listings.
The setting
Opened in the mid-1980s, the centre is now operated by BH Live, a registered charity that also manages the Pavilion Theatre further up the hill. It is a purpose-built events complex rather than a historic building: wide foyers, lifts and escalators linking the levels, and bars and concession stands where audiences gather before the show starts. Several halls of varying size share the one roof. The largest is the Windsor Hall, designed for concerts and arena-style events. Next to it, the Solent Hall is a flexible room with views over the bay, suited to exhibitions and standing gigs, while the smaller Tregonwell Hall takes meetings, workshops and more intimate conferences. At this scale the atmosphere before a show is hard to miss, especially when the entire building is given over to one event.
Where it is
You will find it at Exeter Road, BH2 5BH, at the bottom of the West Cliff and just a couple of minutes from the seafront and Bournemouth Pier. The Lower Gardens lead down to it from the Square, which makes the walk in from the town centre both simple and pleasant, and when a show finishes there is plenty close by. On foot, Bournemouth railway station is about fifteen to twenty minutes away, and local buses run to the seafront and the Square. If you are planning a full day, our guide to things to do in Bournemouth covers much more within easy reach.
Good to know
For anything in demand, book early: the larger tours sell out long before the date, and prices and availability shift with demand. Accessibility is well handled, with step-free routes in from the street and the car park, wheelchair positions in both the stalls area and the upper balcony, a personal assistant ticket scheme for those who qualify, and guide and assistance dogs admitted with advance notice. The car park attached to the building is cashless and has a height limit, so check it before arriving in a van or an estate with a roof box. Opening times, on-sale dates, access bookings and current event information are all best confirmed on the venue's own website.