The Waterfront
General information
StatusDemolished
Town or cityBournemouth
CountryUK
Coordinates50°43′0.1″N 1°52′28.06″W / 50.716694°N 1.8744611°W / 50.716694; -1.8744611
Opened1999
Demolished2013

The Waterfront was a leisure complex on the seafront in Bournemouth, England. It contained an IMAX cinema and restaurants.

History

In January 1997, the Sheridan Group was awarded a contract to develop and operate the complex.[1] The leaseholder was the Northern Ireland Local Government Officers' Superannuation Committee (Nilgosc).[2]

The building opened in 1999 with several restaurants, however, the opening of the cinema was delayed.[3]

The cinema opened in 2002, three years later than anticipated. It was designed to show 3D films but technical problems resulted in only 2D films being shown. By 2003, it only opened three days per week out of season. In March 2005, it was closed for renovations. However, in October 2005 it was announced that it would not reopen and that the landlord was looking for a new tenant.[4] Sheridan subsequently launched a legal challenge against Nilgosc and the council discussed purchasing the building, but decided it was too expensive.[2] In early 2010, the council purchased the building for around £7 million, approximately half the cost it would have been previously.[5]

In December 2010, plans to reduce the height of the building were announced.[6] The council later stated it received no suitable bids for the work. In March 2012, the council announced plans to demolish the building.[7] The following month, councillors voted in favour of demolition.[8] Seats from the building were donated to the Shelley Theatre in Boscombe.[9][10] Demolition began in February 2013.[11]

The site was initially used as an outdoor events venue.[12] On 31 July 2019, a crazy golf course called Smuggler's Cove opened on the site.[13]

Criticism

The building was criticised for its large size which resulted in it blocking views of the seafront.[14] In 2005, the TV series Demolition included the building as top of a list that viewers would like demolished.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "£11m contract for Sheridan". The Irish Times. 1996-01-17. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  2. 1 2 "Cinema's future under spotlight". BBC News. 2006-03-22. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  3. ↑ "GALLERY: The rise and fall of the Imax, 10 years after it closed its doors for good". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  4. ↑ "Controversial Imax theatre closes". BBC News. 2005-10-19. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  5. ↑ "Seafront Imax 'to be demolished'". BBC News. 2010-01-20. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  6. ↑ "Bournemouth Waterfront height 'cut' to boost sea views". BBC News. 2010-12-08. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  7. ↑ "Bournemouth Waterfront Imax building to be demolished". BBC News. 2012-03-30. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  8. ↑ "Bournemouth councillors vote to demolish Imax building". BBC News. 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  9. ↑ Magee, Julie (2013-02-25). "VIDEO: 200 Imax seats given to Shelley Theatre". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  10. ↑ "Bournemouth Imax seats donated to theatre". BBC News. 2012-11-14. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  11. ↑ "'Hated' Imax building on way down". BBC News. 2013-02-15. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  12. ↑ "Is the IMAX site ready for its grand opening?". ITV News. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  13. ↑ Lewis, Jason (2019-07-31). "Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf opens at Bournemouth seafront today (and a family ticket costs £28)". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  14. ↑ Casey, Carissa (2006-07-18). "Sheridan Group to re open 'ugly' Imax theatre". The Times. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  15. ↑ Morris, Steven (2010-01-20). "England's most hated building to be demolished". the Guardian. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
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