Visit Bournemouth (with your dog!)

The end of July will see the grand reopening of the Bobby & Co department store – which has very recently announced plans to restore the building to its original 1933 splendor.  Verve Properties, an ethical property company, have been working to give the iconic Bobby & Co building a new lease of life and have been very deliberate in their quest to create a space to connect the Bournemouth community with local, ethical, and unique brands.  

Opening in the first phase will be DROOL the world’s first foodhall devoted entirely to dogs. Featuring a cake shop, a “Lick ‘n’ Mix station”, and a doggy tuck shop, and a dog ball recycling centre (for the eco conscious canine in your life), Fish & Chip Flavour Dog Treats, Seaside Theme Biscuits, “Cherry Barkwells”, Dog Doughnuts and even Liver Cakes. With the abundance of new dog owners over the pandemic, this is a destination they can bring their pup if they are struggling to find sitters for their holidays. There are also dog friendly hotels in the area.

Plus there will open will be a traditional ice cream and coffee parlour, Bobby’s Beauty Hall (full of local and ethical brands as well as the usual stands), an art gallery, and then later in 2021 will see a Food Hall, a Sushi and plant-based Poke Bowl Bar, a nail bar, treatment rooms, and female and male grooming. More elements are planned all the way through the year and into 2022.

I have artists impressions of how the store will look when it’s back to its 1933 splendor here