Westbourne Arcade

Posted on 26/05/2016 By expat

Westbourne Arcade – a Covered Shopping Treasure in Westbourne

Westbourne Arcade is a Grade II Listed structure. It runs between Poole Road and Seamoor Road, and sports symmetrical façades of red brick with stone dressings at either end. Gothic style windows enhance the cathedral-like appearance. Amongst the features are gargoyles at the head of each drain pipe, said to be based on ancient Water Gods. A glazed roof offers protection from the elements, keeping the interior bright and airy by day. Built 1884-5 by Henry Joy, this is a “well-preserved polychrome Gothic shopping arcade”.

Today, it is host to an eclectic mix of shops, cafés and even a small, 19 seat cinema! There is an old-fashioned hardware store and florist, as well as shops to browse for the more unusual gifts and artefacts. A recent application to turn a former furniture shop into a Mediterranean-style restaurant caused some controversy when the plans were passed in July 2015.

A full list of the current (May 2016) shops in Westbourne Arcade is as follows:

1. Zsa Zsa
2. Woodley’s Shoes
3. Beau Bijou (Modern & Vintage Costume Jewellery)
4. Currently empty (was Director’s Cut Hairdressers)
5. Scape
6. Someretto Mediterranean Restaurant
7. Scape
8. The Terrace Café
9. Dee’s (Clothing)
10. Deck of Cards
11. Courtenay’s Fine Art / 11a. Jewellery Vintage
12. Fair Trader Tobacconist and Newsagent
13. Ceruti Hairdressers
14. Lavish Life and Colosseum Cinema
15. Westbourne DIY and Hardware
16. Don Strike (Music Supplies)
17. By Arrangement (Florists)
18. Sewing House (Design and Dressmaking)
19. Nineteen (Clothes and Fashion)
20. The Letterbox (Stationery and Crafts)
21. Attics (Curiosities)
22. Annabelles (Hairdressers)
23. Stanwell (Clothing)
24. Les Enfants (Children’s and Baby Clothing and Supplies

Click here for a photograph taken in the 1970s.

References:
Historic England
Bournemouth Echo

Arcade     Arcade, Westbourne, westbourne arcade

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