Bournemouth Area
 

Hello,

I'm originally from Surrey, but have been considering moving to Bournemouth to be by the coast.. I was hoping I could get some help regarding possible areas that would be suitable for a single guy of 34.

I would love to be near somewhere that is fairly lively and has a good social scene, but is not over run with stag or hen parties every weekend.. lol.. Also, being near somewhere that is great for watersports would be a bonus.

Would Poole be my best option?

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

Hi Lynchy

I lived in Bournemouth for 5 years in total. I would say avoid Boscombe! It's full of safe houses for ex drug addicts and therefore has it's fair share of problems. I used to live in Boscombe as a student and we got broken into twice. I would go for neighbouring Southborne or Tuckton. Both have lovely beaches, a few good bars and restaurants etc and clear of hen/stag parties.

There are some nice areas in Poole too. It depends how close you want to be to the sea. Places like Parkstone and Oakdale are really nice but not right on the beach (about a 20 min drive). My OH's parents live in Wimborne, which is also nice but maybe lacks the social vibe you are after, although it is getting better and is much less sleepy than it used to be. More pubs and bars are opening up but there are no nightclub type places. If you are not short of a bob or two then try Sandbanks!

Hope that helps!

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

Unfortunately I'm short of a few bob for Sandbanks... Damn lol

I've heard a few people mention something similar about Boscombe, so that's off the list. I was in Bournemouth a few ago to visit, and to be honest I was a little disappointed with the town centre, especially at night. Although I like a night out, I prefer a more casual and relaxed scene with live music.

I will check out Southborne and Tuckton, which both sound lovely. I would also be looking to be a part of a house share, so do you think either area would be suitable?

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

I live near Bournemouth and would echo what Pom_Chch says about Boscombe, not a nice area at all. The town centre does get a bit overrun on Friday/Saturday nights with the stag/hen crowds, but there are lots of other areas which have pubs and stuff.

Poole is nice and does have lots of nice areas - I quite like the old town area, my niece rented a flat just off the quay for a while and that was nice.

Sandbanks is great for wind surfing and Canford Cliffs is near by and has plenty of wine bars and bistro type restaurants.

Wimborne is not a bad option - the pubs there seem to cover all tastes - traditional through to more modern wine bar style places. Some nice new restaurants have opened up recently too. Not right on the coast though.

I would also take a look at Westbourne - more or less on the boundary between Poole & Bournemouth - again loads of pubs/bars/cafes etc. I've got a few friends who live there and they always seem to be out.

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

I think you would probable be good with a house share in lots of areas, although I should imagine some of the more studenty areas like Charminster might have more choice of shared accommodation.

Plenty of live music around - The Lighthouse in Poole, The BIC, The O2 Academy in Boscombe (don't live there, but it's ok to go to gigs there...) Mr Kyps in Parkstone (a venue primarily for tribute bands), Some of the pubs in the Quay in Poole have live music as do some of the pubs in Wimborne, I think.

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

Thanks Rebs - Great information there :)

I think Wimborne is a little too far out for me but Southbourne, Westbourne, Poole and Tuckton all sound great

Thanks to you both for the help

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

Yes it's a shame about Bournemouth town centre now. It has gotten worse over the past few years.

Christchurch is also a good area. It has a good social vibe - bars and pubs rather than hens/stags spilling out of nightclubs. It's also close to the sea.

Agree with the Westbourne idea, my favourite curry house is there! It has a social vibe but without being to OTT like Bournemouth. It's a shame about Boscombe too, one of my favourite bars is on the sea front there. It does have the potential to be really nice but just too many unsavoury characters... and Somalian drug gangs!

As for house sharing you could try www.spareroom.co.uk. I've used this three tims to find a place and had no problems. I would say house sharing is quite common in Bournemouth/Poole as rent for small flats and buying properties is expensive.

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

I live near Bournemouth too and would echo the sentiments of the others about Boscombe, Pokesdown areas, very dodgy, I drove back from the beach the other day and saw a cordoned off area in Boscombe when a guy had just been murdered! Westbourne and Southbourne are nice areas as are Branksome and Canford Cliffs but these are more expensive but walking distance to the beach. I used to rent in Lilliput, just around the bay from Sandbanks but there are no bars nearby. You could try Baiter Park in Poole, there are a lot of different style houses and flats there and it's right on the water by the Quay, walking distance within 5 mins and there are pubs there and it's near the Old Town. Bournemouth is more night clubs than live music these days, I heard that it's the new club capital of the south?! If you look at Poole avoid Hamworthy/Turlin Moor areas, well rough! Wimborne is nice but not near the beach, I just recently tried to rent there but they are few and far between for what I wanted, but that was a family house not a shared house so you might have better luck. Good luck with your move, it is lovely down here... says someone who has just sold up to move to Canada! lol

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

I'm a Bournemouth born and bred girl. Lived there for decades.

My pick for you would be Westbourne . From what you write , the area would suit you well.

As others have said, it is a shame about some of the areas in and around Bournemouth these days. Boscombe and Charminster would be a no-no.

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

Are you still living here BEVS? I've been here 15 years, currently out in Verwood (it's cheaper! lol)

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

Nooo. I've been marooned in New Zealand for 9 years now.
Been back to visit as have family and friends there. Lived in Southbourne, within walking distance of the sea, Boscombe and Tuckton, for a good 10 years before leaving.

It's a huge shame about Boscombe really because it is actually a good location ref access to the sea, gardens & the like. It should be an extension of a seaside holiday resort filled with boutique, quirky shops but it isn't. It's a dump these days TBH.

I still love the entire area though. It's in my blood and soul for always.

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

I lived in both areas for 30 yrs before moving to Canada 3 yrs ago, we lived in southbourne, ensbury park and then Bransgore nr Christchurch as the last place, I really liked xchurch has everything, I used to work at Lv in westbourne area too but can be pricey, my oh worked in Verwood, so know that area too and my dad still lives in sturminster Marshall just outside wimborne, places to avoid already been pointed out, some great beaches etc from southbourne down to xchurch and hengistbury head area, and only 10 mins ish drive from Bournemouth also good access to the train and buses etc for town centre

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

LV? Liverpool Victoria?
I did a one year stint there around '98. One year was more than enough for me. :lol:

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

Yes Liverpool Victoria, the Main offices are in the middle of the road at County Gates. My neighbours both work there and at the moment I'm enjoying their cheap car insurance.... Until I move over next year! Lol

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

ooh i was in claims from 1997 to 2012!

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

I was there , somewhere, during 1998 doing accounting things :zzz: We'd just come back from a few months bit of travel .

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

I'm Bournemouth/Poole bred.
Before coming to Oz I lived in Ashley cross in lower parkstone.
It's gotten very busy over the years with more bars/wine bars.
A nice place to live not too far away from sandbanks.

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

It isn't entirely due to the stag and hen parties by any means.....it's right across the board for the (mainly but not exclusively) 18 to 25 age group...of both genders...not only in Bournemouth but in practically every town and city centre right across the UK and not always at weekends either. It's all part of the British scene and has been for at least 10 to 15 years now....fighting and brawling, foul language, vomit and urine - and even worse - in the gutters and shop doorways and all that goes with that sort of thing.

It's a latter day British "thing", unfortunately, and measures to deal with it do not appear to be all that effective, as much of that age group in the UK are under the impression that to have a "good time" they really need to get as blootered and as bladdered as they posssibly can, some even doing so before they even set off from their homes beforehand.

Our police are far too tolerant of their behaviour, but such is the nature of our Constabularies in many respects, unlike those in other lands, and I know what I am talking about as I am legally civily partnered with a copper on the beat who has to bear the brunt of it all on a regular basis.

Bournemouth is certainly not unique in that regard, but at least the area has a reasonably good climate generally speaking for the UK as a whole.....quite mild (except perhaps for the frost hollow at nearby Hurn airport on a clear winter's night) and with higher than average annual sunshine totals, and due to its location the atmosphere is exceptionally relaxing, unlike some other seaside resorts which are much more bracing and more conducive to strenuous physical activity, such as Blackpool in the North and Brighton in the South.

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

Hopefully there's enough heavy rainfall to wash all the vomit and urine away :fingerscrossed:. I never thought heavy rainfall might just be a blessing.

You certainly make a return to UK urban social life sound very appetising though on the brief occasions that I've been in cities/towns after nightfall, and the morning following such revelry, I've seen some evidence of this myself so tend to get my pub "action" dealt with fairly early in the evening be it in Glasgow, Canterbury, Faversham or Tunbridge Wells where it can get scary later on for alcohol-related reasons.

Other posters have spoken of these latter day UK phenomena which have caused a great deal of angst and even disruption to otherwise peaceful lives.

Interestingly, the NHS Information Centre seems to be very worried about the number of primary and secondary hospital admissions for obesity for which Bournemouth & Poole actually do very well but it seems they should be equally worried about admissions for alcoholic poisoning, sadly particularly amongst young women.

I'm hoping that to the extent that the balance of older retired folks is higher in places such as Bournemouth/Christchurch, this tones down the anti-social elements somewhat in spite of the party atmosphere for the remaining 18 to 25 age group et al.

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

The same happens here in New Zealand . Actually the same happens here in Nelson, so this behaviour isn't confined to Bmth and Poole, nor even to the UK only.

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

Unless we have some ulterior motive for returning to the UK in that, for example, we absolutely have to tap into the NHS or benefits, or we find we simply cannot do without or must in someway help family and/or friends we will all already be carefully doing comparisons of the existing quality of life where we are with what we perceive to be the case in our areas of choice/short-list in the UK or other countries which might do it for us.

I personally have always found it unhelpful :o if posters are saying it's just the same where they are now, as we (the rest) are either not intending to head for Australia, Queensland, New Zealand or wherever, or we already know well what it is like where we are now and the chances are it actually isn't subject to the same level of pretty widespread particularly urban social decline as the UK has been subjected to - fully recognised as being way beyond anywhere else in Europe at the very least, for reasons which are subject to debate - in the last couple of decades or so.

There's terrible economic decline and deprivation here in the (basically) Third World in the Caribbean and it spills over into the level of crime, particularly serious crime, but it still overall does not compare with what those in the UK are witnessing and declaring so, if they are honest, in terms of gradual general youth social disorder and decline. This is very hard for some out there to come to terms with, some because of their own particular circumstances, or because for once they now absolutely must be able to enjoy a peaceful life in their retirement years in the UK.

It is still possible to buy your way out of being a witness to this decay if you are very careful where you choose to settle, always assuming that you have the flexibility - in whatever form this takes - at your disposal. I guess a key item is to also know where not to look ;) because I have shortlisted places that I thought would be workable only to have them trashed on here by several for their unforeseen significant negative features by those in the know whose judgement I valued.

When the various Uk newspapers trundle out the constant mantra of articles regarding the most desirable places for retirees to settle they always, obviously, point to weather, crime, health, cost of living/housing and general lifestyle quality and Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, Wimborne and their environs are fortunately usually well up there as good areas to settle.

The search could be embellished by those who have an inside-track, who can point to the less desirable areas.

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

Um. I found that a bit hard to follow Pistolpete but there again I've only had 2 cups of tea this morning.

All of Bournemouth & Poole is not a seething pit of 18-25yr olds , all of whom are someones kids, behaving badly.

All of Nelson and Bays is not a seething pit of 18-25yr olds , all of whom are someones kids, behaving badly.

Not all 18-25yrs behave badly .

Neither place is a warzone and it should be perfectly possible to live a peaceable life in either place. In fact, several families and young people, that I know personally ,do just that in the Bmth and Poole area & in other areas of the UK also. Wolverhampton & Crewe for instance.

As you will see, I've made comment previously on certain areas of Bmth. This time I was commenting on the matter of social disorder from young people in the UK. The comment was to say that this could be found anywhere . Perhaps better to have written "This is 2013. It is something you may have to live with but distance yourself from:" ---- unless it involves your kids or grandkids perhaps.

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

I was a teenager in Weymouth in the 80's, early nineties -
and went to Bournemouth frequently on weekends.
I have to say that the obnoxious binge drinking is nothing new. I remember plenty of plenty of out of control, drunks roaming the streets. Bournemouth actually was a tad classier than Weymouth at the time maybe in part because alcohol was not the drug of choice in the club scene at that time.

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

So. Are you still doing this out of interest or are you puking up in the streets as I type.


...don't let my green avatar lead you on here......

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

Is who doing this? We aren't put off by the issue we have been discussing here but we will continue to be fussy in checking and double-checking the places which are on our short-list and we won't have committed without actually spending time properly casing the joints.

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

I was making light hearted conversation with Montfan72. It's allowed. We have both lived in the area afterall & been part of the 'club scene' at some point in our lives. Today, it is our friends offspring that are part of the club scene there. Where did the years go? :p

Yup ! Have a good recce around the entire area. There are many places to choose from.

What's your criteria?

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

Sorry to butt in then!

Our search in the Uk has now been made somewhat easier by the fact that we need to focus on good colleges that do BTEC level 3 Extended Diplomas in Sports with top sports facilities with further possibilities for Foundation Degrees in similar plus access to sailing at the national/international level. This really means the south-west and the only locations really in the frame are Truro/Penwith, Paignton (South Devon College), Exeter, Weymouth and Bournemouth/Poole.

At the same time, I have had enough of the virtually non-existent social life and lack of things to do other than drinking rum here in the Caribbean, plus constant upkeep issues regarding property and land. That said, it is going to be extremely hard to extricate ourselves from this area because property is simply not moving these days so we have to think in terms of maybe spending some time here and by far the cheapest access to St Lucia is from Paris-Orly and this does work well for us if we spend a bit of vacation time in France. France access also works well from Poole and Weymouth via the fast cat ferries in season.

It can't just be about our kid though so the other criteria aside from sailing clubs close by are:

Low general crime and no known racial intolerance issues
No real need to own a car
Good supply of furnished property to rent - initially
Semi-urban/green leafy
Good range of food shops and markets, especially fish
Mild and better-than-average rainfall, no flooding issues
Good land connections to places of interest by rail and bus
Airport access
Plenty of interesting open country around
A chance to make friends and socialize
Access to good walks
Some culture on our doorstep???
Plentiful variety of good friendly pubs and restaurants and a some sort of cafe culture

If it wasn't for the college etc. requirements, I think that the order of precedence of my short-list would be:

Topsham or that area near Exeter IF we can in fact find a place
Poole or Christchurch/Mudeford over Bournemouth per se
Weymouth - south of the marina but not Portland
Paignton - southwest of the town and Stoke Gabriel
Truro - somewhere like Perranwell or Devoran, even Falmouth area

Exeter area and Bournemouth area are clear winners on transport connections overall with their own airports and Southampton Airport just over 1/2 an hour away from Bournemouth. Both (Exeter and Southampton) are hubs for FlyBe which is however not in the best shape right now and cutting services but they (the airports) also do charters.

We have also considered Bath and Cirencester which are both class acts but we would rather be closer to the sea, and a bit more down-market :unsure: (it's a tough one) in general in spite of their excellent colleges.

We will have our work cut out to make the final decision when we find some places we like.

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

Sadly, my stumbling around, pub crawling days are over. But I'll be nipping over to Weymouth for a bit this summer, there may be life in the old dog yet.;)

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Hey. No worries. I'm a Bournemouth girl after all. Well, maybe the girl bit is all in my mind these days. :lol:

I'll have a bit of a read later on .

I'd join you if I could. In lieu of this , I suggest a cyber pub crawl around the area.
Square and Compass. Good for a shandy and pasty after a good long walk on the Purbecks.

What was the name of the pub by Ringstead Bay or Osmington Mills? I once nearly got swept away overnight whilst fishing from the beach.

Re: Bournemouth Area
 

Not sure if I've been to the Square and Compass but I'd be surprised if I hadn't as one of my best friends from college lived in lovely Swanage.

The pub on the cliffs in Osmington is called the Smugglers, it's a lovely old place isn't it? Me and the hubby stayed there a few nights pre kids and walked all over the coastal path, I really miss those walks...:(