Bournemouth Town Hall

Bournemouth Town Hall is a historic building on Bourne Avenue in the centre of Bournemouth, Dorset, England. Once the grand Mont Dore Hotel, it now serves as a seat of local government and is a Grade II listed building.

What is Bournemouth Town Hall?

The building is a municipal facility, also known as the Civic Centre. It is the meeting place of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council. It is not a ticketed attraction in the usual sense, but it is well worth a look as a reminder of how a Victorian seaside resort grew into a modern town.

How did the Mont Dore Hotel come about?

The story begins in the 1880s. A local doctor wanted to bring the spa cure associated with Mont-Dore in France to Bournemouth. King Oscar II of Sweden and Norway laid the foundation stone, and the hotel opened in 1885. The cost is put at around £85,000, a very large sum at the time.

The hotel stood in extensive grounds of about three acres and had 122 bedrooms. Guests could use Turkish baths, an inhalation hall, a winter garden and a concert hall. The design is attributed to the architect Alfred Bedborough.

From hotel to town hall

During the First World War the building served as a hospital for British and Indian soldiers, and afterwards as a convalescent home. In 1921 the borough bought it for municipal use and converted it into a town hall. A council chamber was added around 1930, and the building was extended around 1990.

What does it look like?

The architecture blends French and Italianate styles with neo-Classical elements. The facade is built of buff-coloured brick with Bath stone dressings. The interior retains much of its character, and the council chamber stands out for its horseshoe-shaped seating and shallow domed ceiling.

What is nearby?

The town hall faces Bournemouth Gardens and the Bournemouth War Memorial. St. Andrew's Church, Richmond Hill, stands right next door. That makes it easy to combine a look at the building with a stroll through the gardens, which lead down towards the seafront and beach.

Frequently asked questions

Can I go inside Bournemouth Town Hall? It is a working administrative building, so access to the interior depends on the building's rules and events. The facade and surroundings can be admired from outside at any time.

Where exactly is it? On Bourne Avenue in central Bournemouth, opposite the town gardens.

Is the building listed? Yes, it is a Grade II listed building.

Why is it called both the Civic Centre and Mont Dore? Civic Centre describes its role as a hub of local government. Mont Dore was the name of the original Victorian hotel, a nod to the French spa town.

Is it a good stop for a short walk? Yes. In one place you can see a historic building, the gardens, a war memorial and a church, and the hotel's history adds interesting context.