BOURNEMOUTH town centre is “dying”, according to a pub company boss who says the resort is doing worse than any of the other places in which he operates.

Kris Gumbrell, the Bournemouth-based chief executive of Brewhouse & Kitchen, says the council needs to “fix the plumbing” by improving the streets and acting on antisocial behaviour.

And he said a better mix of shops was needed because the town cannot survive on tourism alone.

“I think the town centre is dying,” Mr Gumbrell said.

“Of the 23 pubs we operate, Bournemouth town centre is singularly the most concerning area. That’s in any area – in the north, in London, in Wales – it’s the most major issue.”

The chair of the town centre’s business improvement district (BID) has said he shares some of Mr Gumbrell's frustrations.

Mr Gumbrell said the local authority was trying to “regenerate a dying town centre” by bringing in more hospitality such as restaurants and bars on the beach.

Read more: What the council and police say about Bournemouth town centre criticism

“I’m all for more on the beach, but that doesn’t help me on Poole Hill," he said.

Mr Gumbrell said the council should provide more help for homeless people and rough sleepers, address antisocial behaviour and seek to improve the quality of shopping.

“I know people who won’t go into the town any more. Older people definitely won’t go into the town,” he said.

“The town needs to stop considering itself purely a tourism area. We need to be a year-round town.

“I’ve got a good local management team in the town centre but it’s a battle.

“I see very little hope for the town centre until I see something fairly radical on the table. It’s dying on its feet.

“The town needs to stop considering itself as purely a tourism area. We need to be a year-round town.”

He added: “I love this town. I live here, my daughter goes to school here. I want it to see it safe and welcoming.”

Martin Davies, chairman of Bournemouth Town Centre BID said he shared some of Kris Gumbrell’s frustrations and that Bournemouth needed to concentrate on being “more than just a beach.”

Bournemouth needs to be more than a beach

Mr Davies said by far the biggest area of concern for BID levy payers and visitors was anti-social behaviour.

“While we recognise that everyone has a part to play in tackling this, the agencies with statutory authority such as the police and the council must take the lead,” he said.

He added: “Our rangers support our levy paying business community in the town centre in a number of ways but have no formal powers or statutory responsibilities.”

Mr Davies said town and city centres across the country were all facing up to high street challenges and although Bournemouth had an unrivalled location, there had to more than just a focus on tourism and the beach.

“Growing the retail base in the town centre is absolutely critical to its future success and vibrancy.

"In November, the Town Centre BID will be publishing a position paper on a retail strategy for Bournemouth town centre, with a view to bringing forward concrete proposals for attracting more retail businesses and helping to ensure the existing retail sector survives and flourishes,” he said. 

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