Bournemouth International Centre

The centre opened in 1984 and is part of a large events site in central Bournemouth. Check out our Bournemouth theatre guide to find out about the other venues. Our Bournemouth Central hotel is the perfect base for your trip to the International Centre, being just six minutes away by foot and the easiest way to avoid the centre’s busy car park during huge concerts.

Windsor Hall has a concert capacity of almost 4,100 and is often included in the arena lineup for many huge artists and performers. Fun fact: the hall roof was built as the largest tensile grid in Europe. A staggering 30 miles of steel wire form a grid which can suspend 90 tonnes of weight! Big names to perform there include Gary Barlow, Fall Out Boy, Olly Murs and Steps; Kylie Minogue is even scheduled to perform for a second time. Or, if you’re looking for a fun-filled night of belly laughs, you can take your pick from top comedians, such as Lee Evans, Bill Bailey and John Bishop.

The venue hosts a range of other events suitable for the whole family, from Rum & Reggae Festivals to the Harlem Globetrotters and Roller Rink sessions. It’s impossible to name the huge variety of events and performances that you can find in their schedule – even the second largest hall can house up to 2,000 people for concerts, so there’s plenty of space.

It’s well-located for the town centre and boasts many options of nearby restaurants and bars, whether you’re visiting for a concert or are going to be in town for a conference. There’s a nice viewing area upstairs, which is a good place to take a breather and enjoy some refreshment. Facilities in the centre include bars, lounges and coffee shops for some R&R. It’s also possible to book pre-show dinner deals, with packages including ‘Dorset on a Plate’, which showcases local produce, as well as Italian and Indian menus.