Bournemouth: Directions, Beer & Food

[Diego_Sideburns]

NOTE: This information may be out-of-date in an ever-changing world.

 

AFC Bournemouth, The Seward Stadium, Dean Court, King's Park, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH7 7AF

 

Away fans are located in the East Stand on the side of the pitch. The ground only has three permanent stands (the club ran out of money) with a temporary stand behind one goal (the South End). There are plans in the pipeline to sell-off some land behind the East Stand for housing to bring in much needed funds. Also there is a scheme in the pipeline to build a hotel and fourth stand complex, but this requires money and unless the club can find an investor, this won't happen. Where have you read that before?

 

The match-day programme is available from inside the Club Shop, from the Club Caravan (painted red and black) near Thistlebarrow Road or from sellers outside the ground. Sellers don't normally operate inside the stadium.

 

NOTE: There is no entry to the stadium by cash, which means that before each game there is a mad scramble at the ticket office, with hundreds of fans queuing up. The Ticket Office operates from the windows to the left of the main stand entrance. This is on the other side of the stadium to the away area, and it is common to see away fans trying to gain entry into their stand ten minutes before kick-off waving cash, only to be told that they need a ticket from the ticket office. If you don't want to miss the kick-off or shorten your drinking time, you are advised to buy your tickets early on the day before you set off to the pub or do anything else. Arrangements for away fans may be changing soon though, with a ticket office opening up behind the East Stand, so it would be best to check with stewards to see if this improvement has been made.

 

Disabled facilities:

 

Disabled supporters on the higher rate of mobility/care DLA are eligible for free entry for themselves and a full-time personal assistant. The evidence required is issued by the Department of Works and Pensions showing the disability allowance is in the higher band of care/mobility.

Wheelchair sections are located in all areas of the ground and will be assigned on an availability basis.

Disabled away supporters should also call 0844 576 1910 to book tickets for the away section of the ground.

Requests for disabled car parking should be made via email on disability@afcb.co.uk.

Ambulant disabled supporters on the middle or lower rate of mobility/care DLA are eligible for concession pricing. The evidence required is issued by the Department of Works and Pensions showing the disability allowance is in the middle or lower band of care/mobility.

Ambulant disabled supporters are not eligible for a free personal assistant ticket. Any assistant required will be charged at the relevant matchday price.

 

How to get there:

 

By road:

 

From the M4 - at junction 15, come off the A345 to Marlborough and stay on this road, via Salisbury and Ringwood on the A338. Then, take the A31 to Bournemouth. 500 metres later, take left hand lane for the A338 to Bournemouth. (Alternatively, there is a route via the M3 and M27 via Newbury and Winchester).

 

From the West - take the A35 from Dorchester. At Bere Regis, take the A31 to Wimborne and turn right at Ashley Heath interchange onto the A338.

 

From the North and Midlands - head towards the M40. It will take just under two hours from Cherwell Valley Service station on the M40 at junction nine. Take the next exit towards Oxford and follow signs to Newbury. Just North of Newbury, you will meet a roundabout connecting the M4. Continue south and follow directions posted further up the page.

 

From the East - (north of London), head towards the M25 and then take the turn-off at the M3. Follow subsequent directions above from there.

 

As you approach Bournemouth, go over the Cooper Dean flyover (just after the "welcome to Bournemouth" sign). You might notice a funny smell at this stage, the town's sewage works, welcome to Bournemouth indeed! You should also see a big sports complex (the Littledown centre) to your left when on the flyover together with a large green glass building (JP Morgan HQ). You need to take the next junction off the A338 (a brown signpost - football traffic). Take this junction and you immediately hit a small roundabout then go straight across into King's Park.

 

Car parking:

 

Public parking is available to the south of the ground in a Council-run pay and display car park. Signage/pay points are sparse but you will need to purchase a ticket if your vehicle is parked there up to 6pm, after which time it is free. Please note that entry/egress from this car park is available by turning right up Kings Park Drive and via the roundabout onto Holdenhurst Road, or by turning left and exiting the park via Gloucester Road to Boscombe Road. Please be aware that on busy games it may take up to 40 minutes for this car park to clear post-match.

 

Alternatively, there is a council-run car park, on the opposite side of the dual carriageway, which is handy for getting away quickly after the game.

 

Visitors should be aware that an increased number of roads around the ground have recently had enhanced deterrents implemented and you are encouraged to park in a designated car park or away from the vicinity of the ground to avoid being fined.

 

 

By train:

 

The nearest train station is Pokesdown which is roughly a mile from the ground and is around a 15 minute walk away. However, most trains arrive at Bournemouth Central, which is around a half an hour walk to the ground. If you do arrive at Pokesdown Station (which is served by trains from London Waterloo), then exit the station and turn right down the main Christchurch Road (A35). After about 400 metres turn right into Gloucester Road. Dean Court is located at the bottom of this road.

 

If you arrive at Bournemouth Central, then leave the station by the South exit, thereby facing an Asda Supermarket. Turn left and walk down to the main Holdenhurst Road. Turn left (going away from the town centre) and then keep straight on along Holdenhurst Road for around 25 minutes, reaching the Queen's Park pub (home fans only). Continue straight on past the pub until you reach a roundabout at which you turn right into Kings Park Drive. The ground is at the bottom of this road on the left. Alternatively

 

By bus:

 

From Bournemouth Central you can catch a Yellow Number 33 bus to the ground, normally a half hourly service. Come out of Station again by the South exit, facing Asda and turn left until you get to a Texaco Garage. There is a bus stop with shelter on the same side of the road. Ask the driver to be let off near King's Park Drive. Please note that if you decide to use the same service coming back, take a Yellow number 2 bus as this is a circular service.

 

Yellow Buses also operate from Bournemouth (the Triangle and Hinton Road), with several services running along Holdenhurst Road to Dean Court including the 2, 3b and 28a and 28b. From Poole the 26 goes to Dean Court whilst Kinson is served by the 28a, 28b plus the 25.

 

By taxi:

There are a couple of taxi ranks in the town centre by the main bus station.

 

Where to drink:

 

NOTE: Although the Queens Park Hotel on Holdenhurst Road (alongside the A338 Wessex Way) has now re-opened, unfortunately it is now for home fans only.

 

Alcohol is available to visiting supporters inside the stadium.

 

There is the Legends Cafe/Bistro located at the stadium, which allows away fans into its ground floor bar (the first floor bar is for home fans only).

 

Around a 10-15 minute walk away is the Sir Percy Florence Shelley Wetherspoon outlet on Christchurch Road, in nearby Boscombe. Away fans are welcome at this pub, but no colours are allowed. Next door from Wetherspoon's is the Mello Mello bar which also admits away supporters.

 

The Portman Hotel, 97 Ashley Road is popular haunt for Cherries fans and away supporters alike. The pub has a lot of connections with the club - in 1910 the football team used the back room as their dressing room. The pub is used as a venue for supporters' meetings and there is a fair bit of AFCB related memorabilia on the walls.

 

Another pub steeped with AFC Bournemouth history is the Dolphin, ideally situated along Holdenhurst road for those walking from Bournemouth train station.

 

The Bell on Christchurch Road is a sports theme bar near Pokesdown station, popular with fans arriving by train.

 

If you're looking to go out drinking after the game, the best place to head for is Bournemouth's town centre. There are more pubs and clubs in the centre of town than you could possibly get through in a week's stay in the resort.

 

If you want a really decent real ale pub, head over towards the Goat and Tricycle on West Hill Road near the Triangle. It's probably the town's only remaining real pub.

 

Map of the area:

Map

 

Where to eat:

 

The Legends Cafe/Bistro at the stadium. There is also a burger van outside the stadium. For fast food outlets visitors should head for Boscombe and Christchurch Road with its McDonald's and about a dozen cafes, chip shops and coffee shops.

 

Local facilities:

Cash machines, banks, betting shops and newsagents can all be found on Christchurch road, a 15-minute walk from the stadium.

Pokesdown also hosts a treasure trove of second hand, junk and antique shops and is well worth a browse.

Edited November 5, 2012 by Diego_Sideburns

[Diego_Sideburns]

Bumped!

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