It’s beginning to look at lot like Christmas at The Royal Arcade in Boscombe!
The art deco Royal Arcade is a warm, welcoming and festive place to be this Christmas so why not spend time checking out the unique and individual shops, alongside pop up Christmas shops. No matter what the winter weather the Royal Arcade allows you to shop with an array of exclusive shops and businesses which includes beauty, books, science, collectables and coffee shops and when you need a break from shopping you can relax at the eateries and café’s inside. There is also a host of FREE activities for children and families along with musicians and singers performing every Saturday between 10am to 2pm to put you in the mood for Christmas.
Saturday 3rd December saw children gathered to write their personal letters to Santa with paper, pens and envelopes all provided FREE of charge which kept them entertained as well as getting them excited about Christmas. Generating further excitement within the Arcade was complementary science lessons, making mini explosions using dissolvable vitamin tablets.
Antigua Joe was entertaining shoppers by singing well known Reggae favourites, warming the spirits of the Christmas shoppers whilst the Town Crier was also amongst the crowds letting them know about the activities and special promotions in Arcade as well as welcoming passers-by into the stores and to partake in the Christmas activities on offer. There is also a pop up ‘Art Bizarre’ exhibition to look out for displaying work from various artists, also serving mince pies to guests
Saturday 10th December will see award winning saxophonist Claire Manners and ‘Nobody’s Business’ a duo of acoustic guitar and harmonica players performing inside the Royal Arcade from 10am to 2pm.
Visitors can even share their happy memories with your own selfies #RoyalArcadeChristmas!
The Mayor and Mayoress of Bournemouth recently paid a visit to the Arcade to admire the children’s hard work which has been created by the children of Winton Primary, Jewell Academy, Avonwood Primary, St Thomas Garnet’s School and King’s Park Academy. The Royal Arcade presented the schools with the pre-cut shapes, glitter, glue, paint and other materials produce the creative Christmas designs, families from the local area come to see their work and the schoolchildren are being presented with framed certificates for their hard work and efforts. Said Mayor of Bournemouth, Cllr Eddie Coope, “All of the children have put in an amazing amount of effort, their art work is wonderful and shows imagination and great creativity, as well as adding festive cheer to the Royal Arcade and is a great draw for Boscombe.”
Said Chairman of the Coastal BID Paul Clarke, “It is wonderful to see the unique period setting of the art deco Royal Arcade embrace the spirit of Christmas with free activities and entertainment to encourage families and visitors. The arcade offers array of individual and quirky shops, successful niche businesses and great eateries, all undercover, under one roof, right in the heart of Boscombe. The Boscombe Royal Arcade is a jewel in the Coastal BID region, close to Boscombe pier and the seafront. This Christmas for the first time it will be fun to see a Santasaurus from the Sciencezone (Monday 19th to 23 December) appear in the arcade alongside the artisans, shops, specialist shops and businesses along with the artists, it is a wonderful place to bring the traditional and the new together as one.”
The FREE Christmas activities will continue in the Royal Arcade on Saturdays 10th and 17th December with musicians, buskers, free arts and crafts and entertainment, as well as more experiments with The Science Zone that children can take part in and don’t forget the unique Santasaurus experience.