Press Event
During the week, I was invited down to Bobby’s in Bournemouth town centre for their launch event. Then opening had been delayed due to the pandemic, so it was a much anticipated event, and something I was really intrigued to see for myself, after lots of speculation in the press. I was lucky enough to be offered a stay in the Hilton, just up the road from Bobby’s, for the night as well, which was so lovely and definitely helped make the night even more memorable (I worked at Hilton Bournemouth during its opening and it holds a special place in my heart).
I headed along to visit Drool, the pop up style space that is going to be around for three months and is aimed specifically at your four legged friends, first. I took Bella along, so that she could give it her puppy seal of approval, and I was so impressed with what they have done with the space, which is located in a tunnel style section, to the left of the store, underground. It is a little hard to explain how to get to it, but if you go into the gardens from the town centre, as if you were heading towards the seafront, look to your right straight away, and you will see the entrance to Drool. If you get to the toilets, you’ve gone too far!
They have so many lovely treats for your dogs, including a dedicated Lick and Mix section – how blooming cute, and free pigs ears at the entrance for ‘good girls and boys’. They also have plenty of toys and sticks to play with whilst you hang out in the comfy seating areas. The staff are all dog lovers, and Bella took to them instantly, cuddling up and enjoying all the attention they were giving her. She also enjoyed meeting a fellow spaniel, Brogan Tate’s dog Bonnie, who played with her for a while whilst we looked around.
I returned after the school run for the main event, where press and local bloggers and business people had the chance to take a sneak peak inside the department store before the official opening the next day. The building is wonderful, with the traditional department store on the ground floor, with plenty of international and smaller independent beauty brands on display, as well as a beauty and men’s grooming stand, offering hair cuts and treatments whilst you shop – such a brilliant idea! If you are hungry, Drgnfly are on hand with tasty pan asian cuisine, or you can treat yourself to an ice cream – it was inanely good!
On the first floor the South Coast Market was set up with independent sellers displaying their products, including beautiful artwork, pretty iced biscuits and alcoholic slush drinks made with foraged ingredients – so yummy! I was really impressed with the District Smokehouse pulled pork roll I had, and I couldn’t resist buying a card from one of the stalls, Yaz Baxter Creative’s artwork is fantastic!
There was an art exhibition on the second floor but I didn’t make it up there in the end, I have seen other people’s photos though, and it looked brilliant!
I really enjoyed having the chance to look around the new Bobby’s Bournemouth store, and I will definitely be back soon with Bella in tow, as dogs are welcome in the main store as well as Drool. My stay overnight in Hilton was also lovely, it was so nice to be back five years after working there, although next time I need to make a trip up to LevelEight for a cocktail!
If you are local to Bournemouth, I would recommend a visit to Bobby’s, it has something for everyone, and is a great one stop shop, for those looking to shop local this A/W, with many local brands.
I was invited along to the launch event of Bobby’s Bournemouth, and provided with a complimentary overnight stay at Hilton Bournemouth, however I was under no obligation to write this post, and all words and images are my own.
