
Vitality Stadium
Address: Vitality Stadium, Dean Court, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH7 7AF
Telephone: 0844 576 1910
Web Site: www.afcb.co.uk
What’s It Like
Swans will be in the stand on the side of the pitch. The view of the pitch is good and there’s usually a good atmosphere and facilities in the stand are great. Food on offer inside the ground include pies; steak and ale, chicken & mushroom and chicken balti, sausage rolls, burgers and hot dogs. Alcohol is sold in the stadium (John Smith’s and Fosters).
Visiting Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a really nice part of the world and is well worth spending more than a day there. Being a seaside destination, there are many, many hotels to lay your head, along with chain hotels Premier Inn, Best Western, Travelodge, Marriott and Ramada, there are loads on independent hotels, guesthouses and Bed & Breakfast places.
Every Friday it’s ‘Thank Rock It’s Friday’ at Sound Circus (BH8 8AS). Its open 9pm – 2am, go along with the particular theme and you’ll get free entry before 9:45, a free house spirit & mixer and there are usually prizes, otherwise it’s free entry with a password / flyer / student card or £3 before 11, £4 after.
Every Saturday night at Cameo (BH1 2JA) it’s bouncing with 4 rooms of DJs and entertainment.
Son of a Preacher Man, a musical with Dusty Springfield songs is on from 1st – 5th May at The Bournemouth Pavilion (BH1 2BU), tickets are £20 – £36.50. On the Sunday, The Bon Jovi Experience is there; tickets are £21.
Pubs and Grub
The 1910 Supporters Bar at the ground, is for home fans only, as is the closest pub to the stadium, the Queens Park Hotel (BH8 9AR).
A 10-15 minute walk to Boscombe is the Sir Percy Florence Shelley (BH7 6AA) a Wetherspoons. Away fans are welcome, but no colours are allowed. Next door is Mello Mello Bar (BH7 6AA).
Further down on the opposite side of the street is Baxters (BH7 6BT), which has BT Sports. ’The Portman’ (BH1 4LT) on Ashley Road, welcomes away fans. It’s a 10 minutes walk from the ground across Kings Park. It’s a big pub with two bars and serves food.
Parking & Train
The car park at the ground is 50p per hour, but it can take a while getting out.
By Train
Nearest station is Pokesdown a mile from the ground (local trains & from London Waterloo), Bournemouth Central has connection there. From Pokesdown, turn right and right again into Gloucester Road into Kings Park, and ‘The Queens Park’ pub.
From Bournemouth Central, leave the station by South exit, facing Asda. Turn left and walk down to Holdenhurst Road. Turn left (away from town centre) walk along Holdenhurst Road for 25 mins, to ‘Queens Park’ pub. After the pub, right at the roundabout into Kings Park Drive. The ground is at the bottom of the road.
Alternatively, a yellow number 33 bus – turn left out of the station, walk to bus shelter by the Texaco garage. Ask to get off near Kings Park Drive. The bus back is the yellow number 2.
Trains to Pokesdown leave at 07:29, 08:29 and 09:29 for the 4.5 hour trip.
The 17:26 and 18:26 leave Pokesdown getting into Swansea at 21:43 and 22:44.
For the Travelling Jacks making the trip – Be Loud, Be Proud and Be Positive!