June in Southbourne: A Month to Remember, and July Looks Even Better
If June felt like a celebration, that's because it very much was. Southbourne had a brilliant month and with July now here, the good news keeps coming. Here's your essential guide to what's been happening on our favourite stretch of the Dorset coast, and what's just around the corner.
Join us on Southbourne Green this Easter for a relaxed, welcoming event designed for locals, families, and anyone who loves being part of our vibrant coastal community.
🔁 June Round Up: What Happened in Southbourne
The biggest event of the month and arguably one of the best Southbourne has ever seen, was the Shake & Stir Vintage Armed Forces Weekender, which returned to Fisherman's Walk on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th June.
This year the beloved festival took on a deeper significance, rebranding as the only officially recognised Armed Forces Day event within the BCP area. The weekend brought together live music, a vintage village, artisan stalls, military vehicles, fairground rides and a Military Village packed with veterans' organisations, military charities and cadet forces. The History Hub showcased local military heritage, and on Saturday morning an Armed Forces Day Parade, led by the Christchurch British Legion Band, marched through the streets of Southbourne, with the Deputy Lord Lieutenant taking the salute.
Entry was free, with donations welcomed to support the event's future. If you missed it, watch the Stir Events CIC channels for updates, this one looks set to grow.
⚽ World Cup Summer
June also saw Southbourne's pubs and bars buzzing with World Cup 2026 energy, as England took on Croatia on 17th June in what proved to be one of the most-watched nights of the summer. Screens were packed, the atmosphere was electric, and local hospitality businesses reported a great boost in trade across the tournament's opening weeks. The World Cup final takes place on 19th July, another great excuse to eat, drink and support your local Southbourne independent.
🎾 Wimbeldon 2026
Wimbledon is also well underway, the Championships run from 29th June through to the Finals on Sunday 12th July, and it's shaping up to be a brilliant fortnight of tennis. Whether you're a devoted fan tracking every match or you just love the excuse to sit in a lovely pub on a sunny July afternoon, Southbourne has you covered. Check all the local spots showing the matches, and book ahead, because they fill up fast.
📅 Coming Up in July: What to Look Forward to
July is shaping up to be a spectacular month on the coast, and we'd encourage everyone to make the most of it.
Bourne Free Pride Festival - 10th to 12th July, Meyrick Park: Bournemouth's biggest LGBTQ+ celebration returns for three days of live music, the famous Pride Parade through the town centre, family entertainment, and community spirit. This year's festival moves to Meyrick Park to accommodate more stalls, bars, and entertainment than ever before. Friday 10th is an adults-only opening night, Saturday 11th features the parade and main festival with ten hours of non-stop entertainment, and Sunday 12th is a free, family-friendly day.
Southbourne's welcoming, inclusive high street is the perfect place to make a weekend of it; great cafés, independent restaurants, and the beach just minutes away.
Friday Night Fireworks - from 24th July, Bournemouth Seafront: The much-loved free fireworks returns every Friday evening at 10pm, fired from a barge off Bournemouth Pier. Running from 24th July through to 28th August, this is one of the best free spectacles on the south coast. Head to Fisherman's Walk or Southbourne's clifftop after a meal out for the perfect end to your evening.
World Cup Final - 19th July: Whether England are in the final or not, expect Southbourne's pubs to be packed for the culmination of what has been a tremendous summer of football. Book your table early.
🏛️ Westbourne’s New Literary Landmark
Just a short trip along the coast from Southbourne, Westbourne has just gained a stunning new cultural landmark, and it’s well worth making the journey for. A brand-new sculpture celebrating Robert Louis Stevenson has been installed at Alum Chine, commissioned by BCP Council and funded through a UK Government grant.
Stevenson moved to Westbourne in 1884 with his wife Fanny, living in a house he named ‘Skerryvore’, after a lighthouse built by his uncle in Scotland. In the three years he spent there, he wrote some of the most celebrated fiction in the English language: Kidnapped, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, A Child’s Garden of Verses, and much of Treasure Island.
The new sculpture, created by artist Tim Ward of Circling the Square, captures elements of Stevenson’s literary themes through its materials and design, drawing on the duality of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Alongside it, visitors can walk in his footsteps and discover the ‘lost pages’ of his works, placed on stone markers along the historic Alum Chine. From Westbourne village, it’s a 20-minute walk through the chine to reach the sculpture and the beach beyond, a perfect summer half-day out. The artwork forms part of BCP’s Coastal Art Trail; more information at explorebcp.co.uk.
While You’re Here
Southbourne’s independent food and drink scene is in fine form this summer. Whether you’re after coffee and pastries before a beach walk, fresh seafood after the fireworks, or a sundowner with a sea view, you’ll find it here.
Happy summer, Southbourne. We'll see you on the coast.