Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) is a multi-purpose venue in central Bournemouth, with auditoriums and smaller spaces for concerts, comedy, sporting events and other performances. This guide covers ticket and entry basics, parking, public transport and access planning.
- Address: Exeter Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5BH.
- Venue: Four main auditorium spaces, plus smaller event spaces.
- Parking: A cashless multi-storey car park with 644 spaces.
- Getting there: Bournemouth Pier is the closest bus stop; Bournemouth railway station is 1.3 miles away.
What is on at the BIC?
The BIC hosts concerts, comedy, sporting events and other performances across its auditorium and event spaces. It opened in 1984 and is operated by BH Live in partnership with BCP Council.
Event dates and availability vary, so look up the individual event listing for the performance you plan to attend. The listing is also the place to check show timings: running times may be confirmed only a few days before the event and can change.
If you are comparing venues for a night out, the Bournemouth Pavilion is another performance venue on Westover Road; what to know about shows at the Pavilion can help you plan around its programme.
Tickets and entry information
- Ticket
- payment methods include Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Apple Pay, Google Pay and BH
Buy BIC tickets in advance as e-tickets or mobile tickets, through the venue, affiliated websites or authorised external ticket agents. The venue says tickets are issued two weeks before an event and accessed through your online account. You can show a mobile ticket on your phone or bring a printed copy.
Doors usually open between 30 minutes and one hour before a show starts. The venue’s general guidance gives front-door opening at 16:00 for Box Office access and venue-door opening at 18:00; most shows finish between 22:00 and 23:00. Matinee schedules vary, so use the individual event page for the performance you are attending.
Purchased tickets cannot be refunded. You may request an exchange to another position for the same show up to 48 hours before the performance, subject to availability. The amendment fee is £2.50, with any fare difference payable.
The venue is cashless. Card or contactless payment is used for purchases; accepted ticket-payment methods include Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Apple Pay, Google Pay and BH Live Gift Vouchers. American Express is not accepted. On event days, you can leave items at the Reception cloakroom for £2 per item, payable by card.
Leave large bags behind if possible: visitors are subject to a search before entry, and the venue asks people not to bring large bags. Food and drink bought elsewhere cannot be brought in for consumption, except small amounts needed for a medical condition after contacting the venue in advance.
How do you get from Ullswater Hotel to the BIC?
The BIC is about a 9-minute walk from Ullswater Hotel in Bournemouth. The venue address is Exeter Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5BH, which you can use when planning your approach.
If you are driving, the BIC directs motorists from Bournemouth West Roundabout to take the first exit and follow the brown signs.
The car park is off the roundabout at the bottom of Priory Road, and BH2 5BH is the venue’s sat-nav postcode. There is a lay-by at the front for event drop-offs, but it can become busy after performances.
For rail travel, the BIC is 1.3 miles from Bournemouth railway station, around a 28-minute walk according to the venue’s access guidance. You can also check local bus connections for the final part of the journey.
Where can you park, and which buses serve the BIC?
The BIC has a cashless multi-storey car park with 644 spaces. Take a ticket when you arrive and pay before leaving. The car park has a 2-metre height restriction and 35 accessible spaces on levels 1, 2 and 3; ramp access to the foyer is available from every level.
The BIC also identifies two alternative car parks: Bournemouth Pavilion car park on Westover Road has 165 spaces and no height restriction, while Winter Gardens car park across the road has 250 spaces and a 2.1-metre height barrier.
The venue gives car-park capacity and payment instructions, but parking charges and pre-booking availability are not clear across the listed details. Check the official site before you go.
Bournemouth Pier is the closest bus stop, about a 2-minute walk from the venue. Other nearby stops include Beacon Road, Westover Road and Bournemouth Square.
Morebus routes serving stops near the BIC include 1A, 1B, 1C, 5, 5A, 13, 13A, 16, 18, 22, 33, 50, 70, M1, M2, N1, N2, N5, U4 and 737. Routes and timetables can change, so confirm them with Morebus when planning your trip.
How can you plan an event-night visit?
Start with the event listing: use it to confirm the show time and check for any updated running-time details. Then choose your arrival plan—walk, bus, rail or car—and allow for the venue’s usual door-opening window rather than assuming every show follows the same schedule.
If you need step-free access, the venue has a route from the pavement and car park to the front entrance. Its access information also covers wheelchair spaces, accessible toilets and a Changing Places facility near Doors 3 and 4. The facility has a hoist, and you need to bring your own sling.
Contact the venue in advance about access requirements; complimentary Personal Assistant tickets may be available through the BH Live Access Scheme, subject to availability. Guide and assistance dogs are welcome, with advance notice requested so staff can advise on suitable locations.
FAQs
Can you buy BIC tickets at the door?
The venue says tickets must be purchased in advance as e-tickets or mobile tickets. It accepts tickets bought through the venue, affiliated websites and authorised external ticket agents.
Does the BIC have accessible parking?
Yes. The multi-storey car park has 35 accessible spaces on levels 1, 2 and 3, with ramp access to the foyer from all levels.
Can you take a bag into the BIC?
The venue asks visitors not to bring large bags, and visitors are subject to a search before entry. A card-payment cloakroom is available at Reception on event days.
Is there a bus stop close to the BIC?
Bournemouth Pier is the closest stop, about a 2-minute walk from the venue. Morebus routes serve several stops in the surrounding area; check the operator for current routes and times.