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The IMAX building alongside the SZ0890 : Bournemouth: Pier Approach is probably the most deeply unpopular building in the history of the town, by some margin. The site was formerly occupied by public baths; these were demolished in the early 1980s and for years it formed a gravel extension to the car park behind. In the 1990s this edifice was erected and the IMAX cinema finally opened in 2002, after much delay. But it was widely criticised as being too big for the site, as it blocked the sea views from the descent of Bath Road. Problems didn’t end there: the building’s anchor – the cinema itself – has been closed for over a year for renovation, and there is no foreseeable reopening.

Nevertheless, the balcony of the pub/restaurant on the top floor offers those fine views over the sea that are no longer visible from Bath Road!

See also SZ0890 : Bournemouth: the Waterfront building].

A précis of the building's history appeared on the website of the local paper, the Daily Echo, in January 2010 when plans for the building's demolition became a realistic prospect when the Council bought the building: Link