Bournemouth's Newest Live Music Venue Opens Next Week

Bournemouth's live music scene is getting a major boost with the opening of The Underground, a brand-new 200-capacity venue in Boscombe. Launching on 7 August with Sigue Sigue Sputnik Electronic, the venue aims to attract more touring artists while supporting the local music community.

A brand new chapter in Bournemouth's live music story begins on Friday 7 August 2026 with the opening of The Underground at 558 Christchurch Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth, BH1 4BH.

Created by local live music enthusiasts Hawkeye Houlihan and Hayley Goodrick, The Underground has been designed to bridge the gap between Bournemouth's smaller grassroots venues and larger concert spaces, providing a much-needed mid-sized venue for touring artists.

The venue will complement the town’s existing live music venues, including the O2 Academy Bournemouth, Old Fire Station and Chaplin’s Cellar Bar, with the ambition of encouraging more national and international artists to include Bournemouth on their UK tours.

Opening night will be headlined by legendary punk pop pioneers Sigue Sigue Sputnik Electronic, fronted by founder member Martin Degville, the voice of global hit Love Missile F1-11. With keyboards, FX controller Johann Weidemann he has been releasing new material and reworking SSS favourite since 2009.

“We are attracting acts that would normally skip over Bournemouth because there hasn’t previously been a dedicated venue of this size for them to perform in,” says Hawkeye Houlihan.

While the Sigue Sigue Sputnik Electronic show sets the tone for an eclectic programme of live music, club nights and community events, beyond live gigs, The Underground also aims to become a cultural hub for the local music community by reintroducing regular specialist music nights.

“We’re bringing back the monthly community music nights, including the popular Folk and Jazz clubs that were once a thriving part of Bournemouth’s music scene,” says Hayley Goodrick.

Staying true to its name and ethos, The Underground features a fully analogue vintage PA system and a vinyl-only DJ booth, creating an authentic retro sound and atmosphere inspired by classic independent music venues.
With its distinctive analogue identity and commitment to supporting both established touring artists and local talent, The Underground is set to become an exciting new addition to Bournemouth's Creative Quarter and the wider South Coast music scene.

For more information, upcoming events and tickets, visit https://the-underground.co.uk/