People flock to the beach as heatwave hits Dorset (From Dorset Beaches)

People flock to the beach as heatwave hits Dorset

8:03am Tuesday 30th June 2009

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BOURNEMOUTH beach was heaving on Monday as both locals and visitors took advantage of the first day of this week’s predicted heatwave.

But while some retailers revelled in the scorching weather, others found themselves considerably less busy than anticipated.

Ice cream vendor Domenico Culoma said: “We’ve selling a lot of fruit ice lollies today, more and more as it gets warmer.

“We’re not selling many chocolate ice creams.”

Meanwhile Nick Brierley, from Front Bike Hire, said the heat was having a negative effect on his business.

“We thought originally that people would hire bikes more in this weather, but we’re finding people just want to sit on the beach, because it’s too hot,” he said.

It was also reported that many more people than usual were using the cliffside lifts as they were finding the tiring walk up the zig-zag too much effort in the heat.

Despite the heat, it was still deemed too windy for the Bournemouth Eye, which was out of use.

One attraction doing well was the Oceanarium, where marketing manager Charlotte Brown said the busy beach had had a knock-on effect on the seafront venue.

She added: “Our café has been really busy and we’ve had lots of admissions. As we’re indoor we traditionally do better in wet weather, but we do have air conditioning.”

Bournemouth Tourism was, as expected, delighted with the hot weather, and was putting out extra deckchairs in anticipation of a busy week.

A spokeswoman said: “The seafront is fully prepared for a Bournemouth heatwave.”

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