Bournemouth International Centre to host major gaming convention

Entoyment Wargaming & Hobby Centre, located in Poole, has announced major expansions for its ninth annual Beachhead Tabletop Games Expo at Bournemouth International Centre.

Taking place on 8-9 February 2025, the event is expected to bring exhibitors, market vendors, collectors, and attendees to the South Coast’s largest conferencing and exhibition venue for two days of engaging attractions, and roleplay fun.

Brand-new tournaments, painting masterclasses, and top-tier exhibitions form just part of Beachhead’s 2025 line-up to bring more aspiring gamers and experienced players to Bournemouth’s town centre. Long-time Beachhead fan-favourites such as roleplay sessions, playtesting opportunities, and big-name exhibitors will also be available, with more than 100 games on offer to encourage visitors to engage with free play.

Tabletop gaming has seen a surge in popularity thanks to the commercial appeal of pop culture phenomena such as Netflix’s Stranger Things and Games Workshop’s Warhammer. The popular hobby is showing no sign of decline, with recent findings by Cognitive Market Research predicting the UK’s tabletop gaming market, which is part of a broader European trend, is projected to grow with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.7% between 2024-2031*.

Beachhead is just one line-up in Bournemouth International Centre’s busy 2025 exhibitor and cultural event programme. Other festivals and exhibitions to look forward to this year include Bournemouth Brick Festival and Bournemouth Comic Con (Sunday 23 March 2025), and The South Coast Darts Showdown (Saturday 10 May 2025). More events are expected to be announced later this year.

As well as helping to make Bournemouth a vibrant place to live, learn, visit and work, the impact of events such as Beachhead is felt far beyond the venues’ walls. They are vital to the town’s economy, generating millions of pounds in economic benefit and supporting thousands of jobs in other sectors including accommodation providers and retail.

Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) is owned by BCP Council and operated in partnership with registered charity and social enterprise BH Live.

On behalf of BH Live, Steve Turner, Director of Venues shared;

“We are delighted to continue our ongoing partnership with Entoyment to welcome the return of Beachhead to Bournemouth International Centre. Every year, this fantastic event draws a diverse crowd of tabletop gamers and exhibitors alike across the globe to celebrate the latest pop culture gaming releases. We are delighted to welcome everyone back to the venue next month.”

On behalf of Entoyment, Pete Valinski, Owner and Organiser of Beachhead, shared:

“We’re thrilled to return to the BIC for another Beachhead event. It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase such a diverse and accessible hobby and the passions of the tabletop gaming community.”

Tickets for Beachhead are on sale at beachheadexpo.com and start at just £10.00.

For more information about Bournemouth International Centre, visit bic.co.uk/whats-on.

Bournemouth International Centre’s customer services and security team are here to keep visitors safe. Visitors are encouraged to leave plenty of time to arrive and be prepared for security checks, including random bag searches.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

*Cognitive Market Research, Europe Tabletop Gaming Market Report, November 2024

Newspage image courtesy of Beachhead Tabletop Games Expo

Beachhead tickets are available at www.beachheadexpo.com.

Ticket Prices:

  • Saturday/Sunday General Admission
    Adult – £10.00 Advance / £12.00 on the door.
    Child (6–15yrs) – £5.00 Advance / £6 on the door.
  • Weekend General Admission
    Adult – £15.00 Advance / £18.00 on the door.
    Child (6–15yrs) – £7.50 Advance / £9.00 on the door.
  • Limited VIP Upgrade
    Single Day – £10.00

For more information about BH Live please contact:

Daisy Saunders, PR & Communications Executive
E: press.office@bhlive.org.uk

For more information about Beachhead please contact:

Dan Renton, Marketing Manager
E: contact@beachheadexpo.com

About BH Live

Champions of community engagement, health and wellness across Dorset, Hampshire, and London

BH Live, a registered charity and social enterprise, is a leading operator of sports and leisure centres, theatres, and event venues. Our vision is to create sustainable and inspiring opportunities, deliver great experiences for our communities, and improve health and well-being.

With a strong commitment to accessibility and community engagement, BH Live continues to enhance the quality of people’s lives, health and wellbeing in the communities it serves.

BH Live was established in 2010. Local authority partners include BCP Council, Portsmouth City Council and Croydon Council.

We are at the heart of the UK’s growing social economy. Together with our partners we are helping to change lives and make a positive impact in the community.

For more visit bhlive.org.uk.
Get social with us: LinkedIn, X – @BHLIVE_UK | Facebook @SocialEnterpriseBHLive | Instagram @bhliveuk

BH Live is a leisure and cultural trust, established in 2010 as a ‘non profit distributing organisation’ (NPDO) for public benefit to promote participation in leisure and cultural events. BH Live is a Company Limited by Guarantee and Registered Charity. Charity No: 1138311. Company No: 07092112.  VAT Reg No: 108 2248 37. BH Live (Enterprises) Ltd, is a Private Company Limited by Shares and a wholly owned subsidiary of BH Live. Company No: 07175626. VAT Reg No: 108 2248 37. Registered Office: Bournemouth International Centre, Exeter Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5BH. Registered in England and Wales.

About Beachhead

Every year, Beachhead sees thousands of gamers and pop culture fans head to Bournemouth International Centre for a celebration of tabletop gaming and all things adjacent. Whether a casual gamer or a seasoned tabletop general, visitors can expect a mix of top tier wargames, card games, board games, roleplay sessions, miniatures games, participation games, tournaments, traders, cosplay, collectables, seminars and more.

​Beachhead Tabletop Games Expo was started in 2014 by Pete Valinksi and his team at Entoyment Wargaming & Hobby Centre in Poole, Dorset UK. What started as predominantly a wargaming show, it has steadily expanded to include a wide range of tabletop games and collectables.

About Bournemouth International Centre

Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) is operated by the registered charity BH Live in partnership with BCP Council.

With flexible spaces and licensed capacity for 10,000 delegates, it is the south coast’s largest and most versatile event venue. The venue attracts major players in the public and private sector, bringing millions of pounds into the local economy through employment and business tourism.

A multimillion-pound partnership project to upgrade facilities and event spaces at the venue was completed in November 2024. The venue’s digital and AV technology provision was significantly upgraded, with new digital screens, projectors and improvements to wireless connectivity and lighting installed.

The venue’s meetings hub, business lounge and breakout areas were fully refurbished (313m2). Comprising modern, stylish, dedicated flexible spaces for workshops, media hubs, and ancillary areas, the improved space provides a blank canvas for conference and exhibition organisers to brand and theme. Enhanced WiFi provides better connectivity across the hub while renewed energy-efficient air conditioning, heating, and ventilation systems supply optimum comfort.

Two of the venue’s event spaces, which overlook Dorset’s Jurassic coastline were completely remodelled. A new living roof installation on the venue’s Purbeck Hall entrance is in situ. The foyer was modernised with brand-new glazing, improved outdoor signage, and new bathroom facilities.

The Purbeck Lounge, which sits adjacent to the main Purbeck Hall, was transformed too with new sea-facing windows and doors. Its bar area has been refurbished and repurposed to give it a more modern look and feel. Increased capacity for 280 people (theatre style) and improved ambience capitalize on the venue’s premium location and stunning coastal views, offering a flexible space popular for dinners, celebrations, networking opportunities, and conferences and exhibitions.

Additionally, BIC’s in-house dining space, Elevate Brasserie & Bar, was remodelled into a premium hospitality area with outdoor decking, offering stunning views across Bournemouth seafront. Designed by local architects and elegantly styled with natural and sustainable materials, its casual dining menu boasts delicious food such as sharing platters, small plates, pizzas, and snacks. Outdoor landscaping works have improved the venue’s façade to enhance the visitor experience for delegates and visitors.

For more information about Bournemouth International Centre, visit bic.co.uk. Planning an event or conference? Visit bic.co.uk/conference.

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