Jane's Midlife Journey

For the past few years, Summer Live has taken place each summer in Bournemouth Square, offering a fun bar with plenty of insta-worthy selfie props, food, shopping and a daily range of free entertainment for adults and children. Since 2024, Live @ The Square has been contracted in their place.

The venue, branding itself as a hub and entertainment zone, promised a wide range of activities within the bar area and in the entertainment zone, with two stages offering workshops and live performances, plus a bar and a range of huts which form a pop-shopping village.

I have to say I found it somewhat underwhelming and not a patch on previous years.

How to get to Live @ the Square

Live @ The Square takes place in Bournemouth Square in the centre of Bournemouth, between the Lower and Central Gardens. Most Bournemouth buses stop at the row of bus stops at the southern end of the Square. Bournemouth Station is a mile away.

Parking

Parking in Bournemouth can be tedious and expensive. Best to catch the bus, especially as fares are capped at £3. If you do drive, the nearest car park is Avenue Road Car Park. Parking costs £3.20 for 2 hours.

Times

The 2025 season runs from 12th July until 31st August. During this time, it will open daily from 10 am until 11 pm, although the actual entertainment only takes place for a fraction of that time.

Price

Entry to the venue is free. Most of the activities on offer are also free and there is no need to book in advance.

Details

The company’s website reads more like a business pitch than reality, but below are some details of what is on offer.

Food and Drink

The bar serves alcohol and soft drinks. The food option this year is cheese toasties.

Entertainment

The event’s entertainment has been divided into four different themes:

Live @ The Square

Live entertainment, primarily local choirs and singers. No schedule was published this year, but the previous daily live music offering appears to be reduced to just weekends.

Play @ The Square

Games are available to play for free, such as table football and a giant Connect 4 board. There are also Play @ the Table sets, which consist of board games, packs of cards and activity books for children, which can be borrowed to play within the bar area. Other play activities promise included chess instruction and singing princesses.

Dance @ The Square

Dance lessons on offer include weekly Salsa plus Bollywood, Country and Silent discos.

Create @ The Square

The organisers promise a programme which includes paint nights, macrame workshops, print workshops and more.

Market

There is also a range of market stalls located just outside the venue, like this London style Confectionery Bus selling fudge and sweets.

Live @ the Square for Children

There is free children’s entertainment at weekends. This includes kids’ entertainers, Punch & Judy and a bubble show. Initially, this was advertised as taking place weekly from 12 pm until 2 pm and from 3 pm until 5 pm. However, the amount of children’s entertainment has dwindled somewhat this year.

• Updated: September 2025

I hope you found this information useful. For more inspiration on things to do in and around Bournemouth, check out my 101 Things to do in Bournemouth here.

For more inspiration on things to do in and around Bournemouth with young children, check out my 101 Things to do in Bournemouth with Babies and Toddlers here.