PLANS for a new state-of-the-art family friendly attraction on the site of Bournemouth's controversial former Imax cinema have been unveiled.

The designs for the arrival of the 'Smugglers' Cove' Adventure Golf facility at the Waterfront area, adjacent to Pier Approach, show details of the council-funded project.

It is hoped the new attraction, which will bring one of the UK's fastest growing family activity choices to the Bournemouth coastline, will open to the public in summer 2019.

The site was home to the contentious Imax building until it was demolished in 2013. Since then it has been utilised as a space for events throughout the year, most recently hosting a fun fair.

In April, former Bournemouth mayor Rod Cooper led calls for a tropical butterfly house on the land, however he said the council had refused to lease the site for the project.

Now two months on the local authority has revealed details of its vision for the site.

The 18-hole course will follow a smuggler theme revealing snippets of Bournemouth’s swashbuckling history along the way.

While negotiating a range of obstacles, players will be able to uncover aspects of local heritage and Bournemouth’s secret past as a smuggling haunt in the mid-eighteenth to early nineteenth century.

Planned landscaping at Smugglers’ Cove includes extensive natural planting and a material palette to compliment the recently regenerated Pier Approach.

The course will also include a fully functioning waterfall, which will cascade in the centre of the attraction.

Recycled groyne timbers removed from the beach in recent years will feature within the course to give an authentic and natural feel; similar to the Alum Chine Play Park.

Bournemouth Borough Council is hoping the fun activity will provide interaction and education for all ages.

Proposals for combined tickets could see families pitting themselves against each other in a multi-location challenge as they tackle both the popular Lower Gardens mini golf and the new Smugglers’ Cove course.

Councillor Pat Oakley, cabinet member for tourism, leisure and the arts, said: “Currently, the Waterfront space functions as an event area with mixed success.

"This project aims to deliver a high-quality family attraction for Bournemouth’s visitors and our residents.

"With the inclusion of Bournemouth’s Smuggling History, we are able to combine one of the more colourful aspects of our local heritage with a real top quality family fun attraction.

"I am delighted to offer this addition to Bournemouth’s list of attractions.”