BOURNEMOUTH town centre shops, restaurants and cafes lie empty after a challenging year battling the coronavirus pandemic. 

The retail and hospitality industries were finally allowed to reopen earlier this month, but some stores remained closed for good.

Not only is the pandemic costing the health of people across the world, its far-reaching shadow is also taking its toll on a range of sectors including retail. 

READ MORE: Bournemouth's independent shops busy after lockdown

READ MORE: Bournemouth's most popular post-lockdown shop revealed

Bournemouth Echo:

Gift and souvenir shop One Customize is closed.

As a result of the numerous lockdowns, many businesses have had to rely on government grants and schemes to survive.

We counted 35 empty shops and units across the town centre of Bournemouth from The Triangle to Richmond Gardens.

These were units that are no longer trading and are either on the market or closed down with no news to report on.

Shops no longer on our high street include the once bustling Animal, One Customize  and Topshop.

Happy Buddha in Richmond Gardens shopping mall has also closed down and is being replaced with a new store called TINA. 

Bournemouth Echo:

Topshop and Topman are closed after being bought by Asos.

The hospitality sector and night time industries have been some of the worst-hit as the financial implications of the pandemic really start to kick in.

With months spent in and out of lockdown with a number of restrictions placed on the hospitality industry, it's no surprise that some venues have sadly had to close their doors for good. 

The iconic Valentino restaurant on Exeter Road is boarded up and covered in graffiti, one of the signs has also been removed and members of the public are using the previous seating area as a space to park their vehicles. 

Bournemouth Echo:

Valentino on Exeter Road is closed.

READ MORE: Seven Bournemouth town centre units under offer

However, it is not all doom and gloom for the future of our high street as we revealed earlier this week that seven stores are currently in the process of being let.

Goadsby Commercial revealed that there is a growing demand for commercial space in Bournemouth.

The former Samsung Unit at The Avenue Centre recently changed hands and is now Saltrock Surfwear Ltd.

Saltrock completed their fit out in ten days and are already trading from the premises.

Do you know of any shops, cafes, bars or pubs that deserve a shout-out? Let us know in the comments.