What YOU would like to see happen to the Beales building

Beales closed its doors for good in 2020 but the site has remained empty since.

However, as reported earlier this week, plans to transform the building have been exclusively unveiled to the Daily Echo.

Read more: Beales could be transformed and 'revitalise the town' - here's the plan

The scheme, which is still in its early stages, includes a rooftop garden, indoor swimming pool and gym.

Developers say they are putting together a proposition that will “facilitate the revitalisation of the town centre.”

The Bournemouth Echo invited readers to tell us what they would like to see happen with the Beales building.

We received almost 250 comments.

Here’s a selection of the responses. What would you like to see become of Beales?

Let us know below in the comments.

1. John Lewis.

2. Ice rink on the ground floor.

3. Indie cinema and individual shops.

4. An indoor market.

5. A space free to rent for community groups to meet and hold activities.

6. Permanent ice rink please, it's obvious from the popularity of the Christmas one how much it would bring to Bournemouth!

7. Pop ups for local small businesses or maybe a indoor food market. Again supporting local artisan products.

8. A proper dance hall ... Like Blackpool has. Let's all learn to Dance again and have a beautiful ballroom. We need some me fun after this Covid thing.

9. Indoor sports for younge youths to stop them getting to the bad reputation they all are starting. How about indoor trampoline, wall climbing, video games, with all disabilities as there nothink around with exceptional quality and prices for them.

10. Pop up food windows and shopping stalls inside. Make that area a food court, and make it bright and appealing.

11. Ground floor would be easy to rent out to retail …good space. Upper floors should be a combination of quality accommodation and food.

12. To be honest I would love to see a retro gaming shop or something like a shop that everyone can enjoy.

13. Something we definately need to see in Bournemouth Town centre is a skating rink! Locals and visitors need something befitting of a popular seaside town.... Something to do when the weather's bad. Maybe an indoor play centre. The space is huge, but let's use it for the community.

Read more: Goodbye to town's last department store as House of Fraser closes Bournemouth branch

14. People say all sorts of thing including premier inn. Most people who are here for a holiday spend a day in the centre shopping, not possible in Bournemouth because there are very few shops. Make it easier for shops to afford rents, fill up the high street with decent shops, that takes care of the days and all the pubs and clubs take care of the nights.

15. A permanent ice rink or indoor pool with slides and wave machine like there used to be at the BIC.

16. Soft play centre for children and babies would be ideal as none available in town centre.

17. Some sort of natural history museum or science museum. A mega softplay and trampoline park. Indoor dog park with dog pool and agility.

18. Gym, swimming pool, international restaurants, sky bar, high street brand shops, healthy cafes.. djs....music.... Art gallery.... Something cool.. Personally I would create different spaces and every space could be a country.. So for example a simulation of Spain, with Spanish architecture and food music djs... Then another space could be France, Italy, Greece, Cuba, Argentina, Mexico etc... And children could learn a bit of different cultures walking in the building, tasting different food etc .. I would add some art galleries, dancers like for example tango, where people could see a short tango show... Or salsa show....djs..... The experience should be like an immersion of different colours, taste, smells... Like Travelling.

Read more: Goodbye to another store: New Look in Bournemouth Square has closed

19. A museum. It's time Bournemouth had a proper museum telling the story of this comparatively new but very interesting town.

20. Make it an indoor fresh fruit market and butchers etc.

21. Ice rink or bingo.

22. Make the top floor into nhs as it will take pressure of the hospital like the have done in Poole centre.

23. Make the whole area of old Christchuch road into a West Quay shopping with shops and food outlets John Lewis, M&S stores, Victoria Secrets etc etc and bring back jobs for locals.

24. We desperatly need an indoor antiques and collectables market.

25. One floor Wilkos. One floor indoor market, maybe a pet shop, dog groomers, indoor children play space and a lot more independent retailers could find some floor space.

26. Homes..let's stop building on green belt when there's an answer to the housing problem under our noses...ditto for unused office space.

27. Some nice restaurants with terraces. This is the way forward.

28. A department store, or maybe a New Look shop would be good.

29. Bring the likes of Camden Market to replace.

30. Interactive science centre/museum.

31. Indoor skate park.

32. Massive night club and restaurants.

33. Art studios, exhibition spaces, and spaces for workshops and other activities (for all ages). For reasonable price (to rent ).