STRONG winds forecast to hit Bournemouth on Friday night forced Arts by the Sea Festival organisers to relocate its opening night.

Originally, the annual art and culture celebration was to have kicked off with an outdoor performance by the House Gospel Choir outside Bournemouth Town Hall.

Due to predicted adverse weather conditions, the Choir will now appear at The Old Fire Station nightclub in Holdenhurst Road.

With a limited capacity of 550, the event will operate on a first come-first served basis and visitors are advised to arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Further outdoor music programming has also been relocated to the Old Fire Station for Friday night. DJ Brandon Block will now be spinning classic dance tunes at the venue under the banner of The Hush Club, as will FRAU DJs member Sara Blow who was originally due to bring her party anthems to the Roller Disco at the pop up skate park in the Square.

Doors for this impromptu concert will open at 6pm and close at 10pm and, like the rest of the Arts by the Sea Festival, it remains free to attend.

Festival organisers at BCP Council and the creative team at From The Fields have been working to deliver the festival’s original opening night programme in a revised format on Saturday, October 1, instead, when the weather is due to improve.

The festival’s annual 3D projection mapping on the Town Hall will still be available for audiences to enjoy on Saturday night along with the performance of Dorset’s largest contemporary choir, Funky Little Choir.

Visitors can catch the displays every 15 minutes on Saturday from 8.30pm until 10pm, with Funky Little Choir appearing from 7.30pm to 8.00pm.