LAST week we published a story on the businesses that have closed their doors across the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area.

However, despite the struggles on the high street, there are new shops, restaurants and businesses that have opened their doors in the last 10 months.

Here we take a look at the new additions that are helping to change our town centres.

Iceland

Bournemouth Echo: The new Iceland store opened in Saxon Square, Christchurch

Hundreds of people queued from as early as 6am when Iceland opened its doors for the very first time in January in Saxon Square, Christchurch. 

The first hundred customers were given envelopes containing as much as £100 off their shopping.

Barnardo's

Bournemouth Echo:

Barnardo’s new charity superstore at Mallard Road Retail Park was the first of its kind to open in the south of England in March.

At 10,000 square feet, the store sells everything from clothing and accessories to furniture and electrical white goods and is the charity’s third superstore in the UK.

Mr Simms sweet shop

Bournemouth Echo:

Confectionary store Mr Simms opened in Bournemouth’s Old Christchurch Road in April.

Co-owners Sam Momand and Sajid Khan have stocked the store with all of the classics including boiled sweets, British fudge and pick’n’mix as well as Japanese, Australian and American confectionery.

Tortilla

Bournemouth Echo:

Mexican chain Tortilla launched its first Dorset branch in May.

Around 400 people queued for a free tortilla to celebrate its opening with a Mexican mariachi trio band playing to the crowd. 

Speaking at the time, Anna Maria, general manager at Tortilla in Bournemouth, said: “This is amazing, it’s so exciting. It’s been a long time coming."

BigWigs

Bournemouth Echo:

BigWigs bakery opened its second store in Westbourne in May, a little more than a year after the Tuckton branch launched.

The store sells a range of products including hot foods. 

The brunch bun is something they have become 'really known for'.

Moka Pot

Bournemouth Echo:

Moka Pot, which already runs a popular café in Westbourne, celebrated the opening of its newest site in the Burlington Arcade in Bournemouth town centre in May.

Moka Pot was created by Flavio and his brother Flavio Pappalardo, two Italians who partnered with UK-born Nathan Muir to bring together flavours of Sicily and England.

COSMO 

Bournemouth Echo:

Buffet restaurant COSMO opened in Bournemouth town centre in June at the site of former eaterie Days.

The family-friendly buffet restaurant, which even has 'robot waiters', serves a range of dishes from a 'host of countries and cultures'.

COSMO caters for 344 covers and created more than 50 full and part time jobs.

M’s Bakery

Bournemouth Echo:

Popular family-run business M’s Bakery opened a second bakery in Christchurch town centre in June. 

The store in Saxon Square serves a delicious array of freshly prepared sandwiches, artisan bread, pastries, and cakes.

M's Bakery has another store in Pokesdown. 

Burger King 

Bournemouth Echo:

Burger King opened in Christchurch Trade Park in June.

The branch gave away 1,000 free Whoppers to mark the occasion.

Boom Battle Bar

Bournemouth Echo:

Dorset's first and only axe-throwing bar is the most recent attraction to open in Bournemouth town centre. 

Boom Battle Bar at BH2 leisure features axe-throwing, augmented darts, shuffleboard and more and a new serving street-style snacks such as chicken wings, loaded nachos and freshly made pizzas.  

It opened on Thursday, October 20 at BH2 next to Brewdog.

Escape Hunt Bournemouth

Bournemouth Echo:

Calling all escape room fans. Bournemouth's newest escape room experience opened its doors on Thursday.

Escape Hunt Bournemouth, located in BH2 leisure complex in the town centre, features four differently themed challenges; Alice in Puzzleland, Aladdin & The Magic Vault, Curse of the Pharaoh and Blackbeard’s Treasure.

Jollyes 

Bournemouth Echo:

Celebrity Dorset couple Harry and Sandra Redknapp were joined by their bulldog Barney for the opening of Jollyes pet store in Poole in August.

The red carpet was rolled out for pets and their owners to mark the grand opening of Jollyes, The Pet People, in Poole’s Wessex Gate East Retail Park.

What's still to come

Bournemouth Echo:

The Ivy is due to open a branch at the former New Look store in the Square.

It is not known when it will open.

According to the application which was approved a few months ago, there will be space for 28 diners in an outside eating area. 

The external tables will be screened partially from public view with planters and real plants.