AFC Bournemouth table plans for new food and drink facility

AFC Bournemouth have submitted the proposed development for land behind the South Stand.

BCP Council planners are being asked to grant the construction of the temporary outlet, which would be made up of shipping container kiosks and a covered marquee area.

The club is seeking permission for a five-year period, in line with the recent approval for the retention of the temporary South Stand.

A planning, design and access statement submitted on behalf of the club by Savills said: “After this time it is envisaged that the South Stand would either be redeveloped into a permanent feature including an appropriate food and beverage outlet, or plans for a comprehensive stadium redevelopment or new stadium would have come to fruition to the extent that the temporary food and beverage outlet is no longer required.”

3D visual of the proposed new facility for fans behind the South Stand at Vitality Stadium (Image: KSS Group/Savills)

As exclusively reported by the Daily Echo, Cherries’ president of business Jim Frevola confirmed the club had been working with the council on the project to provide a new area for fans to get together ahead of home fixtures.

Speaking last month, Mr Frevola said: “It required a lot of legwork and a lot of commitment to do it. It’s an expensive project, it’s not going to be cheap to do it, but it makes sense for us to do it.

“We want a place pre-match for people to go and at half-time, we’re going to open up the doors to the back of the South Stand and people can go back into the marquees and get a pint.

“They’ve never been able to get a pint before in the South Stand. It kind of kills two birds with one stone.

Cherries' president of business Jim Frevola (Image: Richard Crease)

“We’ll have a separate tent that will probably be part-hospitality, that we’ll also put back there. We’re excited about it. It certainly won’t be ready for the friendlies and it might not be ready for the first match or two, but it is coming, the council has been really supportive."

The 1910 Bar in the stadium, where supporters have traditionally met for pre-match pints and food, was converted into a new hospitality area called The Cherry Orchard over the summer.

Savills planning statement added: “AFC Bournemouth requires additional food and beverage facilities at the Vitality Stadium for the 2023/24 Premier League season.

“The South Stand is a temporary facility and as such does not incorporate food and beverage facilities.

“Home spectators are unable to obtain food and beverage services before games start, at half time (in the South Stand) and after the game.

Vitality Stadium. Picture taken with thanks to Bliss Aviation

“A top-flight club of this capacity and status is expected to have better facilities.

“The proposed development would cater for this need; it is proposed to be open circa three hours before kick-off on match days and during half time.”

The planning application is subject to a public consultation before it is fully assessed by council officers.

This week Cherries announced a new pre-game hospitality offering in one of two the marquees called King's Plaza.

It is due to be in operation from the game against Arsenal on Saturday, September 30, with a match ticket in the South Stand and pre-game food and drink package at a cost of £139.