A VICTORIAN-inspired line-up of circus entertainers will be dropping in to entertain guests at this year’s Bournemouth Tourism Awards.

Fire jugglers, aerial hoop performers and silk artists, as well as Victorian strongmen will be at the O2 Academy in Boscombe on Thursday November 22.

Now in its seventh year, the Awards celebrate the wealth of achievements within the hotel, restaurant and service sectors of the tourism industry.

New this year is the Daily Echo People’s Choice Award, where readers decide on which of the short-listed five local tourism businesses becomes the final winner. Voting (see below) closes at midnight on Sunday.

The O2 Academy was originally used as a circus, hence the theme for this year’s Tourism Awards, it then became The Boscombe Grand Theatre in 1899 and then in 1902 it became a music hall, known as The Boscombe Hippodrome.

But for one night only, it will return to its circus roots with acrobatic performances, contortionists, body balancers and much more. They will continue into the early hours with an after show party with live band, sponsored by the 02 Academy and S&D Leisure.

Sponsors for the evening include Beach Life Wines, Simply Flowers, Bournemouth Echo, Wave 105, Poole Audi, Barker Group, Coles Miller, Dorset Chamber and Global Group.

James Eels, chairman of the Bournemouth Tourism Management Board which hosts the event, said: “Tourism is the very backbone of Bournemouth’s economy and these awards celebrate the vital part each sector makes to the town.

“This event is all about celebrating excellence – in service, product, customer experience and marketing initiatives. And at a time when business is tough, it’s great to be able to congratulate those who excel.”

Tickets for the evening, which will include a gourmet three-course dinner, will be on sale shortly, with special rates available for those who book early.

Visit the Tourism Awards Facebook page and bournemouth.co.uk for info.

  • Voting for the People’s Choice Award closes at midnight on September 30.

The shortlisted entries are: the Norfolk Royale Hotel (0271), the Hotel Miramar (0269) Guildhall Tavern (0268) and Poole Sea Safari (0270).

Readers can vote by phone by calling 0901 151 and entering the four-digit unique code which is next to each nomination.

For example, if you were voting for a Daily Echo Cafe and the four-digit code was 1234, then call 0901 151 1234. (Calls cost 51p from BT landlines and calls from mobiles and other networks may cost more)

By text: Start your message with the keyword TOURISM, leave a space and then enter the four-digit code which is next to each nomination, and send it to: 80360. (Texts cost 50p plus your normal operator charge)