Visit Bognor Regis 2022

VISIT
2022 SUMMER EDITION FREE

WELCOME TO
BOGNOR
REGIS
Welcome to the sunniest place
in Britain! With over 1900 hours
of sunshine recorded every
year, salty-fresh air and an
award-winning beach, you’ve
made a great choice!
This is the home of coastal panoramas,
where a natural backdrop and unspoilt
charm inspire blue-sky thinking.
Pause, relax and unwind, enjoy the
natural surroundings.... or splash, swim,
walk, run, play, visit, eat, see and do –
we’ve got it all.
Bognor Regis is a characterful, compact
town and our prime position offers easy
access to the South Downs National Park
or along the coast in either direction.
Heather Allen
3
Aerial photo used on page 4 with
permission from Bognor Regis Town Council.

WORKING UP
AN APPETITE
The simple pleasures of sun, sand and shopping and are all
rolled up in one fun package in Bognor Regis – but it’s also
where staycationers and visitors find a quirky edge which sets
the town apart from its neighbours.
Atrip to the seaside
isn’t complete
without a steaming
portion of fish and chips,
eaten out of the paper while
watching the sun go down
over the sea. But there
are plenty of other dining
options both eat-in and
take-away when the sea air
has given you an appetite.
Around the town, as well
as traditional English and
quality gastro pubs, dishes
from the world, provided
by talented chefs and with
efficient service are available
to tickle your taste buds.
Perhaps the record-achieving sunshine puts an extra smile on the faces
of townspeople as they go about their lives but there’s no denying
the warm welcome offered by the many independent and boutique
businesses which have found their niche alongside national chain stores
with a wide selection of goods. And, whatever the weather, there’s
always great entertainment for all ages.
LIFE’S A
BEACH
ENJOY
A BIG
DAY OUT
From the garden-backed
area of Aldwick to rocky
outcrops of Elmer’s shore
by way of the razzmatazz of
Bognor Pier and Butlins, the
seafront is the space and place
for a range of enjoyable activities.
The four-miles of promenade with
© Peter Flude Photo
fabulous views to the horizon
give a safe path for walkers,
runners, skaters and water sports
enthusiasts.
When your legs get tired or if
you just fancy a ride, the seafront
train is a great way to enjoy the
view and sea breezes without the
effort.
Hotham Park, central
Bognor’s green oasis,
is often a venue for
popular summer days out as well
as a hotspot for families to enjoy
events. There’s sky-high appeal for
young and old too at the annual
Kite Festival which is held at King
George V playing field.
At the Regis Centre, it’s curtain
up all year round from pantomime
to top-class tribute acts, musical
shows, children’s entertainment
and much more. Every September
the venue is at the heart of South
Downs Music Festival, a threeday
feast of music and dance.
Live music gigs across genres
also draw fans to pubs and clubs,
showcasing a wealth of talent
across the area.
4 5

GRAND
OLD LADY
TOP FILM
IN TOWN
At 157 years old, the Pier is the town’s grand old lady but the
Victorian structure wears her years lightly with visitors still
enjoying a free stroll to enjoy the sea air and views. It’s also a
top destination for young at heart people who dance the night away
on one of its three dance floors. Sheiks nightclub has five bars and a
roof terrace, which is open throughout the day for food and drink, and
there’s an amusement arcade.
LOTS TO DO
AT HOTHAM
The Picturedrome is
Bognor Regis’s own
friendly independent
cinema. Housed in a historic
former Assembly Room, the four
screens show a range of films,
from the latest blockbusters to
family favourites, classics and
live relays from London and
other theatres.
Top favourites this summer:
The Marvels
The Meg part 2
The Equalizer 3
To book your tickets visit:
www.picturedromebognor.com
The 20 acres of Hotham Park offer family fun with a miniature
railway, boating lake, adventure golf and children’s play area
plus a cafe for much-needed refreshment at this centrallylocated
green space. Opposite the Pier at the edge of Waterloo Square,
more entertainment for all the family can be enjoyed at the 18-hole mini
crazy golf course, which is open until 8pm on warm summer evenings.
www.hotham park.co.uk
Located in West Street,
Bognor Regis Museum has
a fascinating collection of
information and artefacts from
the earliest days of the town’s
LUCKY
BINGO
If you’re feeling lucky, Crown
Bingo in the town centre
has afternoon and evening
6 7
TOWN’S
HISTORY
development under Sir Richard
Hotham through to the present
century. An unusual feature is
its collection of early radios
and electrical equipment. The
volunteer-run museum is open on
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays
and Saturdays in the summer.
www.bognormuseum.org
sessions seven days a week. Food
and drink are available in the
spacious, comfortable hall and
cash prizes are on offer.
crown-bingo.co.uk

Call us today on 01243 828130
Opening hours: Mon - Sun: 8am - 8pm
Evening menu from 5pm with alcohol
Hotham Park Cafe, in Hotham Park, Bognor Regis, PO21 1HW
Follow us on Facebook
The Lobster Pot
All-day eatery serving daytime light bites and unfussy
dinner dishes with local seafood options.
Felpham Sea Front, Canning Road, Bognor Regis PO22 7AF
Tel: 01243 862751 Follow us on Facebook
THE
LONDON ROAD
COFFEE SHOP
www.thelondonroadcoffeeshop.co.uk
8 London Road Bognor Regis PO21 1PY
NON-STOP
FAMILY FUN
Nowhere else
does fun and
entertainment
quite like Butlin’s
and day visitors
can expect ten
hours of nonstop
activity for
the whole family
to enjoy.
The top attraction is the
huge enclosed Splash
Waterworld with its
tropical vibe, flumes, rapids and
slides as well as a tots area.
Another of the most popular
features are the fairgrounds
with traditional rides for thrillseeking
adults and older children
or Little Stars, offering gentle
roundabouts. Vintage stall games
are also on hand and all rides are
unlimited.
Five restaurants and two bars
will give you a choice to refresh
and refuel. For snacks on the go,
the site has a Costa coffee and
plenty of seaside ice cream.
Live shows are a big part of a
Butlin’s experience and day
visitors can enjoy a variety of
family performances in the
Skyline Pavilion with the resident
gang of colourful characters.
Ideal for the youngest family
members is an indoor soft play
area, the perfect place for them
to find adventure and burn
off energy. They might have
the chance to have a cuddle
and pose with their favourite
characters.
The enchanting Puppet Castle
has a traditional string puppet
show that’s sure to have little
ones mesmerised.
Outdoor play areas, arcade
games and, for an extra charge,
go-karts and adventure golf are
also available for anyone who
still has energy before the site
closes for the day at 8pm.
8 9

ALEXANDRA
ENTERTAINS
The Regis Centre and Alexandra Theatre is a vibrant venue
on the south coast in the heart of Bognor Regis. With a
353-seater auditorium, cafe, bar and studio spaces - this
warm and friendly venue hosts a range of live entertainment. Enjoy
a range of professional and community entertainment ranging from
comedy, dance, musicals, drama, music and family events. Discover
what’s on at alexandratheatre.co.uk or pop in and find out more.
Visit the Rose Green Centre of Art & Craft in the Village of Rose Green
Aldwick, Bognor Regis - it is a gallery/shop for local and regional talented artists
& craftspeople to display and sell their original works.
Among the many traditional crafts and original paintings to be found are:
Pottery - Fused Glassware - Jewellery - Wood - Ceramics - Paintings, including
many local views - Textiles- Baby Knits - hand made Cards & Tide Clocks and
many more unique crafts. You are welcome to come and browse for that special
gift or to enjoy a cafetiere of freshly brewed coffee.
We regularly hold six week Courses & One-day Workshops in our studio these
include: Painting in all media - Textiles - Fused Glass - Sculpture
During school holidays Children’s Craft Workshops are always held.
Opening times: 9.30 to 5.00 Mon to Fri. Sat 9.30 to 4.00. Closed Wed at 1pm &
closed Bank Holidays.
22 - 24 Rose Green Road, Aldwick, Bognor Regis, West Sussex. PO21 3ET
01243 262059
10 11

EVENTS
SOUTH DOWNS
MUSIC FESTIVAL
SEPTEMBER
22-25
South Downs Music Festival
started in 2013 and has steadily
grown to be a firm annual
favourite with all age groups,
as well as expanding from its
roots and traditional music and
dance. This year’s four-day
festival running from September
22-25 will be headlined by folkrock
legends Lindisfarne. They
will be playing in the Alexandra
Theatre, as will the other bigname
singers and musicians.
The festival, which is now the
biggest music event in the
town’s calendar, will be spread
around other venues and on
streets that will be buzzing with
music.
TASTE! STREET
FOOD WEEKEND
AUGUST 20 & 21
This year sees the first ‘Taste!
Bognor Regis’ Street Food
weekend, taking place at the
Place St Maur on 20th & 21st
August. Set against the stunning
backdrop of the sunshine coast,
with live music, DJ sets and
deliciously quirky street food
from around the world, this is
going to be a fantastic weekend
for all of your senses!
BOGNOR REGIS
KITE FESTIVAL
AUGUST 27-29
Flying high for a welcome
return after two years’ absence,
Bognor Regis Kite Festival will
be bringing colourful fun in the
air and on the ground to King
George V Playing Field. Over
August Bank Holiday weekend
27-29, the popular open space
at Felpham, close to Middleton
Road junction, will be filled with
giant inflatables, a fairground,
live music, craft stalls, kitemaking
workshops and
children’s entertainment as well
as a bar and street food. The
festival will be open until 9pm
on the Saturday as a dazzling
LED kite display swoops above
the crowds.
ALEXANDRA
THEATRE
A top-class show is an ideal
way to round off a day by
the seaside and the friendly
Alexandra Theatre has musical
entertainment from the
popular tunes of Rodgers and
Hammerstein through the best
of 1960s pop with New Amen
Corner and the Roy Orbison
Story, to ‘A Night at the Opera’.
All these great nights are in
August then, on September 3,
controversial comedian Jim
Davidson will be in town.
PROMS IN
THE PARK
Alternatively, take a picnic and
a Union flag to Hotham Park
on September 3 to enjoy a free
evening of Proms in the Park,
organised by Bognor Regis
Town Council.
SUMMER ON THE
PLACE AUGUST
Place St Maur will be echoing to
the sound of children’s laughter
when Summer on the Place returns
to keep youngsters occupied during
August. There’s no need to book
for the free activities which are
scheduled to include Punch and
Judy and Froggle parties. In case of
unpredictable weather this summer,
the Studio in the neighbouring
Regis Centre, which is organising
the event, will be the all weather
venue.
TOP FILM
IN TOWN
The Picturedrome is Bognor
Regis’s own friendly independent
cinema. Housed in a historic
former Assembly Room, the four
screens show a range of films,
from the latest blockbusters to
family favourites, classics and live
relays from London and other
theatres. See its website
www.picturedromebognor.com
for all programmes.
12 13
NIGHTLIFE
SUMMER
Fun in the town doesn’t stop
when the sun goes down.
As well as the popular Sheiks
music and nightclub on the
Pier, a number of pubs offer
live entertainment, DJs
and karaoke.
Known as The Hoff, The
Hothampton Arms, in London
Road, has free music on
Saturdays, Sundays and some
Fridays. Regular DJs and
occasional bands are at Tao,
in High Street while the oldest
pub, The William Hardwicke
also has DJs on Fridays and
Saturdays. In The Steyne,
The Star and Garter (QE2) has
live music while The Waverley,
overlooking the sea at Aldwick,
has a variety of entertainment.
Keep up with all the latest
events around Bognor Regis
by checking the website
www.lovebognorregis.co.uk
and in West Sussex
www.placestovisitsussex.co.uk

TASTE!
STREET FOOD
WEEKEND
20 & 21 AUGUST
11am-9pm
Place St Maur, PO21 1BJ
Get your sunshine funk on! Enjoy sun, sea and
spectacular street food at ‘TASTE! Bognor Regis’
this summer, featuring inspired global cuisine
delivered by cutting edge vendors!
QUIRKY & IMAGINATIVE
STREET FOOD
DJ SETS & LIVE MUSIC
FREE ENTRY
www.lovebognorregis.co.uk/taste
EAT YOUR WAY
AROUND
THE WORLD
Feasting by the
seaside conjures
up images of
fish and chips
eaten out of paper
and ice cream
cones melting in
the sun………
but eating out in
Bognor Regis offers
so much more!
You don’t need to go
abroad to enjoy food
and drink from other
nations with a wide range of
restaurants, cafes, takeaways,
pubs and bars to suit all tastes.
A number of establishments
are near enough to the sea for
customers to enjoy brilliant
marine views while enjoying
dazzling dishes to satisfy.
With the town being in the
centre of an important area
for agriculture, sourcing local
produce is valued by many chefs
and restaurant owners who
can choose quality fish, meat,
vegetables and fruit which have
travelled only a short distance
from sea or field to plate.
There are a huge number of
quality eateries sited in streets
between the seafront and railway
station, featuring global cuisines
including Indian, Chinese, Polish,
Balkan, American, Turkish and
Thai. Most of the town’s eateries
offer dine in and takeaway
options, or can deliver to your
holiday accommodation.
If you’re looking for more
casual snacks, brunch or coffee
and cake, you’ll be spoilt for
choice and the same goes for
drinkers with pubs offering
music and other entertainment
as well as food. If it’s ice cream
you’re craving, you won’t be
disappointed, whether it’s an
old school Mr Whippy or awardwinning
handmade gelato,
Bognor Regis has all the flavours!
15

THE
GREAT
OUTDOORS
From gardens to
tennis, bowls, cycling
and sailing, outdoor
spaces offer great
leisure options.
GARDENS
Tranquil green spaces with
beautiful flower beds, neat
shrubs and smooth paths are
a feature throughout Bognor Regis. Easy
to find, just off High Street, Hotham
Park has added attractions, including a
miniature train and boating lake as well
as a playground and cafe. By the sea
towards Aldwick, Marine Park Gardens’
relaxing combination of colourful flowers,
an attractive fountain, putting green and
plenty of seats invites strollers to enjoy the
view.
Hothampton Sunken Gardens with its
children’s playground and Waterloo Square
with bowling greens and garden borders
link the town with the seafront. From
here, walkers can choose how far they
want to go along the flat, clean 2.7 mile
Promenade which extends from Aldwick
to Felpham. Dogs must be on leads within
some busy areas in the summer where
they are also not allowed on the beach.
However, they can have freedom in
West Park or Bersted Brooks.
SPORTING LIFE
With surfaced cycle
paths eastwards
to Littlehampton
and northwards to Chichester,
it’s easy to travel on two wheels.
But if you’re looking for a bit
more excitement, there are BMX
and skateboard ramps in the
Rock Gardens and Avisford Park.
Tennis, bowls, golf and putting
are popular sports in the town
with a number of good facilities
open to visitors, including at
Swansea Gardens close to
Aldwick.
16 17
© Peter Flude Photo
On and in the water, fishing
can be enjoyed from the beach
while Bognor Rocks, west of
the Pier, is known to the diving
community for the variety of
fish and crustaceans to be seen
a few metres below the surface.
Friendly sailing clubs at Aldwick
and Felpham welcome visitors
and bird watchers can delight in
seeing a wide range of marine
birds from Pagham Harbour
nature reserve. For DIY gym
enthusiasts, Flex on the Beach
offers convenient exercise stands
at intervals along the Promenade.

REACH
THE HEIGHTS
With one of the
largest climbing
walls in south-east
England, you can hit the sporting
heights at The Arena Sports
Centre.
Competent climbers and beginners
are welcome to test themselves
on overhangs, the 9-metre high
traversing wall or bouldering.
For exercise on solid ground, the
spacious dance hall hosts fitness
classes while upstairs a state of
the art gym has equipment and
machines to suit all abilities and
fitness levels.
Summer Promo!
Peppa Pig parties
Have a party in the next 50 days for £50
saving £25 (Offer ends 19th August 2022)
Summer Tennis Membership
£20 for adults, £10 for kids (under 16)
1st July-31st August
Kids Activity Pass
25th July-31st August £10 a week or £50
for the whole summer. Over 8’s, up to
16. Unlimited use of badminton,
football, basketball, tennis, table tennis,
netball. 1 hour bookable slots subject to
availability. Staff not running sessions,
children hiring facilities only.
Tel: 01243 870000 www.arenasportscentre.com
Westloats Lane, Bognor Regis, West Sussex PO21 5JD
WE DO LIKE
TO BE BESIDE
THE SEA
With its enviable sunshine record, it’s
not surprising the beaches along the
shore are popular. East of the Pier
towards Butlins is the busiest with
lifeguards in the summer, shower
stands and drinking water.
There’s always plenty of
safe sand to keep the
kids digging for hours
at Beach on the Beach plus a play
area and seafront train.
West from the Pier, beaches are
quieter and have the advantage
of off-road parking right next to
the beach and a popular cafe.
This area is also where you’ll
find Marine Park Gardens with
its 18-hole putting green, plenty
of seats and a fountain set amid
colourful flower beds.
Further from the centre of
Bognor Regis, at Felpham,
attractions include two cafes,
tennis courts and a putting
green. Pagham offers a
large shingle beach without
breakwaters, a cafe, shop selling
beach accessories and a retro
amusement arcade.
From May 1 to September 30,
dogs are not allowed on the
central Bognor beaches either
side of the Pier or at Felpham.
The beaches and sea have
other opportunities for leisure:
it’s possible to find fossils
near Aldwick at low tide on
the foreshore and fish can be
caught from the beach.
18 19

PAST
PRESENT
GREAT
GOODWOOD
Bognor Regis is not only a
great visitor destination in
its own right but it’s also
a fabulous base for trips to many
other attractive and fascinating
places in the surrounding area. If
history, tea shops, tranquil riverside
views, antiques and art galleries are
CULTURAL
CHICHESTER
County town of
West Sussex,
Chichester has
a special atmosphere with
its ancient Cathedral and
central Market Cross linking
shopping streets which offer
a variety of national and
independent shops as well as
many cafes and restaurants.
The renowned Chichester
Festival Theatre and Pallant
House Gallery attract culture
lovers while it’s possible to
get close to nature and enjoy
a trip on the canal from close
to the city centre. For historylovers,
the nearby Fishbourne
Roman Palace is a real step
back in time.
among your interests, make a
beeline for Arundel. The massive
walls of its castle have seen
nearly 1,000 years of dramatic
events and from August 19-29,
the town’s flag-decked streets
are thronged with crowds
enjoying the annual festival with
a wide range of events.
Summer is a busy time
for events in West
Sussex, including the
top attractions at Goodwood
Estate: the Glorious horse
racing and other days, which
draw celebrities to the beautiful
course high on the South
Downs, and motoring events,
such as the Revival where
everyone joins in the 1950s
vibe. Throughout the year,
there’s plenty for families to see
and do, starting with the Weald
and Downland Living Museum
at Singleton where children are
always welcome, including at
outdoor theatre performances.
FAMILY
FABULOUS
Amberley Museum
is another popular
outdoor attraction
with its hands-on technology
exhibits, train and bus rides
plus special summer weekend
events. Children can also enjoy
fun and garden games at
Petworth Park. The National
Trust property hosts outdoor
cinema on three nights in
August. Another Trust house,
Uppark, near South Harting, has
a summer holiday trail based on
the estate’s conservation work.
Another mansion, Stansted
Park, close to the Hampshire
border, has a miniature train
and a maze in its grounds,
Which will host an Abba tribute
concert as well as a Proms
Spectacular.
20 21

SHOP ‘TIL YOU
DROP
Shopping in Bognor Regis
is easy and fun. With both
quirky independent shops
and branches of national chain
stores, all the products and
services you want can be found
within a short distance.
The characterful Edwardian arcade,
between the seafront and High
Street, is a delight for browsers
and shoppers looking for unusual
items. An independent book
shop is in converted premises
at the railway station and a
model shop is close by. Street
traders are busy in the modern
pedestrian precinct in London
Road for twice weekly markets
on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
WHAT
TO DO
AND SEE
IN SUSSEX
online
Bognor Rock Shop
The Esplanade, Bognor Regis PO21 1NE
Follow us on Facebook @bognorrockshop
Bognor Regis oldest rock shop
We are selling
Rock ice cream fudge gifts
souvenirs to suit all ages and pockets
placestovisitsussex.co.uk
22 23

24