Press release —
MP cuts the ribbon to celebrate re-opening of Bournemouth Post Office in the town centre restoring service
Jessica Toale MP for Bournemouth West has “cut the ribbon” to mark the official opening of Bournemouth Post Office, which has restored a branch to the town centre at 24 Post Office Road, Bournemouth, BH1 1BA.
The new Bournemouth Postmaster is Liam Searle, who is very experienced postmaster, and was born and raised in Bournemouth.
Liam’s company is South Coast Retail, a well-established company with retails of cards, gifts and stationery alongside Post Offices.
At Bournemouth Post Office there are two Post Office counters alongside the well-stocked retail. The full range of Post Office services as before are available.
The new opening hours for Bournemouth Post Office are Monday to Saturday: 10am – 6pm. This provides 48 hours of service per week for the convenience of customers.
Jessica Toale MP said: “It’s great news to have Bournemouth Post Office back in the heart of the town centre again where people can do their banking, send and collect parcels, pay bills and such a wide range of other services.
“It’s wonderful to have Bournemouth-bred Liam Searle as postmaster for this branch as he knows the town and genuinely cares about the community. The new store looks great. Liam took over Westbourne Post Office last year and is doing a really good job there too.”
As part of a day of celebration Liam invited the breakfast crew from Hot Radio to broadcast from his new branch.
Liam is the third generation of his family connected to Post Office branches. Both his grandmother and his dad worked at directly managed branches as counter clerks.
In fact, his father worked at Bournemouth Post Office, when it was directly managed by Post Office. That location is opposite where Liam’s new shop is now based. The re-opening of Bournemouth Post Office has restored a branch in the main shopping area after the WHSmith store, where the branch had been based, closed in January 2025.
Bournemouth Postmaster, Liam Searle, said: “As I’m from Bournemouth, I knew how much a Post Office was needed in the town centre. I’m thrilled to have been able to open a branch and store under our First Class Cards brand in the town centre. This will benefit residents, businesses and tourists alike. I’m really pleased with how it’s going at my Westbourne Post Office too.”
Liam has been a postmaster since 2019 and he has steadily grown the number of branches that he had to include Dorchester, Sherborne, Swanage, Weymouth, and an outreach service serving three communities in the Swanage area, plus a banking hub. Then last autumn he took on newly franchised branches at Westbourne in Bournemouth, Romsey in Hampshire and six more in Devon in Cornwall. With the new opening of Bournemouth Post Office Liam now has 13 post offices and one banking hub.
Giles Hewson, Post Office Retail Change Lead, said: “We are delighted to have restored service to Bournemouth town centre and with first class postmaster Liam Searle. The store is a great addition Bournemouth’s shops and it is well stocked.”
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About the Post Office
- With over 11,500 branches, Post Office has the biggest retail network in the UK, with more branches than all the banks and building societies combined.
- Post Office is helping anyone who wants cash to get it whichever way is most convenient. Partnership with over 30 banks, building societies and credit unions means that 99% of UK bank customers can access their accounts at their Post Office.
- Cash withdrawals, deposits and balance enquiries can be made securely and conveniently over the counter at any Post Office; and the biggest investment by any organisation or company in the last decade is being made to safeguard 1,400 free-to-use ATMs across the UK.
- Post Office is simplifying its proposition for Postmasters with a focus on its cash and banking; mails and parcels; foreign exchange; and; bill payments services.
- Research has found that visits to the Post Office help drive another 400 million visitors to other shops, restaurants and local businesses equating to an estimated £1.1 billion in additional revenue for High Street businesses.
- 99.7% of the population live within three miles of a Post Office; and 4,000 branches are open seven days a week.
