Corporate
About us
Welcome to the Dolphin Centre, located in the heart of the bustling town of Poole. Home to a fantastic selection of leading high street brands, as well as independent and specialist retailers, shoppers have access to over 110 stores which offer the very best in fashion, lifestyle, gifts and homewares.
In addition to this, a range of food and drink options are available in the Dolphin Centre which boasts 1,400 car parking spaces. The shopping centre is located just a stones throw away from the town’s railway line and benefits from good transport links which allows shoppers near and far to enjoy this popular retail destination.
History
The original Dolphin Centre opened in 1969, following five years of planning and development to enhance the scenic coastal town of Poole. Originally created as an American-style Arndale shopping centre, the opening of what is known today as the Dolphin Centre, represented an exciting time of change for Poole.
As the centre became increasingly popular, a second stage of development was undertaken in 1980, extending the site to incorporate major tenants such as Marks & Spencer, Beales Department Store, Boots, C & A, and more than 100 others. The centre continued to evolve, and 1989 saw the emergence of the Dolphin Shopping Centre and the end of the old Arndale Centre, as an £8 million refurbishment programme was launched and catapulted the shopping centre into the 21st Century.
As the centre became increasingly popular, 2004 saw the Dolphin Centre undergo a multi-million pound refurbishment programme completed as further investment continued to attract shoppers. New entrances were put in place, access for disabled shoppers was improved, and the interior was given a facelift in order to create a fresh, bright shopping environment.
In 2010, The Dolphin Centre was purchased by Dutch property management company, Wereldhave. With long-term plans in place, Wereldhave revealed how it would further build on the success of the Dolphin Centre and how its strategy was designed to help rejuvenate and revitalise this much-loved centre.
