1986: • Swimming baths at Pier Approach demolished.

1995: •Councillors choose from four schemes for the site.

1996: •Council gives outline planning permission for scheme containing Imax, restaurants and bars.

1997: •Planners defer decision on new plans, 17ft taller than the outline application. Council leader Douglas Eyre blasts them for holding up the scheme.

• Planners approve the scheme and full council backs it 35-7.

• Original developer Imry Holdings pulls out, to be replaced by Sheridan.

1998: Building work begins in autumn.

1999: • July – Imax opening date passes.

• September – other attractions in the building open, cinema now expected to open January 2000.

• November – work stops. Councillors claim Sheridan has run out of money.

2000: • February – crisis talks produce a pledge to open the cinema by the summer.

• August – seats are in, but no projector.

2001: • January – Nilgos sacks Sheridan over the delays and looks for another operator. UCI is said to be interested.

• November – Sheridan is brought back in to open the cinema in 2002.

2002: • March 20 – Imax opens, two years and eight months late. Mayor Douglas Eyre says: “Whatever the problems of the past, I hope that people do rally round and make this a great success.”

• November – visitor numbers have “comfortably exceeded” initial predictions.

2003: • January – Imax sheds eight jobs and closes four days a week out of season. The council hears about it from the Echo.

• February – new film T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous, touted as the movie to transform the venue’s fortunes. Bournemouth man launches website dedicated to demolishing the building.

• May – Mary Rose Gilroy flown in from Belfast by Sheridan to turn the venue around. Suggests showing non-Imax films and singalong musicals. Departs seven months later with most of her plans unfulfilled.

2004: • June – having won a licence for live entertainment, managers discover a clause in their contract prohibits it.

2005: • March – building shuts before Easter in preparation for a revamp. It remains closed. Local man Austin Kinsley nominates the building for Channel Four series Demolition. Staff at Jumpin Jaks nightclub launch a petition to keep it.

• June – Daily Echo launches Imax Watch campaign. For 12 days, we chase the boss of Sheridan for news, even going to Belfast to buttonhole him.

• October – with Sheridan evicted from the building, Nilgos suggests one option would be a casino.

• December – Channel Four programme Demolition rates the Waterfront the worst building in England (the programme’s top choice is in Scotland).

2007: • AYL (Waterfront) Ltd announces exchange of contracts with Sheridan, which owns the lease on the Imax and another empty unit. But council says it’s in the dark.

2009: • February sees only one business, the Harbour Lights pub, still open in the building, Red Panda having closed and KFC having shut for the winter. A new business, Coyote Ugly, later opens. As the building’s 10th anniversary year closes, councillors demand to know what’s happening.

2010: • January, council buys the Imax for £6.5m.

February • Protestors call for the Imax to be demolished. The council rules out the public's favourite suggestion of a swimming pool and ice rink as a replacement.

• March - A shortlist of seven options to replace Bournemouth's IMAX is announced. They are: a water park, an interactive arts activity centre and museum, tropical gardens, a spa, performing arts space and amphitheatre, a family play park, boutiques and bistros. Members of the public are invited to have their say on the options by taking part in a survey.

• April - More than 3,500 take part in the public consultation. The tropical gardens option comes out on top.

• May - Leaseholder Sheridan insists re-opening the Imax cinema is still a "possibility" but later tell Bournemouth council they are 'welcome to Imax' if the price is right

• August - Legal action that required Sheridan to pay almost £45,000 or risk forfeiting their lease on the Imax is suspended

• September - Potential Imax developers are told the building must be reduced in height to restore some sea views

• October - A deal over the Imax is finally reached

2011 • January - Keeping Imax building empty could be costing the council tax payer £500,000 a year or more at a time when services are being cut, claim

• February - Plan to partially demolish Imax approved

• 2012 April - Councillors back plans to demolish the Imax and create an outdoor events area in its place, which will be ready for use by summer 2013.

• July - Planning application submitted for outdoor events arena

• August - An artist's impression shows how outdoor events arena could look

• September - The Imax is 'demolished' in a special light show to launch the Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival.

• October - The Bournemouth Echo takes one last look inside in the Imax building before it disappears. View video footage of the foyer and panoramas of the abandoned auditorium

• November and December - Phase 1 of works begin, which includes stripping out of all internal fixtures and fittings, the erection of hoardings and scaffolding and strengthening works to the ground floor slab.

• 2013

• February - Demolition of the exterior begins

Read all our stories about the Imax here