Monday 9 September 2013

The Urban Reef, Boscombe beach, Bournemouth

Apologies to my South East followers, it's another from Bournemouth!!

This time, I'd like to mention a fab place on Boscombe beach called The Urban Beach.

Situated on the sea front to the left of the pier, this is a cafe/bar/restaurant with a real seaside, modern, funky and casual vibe.  Colourful outdoor seating overlooking the beach, it's the ideal place to relax with a drink or coffee during the day and a great place to meet friends for a beer or two in the evening.

Unfortunately we didnt' get to eat here as it was fully booked (certainly seems that all the good places in and around Boscombe get booked early!!) but we had a good look around both the day time menu and evening menu.  Also, we made sure to have a sneaky peak at all the food going out during the day and the bar snacks at night and it really looked great. Very popular, fresh and local wherever possible and a reasonable price.

Next time we're down, we'll definitely be booking dinner.

The Urban Reef, Boscombe

The Larderhouse, Southbourne, Dorset

I know, I know, it's not technically the South East but having just spent a weekend in and around Bournemouth I have a few reviews to make.

The first of these being The Larderhouse.  This unique little gem is hidden behind a bus stop on the pretty non descript high street of Southbourne in Dorset. 

During the day, this place is a coffee shop but in the evening it transforms into a really quirky eaterie with a relaxed, casual atmosphere.

Decor is understated and a bit rough round the edges, lighting low, buzzy feel to the place.  We hadn't booked which we should have for a Saturday night, but managed to get squeezed in thankfully.  The service was excellent - friendly yet not too much. 

I ordered potted rabbit with sourdough to start, calzone for main. Hubby had a melon and freshly sliced serrano ham starter and the calzone.  Both were absolutely delicious and came pretty quickly. 

I really can't fault the place and would recommend a visit but BOOK your table in advance!

The Larderhouse