Cocktails In Bournemouth – Top 10 fabulous cocktail bars in Bournemouth and beyond.
There seems to be no verified fact about where the name came from, but the ideas range from a mispronunciation in France, to English sailors in a Mexican tavern who noticed that drinks were being stirred with a cock’s tail which is actually the root of a plant so not quite as out there as it sounds.
**UPDATED FOR 2025**
During lockdown the most popularly reported cocktails in Bournemouth & the UK were: – at no 1 The Espresso Martini, followed by the Margherita, Mojito and Pina Colada. To give you the information that you need in order to choose your favourite, I’ve put together this list of the best cocktail bars Bournemouth has to offer!
In the words of a certain 007 “shaken, not stirred” but why? Well for Ian Fleming apparently stirring a drink compromised its flavour.
Cocktails have also made it in Hollywood – some have been made famous in the movies such as The Red Eye in Cocktail with Tom Cruise – who could forget the iconic scene where Tom “mixes” with the bartender. It was my first introduction to the mixology scene despite it not being a new thing back then.
Now you are all clued up on what they are, here’s where can you find the 10 most fabulous cocktails in Bournemouth – Happy Drinking!
THIS ARTICLE IS INTENDED FOR READERS OVER THE AGE OF 18
Our first stop to find cocktails in Bournemouth is the fantastic 1812 Lounge Bar situated in the heart of Bournemouth with an interesting and quirky history dating back to the early 1800’s.
Originally built for Captain Tregonwell who recounted tales of smuggling liquor and contraband and was in fact the founder of Bournemouth being the first person to reside here.
These days you can sip their gorgeous cocktails, enjoy live music and dancing with all day dining, just a stone throw away from the sea front.
Their cocktail menu is absolutely amazing and they are always adding new creations, my picks from their menu would be:
Bramble – Tanquerey Gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar, soda and Crème De Mure
Pear and Elderflower Collins – Bombay Gin and a Pear Liquor.
Berry Mojito – Bacardi Carta Blanca Rum, fresh berries, mint and sugar.
If you’d like to get more involved, how about trying their Cocktail Masterclass, where their guests are welcomed with a Bellini or glass of Champagne, costs are from £27.50 p.p.
For me 1812 is the ultimate experience when looking for cocktails in Bournemouth so this should be your first stop.
Price - from £10
Happy Hour - Yes 5-7pm check for current days
Mocktails - Yes
Dining - Yes
Times - open every day from 12-11pm and until 1am Saturday/Sunday
Another cocktail bar with a historical backstory. Dirty Gertie’s is situated in Christchurch in Britain’s oldest council house, dating back to 13th century and with a secret garden overlooking the castles ruins.
The building has been home to the town’s mayor and also turned into a Butcher’s in 1850, owned by butcher Gert who’s lack of hygiene earned him the nickname Dirty Gert.
The old jailhouse is still situated in the back garden and rumours have it that the building could be haunted. The only way to figure this out is to visit for yourself and ask its owners Will and Lindsey.
Open from Thursday 5-30pm to Sunday you can experience live music, Tipsy Tea and their Thursday Gin & cocktail club.
All the tempting cocktails might make you peckish so tuck into their sharing boards and tapas menu, Dirty Gertie’s nachos sound very tasty.
My choices from their comprehensive cocktail menu are:
Breakfast Martini – Tanqueray Flor De Seville, sweet natured marmalade, Martini Bianco and lemon juice.
Strawberry and Rose Frozen Daiquiri – Bacardi Carta Blanca Rum, Gabriel Boudier Frais Du Bois Liqueur, Rose Essence, strawberry, sugar syrup, and fresh lime.
Smugglers Zombie – Rum, Dead Mans Fingers Spiced Rum, Appleton Estate Signature Gold Rum, Huana Mayan Guanabana Liqueur, grapefruit, pineapple, cinnamon syrup and lime.
If you can still stand after that one, then work your way through the rest of their tantalising selection and book a taxi home.
On my list to do is their tipsy afternoon tea which would make the ideal girls afternoon out, with lemon citrus marmalade scones, gin preserves, yummy cakes and of course your choice from 5 delicious sounding cocktails.
Price - from £8
Happy Hour - 2 for £12 on selected gin tasting nights.
Mocktails - Yes
Dining - Yes
Times - Thursday - Sunday, times vary check website for details.
Next stop on our tour of cocktails in Bournemouth is The Kings Arms, a boutique Georgian hotel also in Christchurch town centre, appealing to foodies and drinkers alike, you can dine on the south coast's locally produced fresh seasonal produce before moving on to their custom cocktails and get your groove on with their house DJ banging out the tunes every Friday and Saturday night.
Espresso Martinis, Old Fashioned and a selection of Mocktails are amongst their Cocktail menu.
Mocktails - Yes
Dining - Yes
Times - Open every day from 12-10pm
Looking for something different, let the cocktails come to you. The Floral Shaker is Katie Knott, and she runs this fully licensed floral/cocktail service bringing the tastes, visuals and fun to your own venue nationwide!
Weddings, parties, events or a family get together are the ideal occasions for this wonderful service. Katie even runs floral workshops, so a combined cocktail hen-party with a floral workshop could be just what you are looking for. I think this is an absolutely brilliant idea and would love to do this myself.
From the menu:
Pink Lipstick, powder and paint – Raspberry Vodka, Fresh Lime Juice and Pink Lemonade.
Something Got Me Started – Spice 94, Orange Tonic Water, Garden Grown Basil, Fresh Lemon Juice and Sugar Syrup.
Poolside Palm Colada – Light Rum, Coconut Syrup and Pineapple Juice.
Katie offers help with planning your perfect party, check out her beautiful ideas.
Prices are from £150 set up & £22.50 per guest.
As one of the top 50 UK Cocktail bars 3 years running Mexican inspired Ojo Rojo deserves a spot in my round up of Bournemouth’s best cocktail bars.
The bar has three distinct areas to enjoy the downstairs Mezcal bar for dining and drinks and featuring their Mezcal collection (alcoholic drinks made from Agave) for those not in the know. You can venture upstairs for a quieter more romantic affair with their sparkly tree installation and watch the open kitchen to see how it’s all done.
The Hacienda garden is the newest area to enjoy watching the sun go down, covered & heated to be enjoyed all year round. Sip on one of their award winning cocktail sand enjoy the unique menu, including tacos, their famous Nachos and their take on churros - The Chuffle!
I love that this bar has something different from the norm, from the delicious food to the off the chats cocktails, go check out what they have to offer. Picked from their menu:
BLOOM
Strawberry Vermouth, Condesa Mexican Gin, Chamomile, Strawberry shrub, Hibiscus and Rhubarb Tonic
EARTH & SKY
Cacao nib and Beetroot infused El Sueno Tequila, Strawberry Vermouth, St Germain Elderflower liqueur, Greek Yogurt Wash.
VIVA MEXICO!
Quiquiriqui Mezcal, Ancho Reyes liququer, Lillet blanc, Yellow Chartreuse, Arbol chilli and hibiscus cordial.
Price - Varies
Music and events
Mocktails - Yes
Dining – Yes – Mexican style
Times – Tuesday to Sunday – late nights on Fridays and Saturdays
Right in the town centre for cocktails in Bournemouth is Be At One. Open daily from 5pm and from 2pm on a Saturday and with a daily happy hour where all cocktails are two for one (except low/no alcohol) what’s not to be happy about?
Be At One serves frozen cocktails which sound like so much fun and I can just imagine cooling down with one on a warm summers night. Which to choose though?
Bolero – Malibu, Passoa passion fruit liqueur, mango liqueur, mango and vanilla ice cream.
Irish Disco Biscuit – Baileys, peppermint liqueur, oreo cookies and vanilla ice cream.
Painkiller – from their non-frozen menu – Pusser’s Gunpowder Proof Rum, coconut cream, pineapple and orange.
The list here is impressive, a big choice from every base spirit and all sounding super tempting. I would be struggling to know which to choose first.
So you can be sure to not miss out, they have their very own app to stay on top of the latest news and offers and as a reward you can take part in Appi hour, Sunday-Wednesday for an hour until to 9pm.
Price - Varied
Happy Hour - Yes everyday check for current times
Mocktails - Yes
Dining - No
Times - From 5pm everyday, 2pm Saturdays until late.
Since opening in the summer of 2024 Old Harry Rocks has become a firm favourite of mine – whats not to love? From its cool funky décor with views of the sea in one direction and the turquoise Miami style pool of the adjacent Nici hotel in the other it’s the perfect venue to sample this unique menu and delicious cocktails.
The vibe changes from a relaxed holiday feel daytime experience to a lively DJ scene at the weekends.
From the menu:
Frozen margarita - tapatio, cointreau, lime, sugar
Tiki rocks - mermaid spiced rum, two drifters’ overproof rum, blue curacao, pineapple, flaming passion fruit
Strawberry shortcake - tequila rose, stoli, amaretto, strawberry, vanilla, almond
If you want to be part of the Bournemouth places to be seen, then this bar & restaurant will not disappoint – get your phone ready to capture the views and get insta ready shots to share with your friends.
Price - from £12
Music and events
Mocktails - Yes
Dining – Yes – sharing plates and much more
Times – daily from 5pm
Bournemouth’s only al-fresco all weather bar with VIP booths in the heart of the town.
Here you can sip on a Stormy Sea Beast – Kraken, Lime, sugar, Angostura Bitters and ginger beer.
Or a Monkey Colada – Monkey shoulder, coconut rum, coconut syrup, pineapple and lime.
Prices from £7.95
Mocktails - No
Dining - No
Times - Open mid-afternoon until late.
For cocktails in Bournemouth you couldn’t find more of a beachfront location than Aruba, set right on the seafront on the top of the pier. On a sunny day the views are spectacular, pick your favourite cocktail & watch the sun go down, chill with friends and then party the night away.
2 hour Cocktail masterclasses are available from £29.50 pp with a glass of Prosecco, 2 cocktails and nibbles which I think is really good value.
Pizza anyone? Aruba put on a bottomless pizza brunch on Fridays and Saturdays – pre booking required.
When this close to the beach my choice has to be Sex on the beach – Eristoff, Archers, orange & cranberry juice topped with lemonade.
Or the Red Sangria – red wine, triple sec, cognac, orange, lemonade and sugar.
Both available as a sharing option at £22.50.
Price - from £9
Mocktails - Yes
Dining - Yes
Times - Every day - check times on website
Our last stop on our tour of cocktails in Bournemouth is the classy cocktail lounge bar in the Collingwood Hotel. One of Bournemouth’s premier boutique hotels and just a 5-minute wander down to the seafront and pier.
The Victorian building was originally owned by the founder of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra over 125 years ago.
I love a family run business and The Colingwood is just that, they pride themselves on their friendly service and sense of fun and count their guests as the “heart and soul” of their business. Of course they have an impressive cocktail menu to offer and in this case you could just pop upstairs to your room for the night after working your way through their list.
Catching my eye is the French Martini – Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur, Black Cow Dorset Vodka and sweet pineapple juice.
I would also have to choose the Gin Collingwood – their house special cocktail of local Pothecary Gin, St.Germain Elderflower liqueur and expressed orange.
Price - from £8.95
Happy hour - Yes everyday 8-10pm
Mocktails - Yes
Dining - Yes
Times - Every day - check times on website
I hope you have found my list useful for your night out tasting the varied and delicious cocktails in Bournemouth. Save it for your girl’s night out or for a special celebration with friends. If I have missed your favourite or you’d like bar featured, please let me know.
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Thank you for reading and cheers!
Sarah
