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Original poster

Bournemouth Beach Food?

22 replies

BeachyTime · 08/08/2022 18:08

Random question...

I am taking my 3 and 6 year-old to Bournemouth this week. Just staying one night.

I am looking for recommendations for places to get lunch to eat on the beach. Last time we went we had Harry Ramsden's fish and chips. However the queue was very long (DH went and foraged while I entertained the children) and if possible I really want to avoid standing in a long queue this time as I will be on my own (so kids will have to queue with me and they aren't particularly known for their excellent patience).

I was hoping there might be somewhere near the beach that does online ordering/phone orders to takeaway. Have done a bit of research and did find a pizza place, but it's quite far into town. I'd usually take a pre-made picnic (and can probably do this on the first day we arrive) but the hotel room has no fridge and by second day any ice packs I take will have thawed, so limited in what I could prepare on the second day that would keep OK in heat.

I thought maybe the Mumsnet hive mind could give me some suggestions/recommendations?

Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
Lulu1919 · 08/08/2022 18:17

Where are you staying ?

Original poster
BeachyTime · 08/08/2022 18:20

Bournemouth Central Premier Inn.

OP posts:
Fashionablylate1999 · 08/08/2022 18:23

There's a Tesco express about a 5 minute walk from the Premier Inn, we just stocked up there then walked through the lower gardens to the pier/beach. There's also a pret and a burger King near there

itsgettingweird · 08/08/2022 18:28

If you'd normally do a picnic could you pick stuff up for a picnic the second day and just make sure you have a coolbox with you?

There's a Tesco express about 5\6 minutes walk away from the beach.

Or if you have the car there are a few supermarkets within a couple of minutes drive.

But I imagine it'll be very busy this week as we are having another heatwave.

itsgettingweird · 08/08/2022 18:28

X posts!!!!!

Festivalpartygirl · 08/08/2022 18:32

i think you could make the second picnic up and keep in unopened cool bag, and pack with frozen calipo type drinks - have just come back from a festival and this is what the tent campers were doing, they were packing food to last 3/4 days. No idea if works as we have on board fridge. Other than that there’s a Tesco in the town square, if you have too much beach and want to get out the sun for an hour you can head up through the gardens to ‘Urban garden’, this is mostly outside, and tables can be booked. One of my favourite restaurants.

2020firsttimemum · 08/08/2022 18:32

I'm pretty sure you can order to the beach from either Uber eats /deliveroo now

We did it with kfc last year 😂

Squeezedsquash · 08/08/2022 18:35

Down at Southbourne there’s an area (used to be a nice place called bistro on the beach but demolished and replaced by temporary buildings pending a planning application) which has a few food outlets. Beach is quieter down that end as well.

itsgettingweird · 08/08/2022 18:38

We usually take an electric coolbox to hotels as we stay for 3-6 days

pigeonstreet123 · 09/08/2022 13:28

Bournemouth beach stretches for miles

Do you mean near the pier?

Original poster
BeachyTime · 09/08/2022 13:47

pigeonstreet123 · 09/08/2022 13:28

Bournemouth beach stretches for miles

Do you mean near the pier?

Yes. I think we will be relatively close to the pier, as the hotel is near that bit of the beach. I mean I guess we can situate ourselves wherever we fancy (or wherever we can find space!) but I doubt the kids will want to walk too far and I'll be dragging an old buggy with all our stuff, which I remember being hard work last time. 😆 I have only been once before, just trying to be as prepared as possible so we can be as chilled out as possible.

Thank you for all the recommendations. I didn't think of deliveroo! If that's available then that will probably be easiest for our second beach lunch.

I'll checkout the other suggestions (Southbourne sounds nice!). Really appreciate all the posts. 😊

OP posts:
Original poster
BeachyTime · 09/08/2022 13:51

Urban Garden sounds nice too. May look at this for dinner. I was just reluctant to leave the beach during the day if at all possible. I am not very good in the heat so hoping to limit lugging stuff about when it's going to be so hot (planned this weeks ago before the forecast was accurate!).

OP posts:
TheNinthLock · 09/08/2022 13:55

Last time we were in Bournemouth we ate here, it’s close to the beach

Eat in or Click and collect

mynameiscalypso · 09/08/2022 13:56

We were there at the weekend and there are quite a few cafes you can eat at on the beach and you can book tables in advance. We are at one called something like Vesuvio which had a really good children's play park out the back.

One thing I would say though is that there is no way we could have spent all day on the beach. We got down there around 10am and then left to get lunch at midday. There is no shade at all and DS (who is 3) had had more than enough time in the beach after two hours.

AmyC40 · 09/08/2022 14:28

If you head down to Bournemouth pier, you have Aruba restaurant, arcades with usual 2p machines, aquarium etc. Plus you can easily walk from there to Bournemouth Gardens where it is cooler... Take some monkey nuts for the squirrels! The Premier Inn you are staying at is in the town centre so plenty of cafes where you can buy food and also a Tesco express.

PeacefulInTheDeep · 09/08/2022 14:41

There's a Harvester called Durley Inn just behind the beach about a 10-15 minute walk from the pier. You can pre-book a table and get out of the sun for an hour or so. The land train runs from the pier, past there and on to Alum Chine, which would save you the walk.

Purpleavocado · 09/08/2022 14:44

The Harry Ramsdens is pretty big, we went there last week, about 4ish and it wasn't too crowded. Maybe it depends on the time? There are a couple of restaurants on the corner of the Premier Inn as well, I think one is Spanish.

Original poster
BeachyTime · 09/08/2022 16:25

mynameiscalypso · 09/08/2022 13:56

We were there at the weekend and there are quite a few cafes you can eat at on the beach and you can book tables in advance. We are at one called something like Vesuvio which had a really good children's play park out the back.

One thing I would say though is that there is no way we could have spent all day on the beach. We got down there around 10am and then left to get lunch at midday. There is no shade at all and DS (who is 3) had had more than enough time in the beach after two hours.

Yeah, I am not planning to be out there from dusk to dawn by any means, but last time we went they loved it and we were on the beach for hours (I was expecting they would get fed up but they were like machines!). Earliest we will be there on first day is 10:30 I'd guess. I have a beach umbrella and wind break so we can create a bit of shade. I'll definitely play it by ear though and was hoping we can spend a bit of time on the pier too, as I love a good penny arcade myself! 😂

OP posts:
Festivalpartygirl · 09/08/2022 17:29

@BeachyTime have a fabulous time ☀️ 🌊 🍦 🍹

NotEnoughTime · 09/08/2022 22:18

BeachyTIme

I hope you have a great time.

Do you mind me asking how much the Premier Inn cost for the night?

Original poster
BeachyTime · 12/08/2022 11:41

NotEnoughTime · 09/08/2022 22:18

BeachyTIme

I hope you have a great time.

Do you mind me asking how much the Premier Inn cost for the night?

Hi - no I don't mind at all. It was £130 and that included breakfast (for me - kids get free breakfast). We ended up with a lovely sea view room, with a balcony, which was a nice surprise too. Oh and glorious air conditioning! Also if you're thinking specifically of Bournemouth it's just a couple of doors down from Wagamama so we had our dinner there on the first day.

Thank you again for all the suggestions posted here, we had a lovely time (although it was very hot, too hot for me truth be told!). On the second day we went across(?) to Southbourne which made a nice change from the main beach at Bournemouth, it was definitely a bit more chilled out. In the end we just took a big bag of snacks on the beach and we left in the afternoon and got McDonald's on the way home. No one was very hungry in the heat to be honest!

OP posts:
NotEnoughTime · 12/08/2022 18:40

Thanks for replying.

I'm glad you had a lovely time Smile

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