Places to eat when in the area.
Some of my personal favourite's:
The Avon Beach Cafe is as the name says on the Avon Beach overlooking Christchurch Bay, open
in the evening only in the summer it is mainly a daytime cafe. The food
is mainly of a snack type but what snacks, everything from a bacon sandwich
to the mega breakfast is prepared from the best quality produce to the
best standards. Something for everyone it is not your sand and sandwich
bar it is good quality food during the day, eat the normal breakfast and
you won't want any more try the mega breakfast and you will struggle to
move. Or you can just have a coffee all but on the beach and overlooking
Christchurch Bay, what a place to spend an hour.
5 stars for location and 5 stars for their day time food menu which is
priced for the family.
The Boathouse Restaurant on the Town Quay, not the cheapest place to eat but not overly expensive
it has the benefit of some of the most beautiful views to be found. Situated
just under the tower end of the Priory and overlooking the river Stour
the coffee is great, the snacks welcome and the food consistently very
good. Open all day and all evening it is arguably the best spot in town.
The evening menu is superb or try the fish soup or the soup of the day
which is often spicy or have a prawn sandwich for lunch, I defy you to
eat it and not get in a mess. Having had many an evening meal here I would
not hesitate in recommending to all at any time.
In my book a 5 star place to stop for a coffee, lunch or full blown evening
meal with a location that can not be classified.
Try also the Beach House, its the only place to eat on Mudeford Split and is absolutely fantastic. The sister restaurant to the Boathouse with a very similar menu it is somewhere else completely and beggars description. Eating on the beach has never been like this give it a go and tell us what you think.
Not to be confused with the above, visit the Beach Hut, it used to be Georges and is found on the sea front at Friars Cliff beach.
Now open all day, every day it is a wonderful place to stop for coffee,
breakfast or a snack. Cooked lunches are available as are all the usual
ice creams and stuff. A very well priced place to take the kids to eat
on good food they'll love. Not open during the evening unless its busy
or you book it for a BBQ on the beach but a great stop off point during
the day when you are on the beach.
The Haven Inn located on Mudeford Quay has the location alright and certainly at lunchtime
provides the family with everything from a full blown meal to a filling
snack. Well worth a visit but be warned the pub is small and you are likely
to end up sitting outside, fantastic in the summer but somewhat chilly
if the weather is bad.
Next door is the Haven Cafe again good food and certainly one of the best views as you sit a few yards
from the Run and watch the water world go by.
5 stars for location on both, 4 for the food at lunchtimes in the summer.
The Ship in Distress at Mudeford, found on the road to the beaches and the Quay. One of the
oldest buildings in the town it dates back well before 1749 it is now not
just a pub but a fish restaurant. In new hands it has been restored in
my opinion to its former glory,the food is fantastic and although marginally
expensive no more so than any other fish restaurant. The staff are great
and the food excellent. If you like fish here's another place to go, we
love it.
The Tempest in Bridge Street, between the 2 bridges it is a good quality place to dine.
I have not eaten there since it changed hands but hear it is a very good
place of conventional food.
Alan Mills of Herts says, 'The Tempest in Bridge Street: 3 courses, including sirloin steak, for £15 and a fair wine list. Certainly better than many whilst not asgood as others it is much cheaper, excellent value and an excellent family service. I recommend it'.
Pinocchios Restaurant in Church Street is one of the few you can not book, the Italian restaurant
is superb, the food is consistently excellent and I have no hesitation
in recommending it to anyone. You can always tell the best restaurants
from the queue outside, get there early or wait. The atmosphere is Italian,
noisy lots of rushing around and only goes to compliment what is usually
an entertaining evening out not just a meal and its very well priced. If
you want Italian Pinocchios is the place to go.
5 stars all the way and to the lovely girls who serve you.
LA Mamma, Bridge Street, a well loved family restaurant since 1974 serving typical Italian cuisine
with an emphasis on fresh produce this is a great place to eat. Always
packed, often by locals, you might do as well to book your seat. Pizza,
pasta, meat, fish and vegetarian dishes there is seating for 120 in this
restaurant that has been the Daily Echo Best of the Best winner for Family
Dining in 2003/04/06 and 07. A great place to treat yourself. Park in the
Civic Centre car park which is next to the River Avon and La Mamma is a
short stroll up the road.
Alan Mills of Herts says. 'We have been visiting Christchurch regularly for 34 years and this is
one of our favourite cheap places to eat, the best pizzas in the world
and I have tried them in Milan, New York and Rio'.
It was always the Copper Skillet and then went upmarket and was named Priory 17. As either and despite being at opposite ends of the spectrum, the food was great. Now returned to all its former glory the Copper Skillet is reborn. I have not eaten there but it is always busy, a good sign usually. Go and try it and please let me know what you think. It can be found in the shadow of the Priory in Church Street.
Kashmir Restaurant has been redecorated and looks great, now we have great food in a very
nice but small Indian Restaurant. Well priced food that tastes as good
as any I have tried and is served by the friendly waiters. Found at the
roundabout that used to be Purewell Cross this restaurant is easily missed.
easiest landmark is the Motorists Centre, the Indian is next door.
5 for the meal but not a good location.
The Harbour Hotel formally the Avonmouth Hotel is one of the older buildings in our town and as at 2007 is undergoing
a full refurbishment. Situated right on the harbour edge there is no finer
place to be with views across the harbour to Hengistbury Head and Mudeford
Spit. I have not yet eaten there but am informed that it is now an excellent
place to dine out so give it a go and let us know about your experiences.
Update to the above, the food I am told is very good if a little pricey.
e-mail: Christchurch@harbourhotels.co.uk or visit the website at: www.christchurch-harbour-hotel.co.uk
Sister to The Harbour Hotel is The Kings, formally the Kings Hotel situated opposite the bowls green it is again
one of our most beautiful locations. I have not eaten there but am informed
it is well worth a visit. Try it and let me know the results. e-mail: kings@harbourhotels.co.uk or visit the website: www.thekings-christchurch.co.uk
Tides Restaurant at the Captains Club Hotel; now there's a place if you have something to celebrate. Not out of this
world expensive, I've paid a more, but at the top end money wise, but what
food. I have eaten there 3 times in the evening now and the food and service
was remarkable everytime. I have had lunch there as well and although I
felt it was rather a lot of money for lunch it was I have to say excellent.
So if you want to splash out on that special evening I would recommend
Tides Restaurant. In the summer you had better book early tho' right on
the River Stour at the bottom of Wick Lane the Hotel commands a special
position and the restaurant overlooks the river. 5 stars for everything
except price but then it was worth every penny. www.captainsclubhotel.com Wick Ferry, Wick Lane, Christchurch, BH23 1HU, telephone 01202 475111
Lychee Chinese Restaurant in Bargates do a Sunday Buffet which is the best value for money I have
come across producing excellent Chinese food and as much as you like. They
do a businessman's lunch most days of the week and of course their usual
menu is always available. Be warned however my daughter was charged for
an extra person when she fed our 6 month old grand daughter some of the
food from her plate.
Again 5 stars if you want a Chinese meal but don't feed the kids your food.
The Woolpack, not strictly within the borough limits but sitting just outside a few hundred
yards Ringwood side of Winkton on the Ringwood road from the Stoney lane
roundabout on the bypass through Burton. The Woolpack pub can not be missed
as it faces you as you enter Sopley. Unimposing you might drive by without
giving it a second look but you would have missed a fine meal, particularly
at lunchtime. The fish and chips are served in news paper for effect and
the menu board will please everyone, if you want fish, meat or even ham,
egg and chips they have it.
5 stars for variety and quality and 4 for location as it sits by a stream
with tables and chairs outside in the garden.
Again outside the borough but worth a mention and on the same road as the Woolpack go a little further to The New Queen, good food in a very nice little pub at very good prices as they do smaller
portions for those that eat less. The sausage and mash is great and again
they have a very extensive menu.
The above are mainly restaurants I personally have tried and would recommend
with confidence, if your favourite restaurant is not mentioned that does
not mean I do not like it just that I have not tried it yet. If you would
like to include your recommendation, e-mail them to me and I will include
it but it must be within the borough of Christchurch.