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Places to eat when in the area.

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 anything else all day, 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. Try stopping here for a drink at sunset, if you get there early sit on the small terrace at the back door of the pub, from here you will see a sunset to rival any.

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. Not the best coffee in my book but what a location. 5 stars for location on both, 4 for the food at lunchtimes in the summer.

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.

The Toby, Found on the main road out of town, just the New Forest side of Sainsbury's is our very own Toby Inn. They are very common now but if you don't know its pretty much a roast dinner carvary. They do have a limited number of alternatives but I only go there for a roast. The price varies according to the time of day and the day of the week, but about £7 - 8 will buy you a choice of 3 meats, you can have a bit of each if you wish although there is a weight limit. Loads of veg and gravy and of course a pint. A place for the family, absolutely great value for money and having eaten in many of the chain the food is almost exactly the same wherever you go. A great place to eat if you want a roast and don't want to pay a fortune.

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. Open all day with seating outside in the shadow of the Priory and the oldest part of town its a great place to stop for coffee, lunch or an evening meal, the latter is summer only at present. 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. Not the best location but worth a visit. 5 for the meal but not a good location.

The Lord Bute, Situated on Lymington Road, Highcliffe, just before you reach the speed camera, which will place it on the right hand side of the road. The Lord Bute is one of those places to you go to for that special night out. You'll need £50 a head plus drinks but you do get very good service, excellent food and a very nice place to eat. It has no view, is set on one of our main roads but is one of the place's my wife and I go when she needs me to spend a lot on a meal for her. I am never quite sure how that works and have leant not to question it but the Lord Bute seems to do the trick.

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 in the town it is again one of our most beautiful locations. I have eaten here and found it to be pricey but very good food, service a bit slow but they were busy and we were in no rush. 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 little 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

The Woolpack, not strictly within the borough limits but sitting just outside a few hundred yards Ringwood side of Winkton you'll find the pub on the Ringwood road. The Woolpack pub cannot 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.