Part of the Royal Exeter Hotel, 1812 is a chic bar with magnificent cocktails and a crowd of jazz lovers every Friday and Saturday.

The Venue
The building this bar sits in was built in 1812, hence the name, but the decor is anything but old-fashioned.

Seductive colours like red, deep brown and maroon cover the walls and furniture, and there are strikingly bright light fixtures. The long wood bar stands out among the clean sleek lines and almost beckons you to buy a fancy cocktail.

Taking inspiration not from local bars but sophisticated London hotels, 1812 is a refreshing change to the Bournemouth bar scene as it's uniquely contemporary and effortlessly stylish.

The People
This elegant bar attracts an elegant crowd and most customers are well-dressed with an air of sophistication about them. However, there's an essence of informality, so it's classy but never too stuffy.

Everyone from young professionals to older distinguished types feel comfortable here, and on live music nights the jazz lovers of Bournemouth find their way to 1812 to enjoy a delicious drink in an upbeat atmosphere.

The Music
On Friday and Saturday nights, the spacious bar makes room for live music performances. Offering something a bit different and, of course, sophisticated to the Bournemouth music scene, 1812 hosts mostly jazz nights. As they have no cover charge they have become popular among locals.

The Food and Drink
Their a la carte menu is modern European and starters go for around £4.50 while mains go from £9 to £17 and include dishes such as rib-eye steak.

Drink prices may not be what Bournemouth’s pub goers are used to, but the exceptional cocktails are well-worth it. The ingredients used to make the cocktails are of the highest quality, and the bar staff aren’t any old mixers and shakers but mixology experts. These guys not only know how to pour a fabulous cocktail but create one too.

The drinks list is split into martinis, new century and old century, with prices from £6.25 upwards. Classics are, of course, done well, and you can get both creamy and fruity varieties. Interesting flavours like lemon thyme, and premium spirits like Havana Club 15-year-old rum, add an extra dimension to new vibrant cocktails.

The Last Word
To inject some class into your weekend, sip a cocktail and tap your feet to jazz at the sophisticated 1812 bar.

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