A friendly bar and restaurant that has a cosy feeling to it and fabulous views of the sea, making it easy to stay here a little too long.

The Venue
Just metres from the shore, a proud Harvester sign blows in the sea breeze. Its lovely raised outdoor seating area is the ideal place for views of the seaside, and inside it's warm and friendly.

There are windows everywhere to take full advantage of the views, but the decor doesn’t completely rely on it, like so many other seaside restaurants.

This spacious Harvester, part of a national chain, has a bar and restaurant area, each with comfy Ikea-style sofas and armchairs and a warm autumnal colour scheme.

There has been some effort made to make the place look a bit better than average, with wooden and concrete pillars, exposed brickwork, and lots of plants, candles and ornamental pots to add a homey feel.

The People
The crowd here are mostly those who can’t be bothered with the fuss of the town centre. They want a laidback evening, a great view of the sea, and no loutish behaviour from the drunken lads and silly youths who seem to take over Bournemouth after 8pm.

The cosy decor makes everyone feel at ease, and people take their time over their meal and drinks. The sea adds an inevitable serenity, but when it gets busy at peak evening hours there is a low-key liveliness that makes the bar feel more sociable and friendly.

The Food
Meals at Harvester are known to be simple, aimed at those with traditional tastes who like fuss-free food. The prices are reasonable, but get seated before 6.30pm on weekdays and 5.30pm on Saturday and you'll get a third off your meal, which is excellent value for money.

Their starters and mains are simple dishes such as chicken wings or ribs, with a few vegetarian dishes and meat and fish options as well. Prices for a starter are around £3 to £6 with mains at an average of £10.

There’s also a free salad cart for all the diners which has a decent range of fresh ingredients and sauces so you can build your own salad.

The Drink
The choice of beers is a bit better than adequate, with Carlsberg, Amstel, Carling, Fosters and Stella for £3 a pint, plus regional beers for locals to be proud of.

The wine list is very limited but the prices are low at £8.25 to £10.75 a bottle. There are also some seasonal drinks such as summer cocktails at £2.80 that are simple but refreshing.

The Last Word
Harvester is usually quite average but due to the pleasant location this one’s better than the rest.

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