Smokin' Aces
Smokin' Aces
4.5
5:00 PM - 1:00 AM
Wednesday
5:00 PM - 1:00 AM
Thursday
5:00 PM - 1:00 AM
Friday
5:00 PM - 2:00 AM
Saturday
5:00 PM - 2:00 AM
Sunday
7:00 PM - 1:00 AM
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4.5
231 reviews
Excellent
161
Very good
35
Average
16
Poor
6
Terrible
13
Maria M
8 contributions
Jul 2020 • Friends
I visited Smokin’ Aces on 31st July with my fiancé and two friends for cocktails. This was our first night out since lockdown so we were really looking forward to it. I booked a 2 hour slot as required on their website. We actually arrived prior to this but had the courtesy of waiting outside until our allotted time. We spent almost £100 collectively on drinks. The next group who had booked a table arrived 20 minutes early and immediately a member of bar staff came over and asked us to hurry up as they were waiting for our table.
This wasn’t where my bad experience ended unfortunately! The next day I had a rude email from the Manager saying they were charging me £40 (£10 per person) for not turning up for my reservation! Even though we all did!!! And I had photographic evidence and bank statements to prove I was there. I would never not show up for a reservation. I was absolutely fuming to discover £40 had left my account. I eventually got this returned to me 5 days later after I had to make numerous phone calls to the Manager as he didn’t return my call that evening as promised. Obviously refunds don’t get processed straight away from the bank so I was left without money for the weekend, good job I didn’t have bills to pay. So I definitely wouldn’t recommend this place unless you want to be out of pocket and hurried along by the staff. Also the music was very loud so we couldn’t even have a conversation and it is very cramped in there.
This wasn’t where my bad experience ended unfortunately! The next day I had a rude email from the Manager saying they were charging me £40 (£10 per person) for not turning up for my reservation! Even though we all did!!! And I had photographic evidence and bank statements to prove I was there. I would never not show up for a reservation. I was absolutely fuming to discover £40 had left my account. I eventually got this returned to me 5 days later after I had to make numerous phone calls to the Manager as he didn’t return my call that evening as promised. Obviously refunds don’t get processed straight away from the bank so I was left without money for the weekend, good job I didn’t have bills to pay. So I definitely wouldn’t recommend this place unless you want to be out of pocket and hurried along by the staff. Also the music was very loud so we couldn’t even have a conversation and it is very cramped in there.
Written 16 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Maria, thanks for your review. I'd like to clear up a few points that you have made in the review:
Firstly, no-one from your group (as far as I am aware) mentioned that you had a booking and you were, therefore, treated as a "walk-in". Obviously, we do try to accommodate walk-ins but reservations take priority. This was why your arrival was not confirmed on our system and you were subsequently charged as a no-show. It is also why you were asked to leave before your 2-hour slot was complete.
Had we been aware that you actually had a booking, you would not have been moved or asked to vacate the table and you would not have been charged. While I'm pretty confident that no-one from your group mentioned that you had a booking, it is possible that we made a mistake. At the time of your visit, all of these systems were brand new to us and, as I'm sure you can appreciate, they take a bit of getting used to. If this was the case, I can only apologise profusely. Due to this incident, we have since amended our processes to make sure this doesn't happen again.
You were charged at midday on 1st August and refunded in full at around 5.30pm on the same day. You made 2 phone calls - one in response to the email in the early afternoon and one in the evening, when you were refunded. I promised to call you that evening but you rang me as I was entering the building. I immediately set up the card machine and refunded you in full. Our refund is instantaneous, however, your card issuer may delay, or take a while to process the refund. Please feel free to contact them as to why it took 5 days because it is usually instant.
I'm not convinced that email that you were sent was "rude". I have included it below for your reference:
----------------
Dear Maria,
Your booking for 4 people at Smokin’ Aces on 31st July 2020 was not claimed. As I’m sure you can appreciate, no-shows cost us a considerable amount of money, since we turn away other potential bookings.
We allow changes/cancellations of bookings until 6 hours before your reservation. In line with our terms and conditions, we have charged you a fee of £10 per person for the unclaimed booking.
Many thanks.
----------------
I apologise that your experience was not at all what you were hoping for, or expected. As I said, we have since changed our processes completely in order to prevent this sort of thing happening in future. Hope to see you again sometime!
Written 17 September 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
sisen
London, UK64 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Went to what was described as the best cocktail bar in Bournemouth, thought I'd test the humble but smiling barman, asked for an old fashioned and 8-10 minutes later....
Totally speechless - simply best first drink in any bar anywhere.....ever!
Don't underestimate the power of Mr Smoking Aces!
It's so good I can't even rush it, so I can get another.
Great music, great setting, unbelievable skills from the man behind this bar! Think I'm gonna relocate
Totally speechless - simply best first drink in any bar anywhere.....ever!
Don't underestimate the power of Mr Smoking Aces!
It's so good I can't even rush it, so I can get another.
Great music, great setting, unbelievable skills from the man behind this bar! Think I'm gonna relocate
Written 10 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah Carroll
11 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
This place is we came on Friday night and the singer was fantastic, we enjoyed it that much we came back on the Saturday. Alex was our server and he made me pretty much any drink i wanted, he is such a lovely guy such a sweetheart. We will definitely return the next time we visit Bournemouth.
Written 1 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nikki
United Kingdom101 contributions
Jun 2021
Loved loved loved this place! We were down from Essex for the weekend and wanted somewhere to go on Friday night after we'd eaten. I'd found this on Trip advisor and it looked/sounded great so booked a table at 10pm for the six of us and boy am I glad I did!
We had a brilliant time. The decor is fantastic - could feel like you were in a bar in Nashville or something! The atmosphere and music was great and the bar staff were super friendly and very efficient with our drinks. And the drinks were fab! We all tried a variety of cocktails.
I 100% recommend this bar. Keep up the great work guys!
We had a brilliant time. The decor is fantastic - could feel like you were in a bar in Nashville or something! The atmosphere and music was great and the bar staff were super friendly and very efficient with our drinks. And the drinks were fab! We all tried a variety of cocktails.
I 100% recommend this bar. Keep up the great work guys!
Written 21 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow. Thank you very VERY much for taking the time to leave us a review. So glad you enjoyed your visit. Come back and see us soon!! x
Written 29 June 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Harrison H
77 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
Was roaming around on a Monday night looking for a place that didn’t seem so desolate and we stumbled upon this oasis of fun in the desert of weekday Bournemouth. The atmosphere was brilliant everyone was having a good time with a DJ to supply the tunes. The toilets were on brand and matched the overall aura of the establishment. Prices weren’t extortionate and reasonable. Definitely seems to be a hot spot for the younger players in Bournemouth. The highlight was the JD lounge below where you can chat and chill.
Written 15 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TAN84
Worthing, UK3 contributions
Mar 2023 • Friends
If you are ever going out in Bournemouth, you MUST end your night at Smokin’ Aces. We booked a table as a group of hens, and from the minute we walked in we loved it. The vibe is perfect, the DJ was AMAZING (old school hip hop, some 90s throwbacks, queen, Prince👌🏼) we could not stop dancing all night and had the best night we’ve had in years. To top it off the bar staff were honestly some of the best we’ve ever experienced, so fun and friendly, they make the vibe what it is. They even made a special fuss of our bride-to-be with a coyote ugly moment on the bar. We’ll be back!
Written 26 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gemma N
1 contribution
May 2024 • Friends
Awesome end to our hen weekend. Welcomed by Drew with open arms, felt like we had friends from years gone by, danced the night away, Hen on the bar, to old school hip hop. No drinks menu but the incredible bar staff took my preferences and made me an amazing drink, to my taste!
Written 15 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MeasuredReview
Bexley, UK113 contributions
Jun 2022
This bar was recommended to us by hotel staff, walked in on the Friday evening, great bar.
Loved the decor, very rock feel about it, had a solo singer on that night, had a great time, stayed longer than we intended as the atmosphere was so good .
Staff fantastic and friendly, we even went back for a quieter drink on the Sunday night before we headed home, special thanks to Alice for her welcome, laughs, and tour of the basement bar
Loved the decor, very rock feel about it, had a solo singer on that night, had a great time, stayed longer than we intended as the atmosphere was so good .
Staff fantastic and friendly, we even went back for a quieter drink on the Sunday night before we headed home, special thanks to Alice for her welcome, laughs, and tour of the basement bar
Written 10 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NINA W
Bournemouth, UK50 contributions
Apr 2023 • Friends
Not a great experience.
We went in for a pre night out drink tonight. There was a good of blokes having a good time. They were sat at a table and the security staff came over and took their phones off the table. Understandably the blokes kicked off.
Why do your door staff think it’s acceptable to cause unnecessary agro??
Avoid this bar if you want a chilled atmosphere. Unless they sort out the attitude on the door.
We went in for a pre night out drink tonight. There was a good of blokes having a good time. They were sat at a table and the security staff came over and took their phones off the table. Understandably the blokes kicked off.
Why do your door staff think it’s acceptable to cause unnecessary agro??
Avoid this bar if you want a chilled atmosphere. Unless they sort out the attitude on the door.
Written 7 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LJY
Slough, United Kingdom5 contributions
Feb 2022 • Couples
We heard good things about this place and thought we would try it on our trip to Bournemouth! Well…I would not be going back there! The lady that work there was rude! A guy behind the bar kept telling us he didn’t work there even though he was serving drinks. They have no cocktail menu so thought we could ask for any cocktail (like the website says) we ordered a Long Island ice tea and then the guy told us we could only have one as he wasn’t making them anymore. We ordered another cocktail and the lady said she didn’t make them! Unfriendly & unwelcoming…would avoid this place!
Written 27 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi does anyone know what time happy hour starts / finishes and is happy hour on every day ?
Written 20 May 2019
Yep, it’s on every day and runs until 8pm. Half price selected cocktails. For further details, please visit our website and/or follow us on social media.
Written 23 May 2019
Hello me & my wife are looking to come on sat night . What type of entertainment will be on and when do u close ?
Written 30 April 2018
Thank you for the answer!! Half price cocktails are only until 8pm though ;)
Written 29 June 2018
What kind of music is played on a Friday?
Written 21 May 2017
Hiya, we absolutely do NOT play "House" music at ANY time at Smokin' Aces. On Fridays, we have live music (usually rock covers, modern folk, etc.), followed by some incredible DJs playing a mixture of funk, soul, hip-hop, classic breaks, indie and pop. But never house music.
Written 7 June 2017
Hiya, we welcome absolutely everybody at Smokin' Aces, no matter their age or background and our customer base reflects this. We are lucky enough to have customers from 18 to 80. We do not have a particularly large proportion of students because we do not offer a student discount - we want ALL of our customers, no matter who they are, to benefit from sensible prices on incredible products. Hope to see you!
Written 7 June 2017
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
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