Old Harry Rocks Bar & Restaurant

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#44 of 625 Restaurants in Bournemouth$$ - $$$, European, Vegetarian friendly

+44 1202 018333+ Add website

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Hours

Sun

12:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Mon

12:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Tue

12:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Wed

12:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Thu

12:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Fri

12:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Sat

12:00 pm - 11:00 pm

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What is Travellers’ Choice?

Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Ratings and reviews

4.5

208 reviews

#44 of 625 Restaurants in Bournemouth

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

Special offer

Our Midweek Menu is now available for lunch and early dinner! Enjoy 2 courses for £22 with bold dishes like chicken schnitzel and mushroom gnocchi. Soak up stunning ocean views, a cozy open fire, and laid-back vibes. Book your table today!

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Someone from this business manages this listing.

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PRICE RANGE

$9.00 – $88.00

CUISINES

European

special diets, meals, features

Location and contact

Old Harry Rocks Bar & Restaurant The Nici Hotel, Bournemouth BH2 5EJ England

+44 1202 018333

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SNACKS

olives

£6

bread tin, olive oil, balsamic

£7

whipped houmous, crunchy chickpeas, burnt butter & bread

£9

chorizo croquettes

£9

raclette ‘toasties’, sourdough, sauerkraut, alpine ham

£10

half dozen rock oysters

£26

Can a gluten free person get a good meal at this restaurant?

Yes

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About

Perched on Bournemouth’s stunning clifftop, Old Harry Rocks is the go-to spot for great food, good vibes, and unbeatable views. Our menu is packed with bold flavours, from perfectly seared sea bream to indulgent lobster thermidor, all inspired by Alpine and European cuisine. With a roaring fireplace, plush interiors, and live DJs bringing the energy every weekend, it’s the perfect place for laid-back lunches, lively evenings, or celebrations with friends and family. Whether you’re here for the food, the beats, or the epic coastal scenery, Old Harry Rocks has it all.

PRICE RANGE

$9.00 – $88.00

CUISINES

European

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options

Meals

Lunch, Dinner, Drinks

FEATURES

Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Street Parking, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Free Wifi, Table Service, Live Music, Family style

Top 3 reasons to eat here

Sponsored by: Old Harry Rocks Bar & Restaurant

1. Buzzing Atmosphere!

"Wow, what a place, with such an exceptional vibe. "

O2037SHricharda

2. Great Flavours!

"Some of the most delicious, flavourful dishes I’ve eaten."

D8234XDharrym

3. Refreshing Drinks!

"our drinks came immediately and the frozen margaritas are a must try! "

Jrclobonczo

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4.5

208 reviews

Excellent

162

Very good

Average

Poor

Terrible

James O

Bournemouth1 contribution

Amazing Local Restaurant with welcoming staff!

Dec 2024 • couples

Very Good place in Bournemouth!!! Recently have come down to Bournemouth with my wife for a couples visit to look at all the lights and decided to try this place out. Bournemouth has been loosing its colors recently so i'm thankful for having the opportunity to visit this restaurant. We had booked a week prior as we know Saturdays can be quite busy and stressful for hospitality staff. As we walked in we really enjoyed all the christmas decorations even by the Nici! When walking into the restaurant there was live music playing along with a warm atmosphere and we got greeted amazingly by our host with an amazing smile. There were people sat by fireplace and behind the bar there was staff making drinks who greeted us with a smile. We got shown to our table and immediately asked if they wanted us to hang our coats up. We sat down on the comfortable chairs with a nice fur on them which really added the warmth feeling to our trip! We were then greeted by our server, Monica who really went above and beyond to make our trip feel special! She gave all her recommendations for what food we should choose and treated us like a priority even with the restaurant being full and looking quite busy. Upon our server having much patience with us and hearing about all the things we wanted to try, I ordered a burger with fries and my wife ordered some king prawns and we shared the fries. Price was understandable for the place as it is a good location for the summer and offers live music along with a range of choices of both the festive menu and the normal menu. We did share the apple crumble which made the whole experience even better so many thanks to the Chefs who took time to prepare our food Finally, I would like to express how good this place is and that it is definitely worth a try if you haven't yet! From what me and my wife experienced all staff are so welcoming specially Monica who had such patience to deal with us two bickering all night and casually checking in with us for drinks and asking how the food is. Customer Service skills are extremely excellent too as we told Monica we had been waiting for some side dips for our fries for some time and she immediately brought them to us with an apology and a smile on her face, she really is an asset to the Old Harry Rocks Restaurant and I hope some day her effort and work ethic is looked at. Will definitely be coming back as I am looking forwards to trying the Salmon Tart flambee. Thank you to Old Harry Rocks Team!

Written 14 December 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.

Terry Denis

Dear Jet13022587388, Thank you for such a lovely review! Please come visit us again when you're next in Bournemouth. Catch you on the cliff!

Written 9 January 2025

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Annette

Dorset201 contributions

Excellent!

Sept 2024 • friends

I visited Old Harry Rocks on Sunday with a friend for a roast dinner. From the second I arrived the experience was great! I’d never visited the hotel so was unsure how to enter the restaurant. A porter came out of the hotel and guided me, which was pleasant. Great vibe for a Sunday Roast, the DJ nailed the chilled music, it’s was very atmospheric. We both had the 2 course roast for £26, it was excellent value, the starters were generous. We both opted for roast beef, which came which a Yorkshire pudding and sharing potatoes, cauliflower cheese, red cabbage, carrots and gravy. There was plenty to go around and it was all delicious! I’m really fussy with roast beef, this one was cooked to perfection. The decor is fab! Clean & fresh. The staff were all friendly. The only 2 things I’d change is the parking is tricky (although out of control of the hotel) and the service was a little slow with a wait for food, but we weren’t in a hurry so no problem for us, but if you’re after a quick lunch be cautious. Bournemouth has been crying out for somewhere like this, I can’t wait to go back! The atmosphere & vibe is just so good and not pretentious in the least.

Written 17 September 2024

Terry Denis

Hi MrsJenkinsUK, Thank you for the 5 star review! Our all day Sunday Menu is brand new to the scene as is already very popular, so we really appreciate your patience while we figure out our staffing levels and improve service. Looking forward to seeing you again soon!

Written 18 September 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Lauren H

3 contributions

Great for family trip!!

Sept 2024 • family

Booked here for a family trip to as we have heard good things about Bournemouth beach. Unfortunately I guess we came at a bad timing as it seemed to be raining. We booked a place here instead to try it out. At first walking in it really gives you some nice atmospheric conditions, there is live music along with a DJ, a nice bar with friendly staff along with a terrace so sit and enjoy the weather. My favorite feature about this place was probably the fireplace, although it did seem packed with people I would definitely visit this restaurant again. Menu can be quite simple but it sure was good to have quite the selection, I tried the Aubergine and it was rather pleasant. The tables again match the whole atmosphere, it's decorated really nicely and you even get little lights for your tables. Food wait was around 10-15 minutes which was great considering how many people there were in the restaurant. Prices can be quite expensive but worth it for what you get. Staff is friendly and tries their best to accommodate your needs, we had our amazing server Kieran which tried his best to understand our accent, and we had a lovely server Monica which was quite helpful in speaking spanish and translating some details about the menu for us. Bar was very busy at the time and did take some time but everything arrived in the end. Might come back!

Written 6 September 2024

Stuart C

Bournemouth4184 contributions

Variable review.

Jul 2024 • friends

New restaurant based on the Nici hotel. Booking was easy online through the website. I then got a fairly aggressive message afterwards about turning up on time and responding to a booking confirmation I had only made 10minutes before. This was requested via text or via the email. The email didn’t require this… The restaurant itself has been designed well with a really good view of the sea with an outside terrace. This has probably influenced the price of the food Vs quantity and as per other comments it’s priced high for what you get £25 for 5 prawns. The staffing is very casual / not that engaged, and we had to walk to the reception desk for more drinks and the bill which had the standard service charge on. Make sure if you go you walk / get a taxi as there is no parking (unless you pay £27 for an overnight charge). I am ambivalent if I will return.

Written 29 July 2024

Terry Denis

Hi Sjc997 Unfortunately parking is a constant issue considering where we're based, and we'd like to thank you for taking the time to come visit us regardless. I'm disappointed to hear the service was not to our usual high standards but rest assured we will make sure things like this don't happen again. The pricing of our dishes and drinks are heavily dependant on our suppliers, I'm sure you would have noticed similar trends in other venues, but despite this we do hope you return soon.

Written 6 August 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

elaina

Bournemouth2 contributions

Good views and ambience but abysmal food and poor service.

Aug 2024 • family

Good view and ambience but terrible food and poor service. We went for a family meal and the food was abysmal. The burger was very dry, it was like eating a crumbling dry beef patty between dry stale buns. There was a minuscule amount of cheese, 1 tiny lettuce leaf and it’s topped with a huge gherkin. It was lukewarm. There was no side salad or relish or coleslaw or anything with it just chips. The kids meal listed salad but it was a few leafs of lettuce - you can’t call it a salad if it’s one ingredient and no dressing. The buns were not buttered and dry but at least their burger had a slice of tomato. The service was poor despite plenty staff and being half full. We sat for 10 minutes waiting for our menus. Food order was taken but not drinks order we had to walk to the bar to get drinks. The kids food came out first and we waited for 15 minutes for ours which was lukewarm. After the meal we sat for a long time waiting for all the dirty plates to be cleared. When we booked we got a really long text saying that the table is booked for 1hr and 45 minutes and we may be asked to leave at the end of our slot but could sit at the bar. If we are late that time would come out of our slot. There will also be a £10 per person no show fee. Makes you feel like you are signing a contract to be able to eat there! Shame this place could be very speacial if they served good food and put customers at their heart.

Written 31 August 2024

Terry Denis

Hi Connector00597271842, Thank you for your review, the feedback about the burger being dry and not at a satisfactory temperature has been passed on to the chefs to prevent this from happening again. The dishes would have of course been replaced without hesitation so I will personally ensure our staff are being more attentive and checking back on tables. As we are a family friendly restaurant we always prioritise kids food and send their dishes first as soon as they're ready, this should have been made clear to you when your order was taken, so again apologies for the lack of communication on our part. Deposits for bookings, especially on the weekends are common practise among many hospitality venues. As we are a relatively small site with only 17 restaurant tables inside, we tend to fill up quickly and often need the table back for other reservations hence the allocated time. This system is working well for us and avoids disappointment as our guests are able to move across to the bar lounge area for after dinner drinks. We'd really love the chance to make it up to you so please reach out to me directly on terry@oldharryrocks.com for your next reservation.

Written 6 September 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

BoardingPass635596

7 contributions

DIDNT EXPECT THAT… 💩

Jul 2024 • family

Okay so the service was good so the one star for that, my pregnant wife was served rotten prawns stinking and uzing with brown sludge, the humus had a dry skin over the top and so did the mustard plus £40 for a burger. Terrible! I would have expected the chef or manager to come to the table and explain what they will do about it for the future at the very least… How hard is it to plate humus on request? How hard is it to portion mustard on request? Manager should not allow this to happen the chef also has no pride in his position, I am a restaurant owner so any feedback to me I’m happy to hear… or if you need a lesson or two on serving fresh food I’m happy to help. If you say they was busy…there was at the time when I ordered 3 tables later 5 including us so they was not busy.

Written 6 July 2024

Terry Denis

Thank you for your feedback. We sincerely apologise for the experience you had at Old Harry Rocks. We understand how distressing this must have been, especially for your pregnant wife. Your comments have been taken very seriously, and we will address these issues with our teams to ensure such incidents do not happen again. Good service is essential, but it must be accompanied by high-quality food. Please reach out to Terry Denis, at Terry@oldharryrocks.com, to discuss this matter further. We appreciate your offer to share your insights and assure you that we are committed to improving our standards. Warm regards

Written 9 July 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Scott V

1 contribution

5 out of 10

Nov 2024 • friends

Food was very very average, ran out of beef at 18.30 on Friday evening which was the dish we all wanted.. place was empty at 18.30. Had burgers instead but nothing amazing. oh also the duck pate is way over priced at 14.00£ for very small pate and 2 very very small corner of bread.. when you ask for a extra charge is 3.00£ for a corner of bread. As per bill below.. Interior is lovely, music is loud which is vibe they are going for on a Friday evening. As an overall it’s a 5 out 10. Oh little reminder they add a 12.5% service charge.. 4 people for us was nearly 400£ inc Cocktails where good, bubbles slightly over priced.. Overall vibe is good, just not right on the food front.. which is the main reason we went.. Bill below.

Written 8 November 2024

Sophieeloise

Wimborne Minster53 contributions

Great atmosphere and decor but awful food

Sept 2024 • couples

Myself and my Boyfriend booked for dinner here on my Birthday and on arrival, i instantly loved the style and decor of the Restaurant. It had a good atmosphere and the staff were very attentive. The food however was so disappointing. We both ordered the Burgers and added Lobster as we both love it, however it arrived and had the tiniest bit of Lobster on top. Very underwhelming. We then noticed it had some in the Burger too but again, not enough to count as half a lobster each. Anyway, it was the burgers that were the biggest disappointment. They were so dry that they crumbled into tiny pieces, had no seasoning whatsoever and definitely hadn't been bound together with egg or anything. I never complain about food and love food but I was so disappointed, especially as it was a treat for my Birthday and I was upset that my boyfriend was spending so much on such an awful meal. We told the waiter the burgers were awful and he immediately apologised and offered us cocktails on the house. He was incredible and so apologetic- his name was Chris so big thank you to him for saving the evening! All in all, sadly the place did not live up to expectations at all and the food should definitely not be as pricey if they cannot give the value for money!

Written 17 September 2024

Terry Denis

Hi Sophieeloise, Thank you for your feedback, I'm so sorry to hear about the quality of the burgers you had. Your comments have been shared with the chefs to ensure this does not happen again. We'd really like the chance to make it up to you, so please reach out to me directly at terry@oldharryrocks.com if you would like to book with us again. Hope to see you soon.

Written 18 September 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Lynn B

19 contributions

Wonderful food & fabulous ambience but lacking service with a smile

Sept 2024 • solo

The positives: the location, the ambience including the choice of music being played and the truly outstanding food. For starter I had the cucumber, pomegranate molasses & pickled cumber yoghurt. For main I had the plumpest, juiciest, freshest mussels cooked in a saffron sauce with little croutons to soak up some of the sublime sauce. And for dessert I had an “”excellent expresso martini and moved seats to sit in one of their exceptionally comfortable leather arm chairs by the open fire in the centre of the restaurant. The only negative was the unsmiling service from the two waitresses who served me. A smile goes a long way to making you feel welcome, particularly if you’re dining alone and their overly serious, almost stern attitude didn’t help me to feel that I was welcome.

Written 10 September 2024

Terry Denis

Hi P1677RPlynnb, Thank you for your review and feedback about the service. Apologies if you felt unwelcome, it was never the intention. A couple of our waitresses are still training and sometimes concentrate so hard they forget to smile ;) We really are a super friendly bunch and we all hope you come visit us again.

Written 18 September 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Abi

Bournemouth66 contributions

Faultless - Amazing relaxed style dining experience

Jul 2024 • couples

We stayed at The Nici for 3 nights after having our wedding reception there, and had lunch and dinner in Old Harry Rocks. Honestly, our experience was faultless. We eat out a lot, and i'm not embarassed to say we have quite high expectations. The staff at Old Harry are great, they are friendly, know what they are doing, and really personable. The food is incredible. It's quite simple, but effective. The idea of the relaxed share style dining is perfect. We had the whole sea bass with chips & prawn rice to share - it was incredible. The food is incredibly well priced when considering the qualty, portions and location. We can't wait to come back to try the rest of the menu!

Written 10 July 2024

Terry Denis

Thanks for taking the time to leave such great feedback! Firstly, congratulations!🍾 So great you chose to spend part of this special time with us at Old Harry Rocks. We're thrilled to know you enjoyed your time with us, and really understood the concept. You just get it!! We're all about those relaxed times with good people, good food, good cocktails and killer views. We can't wait to catch you again soon! 🌞

Written 12 July 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Shelby

New York City18 contributions

Best place in Bournemouth 😉😍😍

Aug 2024 • couples

What a great lunch at this restaurant with the greatest views on a perfect “air show “ The food it is outstanding we had some small plates and main meal The menu it’s not massive but has a good “bite “for everyone needs It’s very relaxing area Offering good food and drinks (this place also offers a day pass witch you can buy for approximately £75 for two people you can get the use of the spa and the pool facilities plus 2 courses lunch meal (next time I definitely will take this great offer at the Nici hotel 🏨 Today was all about the experience in this amazing restaurant we were greeted by a lovely young and smiling lady and thru the lunch we had sebastien and a lovely young Italian man (sorry didn’t get his name ) All the staff are so attentive I really can wait to go back for more of this beautiful place See you all soon and keep up with all your good work 😉😊

Written 29 August 2024

Terry Denis

Thank you Roam66999112682! Glad we made your experience so memorable, see you again soon!

Written 6 September 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Mady olivia

Bournemouth33 contributions

Staff and Venue amazing. Food is a no.

Jun 2024 • family

To start, this restaurant is beautiful and the staff go above and beyond to make the experience special. Especially Lottie who looked after us - she was attentive and informative. However THE FOOD - no no no. For £80 (large sharing dish) included a ton of chips and ‘fried rice’. It was supposed to be a ‘harry rocks special’ which included various fish, steak, chips and salad. The seafood was bland and overcooked, the salad was missing, we had to send back the ‘steak’ because it was so chewy we couldn’t swallow it. The ‘steak’ was more like a cheap cut of beef. The drinks were lovely and refreshing. I recommend coming here for drinks and the starters.

Written 28 June 2024

Terry Denis

Dear Maddiewatts I'm disappointed to hear your Harry's Combo was not up to standard as we usually get really good feedback about it. Please rest assured this information has been shared with the team and reach out to me on terry@oldharryrocks.com when you're next thinking of visiting us.

Written 2 July 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Nadine

Bournemouth48 contributions

Good food, but the service was lacking

Sept 2024 • family

We went for Sunday lunch to celebrate a family birthday. It was busy, but had a good atmosphere and the restaurant is beautifully decorated. Unfortunately the service was really poor - the drinks took a long time to arrive after ordering and it took over an hour for our food order to be taken. Our snacks and starters then arrived at the same time, which was disappointing and lead to it feeling like far too much food at once. The roast sharing side portions were generous, but the potatoes weren't roasted?! Very strange to have new potatoes with a roast, in my opinion. The meat was a bit cold, but nicely cooked. We were presented with a happy birthday dessert and sparkler which was a nice touch. The staff seemed overwhelmed and inexperienced for a busy Sunday lunch service, which I'd imagine lead to the slowness. If the service had been good, I'd say this could've been a good value meal (2 courses for £26), but sadly it wasn't. Maybe just some teething issues, and we might give it another go in future. For now, we know how good South Beach is, so we'll stick with going there.

Written 1 October 2024

Terry Denis

Hi 345Nadine, It's a shame you didn't receive our usual high standard of service, and we do hope you come give us another try so we can prove how good we really are. Thank you for the feedback, the more we know the better we can be! Hope to see you soon.

Written 4 October 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Hugh M

3 contributions

Worst Customer Service Ever

Nov 2024 • friends

We made a booking 2 and a half months for 30 x people from our 3000 Strong Social Group in Bournemouth for a Christmas Lunch on 8th December 2024. We spent many weeks gathering payments and menu choices only to be told today 23rd November 2024 that the Directors of the business have now decided not to offer the Christmas Party menu on a Sunday lunchtime in December. I am astonished and deeply upset that we have been treated this way. We would bring a lot of local business to this Restaurant but unfortunately for them we would never step foot in their establishment neither would we advise anybody else to. In all honestly we are appalled and feel very much let down. Luckily thanks to the super Team at 1812 they have managed to pull out everything to accommodate us and this just shows me that their are some Companies that are still focused on Customer Service and satisfaction. I have to say that the Management couldn’t even be bothered to contacted me themselves to explain and left it upto a host to contact me. I don’t often leave poor reviews but in this case I feel that it is warranted and shame on you Directors and Management of the Restaurant. To add insult to injury I have been contacted by another member of Staff to say that they have now reconsidered their position and can offer the Xmas Menu and Party. Unfortunately Old Harry Rocks Restaurant the Horse has already bolted. Poor, poor, poor Customer relations.

Written 23 November 2024

Travellerclass

Farnham1216 contributions

Great location, food, service and atmosphere.

Nov 2024 • friends

Six of us found this place and initially just called in for a drink. After relaxing and viewing the evening menu we all decided we would book a table for the evening as well. Our table was booked for 8pm on Thursday 28 November and none of us could fault the quality of food, service and terrific warm atmosphere. The only negative we did find was that the table we were sat at had "Director style chairs" when most other tables had comfy covered chairs. After sitting in the Director Chairs for any length of time you find them very uncomfortable and you are forever fidgeting on them. Apart from that one negative everything else was superb. Thank you for a wonderful evening we had a terrific time. If you are driving to come here parking is at a real premium and everywhere you looked it was packed with vehicles. Lucky for us we had parked at our hotel and just walked along. We would highly recommend and would certainly come back again.

Written 30 November 2024

Terry Denis

Hi Travellerclass, Thank you so much for your review. I'm glad you decided to stay and enjoy the complete Harry Rocks experience. Please come visit us again next time you're in town, and we'll do our best to get you on the comfier chairs! Hope you have a great festive season.

Written 12 December 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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