Bar Republiq is a small cocktail bar and nightclub set back on Old Christchurch Road in the centre of Bournemouth. Where some of the surrounding nightspots go for a big room and cheap shots, this one is more consciously styled: a compact, VIP-flavoured space organised around cocktails, premium spirits and a late licence instead of capacity.
The look and feel
Manhattan is the reference point throughout. Bare brick walls, flecks of rough steel and dim, moody lighting replace the strip-lit look of a typical club. The pitch is a mix of downtown edge and Upper East Side gloss, and once the night warms up there is dancing as well as drinking.
Drinks and music
Hand-made cocktails are the calling card, with a Manhattan Martini, a Tequila Sunrise and a Jack Daniel's-and-triple-sec serve on the list, plus a range of premium bottles, Belvedere vodka among them, for anyone ordering bottle service. Resident DJs play hip hop, R&B and party mash-ups, and the room stays open into the early hours most nights, later again at the weekend.
Good to know
The reviews are mixed rather than enthusiastic, so read some recent write-ups alongside this page before committing. Opening hours and door policy can move with events and the season, so check with Bar Republiq directly before you head out. The rest of the town centre's bars and clubs are an easy walk away; find more of them in our guide to things to do in Bournemouth.