Be At One is the Bournemouth outpost of the national cocktail bar chain, set on Richmond Hill just off the town centre. Drinks come first here: a smart, low-lit room that starts the evening as a relaxed after-work stop and turns into a crowded, DJ-driven dance floor as the night wears on.
Drinks and happy hour
The cocktail list is the big attraction, cycling through '90s throwbacks, Be At One "Icons" and twists on the classics, backed by a full range of spirits and mixers. The best value comes during the daily happy hour, 4:30pm to 9pm, when cocktails are 2-for-1, spirit and mixer serves cost £5 and chips and dips are £4. Show a valid student card and cocktails are £6 all day. Bar bites are on hand for anyone wanting to eat while drinking, although food is not the point of the venue.
Atmosphere and events
Earlier in the day it is a relaxed spot for a catch-up or a date; later, and above all on Friday and Saturday when it stays open until 3am, the volume rises and it becomes one of the busier stops on a night out in Bournemouth. On top of the regular trade, the bar takes bookings for cocktail masterclasses, birthdays, hen parties, stag dos and private hire, which are best organised in advance through its website if you have a group occasion in mind.
Good to know
The address is 3 Richmond Hill, BH2 6HE, a short walk from the Square and the other bars and restaurants of the town centre. Hours and offers at a chain bar can change, so look at the Bournemouth page on the Be At One website before setting out. Our food & drink guide covers more places close by, and the wider things to do guide takes in the rest of the town centre.