Turtle Bay brings the British-founded Caribbean restaurant group to Bournemouth, setting up jerk-pit cooking, rum and an easy island atmosphere on Madeira Road right in the town centre. Founded in 2010 following its founder's trip to Barbados, the chain has expanded to more than fifty UK restaurants, yet the format still favours relaxed, colourful, generous hospitality over formality.
The food
At the centre of the kitchen sits the jerk pit, where chicken and vegetables get rubbed with the house spice blend, marinated for a full day, then grilled over flame until smoky. Jerk chicken remains the signature order, though the menu wanders further across the islands: goat curry, roti, festival dumplings, jerk-topped mac and cheese, sunshine bowls and shareable Caribbean-spiced small plates. Vegans and vegetarians aren't an afterthought either, with jerk mushrooms and a coconut chickpea and callaloo curry among the choices. Drinks carry equal weight to the food: rum features heavily, and the extensive tropical cocktail list draws plenty of visitors on its own. Since menus shift periodically, it's worth checking the current one on the restaurant's website beforehand.
Atmosphere
The room is lively and informal, decorated in bright colours with reclaimed-shack textures, reggae and dancehall playing over the speakers, and a bar that stays buzzing into the night. It suits a relaxed lunch, a birthday celebration or a long, easy brunch equally well. Bottomless brunch, Caribbean dishes paired with a couple of hours of unlimited drinks, is a regular fixture, and 2-4-1 cocktails run through the day, helping keep tables full and the atmosphere lively at weekends.
Where it is
You'll find Turtle Bay in the Citrus Building on Madeira Road, just off the top of central Bournemouth. Horseshoe Common sits right nearby, and it's a short, flat walk down to the Lower Gardens, Bournemouth Beach and the Pavilion, useful either before a show or after time on the beach. Being so central means it fits neatly into a wider day out in town.
Good to know
Walking in usually works, though booking ahead is sensible at weekends, for brunch, or with a larger group, and reservations can be made via the restaurant's website. An express menu suits anyone heading to a show, and step-free access, outdoor seating and dog-friendliness are all available. There's no on-site car park, but plenty of public parking sits within a short walk in the town centre. Check with Turtle Bay directly for current hours, menu and prices, and browse our food & drink guide and restaurants roundup for further options nearby.