Beach House is less than idyllic

 In such a beautiful and perfect setting you would think that any bar/restaurant would seek to emulate the exceptional surroundings Hengistbury Head provides.

Sadly The Beach House Cafe doesn’t quite match-up to its sister bar/restaurant Soho in Christchurch town centre for quality and service.

For some reason the relaxed atmosphere of the beach seems to have been adopted by some of the staff waiting on people. The happy helpful enthusiasm of their colleagues at Soho isn’t matched here. Indeed at times it verges on being curt, which is a shame for everyone as it tempers the atmosphere somewhat.

Unfortunately a less than happy working environment can affect the whole dynamics of a business. And this is clearly evident here. I ordered their cooked breakfast admittedly close to the end of their breakfast service, and was served something of a lame looking platter. Indeed the scrambled egg looked so pale it seemed ill.

Nevertheless I dug in only to find the whole thing was luke warm in colour as much as in temperature! I called the waitress over who was pleasant enough and immediately agreed with my sentiments.

A fresh breakfast arrived and was in complete contrast to the first in presentation, colour and temperature. Indeed it was delicious but this was tarnished as my mind kept darting back to the pathetic meal first laid before me.

We all make mistakes but why was it ever handed to me in the first place? If people cared surely they would have noticed what they’d cooked/and delivered!

The Beach House’s menu differs from Soho to the extent it reflects the setting of the bar/restaurant as well as its popularity as the evening menu is for me quite pricey.

Overall I give it a score of 6/10

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Harvesting a nightmare

 Have you ever looked forward to an evening out knowing and then arrived at the restaurant thinking it was going to be an abject failure?

Well I experienced that at a Harvester in Christchurch, Dorset. It was an opportune meal out. My two eldest children are at university, while my youngest is away for a couple of nights on a school trip. Therefore there was no need to organize any baby sitters. For the first time in years we only had to organize ourselves and could be spontaneous and just go out. We weren’t seeking anything lavish, just a humble meal with a drink or two and then home. Sadly like most things today the representation and the reality are two different things. 

Set on the outskirts of the New Forest the Cat and Fiddle thatched roof complements the tree lined green landscape surrounding the pub to the extent the busy A35 is easily ignored. However this natural beauty is immediately lost when you walk through the doors into the restaurant. The place looks tired; the seat covers on the chairs are dirty and stained by the food and beer of yesteryear. Some fixtures and fittings are coated in a grease coated dust. Light fittings are undermined with extinguished bulbs that look unlikely ever to be replaced. This isn’t a good way to start an evening out.

Nevertheless, the lady who took us to our table was extremely courteous and there was also the Harvester brand name, which perversely can as a comforter to my better instinct. Therefore I decide to continue with the experience. It was my biggest mistake for some time.

The first let down the Nacho starter. The tortilla chips were rancid and tasted like they’d bathed in low temperature oil rather than cooked in it. This was immediately returned. Next on the menu was my Ribeye steak. It tasted fine but soon after heartily tucking into the ‘meat’, I soon realised that 40% of the steak was gristle, which was a massive let down at £12.99. My wife by coincidence chose a similar steak meal but this too had more gristle than meat.

The fries and garnish which accompanied the meal were fine but nothing more. The problem was by now I just wanted to leave so we did. What a waste of an evening out especially at £31.13!!!

Delightful Soho

  If you’re looking for a restaurant which provides a pleasant ambiance and lovely food then pay a visit to Soho in Christchurch, Dorset.

What makes Soho so special is no matter what time you visit you are always greeted by friendly welcoming staff. Such cordiality is the cornerstone of good service as it sets the tone for any evening out.Soho is a bar located only a moment’s walk from Christchurch Priory and it is its setting in one of the most picturesque areas of the town which adds to the whole experience.

During the day you can choose from a wide ranging menu or simply meet with friends for a coffee. The decor lends itself to invite a whole variety of social gatherings which gives Soho such a warm atmosphere.In the evening you can enjoy a drink at the bar which gets extremely busy Friday and Saturday evenings. However the popularity of the place will not distract you from having a super meal in the restaurant on the top floor. Their menu is has a wide selection of pizza’s which is complemented with a selection of starters and deserts.

The only down-side to the place is the main male toilets. These are looking vey shabby and are at time unpleasant due to leaking urinals (thankfully the upstairs restaurant has its own set of toilets). I think it’s a shame that such a popular place should let itself down in such a fundamental way.Therefore the overall marks awarded is 7/10!

 

Address:

7 Church St
Christchurch, BH23 1BW
01202 496140
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